Many people say that to fully experience Athens is to understand the essence of Greece. It is home to four million people, 40 per cent of Greece’s entire population. A combination of traditional values and modern practices with a mix of Middle Eastern and Western cultures, Athens has something for every visitor. The historic sights on offer will keep you busy for several days.

The Acropolis (Akrópoli)
The Acropolis dominates both the city’s skyline and agenda for any tourist. The original settlement in Athens, The Acropolis area is the home of the Acropolis Museum and four sacred buildings, all of which date back to the 5th century BC. The steep climb to the summit leads to the Propylaea, an enormous gateway which serves as the entrance to the site. On the right is the focal point, the Parthenon, which was dedicated to Athena. The temple was destroyed by Turkish forces in the 17th century so that they could use the platform for large cannons; however, it was beautifully restored between 1836 and 1842.

The Parthenon is the largest building on the Acropolis and a symbol of Western civilisation. The structure is built entirely from marble and was intended to be a sanctuary for Athena and once housed an enormous statue of the Goddess. The building was designed by the famous Greek architects - Kallikrates and Iktinos - and it took 15 years to build, having been completed in 438 BC. It went from being a temple to becoming a church, then later a mosque and finally as a storage facility for Turkish gunpowder. In 1687, the Venetians bombarded it from below damaging the building.

The Erechtheion is situated to the left of the Propylaea and is a shrine to both Athena and Poseidon-Erechtheus and it was built on the site of the mythical battle between the two gods. The south side features a series of six support columns designed as maidens. Due to severe environmental damage, these have been replaced by models. The Acropolis is a perfect place to gain your bearings and familiarise yourself with the layout of the city of Athens, as the view over the city is spectacular. The Acropolis is open daily from 08:00 to 18:30.

Acropolis Museum (Mouseío Akrópolis)
The Acropolis Museum is home to many treasures found on the Acropolis. Many objects from the four buildings including the five original caryatids from the Erechtheion can be located in the museum’s nine rooms. The museum is fascinating and well worth spending time at. Building work is underway on the New Acropolis Museum, which is to be situated at the foot of the Acropolis Hill. The museum is open daily from 08:00 to 19:00 in the summer and 11:00 to 17:00 during the winter on Mondays and 08:30 to 15:00 on Tuesdays to Sundays.

The Rock of Areopagos
Below the Acropolis is the Rock of Areopagos. From this point, you will have a fantastic view over much of Athens including the Agora, Plaka, Monastiraki Flea Market and Omonia Square. Beautiful sunsets can be seen from this viewpoint and at night, you can see the whole city illuminated. This rock is where the Apostle Paul spoke to the people of Athens. There is a tablet imbedded in the rock that quotes his words. At the bottom of the hill, there is a cleft in the rock that is a shrine to the Furies, which in Roman mythology were female personifications of vengeance.

Theatre of Dionysius
This theatre was the first stone theatre to be built and was once home to the great Greek playwrights, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides and Aristophanes. From the 4th century BC, this stone auditorium held up to 17,000 spectators. It was rebuilt around 342 BC and was then extended by the Romans who used it for gladiator fights. The theatre’s ruins remain one of the most atmospheric of Athens’ ancient sites.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus
The building of this temple began in the 6th century BC by Peisistratos, a Greek politician, but work was stopped shortly after it began. The temple was not finished until the Emperor Hadrian completed it in 131 AD, seven hundred years later. Originally, there were 104 Corinthian columns, of which only 15 remain standing. Hadrian built a giant gold and ivory statue of Zeus and placed it inside the temple, next to which he placed an equally large statue of himself. The temple is situated next to Hadrian's Arch and it was positioned deliberately to mark the boundary between the ancient city and the new Athens of Hadrian.

The Agora
Situated in the heart of ancient Athens, the Agora was the city’s ancient market place. It was the centre for political, cultural, administrative and social activity, and law courts, temples and public offices were all based in this area. It was a place where ordinary Athenians, merchants and stall holders would mix with politicians and philosophers. Today, the market is a site of ruins from different periods, although it is not hard to imagine what life would have been like here. The site is dominated by the Temple of Hephaisteion; built in the 5th century BC, it is one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Greece.

Museum of Agorá (Museo tis Agoras)
This museum contains a fascinating collection of relics including everyday life items. The museum is housed in the Stoa of Attalos (Stoa Attalou). This two-storey structure dates back to the 2nd century BC and was restored by the American School of Archaeology. It is thought to have been an early shopping arcade and contains 42 separate shops.

The Kerameikos
The Kerameikos was the potters' quarter of ancient Athens and it is also the site of the city’s official cemetery. Today, it is a tranquil and fascinating archaeological site that provides a pleasant escape from the chaos of the city centre. In the 5th century BC, an Athenian general, Themistocles, built a city wall which divided the Kerameikos into an inner and outer area. Excavations began in the late 19th century and it is now possible to see parts of the city walls and the ancient gates. Various tombstones and other burial monuments were also found. Small finds from the excavations can be found at the Museum of Kerameikos, which is located on site. The museum is an archaeologist’s haven and a must-see for visitors; it is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 to 15:00 and there is a small entrance fee.

The Olympic Stadium
The famous stadium is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex. It hosted the athletics events and the soccer final at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. It is now home to the Panathinaikos Athens football club. This highly impressive site is well worth a visit, but it is best avoided on football days.

Visit the Greek islands: Aegina, Poros, Hydra or Spetses. There are slow ferries or fast boats, known as flying dolphins, which run services from the Piraeus to the islands. Additionally, there are many boats that offer daily cruises to the Saronic Gulf Islands, usually leaving from Faliro and sailing to Aegina, Poros and Hydra before returning to Athens. There are also three or seven day cruises on offer.

Meander through the vibrant Thission area. It is full of cafés, bars and restaurants. It is a charming area to walk around and is safe for pedestrians. Its streets have been transformed into walkways and landscaped with stunning trees and flowers.

Visit nearby Marathon. It is the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC. It was here where the Athenian army defeated the Persians and from where the legendary run of a messenger named Phidippides began his journey to Athens, a distance of just over 26 miles. The town commemorates the great victory over the Persians with a burial mound in an olive grove and a plaque. The town makes for a great day trip out, as there are many sites to see here.

Escape the chaos of the city. The National Gardens used to belong to the king and form a tropical paradise in the middle of Athens. There are beautiful shaded pathways lined with flowers, two duck ponds and some remains of ancient Athens dotted around.

Go to the beach. Athens has numerous beaches near the Pireaus, along what is known as the Apollo Coast. Like most coastal cities, the farther you get out of town, the better the beaches are. Public beaches are run by Greece’s National Tourist Organisation and there is an admission charge. Most beaches offer changing cabins; children’s playgrounds; tennis, basketball and volleyball courts; and self-service restaurants. Public beaches in the area include: Vouliagmeni, Paleo Faliro, Alimos, Voula, Varkiza, Alcyoni, Glyfada and Lagonissi. Many beaches are also popular with water sport enthusiasts.