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When it comes to ancient history, Greece is the word, and its capital Athens surely holds its richest treasures covering almost 3,000 years of human history and showcasing some of the most amazing ruins on earth. Calling all culture buffs on the hunt for the top 5 historical sites in Athens – this article is for you. To help make all the history a bit more manageable, we narrowed down the overwhelming assortment of iconic UNESCO landmarks and eye-watering monuments in and around the Greek capital to a list of the big-hitting must-sees first.

Acropolis of Athens

Perched atop a precipitous cliff, this historic citadel contains some of the most significant remaining structures from the ancient Greek civilization. It is the location that dominates all others on the city’s skyline. The Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike have been partially preserved thanks to the Acropolis hill’s inherent defensive properties, despite the numerous invasions and revolutions that have occurred in Greece since their construction origins. Discover Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum with a private guided tour and witness up close the imposing array of UNESCO-tagged relics and incredible ruins.

Parthenon

The Parthenon, located atop the Acropolis, is both the best extant illustration of the Doric order and the biggest testament to the wealth and intelligence of ancient Greece. It was originally constructed between 447 and 432 BCE, dedicated to the goddess Athena, and has since served as a Christian church, an Ottoman mosque and a treasury. It has endured for more than 2,000 years through fires, pirate raidings and military sieges. It is an unmissable marvel and one of the top 5 historical sites in Athens you should definitely catch over our Myths and Wonders of Ancient Greece Tour for the complete family experience.

Areopagus Hill 

This rocky outcrop, surrounded by cypress trees, served as the base for the Areopagus court during the classical era. Its main duties included trialing for homicide, corruption and religious crimes. The council served as an aristocratic judicial body and one of the most significant city-state institutions, making it the forerunner of the higher court of contemporary Greece. Take the Mythology Walk Tour and soak in the bird’s eye-view city vistas of other top historical sites in Athens like the Ancient Agora, the Pnyx, Philopappos Hill, and of course, the Acropolis.

The Roman Agora

The history of Athens is more complex than just the heyday of the empire that had its center of gravity here 2,500 years ago. Athens’ appearance and character were really established during the Roman era. The center of it all was the Roman Agora, which served as the new elite’s meeting place, forum, market grounds and general gathering spot after the conquest of Greece, following the Battle of Actium in 41 BC. Pay an honorable visit with our Pinch of Athens Tour on your way to Plaka district. Hit the pause button and see some other top historical sites in Athens like the ruins of the Tower of the Winds, which is thought to be the world’s first meteorological station and the Athena Archegetis Gate, which was constructed in the Doric style with funding provided by a certain Augustus Caesar in 11 BC. 

Sounio

The Archaeological Site of Sounion encircles Attica’s headland to the south of the city, marking the spot where Cape Sounion’s craggy rocks plunge sharply into the Aegean Sea. In this stunning location you can view the indigo-blue ocean and even distinguish islands like Kea and Poros in the heat haze. Evidence suggests that Athenians have held this landmark sacred since at least the sixth century BC. It therefore predates both Hellenistic Greece and the Athenian Empire. The epic poet Homer refers to it as a place of adoration for the Sea God Poseidon. The cliff tops still bear the half-standing columns of a temple dedicated to him. Take the Spectacular Sounion Tour to witness the temple’s magical sunset during golden hour. The way the light moves through the old stones and sparkles across the Peloponnese mountains in the distance to the west is fairly amazing and totally worth including it in our top  5 historical sites in Athens.

Apart from our featured tours, there are also our tailor-made tours, where you can create your own custom cultural experience and make your own list of the top 5 historical sites in Athens. Discover our majestic capital at your own pace and claim your piece of the city with personal touring choices.

Many people consider it a luxury to travel alone, so if you get the chance, take it and enjoy it! Spend as much time as you want spoiling yourself, and do the things that will bring you delight, without having to consider what someone else wants or requires. Traveling alone and away from everyone has countless benefits. It gives you the ultimate freedom to make your travel plans according to your desires and budget. 

Greece and Athens in particular are great places for solo travelers to visit. It is filled with friendly, pleasant people and lovely weather virtually throughout the entire year. Favorite experiences of savvy visitors include taking a photo atop the Acropolis, tucking into some savory souvlaki or sampling the vibrant night scene. Nothing in Athens truly prevents you from doing any of the must do and must see things on your own, yet if company is what you’re looking for, locals are always open for a chat. So basically, the best tours for solo travelers in Athens are anything you put your mind to and your heart desires in terms of experiences or sightseeing.

Athens is a bustling city with lots of interesting things to see and do. Discover Greek Culture has curated the most intriguing Athens Tours for you to discover it with, but if you use your imagination, you can customize your own unforgettable experiences in our both classical and cool capital!

The Greek capital of Athens is filled with charming corners, chic bars and restaurants, and a very lively art scene, all of which go hand in hand with its gregarious people. The city is a night owl as well, staying up late and providing a ton of fun things to do. Just have an open mind, and if you get lost, follow the light coming from the hilltop Parthenon monument.

You’ll need five to six days to cover the essentials and really get a feel for the city. Although ascending the Acropolis hill and its museum is a must, there are a plethora of other archaeological sites to visit.

If you’re looking for ancient treasures, take the Mythology Walk tour around the Monastiraki and Acropolis districts to see some of the most prominent ones, such as the Roman Agora.

Of course Classical Greece and Classical Athens is mesmerizing, but you surely would not want to miss the mark on the fun aspect. So we would definitely suggest glamming it up for a Athens night out tour around Plaka, Monastiraki, Thiseion and Psyrri. This is one of the best tours for solo travelers in Athens who wish to have a bit of company on a night out in town. Note to self: the Athenian night-life by the sea, along the Athenian Riviera, is also very promising especially if you are longing for the eternal Greek summer party during the summer months.

Note that the number one Greek rule for successful nights out is that you should never go partying on an empty stomach. And while we are on the subject of food, why not explore Athens’ food-and-drink scene? Jump on our Taste of Greece food tour and prepare to have your taste palate tingling…From eating loukoumades (Greek honey glazed doughnuts) and greek pies for breakfast, to savoring an authentic meze experience down the Varvakeios market, or devouring the cult-favorite souvlaki, Athens will not disappoint when it comes to street-food delicacies. 

Thanks to its burgeoning street-art movement, Athens has established itself as a major art center. An Art-Gallery tour as an ode to our Modern Muses has been meticulously created for you to fully appreciate the contemporary art scene in true Athenian style. 

For the classic ones, we are Touching History with a tour dedicated to all museum lovers that dream of exploring the origins of modern Greece.

Stay safe, stay happy and enjoy getting around our unique city attractions through our hand-picked selection of the best tours for solo travelers in Athens at your own pace!

If you are a foodie visiting the Greek capital, chances are you are looking for all the must eat food in Athens, Greece. Athens is a beacon of Greek culture and it is also the beating heart of Greek cuisine. Greek gastronomy is notorious for its flavorful nature, employing a lot of fresh ingredients with dedicated fans all over the world. Athens offers a wide range of delicious imaginative platings,from mouthwatering street eats prepared on the spot as a quick but filling to-go meal, to sit down feasts at various restaurants, tavernas but also unique sweet delicacies being sold in cafes, sweet shops, street vendors and local food markets. Since there is so much Greek cuisine to enjoy and sample while in Athens, it can be a little challenging to decide which ones are must-eats. For the definitive top 5 must eat food in Athens, Greece after insightful consideration, our recommendation is as follows:

Top 5 must-eat food in Athens, Greece

1. Souvlaki
At any district or downtown corner of Athens, you may find street food vendors lighting up their grills to cook a variety of skewered and charcoal-grilled meats, most commonly pork and chicken, sometimes lamb too at certain more specialty souvlakeries. It is popularly consumed as gyros or pita-wrapped and accompanied by delectable condiments and dips like tzatziki.

2. Horiatiki – Greek Salad
You’ll come to notice that Greeks enjoy salads so much, it has become a staple dish; in particular, a Horiatiki one. This is the local name for the most classic of Greek salads, with tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, olives, onions and olive oil. The fresher the ingredients, the better the taste. Try savoring one in a traditional tavern or restaurant in Psyrri or Plaka along your main courses.

3. Bougatsa
This is a filo pastry custard pie that is traditionally sweet and creamy but also comes in a savory variant with cheese, spinach, or minced meat. This sweet variation is typically served for breakfast with coffee and topped with caster sugar and cinnamon. Find the best bakery on Syntagma Square, opposite Hotel Grande Bretagne, and taste traditional pies, based on recipes from all over Greece, with their distinctive multilayered pastry and multi flavored filling.

4. Loukoumades
The simple yet sumptuous delicacy called loukoumades is made with sugar, lemon, honey, flour, and cornstarch. They may resemble small doughnuts, except they don’t contain any filling. While some prefer to pair them with melted chocolate, they are most commonly prepared drizzled in honey and topped off with a dash of cinnamon. Insider’s tip: try them before entering the must-visit bustling Municipal Market of Athens, aka the iconic 19th-century Varvakeios Market, to wonderfully mask the scent from the meat and fish stalls that are intertwined with stories from old Athens.

5. Saganaki
Another delicious example of must-eat food in Athens, Greece is none other than a piece of grilled or fried cheese widely known as Saganaki. Greeks love their cheeses, and their diet features many, many different variants of it. This dish is typically served as an appetizer, an entree or a meze choice and takes only 5 minutes to prepare using only two ingredients: flour and graviera or kefalotyri cheese. It holds a proud place in the menu of every Athenian tavern or restaurant in the beating heart of the city.

Be sure that Athens offers a variety of dining options, whether you want a formal dining experience or the laid back vibes and lively flavors of a local tavern. It is therefore worthwhile to investigate its diverse, urban culinary scene and why not discover all the must eat food in Athens, Greece with a Taste of Greece Tour from Discover Greek Culture. This private food tour offers you the chance to savor some of the aforementioned most popular delicacies for an authentic experience of Greek food culture in the center of the Greek capital. What you will taste on this tour includes traditional treats like loukoumades, bougatsa, cheese pie, spinach pie, the best Athenian version of Greece’s quintessential street food souvlaki, plus the best speciality meze in town.

Delight yourselves in the rich variety of Greek flavors and aromas, on a quintessential food tour that takes us through the streets of central Athens. Every bite and sip will bring you closer to our diverse and bespoken culinary tradition. Pair these gastronomical wonders with traditional Greek coffee, ouzo or tsipouro, local beers and vintage wines and raise your glasses to the true taste of Greece!