panathinaikon
stadium
This admireful beautiful marble stadium was
built in the 4th century BC. It has been restored twice since
then and its capacity is 70000 spectators. In 1896 the first
modern Olympic games took place in this stadium that is why
Greece wanted in 1996, 100 years later, Olympic games to be
held in Greece, as an honour to the country that created this
''thesmo'' thousand years ago. Visit it and you will be amazed
of what people created in a BC period and especially
if you think the reason they created it.
lycabettus
The highest hill of athens (which has
many hills) is 277m high offers a fantastic view of whole
Attica. The funicular brings you up to the top of the
hill or you can even walk till there. The nice little chapel
of St George and the theater in the north of the hill are
two of its attractions. You can enjoy there a cup of coffee
or a dinner at the cafe-restaurant at the top of the hill
admiring the magnificent view.
kolonaki
The most elegant and cosmopolitan area of athens, streching
out at the foot of lycabettus hill. Big squares, all the exclusive
shops, lots of coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Full of
nice streets only for pedestrians.
commercial
centre of athens
The nowardays commercail centre of Athens consists of a triangle
created by Panepistimiou -Athinas - Ermou street. Visit it.
panepistimiou
street - connects syntagma & omonia squares
Panepistimiou street or else Eleftheriou Venizelou street
is one of the main roads in the centre of Athens. You can
admire beautiful buildings at the road long: ''Iliou Melathron''
meaning the palace of Troe. It was the house of Heinrich Schlieman.,
the ''Academy'' the highest spiritual institution of the country,
the ''University'' the '' National Library'' with thousands
of books and manuscripts, and many other buildings hosting
today banks or other organisations.
athinas street
Athinas street is a central road connecting Omonia squate
with Monastiraki. It used to be the old market of Athens,
that is why one can feel the oriental character of the city.
The main market of the city (food market), the little shops
and the peculiar merchandises give the street a strange character
and make it very attractive.
ermou street
One of the most main commercial streets of Athens turned the
last few years in pedestrian streets. You will find many shops
and nice things to buy. Elegant shops, huge ''poikilia'' and
better prices than Kolonaki area.
psiri street
Another picturesque area with a strong local colour, revived
the last 5 years, very close to Monastiraki square and Athinas
street. Old, nearly forgotten taverns, small special shops,
A strong taste of the past. Most of the taverns offer live
Greek , old music.
voukourestiou
- valaoritou streets
Here you will find the best and most expensive
jewellery shops in Athens. Ask for a better price , there
is always perithoria. The streets are crossed again only by
pedestrians and you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee.
seaside athens
& pireas
If you have more time to spend in Athens don't
forget that it is a city that is surrounded by sea. Its south
and east suburbs lie by the seaside. Especially during summer
time the center of Athens becomes totally empty (especially
by night) while the south suburbs become the centre of life
and entertainment and the east remain more quiet and less
organised. You will find wonderfull cafes and taverns just
by the seashore as well as elegant and cosmopolitican shops
and restaurants. You get the feeling that you are found in
an island.
Glufada, Faliro, Kavouri, Vouliagmeni are the most elegant
suburbs while Nea Makri, Rafina, Zoumberi are less organised.
But an even more traditional area offering a taste of the
past and a little bit of the islands is Piraeus. Piraeus is
to the southwest of Athens, about 10 km from the center of
town. It is connected to the city by bus and the Athens metro
and by many is now cinsidered as an Athens suburb. Visit Mikrolimano,
full of fish taverns and nice bars and the experience will
remain unforgettable. |