Athens, the capital of Greece is the city with a glorious history, the birthplace of
civilization.
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Location and climate
Athens is located in the prefecture of Attica and extends to the
peninsula that reaches up to Central Greece. It is surrounded by
mountains Ymmytos, Pendeli and Parnitha, northwards and eastwards,
and the Saronic Gulf southwards and westwards. Athens is just a few
kilometres away from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port
of the city.
The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and
very hot summers, ideal for tourism. The weather in Athens is very
predictable, however, very warm days with +20˚ and over in January
and February are not uncommon. Autumn and spring can be chilly
and wet, but you won’t need much more than an umbrella and a
warm sweater. Athens has about 55 days of rain per year totalling
404,4 mm.
History and sights
Athens, the capital of Greece is the city with a glorious history, the
birthplace of civilization. It is the city where democracy was born
and where many wise men lived and worked. Athens is constantly
inhabited since the Neolithic Age. The time of Athens highest bloom
was the 5th century. In 1834 Athens was chosen to be the capital of
Greece. The city now inhabits more than 4,5 million people.
Athens is built around the Acropolis and the pinnacle of Mt.
Lycabettus, which the goddess Athena was said to have dropped
from the heavens as a bulwark to defend the city. Dominating the
landscape, the Acropolis is an architectural masterpiece and one of
the most famous historical monuments in the world. The Holy Rock
of Acropolis dates back to the 5th BC.
Today
Athens has always attracted people’s attention, and the return of the
Olympic Games to their birthplace in 2004 proved that.
Athens is one of the most entertaining European cities, which has
to offer any kind of entertainment you like. The cafeteria is the main
meeting place. During the day cafes are packed with young people.
The most fashionable places are around the Athens University and
Kolonaki.
However, Athens is best known for its rich nightlife. The options
for entertainment are numerous. From cinemas and theatres to
restaurants and night clubs, many of which open after midnight.
How to arrive?
By plane
The new Athens airport Eleftherios Venizelos is located in Spata and
is one of the best airports in Europe. It airport serves daily flights to
Greece from several international airlines from all over the world. Taxis
and buses to and from Athens can be found opposite the main exit
of the airport. The bus journey is cheap and takes about 40 to 45
minutes to the city centre at Syntagma (Parliament) Square. The best
option is to take the Athens Metro.
By car or bus
If you are driving to Greece and you prefer to take a ferry from Italy,
head towards Ancona, Venice Bari or Brindisi, those ports have daily
connections to Corfu Igoumenitsa and Petras. Petras is about 207
kilometres away from Athens.
Be careful, driving in Greece is not easy. Greek drivers are speeding
and overtaking without warning. There are some good highways like
the Corinth-Athens and the Athens Larissa and the Egnatia highway.
By ship
The main harbor, Piraeus, 11 kilometres southwest of Athens, is a 15
minute metro ride to Monastiraki and Omonia squares. Bus runs from
Piraeus to central Athens every half hour.