The old quarter of the town, Plaka, which spreads around the Acropolis, is picturesque with its famed flea market, small tavernas, craft shops and narrow winding alleys. The excavations of the Library of Hadrian can be observed from Pandrossou Street. The center of modern Athens, most notably the chic area of Kolonaki, has many designer boutiques, smart restaurants and international class hotels.

Close by lie the Theater of Dionysus and the restored Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a superb theater in which open air performances of the International Athens Festival are held from June to September.

The ruins of the civic, political and commercial center of the Ancient Agora can be visited, as can the reconstructed Hellenistic Stoa of Attalos, which houses the Agora Museum. Most artifacts are displayed in the National Archaeological Museum on Patission Street.

The metropolitan area, including the port at Piraeus, is the indisputable industrial and economic powerhouse of the country and the return of the Olympic Games in 2004 is prompting a flurry of new development. Major projects include the recently opened Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, the extension of the Athens metro system, the building of new sports venues and the upgrading of hotel accommodation.

In addition, ancient sites within the city center are to be linked by a traffic-free ‘archaeological promenade’ intended to enhance the urban environment for locals and visitors alike. The city also has a thriving nightlife, with most bars and clubs staying open until at least 0300.

Athens memory never fades. Wherever you stand, wherever you turn, the city's long and rich history will be right apparent, a wonderful place to discover and learn the language.

Our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture and customs. Below are some of our recommended highlights. Some tours and packages can be organized when booking your program, please see the program price page for more information.

city tour
Athens is dominated by the flat-topped hill of the Acropolis, site of the 2400-year-old Parthenon, one of the most famous classical monuments in the world. Close by lie the Theatre of Dionysus and the restored Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a superb theater in which opener performances of the International Athens Festival are held from June to September. The ruins of the civic, political and commercial center of the Ancient Agora can be visited, as can the reconstructed Hellenistic Stoa of Attalos, which houses the Agora Museum.

Most artifacts are displayed in the National Archaeological Museum on Patission Street. The old quarter of the town, Plaka, which spreads around the Acropolis, is picturesque with its famed flea market, small tavernas, craft shops and narrow winding alleys. The excavations of the Library of Hadrian can be observed from Pandrossou Street. The center of modern Athens, most notably the chic area of Kolonaki, has many designer boutiques, smart restaurants and international-class hotels. The city has a thriving nightlife, with most bars and clubs staying open until at least 0300.

akrópoli
The Acropolis (upper city) dominates both the city's skyline and any tourist's itinerary. The name refers to the rocky outcrop that formed the site of the original settlement in Athens. Foundations for a temple dedicated to Athena were laid in 490BC, however, work did not begin in earnest until the Golden Age of Pericles (461-429BC). The Acropolis site includes the Acropolis Museum and four sacred buildings, all from the fifth century BC.

The steep ascent to the summit leads to the Propylaea, a monumental gateway in the Ionic and Doric styles, which serves as the entrance to the site. The Temple of Athena Nike is to the left of the Propylaea - the original was destroyed by Turkish forces in the 17th century but has been beautifully restored. The Parthenon is the largest building on the Acropolis and an icon of Western civilisation. Built entirely from marble that glows gold at sunset, the Parthenon was intended as a sanctuary for Athena and housed a statue (no longer in existence) of the goddess. Despite the tourists, the perfect harmony of the structure is still awe-inspiring.

ethnikó archaiologikó mouseio (national archaeological museum)
This museum houses one of the finest collections of ancient Greek artefacts in the world, including sculpture, pottery, Minoan frescoes and gold treasures from Mycenae. On the down side, the crowds are huge - particularly in summer. A detailed guidebook is necessary to make the most of the riches the Ethnikó Archaiologikó Mouseio has to offer. Tours in English and other languages are provided.

agorá
Although the site is now a jumble of monuments and ruins from different periods, in Athens' heyday, the Agorá (market) was once the focus of city life, serving not only as a place of trade but also as the city's political, administrative and cultural heart. Law courts, temples and public offices were all based in this area, where ordinary Athenians, stall holders and merchants mingled with officials, politicians and philosophers.

The site is dominated by the Hephaisteion (Temple of Haephaistos), from the fifth century BC, one of the best-preserved ancient temples in Greece. Its name comes from the god of fire and metalwork - this area of the city was originally the blacksmiths quarter - but it is also known as the Thiseío (Theseion), because its friezes depict images of Theseus from Greek mythology. The Ágioi Apóstoloi (Church of the Holy Apostles) dates from the second century AD and was restored in the 1950s. Interior features include post-Byzantine frescoes and early wall paintings.

vizantino mouseio (byzantine museum)
Housed in a delightful neo-classical building, this museum traces the course of Byzantine art through the centuries. Besides boasting one of the richest collections of icons in the world, the museum exhibits mosaics, sculptural works and jewellery from the area that is now Greece, as well as from other regions of the former Byzantine Empire. Also of interest are three reconstructions of period churches - early Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine.

mouseío ellinikón mousikon orgánon (museum of greek musical instruments)
Housed in a renovated 19th-century mansion, the Mouseío Ellinikón Mousikon Orgánon displays a collection accumulated by the musicologist, Fivos Anoyanakis. This museum is great fun - each display case is accompanied by a headset, so that visitors can listen to the sound of the instruments. Films in the entrance feature their construction and performance. Information is provided in English.

mouseío kykladikís kai archaías ellinikís téchnis (museum of cycladic and ancient greek art)
The museum houses the private collection of Nikolas P Goulandris. Beautiful exhibits from the Cycladic civilisation (3000-2000BC) form the focus of the collection but other artefacts cover the pre-Minoan Bronze Age and the post-Mycenaen age up to 700BC. The museum makes good use of multimedia information and is less daunting than the National Archaeological Museum.

panathinaiko stádio (panathenaic stadium)
The elegant three-sided stone stadium was built in 1896, for the first of the modern day Olympic Games. The design by Ernst Ziller was based on the plan of a fourth-century BC stadium that originally stood on the site. The Stádio is the finishing point for the Athens marathon in October and should not to be confused with the modern Olympic Stadium that was built in the north of the city, in 1982.

green spaces
The Ethnikós Kipos (National Gardens) are a welcome green haven in the centre of the city. The gardens have peacocks and a small botanical museum. Another calm spot is the Kerameikós Cemetery, named after the patron saint of potters and ceramics and dating from the 12th century BC. Tombstones range from the grand to the poignantly simple.

excursions

temple of poseidon
Built in 444BC, the Temple of Poseidon stands on the tip of Cape Sounion, overlooking the Aegean Sea, and is a spectacular sight, particularly when there is a good sunset. The site is open daily from 1000 until sunset and admission is Dr800/EUR2.50. The coastal road from Athens offers a dramatic route to the ruins, which can be reached by bus from the city centre.

delphi
Pilgrims visited Delphi until the fourth century AD, to seek advice from its famous oracles. Situated on dramatic cliffs to the west of Athens, the site includes the Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Way, a vast amphitheatre (offering the best view of the site), a stadium and an excellent museum.

peloponnese
It is possible to take trips from Athens to the major classical sites in the Peloponnese, including Corinth, Mycenae and Epidaurus. Although the modern town of Kórinthos (Corinth) is fairly unpleasant, the surrounding attractions include Ancient Corinth - the Roman capital of Greece - the acropolis of Acrocorinth and the Corinth Canal. The vast ancient theatre at Epidaurus enjoys a spectacular setting, pin-drop acoustics and is remarkably well preserved.

beaches
For visitors who need a break from so much culture, there are reasonable beaches south of Athens at Glyfada, Vouliagméni and Varkiza. Alternatively, the mountains that surround the city offer excellent opportunities for walking and hiking and are delightful in spring when the slopes are covered with flowers and wildlife. Mount Párnitha, an hour's drive north of the city, is easily accessible and has well-marked paths.