Why Visit Athens

For my full guide to Athens click here.

Really there's three main reasons to visit Athens. History, sun, and more history. Sure there's a few other reasons for the trip, for instance there's some lovely bars, with Barley Cargo in particular standing out. There's the food, which is delicious, and by going to Athens and spending money you're helping to pay them back for Lord Elgin stealing their marbles. So really it's your civic duty to visit if you're from the UK. ​

Lets start with the weather. Athens is the second warmest capital in Europe, behind Valletta in Malta. ​With temperatures easily hitting 30 degrees in the summer, and only dropping below 20 in the very darkest recesses of winter. Athens is the ideal city to visit if you want to escape the British weather. When I went in late November last year it was still very much shorts and t-shirts weather at least until the late evening.

The Athenian Riviera is a beautiful coastal region about 20 minutes drive from the city centre where you can bask out in the Mediterranean heat until your heart is content. But if you really just want sun, sea and sand you can go pretty much anywhere in Greece.

Really you come to Athens to walk among the ghosts of the greats. Athens is very possible the most historically significant city in Europe, if not the world. It's the birthplace of democracy, modern medicine, scientific thought, literary genius, and the Olympic Games. The Greek hero's, gods, villains and monsters are still used in books and films today over two thousand years after they were first imagined.

While Athens may be the most historically important city in Europe there's no doubt The Acropolis, with the awe inspiring Parthenon and Erechtheion, is the star attraction of this great city.  This ancient site has been standing proud towering over the city for 2500 years. It was the political and religious centre of Greece, and one of the true must see before you die locations.

The old centre of Athens is awash with ancient temples, museums, sights and attractions. It's an incredible city, full of life and passionate people. There's the original Olympic Stadium crammed full of memorabilia, The Temple of Hephaestus, which is one of the best preserved in the world, day trips to the likes of Delphi and Marathon, and so much more. Athens really should be very high on anyone's list of must see cities.  

For my full guide to this amazing city click here