Alike any European city, the center of Athens can be easily explored on foot in order to discover its hidden treasures to appreciate its contradictory, thus charming, character. As the public transportation hub of the whole city, Syntagma Square is a starting point for the Athenian visitor. With the view of the Greek Parliament, a gigantic building to previously host the royal palace during the Ottoman Empire, Syntagma is the nowadays thriving heart of the modern city of Athens. Every hour, tourists gather at the bottom of the square, right in front of the entrance of the parliament building to photograph the unique changing of the guard. Peripherally to the square, the numerous cafes, the up scale shopping centers as well as some of the most renowned and historical Athenian luxury hotels, give an impressive look of the city especially under the evening lights.

Within a short walk from the square, is the Academy of Athens, the national academy of the country, built as a tribute to the Academy of Plato. The magnificent complex of buildings along with the imposing statues of ancient Greek gods and philosophers, honors the tradition of knowledge, philosophy and study in the country, making it one of the most photographed landmark of the city.

As an extension of the Parliament, visitors can find an escape to greenery at the National Garden. Although situated on the heart of the busy city center, one can relax and enjoy tranquility on the gardens inspired by Queen Amalia’s and designed for recreational activities of the royal family. With ancient ruins to ogle at every turn, nowadays the garden hosts a zoo, a botanical museum, a playground and small lakes with geese and swans surrounded by lavish green. Between the National Garden and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, is Zappeion Megaron Hall of Athens, one of the first buildings in Europe specifically designed for exhibitions and conferences built to serve the needs of the revival of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, also used for the 2004 Games. For the same purpose the astonishing Panathenian stadium located right below Zappeion, was also refurbished.

Another way to escape from the crowds of the Greek capital is a visit in Lykavittos Hill. Visible from the Acropolis, the greatest summit of Athens, Lykavittos offers a magnificent panorama of the entire city. Easily accessed by cable car from the area of Kolonaki passing though a pine forest, is worth a visit to enjoy the magnificent view of significant landmarks of the city from the white chapel of St George, while having a refreshment or a mean at one of the restaurants and cafes of the hill. The open air theater on the hilltop, hosts several concerts or performances during the summer period as a great opportunity for entertainment

As an extension of the Greek Parliament and the Syntagma square, is the pedestrian street Ermou, a shoppers’ paradise for both locals and tourists that leads to Plaka, the most popular and vibrant area of Athens. At this part of the city, the whole history of the city passes in front of the visitors’ eyes, where several archaeological sights such as the Tower of the winds, proudly impose between neoclassical buildings in stone paved labyrinth streets. Here the visitor can also get an essence of the Cycladic islands at the area of Anafiotika where the islands’ architecture prevails in order to make newcomers from the islands feel less homesick. Before knowing it, through this endless stroll at the oldest part of the inhabited city, one finds himself at Monastiraki and Thissio where restaurants, taverns, bars and shops are gathered to offer high standard services with great views of Acropolis. As Athens is said to be a city that never sleeps, many areas at the center of the city have become nightlife hot spots such as Psirri where old wokshops where converted into taverns and clubs, the born-again industrial zone of Gazi and Keramikos to host an alternative vibe, while the up scale area of Kolonaki is full of fashionable lounge bars and bistros. As summer and sandy beaches come together, even at the capital of Greece, just a few kilometres from the city centre there are numerous seafront cocktail bars in Alimos Glyfada and Voula.