Athens

▲▲▲ Acropolis The most important ancient sight in the Western world, where Athenians built their architectural masterpiece, the Parthenon.

▲▲▲ Acropolis Museum Glassy modern temple for ancient art.

▲▲▲ Ancient Agora Social and commercial center of ancient Athens, with a well-preserved temple and an intimate museum.

▲▲▲ National Archaeological Museum World's best collection of ancient Greek art, displayed chronologically from 7000 BC to AD 500.

▲▲ "Acropolis Loop" Traffic-free pedestrian walkways ringing the Acropolis with vendors, cafés, and special events.

▲▲ Anafiotika Delightful neighborhood draped across the hillside north of the Acropolis.

▲▲ Temple of Olympian Zeus Remains of the largest temple in ancient Greece.

▲▲ Psyrri Vibrant neighborhood near the center, great for eating, exploring, and escaping other tourists.

▲▲ Benaki Museum of Greek History and Culture Exquisite collection of artifacts from the ancient, Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern eras.

▲▲ Museum of Cycladic Art World's largest compilation of Cycladic art, from 4,000 years ago.

▲▲ Byzantine and Christian Museum Fascinating look at the Byzantines, who put their own stamp on Greek and Roman culture.

▲▲ National Gallery Great art by this nation's top artists from around 1850 to the present.

▲ Mars Hill Historic spot — with a classic view of the Acropolis — where the Apostle Paul preached to the Athenians.

▲ Thissio Good neighborgood for food and drink, often accompanied by fine views of the Acropolis.

▲ Roman Forum and Tower of the Winds Ancient Roman marketplace with wondrously intact tower.

▲ Syntagma Square Famous public space with a popular changing-of-the-guard ceremony.

▲ Ermou Street Pleasant traffic-free pedestrian street brimming with international chain stores and fun people-watching.

▲ Church of Kapnikarea Small 11th-century Byzantine church with symbols of Greek Orthodox faith.

▲ Church of Agios Eleftherios Tiny Byzantine church decorated with a millennia of Christian bric-a-brac.

▲ Panathenaic (a.k.a. "Olympic") Stadium Gleaming marble stadium restored to its second-century AD condition.

▲ Central Market Fun and aromatic sensory adventure, with a mind-boggling assortment of food and local color.

▲ Museum of the City of Athens Former royal residence with exhibits about the city's 19th- and 20th-century history.

• Greece: Recommended Itinerary
• When to Go to Greece
• Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Greece
• Guidebook Updates for Greece
• Greece Rail Passes and Train Tips
• Greece: Recommended Books and Movies