There is a continuous upward trend for tourism in Athens. It is a city with many advantages. It offers beautiful historical sites, fun opportunities, lovely beaches, and the chance to meet welcoming people and their interesting culture.
1. The historical sites are worth your time
A visit to Athens is a great opportunity for someone to see live all these places, statues, museums, and temples that she/he has heard so much about.
On top of the Acropolis’ Sacred Rock, one can see the principal buildings, such as the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and the magnificent Parthenon.
Continue your sightseeing to Syntagma Square in the heart of Athens and see the Greek House of Parliament, which used to be the country’s Royal Palace.
If you had the chance to visit other sites in Europe, and other Royal Palaces, you might notice a difference in scale or luxury.
You will understand why in primary school – a few years back – we were taught that “Greece is a poor country”. This is how our school books described our country to us!
Well, truth be told, as palaces go, our 18th-century Royal Palace was not a very impressive one.
Today, with The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Guards in front of it, the sight is quite interesting.
One can also visit The Hadrian Arch of Triumph and The Temple of Zeus, only a few hundred meters to the right. There you will see the Roman aspect of Athens.
Finally, one can enjoy the neoclassical part of the city center in Panepistimiou Str. (officially called El Venizelou Str.) by visiting the famous Athenian Trilogy: i) The University of Athens, ii) The Academy of Science, and iii) The National Library.
This way you cross Ancient and Classical Athens off your to-do list.
2. The Athens Riviera offers numerous beautiful beaches
Many call Athens’ sandy beaches the jewels of Attica.
Dozens of beaches gain year after year the “Blue Flag” distinction guaranteeing clear waters and all the necessary facilities.
There is of course the option of going for a swim on a non-organized beach as you coast further to the south and choose where you will swim among the best areas of the region.
Young people also enjoy the luxurious summer clubs which stretch down the coast. They may start from Alimos and the beach resorts in Glyfada. Then move on to luxury Vouliagmeni, up until they reach the ancient site of Cape Sounio with the breathtaking view of the incomparable blue of the Aegean.
3. The people are welcoming
Greeks are well known for their hospitality. It is a characteristic going back to their 3000 years of history. It was an institution for people in Ancient Athens to welcome and take care of strangers. They especially valued hospitality and considered it a moral duty and a sacred rule of the gods.
In modern Greek, the word for hospitality is philoxenia which is two words Philos (friend) and Xenos (stranger, foreigner).
Tourism today is one of the country’s basic income streams. So one could argue that it is because of their professionalism that people in the tourist industry are polite.
While this may be the case, people in Athens go above and beyond. They feel they should help and they will try to.
4. The culture is worth the trip
It is not only the hospitality that is different than in most places.
The way of life in Athens, and the city’s culture, include many interesting topics. A few aspects one can enjoy exploring are
- the city’s unique relationship with food,
- the huge families and their ties often among three generations,
- the way people communicate,
- the way they have a good time,
- the pace, the rhythm, and
- the music they enjoy.
People in Athens enjoy good cooking. Although all the well-known fast food chains are available, family-cooked food is in most cases the norm.
The typical Greek family is a close net group. One helps the other and everyone would wish for some additional discretion. Many times there is a real relationship between grandchildren and grandparents which provides a sense of continuity and stability.
People in Athens are energetic and loud. In many cases, inside a bus or a doctor’s waiting room, you will listen to them discussing the day’s events vividly.
They enjoy going out and many times they are spontaneous about it. The city offers a variety of choices so something good will come up.
Many days it is difficult to maintain your cool, especially when there is a traffic jam going on. But still, people know that there is no need to hustle or run.
Punctuality is not their strong suit especially when they can get away with it. I have not heard of people losing their plane/train trip or not being on time for the cinema/theater. It is a case-by-case approach.
In Athens, the birthplace of Maria Kallas and Vassilis Tsitsanis there are many places you can listen to music. Concerts, music halls, bars, traditional taverns with live Greek music (a guitar and a bouzouki), or big stages with star singers and flowers, are all there. And they are worth the trouble.
5. The nightlife in Athens is non-stop
Greeks believe that having a good time is an indispensable part of any well-balanced life. So they try to go out on more occasions during the week. Not only on “Saturday night” or even on “Friday night”.
Bars and restaurants operate almost every night and in many of them, reservations are necessary even on a weeknight.
Another thing that is different in Athens, in comparison to other major cities, is the way young people drink alcohol.
The law prohibiting consumption in bars for minors was passed in 2008. But even for a long time after that in most places, there was no real control.
The Greek family is not very anxious about how or when their children will drink a beer, some wine, or even heavier drinks. Most families do not have someone sick with alcoholism in them, so they do not consider it a possible danger.
The typical Sunday meal is usually accompanied by wine or beer. During that, it is not uncommon for children to be allowed to “try alcohol” even at a young age.
Thus, 18 years olds on vacations with friends in the Greek islands, are not anxious to “try the forbidden fruit”. It was not that much forbidden to begin with.
Overall, both locals and tourists, 18 years or older, can easily get a drink in a bar, in a restaurant, or at a picnic at the beach and have a great time. Hopefully by drinking socially and in moderation.
6. The weather on most days is …nice.
It is not very often that just “nice” is the best option. But the Athenian nice weather on 90% of the days allows for people to have a wonderful time whatever they decide to do.
August can be really hot, so we do not go out in Syntagma square at noontime. There are so many cool parks to spend your time in under the trees.
Or one can visit Kifissia, the luxurious northern suburb where the temperature is always cooler. Or go to the beach with water, a hat, sunglasses, and anti-sun cream.
January is the coldest month, right after Christmas, we enjoy time in or at the nearby ski resorts.
This variety is what makes the rest of the year so beautiful. Sunny days and temperatures around 20 Celsius 68 Fahrenheit with light breezes are what one can expect most of the days.
The weather is not the basic benefit for a tourist to choose Athens. It is just an extra plus.