Located in the region of Attica, Athens is a sprawling city established among seven historic hills and surrounded by remarkable mountains. Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Athens is widely known as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. As the largest and capital city of Greece, Athens is also the political, commercial, financial and cultural center of Greece.
Consisting of a large city center, an urban district and metropolitan area, Athens presents a confusing blend of historical and modern features. The city is famous for its archaeological ruins and monuments such as the famous Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Ancient Agora and the Theater of Dionysos just to name a few. However, Athens is not just about ancient ruins. This bustling city is also an important center for business, culture, nightlife and sports.
At the heart of Athens is its town square, Syntagma Square, which features the Parliament buildings, shops, cafes and green spaces. Outside the city center is a wide array of modern attractions that range from museums and art galleries to mega shopping malls to zoos and water parks.
The nightlife scene of Athens rivals that of any other European city. From a plethora of bars, dance halls and nightclubs to the world’s largest concentration of theaters and performance venues, Athens offers an abundance of nightlife choices.
Having hosted the Summer Olympics twice, once in 1896 and then again in 2004, Athens boasts a long tradition with sports. Home to two of the country’s largest stadiums as well as other sports complexes, Athens is host to a variety of sporting events such as soccer, football, volleyball and water polo.