Sightseeing in Athens

From historical sites, to museums and night life, Athens, Greece has it all. One of the most popular sites there is the Parthenon. This temple to the goddess Athena is an amazing architectural triumph. For architectural buffs, Athens presents a wide range of Greco-Roman and Neo-Classical styles. The City Hall, Parliament Building, the University of Athens, the National Historical Museum and Zappeion Hall are the best examples.

One can spend their entire vacation taking in the many museums. The National Archaeological Museum, rated among the top ten in the world, not only contains a collection of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean artifacts, but the building itself is a neoclassical edifice.

For history buffs the Benaki Museum presents both ancient and modern exhibits. Ancient Greek art is presented in the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art. There is a museum of Greek folk art and a Jewish Museum, presenting the history of the Jewish community prior to the Holocaust.

The National Gallery houses paintings and sculptures of contemporary artists. There is also the Museum of Popular Musical Instruments, where you can listen, via headphones, to various musical styles. There is a Theatrical Museum, a Costume Museum and the National Historical Museum, dedicated to the Greek War of Independence.

The Athens Zoo has the second largest collection of birds in the world. The caged birds come forward to greet the visitors. The larger birds are housed in large enclosed gardens and may fly over your head. The night life rivals that of New York. Psiri was a working class neighborhood housing dissidents and criminals. A law was passed designating the area for nightlife. There are cafes, rock clubs, discos and clubs all over the city.

So, if you go to Athens, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to enjoy this vibrant city.