Modern Day Athens

Athens, Greece has a rich culture and history that draws tourists from around the world each year. Greece is home to the Acropolis, an ancient monument containing the Parthenon temple, the Temple of Athena and the Propylaia. Greece is also one of the world’s main centers for archeological research and home to the Demokritis laboratory for Archaeometry.

Athens is home to more than one third of Greece’s population or 5 million residents. Athens is the country’s largest city spanning 476 square kilometers. Its mix of the classical sites, new metropolitan centers and mild Mediterranean climate makes Athens a favorite tourist location. Today, the city of Athens is a thriving metropolis with over 70 residential communities, several hospitals, numerous universities and a major commercial port.

There are many transportation choices available for tourists. Public transportation is usually their best choice for getting around. Some options available are the Metro Line, bus, subway, trolley bus, taxi, tram and by foot. There are ferries that provide transportation to Italy, Cyprus and the Greek Islands to Piraeus. Cars and mopeds can also be rented as long as you have a valid international driver’s license.

Greek is the official language and most people working in the tourism industry will speak good English. Knowing a few basic Greek words would be a good idea for a tourist. Some of the favorite tourist activities are visiting the cafes and taverns, historical archaeological sites, shopping, museums, boat tours, theater, concerts, open air cinemas, diving and helicopter tours. The busy tourist season is between July to late September. Athens is a diverse cultural, financial and bustling city that was once several small towns and villages.