| Athens, the capital and largest city of Greece is a | | | | extensive collection of Greek coins. |
| sightseer's delight and a reflection of the rich and | | | | The oldest quarter of Athens is Plaka, the former night |
| ancient history of the country. The city in itself is a | | | | club district of the town. Today, the area is full of |
| paradox: a rich cultural heritage whose recorded | | | | cafes, tourist shops and restaurants, and a pleasant |
| history goes as far back as 4000 years and a | | | | neighborhood of central Athens following a |
| completely modernized post Olympic profile. | | | | government crackdown on the night clubs. The shops |
| Historians call Athens the "cradle of western | | | | in Plaka sell some interesting souvenirs and trinkets, |
| civilization". A powerful city state in the classical era, | | | | including hand painted icons, woodcarvings, paintings |
| Athens was the birthplace of democracy and it is | | | | and antiques that make good gift items. |
| home to several important monuments, archeological | | | | The city of Athens has something to offer for all ages |
| sites and works of art that bear testimony to the city's | | | | and tastes. Syntagma Square, the capital's central and |
| glorious past. One of the most enduring symbol of | | | | largest square, lying next to the Greek Parliament is |
| ancient Greece and an important landmark of Athens | | | | where the city's most notable hotels are situated. The |
| is the Parthenon, a splendid piece of temple | | | | area from Syntagma Square to Monastiraki, has been |
| architecture dedicated to goddess Athena. | | | | regarded as a consumer's paradise for tourists and is |
| Constructed in the 5th century BC, the temple houses | | | | bustling with fashion shops and shopping centers. |
| some magnificent sculptures widely regarded as some | | | | Rated among the 5 most expensive shopping streets |
| of the finest examples of classical Greek art. | | | | in Europe, the shops sell many top international brands. |
| Athens is a paradise for history buffs: the city is the | | | | Tours of the city of Athens also reveal a variety of |
| most important center for archaeological research in | | | | architectural styles, ranging from Greco-Roman, |
| Greece and houses a multitude of museums. The | | | | Neoclassical, to modern, all found, often in the same |
| National Archaeological Museum houses a vast | | | | area giving the city a unique and distinct architectural |
| collection of priceless antiquities covering a period of | | | | style. The magnificent city can be seen as a half-day, |
| over 5,000 years. The Benaki Museum houses a vast | | | | a full-day, or multi-day tours depending on how much |
| collection of ancient, Byzantine, Ottoman, Islamic and | | | | time one has to spare. But whatever the case, with its |
| Chinese Greek art, while classic pieces of Byzantine | | | | glorious past and the interesting present, the city of |
| art can be viewed at the Byzantine and Christian | | | | Athens can overwhelm and charm even the most |
| Museum. The Numismatic Museum is home to an | | | | casual visitor. |