Lavrion

A Doric marble temple built in 444 BC on a 60 m cliff at Cape Sounion, overlooking the Aegean at the height of Athens' Golden Age, with magnificent sea views.

It is on a cliff, where sea winds can be very strong, so take care that your hat does not blow away.

With tables right above the sand at Sounion Bay, it serves freshly delivered grilled red sea bream, grilled octopus, and chilled house white wine opposite the hilltop Temple of Poseidon.

An excellent location for a relaxed meal before sunset after visiting the temple.

A quiet cove directly below the cliff where the Temple of Poseidon stands, with clear water and sand where you can swim and relax while looking up at the ancient temple.

The waves are calm and the water deepens gradually, making it suitable for family swimming.

A Doric temple masterpiece built in the 5th century BC during the time of Pericles to house Athena Parthenos, displaying the perfect proportions of white Pentelic marble.

Admission is included with the Acropolis ticket; to help preserve the interior, visitors follow the route around the exterior colonnade.

A sacred rocky hill, the pinnacle of ancient Greek civilization and the first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, and other masterpieces of human architecture.

Advance online timed reservations are mandatory, and visitors should watch for slippery marble floors.

The historic horseshoe-shaped stadium that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the world's only stadium built entirely of pure white marble.

You can run on the track or enjoy views toward the Acropolis from the top of the stands.

A glass building just below the Acropolis hill, where you can see sculpted friezes arranged to the original scale of the Parthenon and original Caryatid statues.

Enjoy coffee or a meal with a view of the Acropolis at the museum’s second-floor outdoor terrace restaurant.

The central square of ancient Athens, where Socrates and Plato discussed philosophy and democracy was born, with the best-preserved Temple of Hephaestus.

You can also visit the museum inside the restored Stoa of Attalos.

A focal point of modern Greek history, where the solemn changing of the guard by Evzones in traditional dress takes place on the hour at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament.

The changing ceremony takes place on the hour, and a large official ceremony with a military band is held at 11 a.m. on Sundays.

Athens' oldest historic neighborhood, spreading along the northeastern foot of the Acropolis, with Neoclassical houses, maze-like cobbled lanes, bougainvillea, and cafés.

The lanes of Anafiotika, in the upper area, retain the appearance of Cycladic island villages in the Aegean.

A central square where Athens' history and commerce meet, with views of Hadrian's Library ruins, the flea-market lanes, and the Acropolis.

This is a busy transfer-station square, so keep an eye on your belongings.

A traditional Athens taverna dating from 1927, serving rich beef kokkinisto in tomato sauce and lamb cooked in a clay pot beneath large wine barrels.

Advance table reservations are recommended during peak lunch and dinner times.

A historic distillery and bar in Plaka, founded in 1909 and the neighborhood's oldest, where you can sample ouzo, tsipouro, and craft brandy beneath hundreds of colorful glass-bottle lights.

It is very popular for photos thanks to the enchanting atmosphere created by old wooden barrels and illuminated bottles.

A top Athens takeaway souvlaki shop, operating since 1950 and wrapping juicy grilled pork skewers, fresh tomatoes, and its signature spicy tomato sauce in pita bread.

It opens at 9 a.m. and closes as soon as ingredients run out, around 3 p.m., so visit early.