is regarded as the birthplace of Western civilization and therefore provides visitors with distinct historical places of interest. When you leisurely walk through the Dionysus Theatre or the Ancient Agora, you get a tangible sense of history in the home of Aristotle, Socrates and Plato. Combine the culture with a host of modern bars, clubs and restaurants, and you quickly see why Athens city breaks are so popular.
Whether you’re interested in history and archaeology or not, no visitor can resist a visit to the famous Acropolis and the phenomenal Parthenon. It is an outstanding site with a majestic atmosphere, best experienced early in the morning just after sunrise or in the evening just before dusk.
One major benefit of Athens is that the most popular sights are mostly all within walking distance of each other, which contributes to the whole vacation experience. And when you’ve had your fill of cultural icons, you can enjoy a shopping spree at the Plaka Centre with its range of attractive cafes, boutiques and shops.
After staging the 2004 Olympic Games, Athens became an even more attractive short breaks destination due to the reconstruction of parts of the city, the improvement of metro lines and the addition of a new airport.
As a rule, you can experience pleasantly sunny and warm weather for most of the year in Athens. In summer it can get really hot and sweltering, so if you book in the high season make sure to pack your sun cream. During the low season too, the chances are good that you’ll experience reasonably mild temperatures and lovely sunny days, making Athens city breaks the perfect year round choice.
