Athens travel guide

The Home of Ancient Civilization and Ouzo

Like most big cities, Athens is a complex and layered place filled with paradoxes. As the birthplace of western civilization and the home of spectacular ancient sights, this capital city offers some of the most fascinating and traditionally Greek sights one could hope for--coupled with the most inauthentic of tourist traps and cheesy souvenirs (topless Aphrodite-shaped ouzo bottles, anyone?) Though it operates as the political and cultural center of Greece and houses almost half of the country's population, a large percentage of residents consider themselves displaced villagers and islanders rather than true Athenians. Many Greeks complain that the city is polluted and overcrowded, but travelers may be pleasantly surprised by the lovely botanical gardens, the charming outdoor tavernas, and the brand-new metro system, so clean that New Yorkers and Londoners won’t believe their eyes. All told, no trip to Greece is really complete without a stopover here--even amidst the crowds, the heat, and the madness, the sight of the Acropolis at night will take your breath away.