The most distinctive landmark in Athens and a symbol of Greece itself is the Acropolis. Sitting at the Acropolis stands the majestic Parthenon, visible from miles in any direction. The structure is an engineering marvel and a true testament to Ancient Greek ingenuity. The Parthenon is easily the largest temple constructed in Greece and is made entirely of Pentelic Marble. Currently the structure is going an extensive renovation, but is still open to the general public.

There is a 3D animation of the Acropolis on Greece: the Crucible of Civilization. The site includes information on how the Parthenon in Athens was built plus a lot of other interesting information about Ancient Greece.

Just a short distance from the Acropolis rises Filopappos hill. From a vantage one has stunning views of Athens. From this hill one can follow a narrow trail to a small rocky hill called Pnyx. The importance of this hill rests in the fact that during the 5th century BC the Athenian Democratic Assembly meet here. Some of the more famous orators of that time included Pericles, Demosthenes, and Aristides.

Not known as a city of parks, Athens does have the Zappion, the Pedion tou Areos and the National Gardens, all of which are a great place to relax and get out of the grind of the city.

When people think of Greece the Olympics tends to come to mind. From a modern day perspective the first Olympics were held in 1896 in Athens at the Panathenaic Stadium. Constructed in the 4th century BC, the stadium is still in use for certain events such as the endpoint of the Athens Marathon.

Athens is home to a wide variety of quality museums. For museum listings, visit the Greek Ministry of Culture. If however your time allows for only one museum visit, then the National Archaeological Museum would have to be it. The museum is home to a wide array of Greek antiquities. Some exhibits of note are the Hall of Mycenaean Antiquities and the frescoes from Thira (Santorini).

the National Archaeological Museum contains the world's finest Greek antiquities. Don't miss the Hall of Mycenaean Antiquities and the exhibition of frescoes from Thira (Santorini).

Finally, the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art houses a stunning collection of Cycladic art.