Short trip to Athens

In October 2022, we went to Greece for a week with the whole family. We spent the first three nights in Athens. We arrived at Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (Ελ. Βενιζέλος) and took the metro into the old town of Athens to the Monastiraki stop, where we moved into our apartment. As we didn't arrive until the afternoon, we first went shopping and out to eat.

Map

The map shows the city center of Athens in Greece. The blue markers show the locations of the photos taken, which can be clicked on. The red markers open detailed maps.

Acropolis

Our apartment was in the immediate vicinity of the Acropolis. So we were there the very next morning when it opened and were able to marvel at the Acropolis with relatively few other tourists. The Acropolis is very centrally located on a rock in the old town of Athens.

Akopolis map

The map shows the Acropolis. The upper, northern part with the border is the Acropolis fortress on the rock with the Parthenon and Erechtheion. In the southern part are the Odeon amphitheater of Herodes Atticus and the Theater of Dionysus.

• Πύλη= Gate,
• Ναός Αθηνάς Νίκης = Temple of Athena Nike,
• Παρθενών = Parthenon,
• Ερέχθειο = Erechtheion,
• Αθηνάς Ναός = Athena Temple,
• Άγαλμα Αθηνάς Προμάχου = Statue of Athena Promachos

Main Entrance

We entered the Acropolis from the main entrance in the north-west. Stairs take you past the Temple of Athena Nike and you enter the upper rock through the Propylaia. On the stairs you have a beautiful view of the Areopagus Hill and the National Observatory of Athens.

Akropolis Rock

After crossing the Propylaia, you stand on the Akroplis rock. You can see the remains of the pedestal of the statue of Athena Promachos. Further up, you can see the Erechtheion on the left and the Parthenon on the right

Parthenon

The Parthenon was built as a temple to the goddess Pallas Athena Parthenos and is probably the largest and most famous building on the Acropolis. The sun was shining on the columns of the Parthenon as we approached it from the west in the morning.

From the Parthenon you have a marvellous view over the southern city and the Saronic Gulf. Directly below the Acropolis Rock is the Odeon amphitheatre of Herodes Atticus and the Philopappos Monument, a tomb on the Hill of the Muses.

The morning sun shone golden on the Parthenon from the east. In the foreground, the remains of the Temple of Rome and Augustus.

Observation tower with Greek flag

The observation tower on the eastern side offers a wonderful view of the old town of Athens and Lycabettus Hill with the Chapel of St George

Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is located on the northern part of the Acropolis rock. It consists of the Temple of Athena Polias, which makes up the largest part of the building. There is also the North Hall and the Caryatids, larger-than-life depictions of graceful female slaves from Karyai.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

A path leads from the western entrance to the southern part of the Acropolis below the rock of Acroplis. On the way down, you pass the Amphitheatre Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The funerary monument of Gaius Iulius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos on Mouseion Hill is also well worth seeing.

South of the Acropolis

Finally, from the south towards the Acropolis Museum, there is an impressive view of the Acropolis Hill with the fortress and the Parthenon. Below it, halfway up, is the Choragic Monument and the Corinthian columns above it. The remains of the Theatre of Dionysus can still be seen below.

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is located in the immediate vicinity to the south of the Acropolis. It was built on excavations and blends well into the cityscape of Athens with its modern glass architecture. From the museum you have a direct view of the Acropolis.

Ancient Agora of Athens

To the northwest of the Acropolis is the Ancient Agora, a central public space. The site includes the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos.

Ancient Agora of Athens Map

Here is the map of the Ancient Agora. You enter the site from the north via a small bridge that crosses over excavation sites and the metro line. To the east is a long building, the Stoa of Attalos. The Temple of Hephaestus is located on the western side.

Stoa of Attalos

A stoa is a covered walkway or portico. The current building of the Stoa of Attalos is a reconstruction from the 20th century and serves as a museum.

On the Agora grounds you have a nice view of the northwest side of the Acropolis.

Temple of Hephaestus

The Temple of Hephaestus is located on the north-west side of the Agora of Athens on the Agoraios Kolonos hill. It is an almost completely preserved Greek temple.

An archaeological site can be seen on the bridge at the entrance to the ancient Agora of Athens, between the metro line and the road.

Athens at night

Here are a few long exposure shots of Athens in the evening. We had a beautiful view from our holiday apartment over old Athens and Lycabettus Hill.

Strolls through the city

Here are a few more pictures from strolls through the city.