Athens exudes a unique charm, its lively character winning over tens of thousands of visitors every year. Street markets, vine-covered tavernas, souvenir stalls and ancient monuments are dotted among high-rise buildings in this capital city, which one out of four Greeks call home. For tourists the greatest advantage is that most attractions are accessible on foot in the central area around the landmark Acropolis.

Athens was named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, who according to mythology won the city as prize after a duel against Poseidon. The city can chart its history back thousands of years and is regarded as the cradle of western civilisation; the place where democracy was invented and philosophy, art and architecture were refined. After a classical golden age when it was home to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the city declined in the Middle Ages, dwindling to nothing but a town with a few thousand residents gathered in the colourful area that is now known as the Plaka, until its rebirth as capital of an independent Greece in 1834.

Nowadays the city is busy and bustling. While the pollution, frantic gridlock and dingy buildings is of great contrast to the open beauty of Greece's coast and islands, Athens is truly the heartbeat of the country, and ancient wonders like the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Temples of Zeus and Hephaesus ensure that Athens will always have its attractions.

Acropolis

Address: Dionysiou Areopagitou Street Athens

Admission: EUR12 for adults, under 19s free. Other concessions available. Daily 8:30am-8pm (April to October); 8:30am-3pm (November to March).

Telephone: (01) 923 8175

Ancient Agora

Address: Athens

Admission: EUR4 for adults), under 19s free. Free with a valid Acropolis ticket. Daily 8am-7pm in summer, 8:30am-6pm in winter.

Telephone: (01) 321 0185

National Archaeological Museum

Address: Patission 44 Street Athens

Admission: EUR7 (adults); EUR3 (concessions). From November to March, Sundays are free. Tuesday to Sunday 8am-7pm. Monday 1:30am-8pm.

Telephone: +30 210 8217724

Piraeus

Address: Athens

Admission: The museum opens Tuesday to Saturday 9am-2pm.

Plaka

Address: Athens

Kolonaki/Lykavittos Hill

Address: Athens

Admission: The funicular runs Friday to Wednesday 8:45am-midnight, and Thursday 10:30am-midnight

Syntagma Square

Address: Athens

Cape Sounion

Address: Athens

Monastery of Daphni

Address: Athinon Avenue, Daphni Athens

Admission: EUR3. From November to March, Sundays are free. Daily 8am-2:30pm.

Marathon

Address: 114 Plataion Street Athens

Delphi

Address: Athens

Admission: EUR6 (concessions EUR3) Monday and Tuesday 8:30am-3pm; Saturday and Sunday 8am-8pm.

Telephone: +30 226 508 2313

Saronic Islands

Address: Athens

Benaki Museum

Address: 1 Koumbari Street & Vas. Sofias Avenue Athens

Admission: EUR7; concessions available. Free on Thursdays. Separate admission to the Museum of Islamic Art. 9am-5pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; closes midnight on Thursdays and 3pm on Sundays.

Telephone: 210 367 1000

Koutouki Cave

Address: Athens

Admission: EUR2 Daily 9am-4:30pm.

Attica Zoological Gardens

Address: Gallous Street, Spata Athens

Admission: EUR15 (adults); EUR11 (children) Children under 3 are free. Concessions available. Open daily 9am to sunset.

Telephone: (210) 663 4724

National Gardens

Address: Amalius Avenue Athens

Admission: Gardens open daily. Children's Library open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30am to 3pm. Closed in August.

Goulandris Museum of Natural History

Address: Levidou Street 13 Athens

Admission: EUR5 (adults) EUR3 (children). Concessions available Open Monday to Saturday 9am–2:30pm. Sundays 10am-2:30pm. Closed public holidays.

Telephone: (210) 801 5870

Allou Fun Park

Address: Agios Ioannis Rentis Athens

Admission: Open Monday to Friday 5pm-1am; Saturday and Sunday 10am-2am.

Telephone: (210) 425 6999

Hellenic Children's Museum

Address: 4 Kidathineon Athens

Admission: Free Open Tuesday to Friday 10am-2pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm. Closed on Mondays.

Telephone: (210) 331 29956

Athens Festival

Where: Herod Atticus Odeon and other venues,Athens

When: August 2012 TBA

Lycabettus Hill Festival

Where: Lycabettus Hill Amphitheatre (travel up by funicular, or walk),Athens

When: May to September 2011

Traditional Greek Dance Festival

Where: Dora Stratou Theatre,Athens

When: July 2012 TBA

Rockwave Festival

Where: Terra Vibe,Athens

When: July 2012 TBA

48 The Restaurant

Address: 48 Armatolon Klefton Athens

Food Type: Local

Alatsi

Address: 13 Vrasida Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

Daphne's

Address: Lysikratous 4 Athens

Food Type: Local

Chez Lucien

Address: 32 Troon Street, Ano Petralona Athens

Food Type: French

Spondi

Address: Athens

Food Type: International

Taverna Tou Psirri

Address: 12 Aiskilou Street Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

Giouvetsakia

Address: 144 Adrianou and Thespidos Streets Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

O Glikis

Address: Corner of Geronda and Eperidou Streets Athens

Food Type: International

Vlassis

Address: 8 Paster Street, Ampelokipi Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

Varoulko

Address: 80 Piraios Street Athens

Food Type: Seafood

Oroscopo

Address: 42-44 Antinoros street Athens

Food Type: International