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 all form a conglomerate with buildings old and new in this 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. Walking is the best way to soak up the Athenian atmosphere because the traffic can reach nightmare proportions.

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.

Acropolis

Address: Dionysiou Areopagitou Street Athens

Admission: EUR12 for adults, under 19s free. Daily 8.30am to 8pm (April to October); 8.30am to 3pm (November to March)

Telephone: (01) 923 8175

Those arriving in Athens for the first time generally head immediately for the Acropolis. There are very few visitors who are not already familiar with the image of this distinctive citadel of ancient Athens, perched on its steep flat-topped rock above the sprawling city. It is the spot where Athens, and classical Greek civilisation, began, and the site of a collection of beautiful temples, most dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, Athena. The ruins that remain visible today date from the 4th century BC, most of them erected by Pericles after the Persians destroyed many of the original Acropolis buildings. Visitors toil up the slopes past the souvenir stands and enter the site through the monumental entranceway, the Propylaia, which in ancient times contained an art gallery. To the right of the entrance is the tiny temple of Athena Nike, reconstructed and restored. The Parthenon, the greatest surviving monument of Doric architecture, is the biggest drawcard on the Acropolis, built of Pentelic marble quarried from the distant mountains, which form the backdrop to the magnificent view of Athens from the Acropolis. Alongside the Parthenon is another temple, the Erechtheion, which bears holes on its northern porch where Poseidon's trident struck it during his contest with Athena to have the city named after him. There is a museum on the Acropolis where some of the carving and friezes recovered from the temples are on show, although many of the archaeological finds from the Acropolis are now housed in the British Museum in London.

Ancient Agora

Address: Athens

Admission: EUR4 for adults), under 19s free. Daily 8am to 7.30pm

Telephone: (01) 321 0185

Clustered below the Acropolis (enter from Odos Adrianou, east of Monastiraki Square) is the remains of the Agora, ancient Athens' commercial and civic centre, where once walked and talked the great philosophers Socrates and Plato. In fact the disgraced and despairing Socrates committed suicide in a prison in the southwest corner of the Agora, by drinking poison. The area is littered with the ruins of numerous ancient buildings, including the Dionysos Theatre (the world's oldest theatre where great plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were first performed). One building that has been restored is the 200 BC Stoa of Attalos (a stoa is a long, low roofed promenade which served as a combination law court, municipal office and shopping arcade in classical Greece). The reconstructed building now has a museum on its ground floor containing artefacts covering 5,000 years of Athenian history.

National Archaeological Museum

Address: Patission 44 Street Athens

Admission: EUR7 (adults); EUR3 (concessions). From November to March, Sundays are free Monday 1pm to 7.30pm; Tuesday to Friday 8am to 7.30pm; weekends and public holidays 8.30am to 3pm

Telephone: (01) 821 7724

This is the largest and most popular of Athens' many museums, and is usually very crowded. Its vast collection includes treasures unearthed from Mycenae by Heinrich Schliemann; a staggering array of sculpture including the earliest known Greek figurines dating from around 2,000 BC; frescoes from the volcanic island of Santorini; and so much more that it is recommended visitors make several visits to absorb it all.

Piraeus

Address: Athens

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

Although not really attractive to tourists, the confusing, bustling port of Athens is the departure point for hundreds of island ferries and cruise ships, so most tourists pass through it while visiting Greece. Piraeus has been Athens' port since ancient times. It actually consists of three harbours, with most of the tourist boats using the Zea Limani section. There are several fish restaurants in the harbour precincts, and a sprawling street market. Visitors with time on their hands while waiting for ferries can also explore the Maritime Museum at Akti Themistokleous, alongside the pier used by the island hydrofoils, which features models of ancient and modern ships.

Plaka

Address: Athens

The old town section of Athens below the Acropolis has become the gathering place for travellers and tourists, particularly in the warm Athens evenings. Strolling the narrow streets of the Plaka flanked by ancient monuments, Byzantine churches and mosques, stately mansions, and inviting tavernas with vine-covered courtyards, makes a pleasant diversion.

Kolonaki/Lykavittos Hill

Address: Athens

Admission: The funicular runs Friday to Wednesday 8.45am to midnight, and Thursday 10.30am to midnight

This hill juts a steep 984 feet (300m) right up from the centre of the city, and is a great vantage point from which to take in the scope of Athens. The St. George chapel and Lykavittos Theatre perch atop this hill, which can be reached by car, cable car or a healthy hike! The cable car departs every 30 minutes, from the corners of Aristippou and Ploutarchou Streets in Kolonaki.

Syntagma Square

Address: Athens

The square that forms the heart of modern Athens is home to the Parliament Building, built in 1840 as a royal palace. Tourists flock to photograph the unusually clad guards at the palace; the skirted and pom-pommed guard is changed ceremonially every hour. The square is a central point of access to all the major attractions of Athens, particularly 'museum mile' along Vassilissis Sophias Avenue, which runs from Syntagma Square. Here most of Athens' museums are clustered, including the Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art and the Byzantine Museum.

Cape Sounion

Address: Athens

Cape Sounion, about 43 miles (69km) east of Athens, is a popular seaside resort used by locals and visitors alike. On the cliffs above the town is the 5th-century BC Temple of Poseidon, where, according to legend, King Aegeus waited for his son, Theseus, to return from Crete after slaying the Minotaur. Sounion is easily accessible by bus from the city.

Monastery of Daphni

Address: Athinon Avenue, Daphni Athens

Admission: EUR3. From November to March, Sundays is free Daily 8am to 2.30pm

This great Byzantine architectural masterpiece dates from the 4th century AD, and is situated about five and a half miles (9km) west of Athens on the road to Corinth. The church is built on a site where shrines have existed since ancient times, often destroyed by invaders and earthquakes. During the Crusades Cistercian monks turned Daphni into a Catholic monastery, but today it has been reclaimed by the Greek Orthodox Church and its beautiful mosaic work depicting Biblical scenes has been restored. A wine festival is held at Daphni each year in August/September.

Marathon

Address: 114 Plataion Street Athens

About 26 miles (42km) northeast of Athens, between the villages of Nea Makri and Marathona, is the site of the great battle between the small force of Athenians and the mighty Persian army in 490 BC. On the plain of Marathon today the burial mound of the 192 Athenians who fell in the fight can be seen, along with a small museum displaying archaeological relics from the battlefield. The battle is famed not only for the Athenian victory against huge odds, but also for the fleetness of the Athenian runner, Pheidippides, who was dispatched to Athens with news of the victory and fell dead from exhaustion after delivering the message to the city; thus the name 'Marathon' was given to long-distance running races. The Marathon race in the 2004 Olympics started here, and followed the same route as that run by Pheidippedes in the legend, ending at the Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens, which was built for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Delphi

Address: Athens

Admission: EUR6 (concessions EUR3) Daily 7.30am to 7pm

Telephone: (226) 508 2346

In ancient times pilgrims came from all over the Greek world to seek advice from the god Apollo, via his oracle at the scenically beautifully situated site on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, known as Delphi. Today tourists flock constantly in the wake of the pilgrims of old up the Sacred Way to marvel at the remains of the marble Sanctuary of Apollo, the Castalian Spring and the Sanctuary of Athena. There is an excellent museum, too, at the site, which is northwest of Athens in the prefecture of Fokida.

Saronic Islands

Address: Athens

The Saronic group of islands are all within an hour or two of Piraeus by boat, making them ideal destinations for day trips from the city for those who want to experience a taste of Greek island life. Alternatively, use the islands as tranquil bases on which to stay while commuting to Athens to see the sights. Aegina is the closest island, sporting a sandy beach called Agia Marina, and a quaint fishing village called Perdika. Hydra has no sandy beaches, but the town is picturesque and offers good seafood restaurants. Poros can be reached from Piraeus in little more than an hour and sports beautiful forests that descend to the beach. It offers water sports opportunities and a lively café scene, as well as being a ferry hub offering connections to all the popular Aegean islands. Spetsi has an attractive old harbour and one of the oldest wooden boat-building yards in Greece. It is also renowned for its beaches and pine forests.

Benaki Museum

Address: 1 Koumbari Street & Vas. Sofias Avenue Athens

Admission: EUR6. Concessions available. 9am until midnight Thursday; 9am to 3pm Sundays; 9am to 5pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

Telephone: 210 367 1000

Established in 1930, the museum houses prehistoric to modern Greek art and artifacts, occasionally hosting exhibitions, and restoration and conservation workshops. The collection features Paleolithic and Neolithic relics, and covers the late Roman Empire as it merged into the Byzantine Empire.

Koutouki Cave

Address: Athens

Admission: EUR2 Open between 9am and 4.30pm daily

Located 4km outside the town of Peania, and a scenic hour's ride from Athens, this cavern lies under the eastern slope of Mount Ymittos. A guided tour of the cave starts every 30 minutes.

Attica Zoological Gardens

Address: Gallous Street, Spata Athens

Admission: EUR14 (adults); EUR10 (children) Children under 3 are free. Concessions available. Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6.30pm

Telephone: (210) 663 4724

The wonderful Attica Zoo is a must for children of all ages. Featuring over 2000 birds of 30 different species, as well as other exotic animals such as lynx, white lions, black panthers, snow leopards and jaguars, this zoo is the only one of its kind in Greece. It also features a reptile house and a children's farm as well as other walk-through enclosures, including a 'monkey's jungle'.

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

Picnicking with the children at the National Gardens on a Saturday has become a common pastime for local Athenian families and is a great way to spend a sunny summers day when the days are long. The Gardens feature a small zoo, duck ponds, resident cats, a Botanical Museum a playground and lots of wide-open space for children to play in. For children who love books, the gardens are also home to a Children's Library.

Goulandris Museum of Natural History

Address: Levidou Street 13 Athens

Admission: EUR5 (adults) EUR3 (children). Concessions available Open Monday to Saturday from 9am – 2.30pm. Sundays from 10am to 2.30pm. Closed public holidays

Telephone: (210) 801 5870

Children love nothing more than exploring museums with fossils, dinosaur skeletons and animal models, and for this reason, a trip to the Goulandris Museum of Natural History is a must for all families travelling to Athens.

Allou Fun Park

Address: Agios Ioannis Rentis Athens

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

Telephone: (210) 425 6999

One of Athens' most popular theme parks, Allou Fun Park offer children the opportunity to ride some seriously exciting rides, such as the Big Apple and Crazy Mouse. The views over the city of Athens form the to of the panoramic ferris wheel are also great for kiss of all ages. Children under 10 years of age will do better to go to the next-door section of the park called 'Kidom'.

Hellenic Children's Museum

Address: 4 Kidathineon Athens

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

Telephone: (210) 331 29956

The Hellenic Children's Museum is a non-profit educational and cultural organization established in Athens in 1987 aims to encourage children to explore, learn, discover and question all around them.

Athens Festival

Where: Herod Atticus Odeon and other venues,Athens

When: June to August, annually

The city of Athens' cultural showcase is the two-phase Athens Festival, held every summer since 1955 at the magnificent 2,000 year old Herod Atticus Odeon, built in 161 AD, as well as other venues throughout the city. The ancient tiered theatre nestles at the foot of the Acropolis and during summer and autumn resounds each evening to the tune of symphony orchestras, classical drama and dance, and operatic performances. The large and varied programme of international and Greek artists is available from the Athens Festival office on Stadiou Street. The summer section of the festival runs from about June to July, while the autumn section covers August to October.

Lycabettus Hill Festival

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

When: May to September, annually

A perfect way to spend the hot summer nights in Athens in stunning surroundings and with first class entertainment is to attend some of the items presented at the annual Lycabettus Hill contemporary arts festival. The various performances take place in the open-air theatre atop the hill which provides magnificent views across Athens. The programme includes contemporary jazz, pop, rock and dance shows. For more information contact the Lycabettus Theatre on (0)210 722 7233.

Traditional Greek Dance Festival

Where: Dora Stratou Theatre,Athens

When: May to September annually

The warmth and energy of the Greek people is nowhere better demonstrated than in their traditional dancing, and this can be witnessed in fine style each summer night (except Mondays) at the theatre established by Greek folk expert, Dora Stratou, on Philopappus Hill in Athens. The dancers in each show do full justice to the costumes and ancient routines that make up each packed performance.

Rockwave Festival

Where: Terra Vibe,Athens

When: June 2010 TBA

Since it was first held in 1996 Athens' Rockwave Festival has become one of Europe's most popular annual live rock music events, drawing the hottest performers and an enthusiastic crowd of tens of thousands. The music fest takes place over three days, featuring three stages offering different types of music: metal, rock and dance. The latest addition is the 'silent' dance experience, featuring the Silent Disco.

48 The Restaurant

Address: 48 Armatolon Klefton Athens

Food Type: Local

Traditional Greek cooking goes for a ride through the imagination of Chef Christoforos Peskias who is on the short-list of new famous European chefs. While his inspired and constantly changing menu is blasphemy to a few, the trendy set and food critics alike find the modern blends of local ingredients and unique restaurant atmosphere an inspiring treat.

Alatsi

Address: 13 Vrasida Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

Trying hard to stay true to its Cretan tradition, the restaurant uses only ingredients from its patron island and has captured the loyalty of Athenian diners and critics with several awards. Alatsi's hearty meals are a reminder that simple ingredients done right never goes out of fashion.

Daphne's

Address: Lysikratous 4 Athens

Food Type: Local

In Athens, Daphne's is one of the most well known Greek restaurants, the type that visiting celebrities and dignitaries are taken to for traditional and classic meals. The menu is consistently quality and even offers a few new tricks on old Greek favourites. The tables are idyllically set around a converted mansion home and a pleasant courtyard.

Chez Lucien

Address: 32 Troon Street, Ano Petralona Athens

Food Type: French

Although one may not believe me now, too much feta and olive oil can grow tiresome for anyone. Thankfully this French bistro tucked neatly into a cosy, and bit too intimate, corner of Athens can re-energise palates with a small list of French staples. In busy hours customers are expected to share benches with other diners which can be a fun way to meet locals.

Spondi

Address: Athens

Food Type: International

Voted the best restaurant in Greece by the 'Athinorama' Golden Chef's Hat Award for six consecutive years, Spondi may drain your wallet but it will fill your stomach and still leave you wanting more. Operating from a charming 19th Century townhouse with an open courtyard, the venue has a sense of grandeur tempered by friendly service.

Taverna Tou Psirri

Address: 12 Aiskilou Street Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

A popular eating secret is Taverna Tou Psiri on Aiskilou Street, just up the street from Platia Iroon; hard to find but well worth the search. Delicious paidakia (lamb chops), keftedes (meat balls), broccoli and cauliflower salad are accompanied by the warming sounds of rembetika, 1920's music of the brothels of Piraeus.

Giouvetsakia

Address: 144 Adrianou and Thespidos Streets Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

Those looking to enjoy something delectably Mediterranean (but less pricey) will find Giouvetsakia, situated in the Plaka area, a welcome place for respite. A small family-run business, the restaurant specializes in its own Giouvetsi pasta and offers a complimentary fruit dish after any meal.

O Glikis

Address: Corner of Geronda and Eperidou Streets Athens

Food Type: International

This ouzerie (the Athenian equivalent of a winery) will make for a good social outing at night for the young and 'young at heart'. By day, O Glikis is quiet and quaint, the perfect spot to enjoy some coffee and read the paper.

Vlassis

Address: 8 Paster Street, Ampelokipi Athens

Food Type: Mediterranean

An extremely popular choice with the local crowd, with reasonable pricing and delicious foods. Order a platter of starters for a diverse sampling of Mediterranean cuisine, or treat yourself to mouth-watering souvlaki.

Varoulko

Address: 80 Piraios Street Athens

Food Type: Seafood

This pricey psarotaverna charges decidedly modern prices for its innovative take on traditional dishes. Offering seafood with a uniquely Greek twist, Chef Lefteris Lazaro creatively combines various Greek wines and olive oil in his exquisite creations. Situated in the city centre, with a striking view of the Acropolis, this is affluent dining at its best.