Athens is a place drenched in history. It’s basically one giant museum – some of Athens’ buildings date from the late Bronze Age, about 1200 BC, and its historic centerpiece, the Acropolis, has become one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. I visited the Greek capital late 2015 to present at a marketing conference, so I didn’t have that much time to wander around the city with my camera. In the little time that I had, I visited as many sites as I could. Three are particulary noteworthy, and I recommend including them in your itinerary (I have not included the Acropolis, since I have no doubt it is on your list already).
1. Lycabettus Hill
If you want to take cityscape photos of Athens at sunrise or sunset, Lycabettus Hill is your place to go to. Lycabettus Hill, which stands at 277 meters, is located to the northeast of Acropolis, and offers wonderful views over the city. Smog can be a bit of a problem at times, hampering visibility, but I was lucky enough to get some reasonably clear skies while I was there. Unlike many other popular sunrise or sunset spots around the world, which are often cramped and overcrowded, you’ll have plenty of space here as well.
How to get there
There’s a cable railway that runs up Lycabetus Hill; a funicular goes up every 30 minutes from a station located at Ploutarhou street. However, if you are in good shape, I recommend walking up the hill instead – it’s only a 20 minute hike. If you’re coming from the city center, walk to Ilia Rogkakou and then simply follow the path uphill. Don’t forget to bring a torch if you plan to go up or down in the dark.
2. Former Athens Olympics 2004 venues
Not all historical remains in Athens trace as far back as Ancient Greece. The former Athens Olympic venues of 2004 have been dubbed ‘the new ruins of Athens’, because most of them are decaying and lie empty now. The Agora, designed by the great Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is one of its architectural centerpieces, and it is still a beauty to behold with its 99 steel arches. Many of the surrounding sites are mere shadows of former glory, with hardly a living soul around. These derelict venues made headlines in 2016 again, when some of them were set up as shelters for refugees.
The former Athens Olympics 2004 venues made headlines in 2016 again, when some of them were set up as shelters for refugees.
How to get there
Take metro line 1 and get off at Eirini. You’ll see the Agora straight away.
3. Stoa of Attalos
To get an image of what ancient Athens looked like, make sure to visit the Stoa of Attalos, a reconstructed building of around 150 BC which houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. With its impressive rows of columns and perfectly converging lines, the Stoa is a terrific place to take photos. It’s close to the Acropolis, but far less crowded. You could go there at different times during the day to play with shadows as well.
How to get there
Take metro line 1 or 3 and get off at Monastiriki. It’s a 5 minute walk to the Ancient Agora site, where you’ll find the Stoa of Attalos. You have to pay a small entrance fee (4 euros), or you could purchase a combined ticket for other historal sites in Athens as well.
