Athens

History always sets a site a notch above the rest, regardless of persistent modern day ills like pollution and political unrest. This is somehow the reality in today’s Athens. In modern Athens, a traveler can relish ancient monuments and ruins amidst ill-conceived infrastructure, and mushroomed souvlaki joints and bouzuki clubs. Recent youth riots have added to the city’s scars. While the 2004 Summer Olympics lent new life to it, Athens is still far from its old glorious state. Renaissance is said to be underway. Regardless of these, this new Athens owns up to its modern character. The city is noisy, to say the least. There are traffic jams as late as 3 am. The beaches and the bars seem to attract the most people. The new Athens is a heady mix of the old and the new, the best place for scholars and artists, party animals, and beach bums alike.

The Parthenon remains one of the city’s most recognizable monuments. It is located within the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A visitor can imbibe the glory that was Athens in this fortified ancient town. A ticket to the Acropolis also provides access to the Theatre of Dionysus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Agora, and more.

Being a city rife with history, museums and art galleries are abundant in Athens. These are some of the city’s attractions to scholars as these museums and galleries hold ancient and modern treasures. Major ones include the National Archaeological Museum and the New Acropolis Museum.

A valid passport and visa are required from travelers to Athens, Greece. Typically, a visitors are advised to keep aware of their surroundings. Pickpockets and purse snatching are the common crimes. Some travelers have been victims to “friendly stranger” scams, especially at tourist hotspots. Discretion should be practiced, particularly when talking to strangers.