Athens A city of many incarnations, the Greek capital is synonymous with incredible ancient history. For starters, there’s the magnificent, fifth-century Acropolis, looming high above the city on a rocky outcrop. Visible from all corners of Athens, its marble-clad masonry glints in the sun; and by night, the ancient citadel is illuminated by hidden bulbs. And while it can always be admired from afar, a challenging hike up to the Acropolis isn’t to be missed. At the top is the Parthenon — a lavish temple built in homage to Athena. Elsewhere, there’s also the well-preserved and often overlooked Temple of Hephaestus, crafted with marble from Mount Penteli; the Panathenaic Stadium, built around 565 BC to host festivals; and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus — an open- air theater dating back to AD 161 that’s best experienced after nightfall during one of its spectacular live performances. Another perennially popular site to tick off is the Temple of Olympian Zeus — sitting right in the city’s centre, it’s the largest temple in Greece. Built in the sixth century, it was once made up of 104 Corinthian columns; 15 of which remain today.
