Things to do in Athens if you have a Athens Airport Layover or Extended Athens Airport Stopover
The Acropolis and the Parthenon
If you are in Athens then a trip to the Acropolis is a must. The 150 metre high tower of rock has a surface area of 3 hectares and is the foundation for the Parthenon temple. Building of the Parthenon began in 447 BC and it was completed in 438 BC. It is one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments and, even if it is the only place you have time to visit, this should be top of you list of places to see on a layover in Athens. Suggested for layovers of at least 5-6 hours.
The Agora-Athens Central Market
To experience the vibe of Athens take a trip to the Agora-Athens Central Market where the freshest fish, vegetables and meat can be found. Even if you are not in a position to be buying fresh produce, it is worth a look. There are restaurants at which you can sample the fare although at some of the more traditional ones, there are no menus and you will only know what you really ordered when it arrives at the table. If you are not too hungry but want to sample the wares, head to the olive stalls where you can try before you buy, from a selection that will please every palate. This is a vibrant, atmospheric market that is definitely worth a visit. Suggested for layovers of at least 4 hours.
The National Gardens
If you really want to stretch your legs and relax after a long flight, or in preparation for one, stroll along to the National Gardens. This beautiful, tropical park is a haven of nature in the concrete jungle of Athens. It is very easily accessible by pedestrian streets and once you are there you can wander among the remains of ancient Athens, feed the vast population of ducks or simply sit and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. Suggested for layovers of at least 4 hours.
Plaka
If you want to get some souvenir shopping in then head to the Plaka neighbourhood of Athens. This area used to be a clubbing district until amplified music was outlawed in order to clean the area up, now it is home to many shops, restaurants and cafés. You will be able to spend as much time as you have available, rooting though the interesting treasures and trinkets in these shops. They are mostly aimed at the tourist market so if you are looking for something to take home for friends and family, this is the place to go. Suggested for layovers of at least 4 hours.
Acropolis Museum
Athens' fabulous new Acropolis Museum is located by the southeastern slope of the Acropolis hill, a spectacular location. Begin by exploring the extensive artefacts, or catch a stunning view of the Parthenon (the building) and the Acropolis (the entire hilltop site) from the 2nd floor restaurant.The Parthenon is also visible from within the 3rd floor Parthenon Gallery, which shows what remains of the Parthenon Marbles, the sculpltures which once adorned the Parthenon (the missing pieces are in the British Museum). The museum is built over an extensive archaeological site and a glass floor, outside and inside, allows you to see the excavations below. Suggested for layovers of at least 4 hours.
Syntagma Metro Station Archaeological Collection
During the construction of the metro tunnels, numerous artefacts of archaeological interest were discovered. Teams of archaeologists worked ahead of, then alongside, engineers for a total of 6 years. They protected and recorded the archaeological evidence that was uncovered which included ancient streets, houses, cemeteries, sanctuaries, public workshops, foundry pits, kilns, aqueducts, wells, cisterns, drains and sewage tunnels. View a significant exhibit in the concourse level of Syntagma Metro station. Additional exhibitions of ancient artefacts and/or their replicas can be found at various metro stations, such as those of Monastiraki and Syntagma. You may need to explore different metro platforms to locate the exhibits. Suggested for layovers of at least 3 hours.
Archaeologica Museum (located in the airport)
The Archaeologica Museum is housed in the Athens Airport. The Archaeological Collection houses ancient artefacts which were uncovered during construction work at the site which was once a flourishing agricultural area in ancient times. The museum was opened in 2003 and at that time had 172 pieces, notably amphoras, tools, engravings and bas-relief sculpture dating from the Neolithic to the Byzantine eras. Suggested for layovers of at least 1.5 hours.
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