There have been citizens living in Athens for over seven thousand years. Attractions ancient and modern now bring 21st century visitors to Greece’s capital city. Athens recently revamped itself for the 2004 Olympic Games. Public transport improved, areas were pedestrianised and overall general standards improved. Now Athens is on another roll with a wave of new restaurant and hotel openings and a rejuvenated nightlife around the fast gentrifying neighbourhood of Psyrri. Often forgotten is the city’s twenty kilometres of soft sandy beaches running from the seaside suburb resort of Palaio Faliro by Pireas and ending at Vouliagmeni.Athens is on the southern peninsula of the Greek mainland.

Fabulous monuments

Priceless archaeological collections

Vibrant markets on and around the streets of Athinas and Eolou

Mixing city sightseeing with summer beaches

Driving - it’s safer and easier to walk or take the local transport on your holiday in Athens.

Greece is a full member of the EU (European Union). British passport holders do not require any special visa for stays of up to three months. It’s advised that there is at least a minimum of 12 months to run to the expiry date as non-EC passport holders are required to have three months to run on their passports after their date of departure.

Athens enjoys long very hot summers with generous hours of sunshine (35°C/96°F); winter is cooler but still sunny (16°C/61°F).

Flight time to Athens from the UK is about three hours and fifteen minutes.

Driving is on the right. To hire a moped a driving licence is required with at least category A1 (‘light motorcycle’). Category P valid in the UK for mopeds up to 50cc is not valid in Greece.