Athens Map

Description: This map shows streets, trails, pedestrian zones, houses, buildings, cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, monuments, parking lots, shops, churches, museums, public toilets, points of interest, and parks in Athens.

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Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece, located in the Attica region of the southern part of the country. With a metropolitan population of approximately 3.7 million people, it represents nearly one-third of Greece's total population. The city is situated on a peninsula bordered by mountains and the Saronic Gulf, establishing it as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited urban centers with a recorded history spanning over 3,400 years.

Athens is widely recognized as the birthplace of Western civilization and democracy. During the 5th century BCE, the city reached its cultural and political zenith under the leadership of Pericles, becoming the dominant city-state of ancient Greece. This period, known as the Golden Age of Athens, witnessed unprecedented developments in philosophy, arts, sciences, and political thought. Notable ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle conducted their intellectual work in Athens, laying the foundations for Western philosophy and scientific inquiry.

The city's most iconic ancient monument is the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stands on a rocky outcrop above the modern city. The Parthenon, built between 447 and 432 BCE, dominates the Acropolis complex and remains one of the most recognizable structures from classical antiquity. Originally constructed as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, the city's patron deity, the Parthenon exemplifies the Doric architectural order and represents the pinnacle of ancient Greek architectural achievement. Other significant structures on the Acropolis include the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Propylaea.

Beyond the Acropolis, Athens contains numerous archaeological sites of historical importance. The Ancient Agora served as the center of commercial, political, and social life in ancient Athens. The Temple of Olympian Zeus, one of the largest temples in the ancient world, took nearly 700 years to complete. The Panathenaic Stadium, originally built in 330 BCE and reconstructed in marble in 1896, hosted the first modern Olympic Games and remains the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.

Modern Athens serves as Greece's economic, political, and cultural center. The city houses the Greek Parliament, numerous government institutions, and major educational establishments including the University of Athens, founded in 1837. The Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009, displays artifacts found on the Acropolis and represents contemporary museum architecture. Athens successfully hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics, which prompted significant infrastructure improvements throughout the metropolitan area.

The city experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, moderately wet winters. Athens International Airport, located approximately 20 kilometers east of the city center, serves as Greece's primary aviation hub. The Athens Metro system, expanded significantly before the 2004 Olympics, provides efficient public transportation throughout the metropolitan area and connects key historical sites with modern districts.

Some more Athens photos from my personal archive

The Facts:
Region: Attica.
Population: ~ 650,000.
Metropolitan population: 3,700,000.

Neighbourhoods in Athens: Agios Eleftherios, Agios Panteleimonas, Akadimia, Akadimia Platonos, Acropolis, Ampelokipoi, Asyrmatos, Asteroskopeio, Attiki, Ellinoroson, Erythros Stavros, Exarcheia, Gazi, Girokomeio, Gyzi, Goudi, Gouva, Ilisia, Keramikos, Kolokynthou, Kolonaki, Kolonos, Koukaki, Kypriadou, Kypseli, Kynosargous, Metaxourgeio, Mets, Monastiraki, Nea Filothei, Neapoli, Neos Kosmos, Omonoia, Pangrati, Patisia, Pedion tou Areos, Petralona, Philopappou, Plaka, Polygono, Probonas, Profitis Daniil, Profitis Ilias, Psyri, Rizoupoli, Rouf, Sepolia, Syntagma, Thiseio, Thymarakia, Treis Gefyres, Votanikos.

Google Map of Athens

Main sights in Athens