Athens

ancient history · Greece · Mediterranean · capital city

Ancient wonder. Athens was home to the ancient Greeks who invented democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games thousands of years ago. The city's ruins like the Parthenon still stand today as reminders of this incredible civilization.

Mediterranean location. Athens sits on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which means it has a sunny climate and was perfect for ancient sailors and traders. The city is the southernmost capital on mainland Europe.

Huge modern city. Today, Athens has over 3.6 million people living in its urban area, making it the eighth-largest city in the European Union. It's a bustling modern city full of museums, shops, restaurants, and people from all over the world.

Greece's beating heart. Athens is not just Greece's capital city, it's also the capital of the Attica region and the most important city in the entire country. Everything from government decisions to famous art and culture flows from this ancient place.