Athens

Athens, the capital of Greece, is fast becoming one of the must-see capital cities of Europe. Weekend breaks are booming, with new chic hotels and Michelin restaurants.

For a long time Athens has lagged behind cities like Paris, London, Venice, Amsterdam and Prague as one of the must-see cities for a European weekend break. That has been changing fast, though, with the Olympic Games factor having kicked in, and helped transform the city into a new chic vacation destination.

In Athens there are cheap hotels and chic hotels, there are Michelin-starred restaurants and back-street tavernas where the Greek tradition for fun nights out at a cheap price lives on. There are several cheap flights every day to Athens from many European cities, as well as scheduled flights too. There has never been a better time to go.

In Athens there are two absolutely unmissable attractions: the Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum. Don't visit Athens without seeing both of these top tourist sights. But there are many other attractions too, and if time is limited try to focus on these Top Five Athens Attractions.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis is, literally, the 'upper city', the huge rock on which the city of Athens was founded. It is visible from all over Athens, topped by the unmistakable sight of the Parthenon, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. There are several other buildings to see when you get up to the Acropolis, and also lovely views of the city. Try to go early in the day to beat the crowds and also, in summer, to beat the heat.

The National Archaeological Museum

This is one of the few museums in the world which is truly a National Museum, as it contains only Greek treasures. Museums like the British Museum and the Louvre include items from all over the world, including some plundered from Greece. But here in Athens the National Archaeological Museum has only Greek artefacts, and so many of them that it will take the average visitor at least half a day to see round.

Monastiraki Street Market

Athens is more than ancient history and museums, it is also a busy city with a vibrant street life, and nowhere more so than in the Monastiraki area, neighbouring the old Plaka district so popular with tourists. Monastriraki is another Athens, though. It is more like an eastern bazaar, especially on a Sunday morning when the streets are packed with bargain-hunters and curious visitors. If you want to buy anything from a new bouziki to a second-hand computer, old picture postcards or Playboy magazines, Monastiraki is where you'll find it.

Lykavittos Hill

The other high point in the centre of Athens alongside the Acropolis is Lykavittos Hill. It's easy to walk up to the top, along winding paths, or you can take the funicular. At the top is a chapel, a restaurant, and some spectacular city views, as far as the port of Piraeus on a clear day, and a chance to take great photos of the Acropolis too.