Why Visit Athens?

Athens may not come top of the pile when most people think about the best places to go to for a city break or weekend trip. Paris, Venice, Barcelona – all these probably come out top, in Europe at least. But why? Why do these cities have a more established reputation as ideal places for spending a few days exploring the sights and sounds than Athens? When it is broken down and the attractions that the city offers are explored, the reasons become even hazier.

Perfect Climate

Thanks to its location, Athens has one of the best climates in the whole of Europe. For over two thirds of the year the city is bronzed by warm sunshine, meaning you will not have to try to desperately find a beach in order to catch a tan. There is very little chance of rain during the summer months, something that is not guaranteed in too many other parts of Europe! July and August can see temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, so if heat is something that can affect, it is best stick to the months of May and September when it really is perfect temperature for exploring the sights of Athens on cheap holidays to Greece.

Athens cc: Terence S. Jones

Mouth-Watering Cuisine

One of the most important aspects of any city break is food. A good portion of your time may be spent looking for a decent place to eat or exploring all of the street vendors serving up cheap but tasty food on the go. Athens, and Greece as a whole, has a fantastic reputation when it comes to food and the locals diet which centres on fish, cheese, fresh olives and various types of fresh vegetables amongst other delicacies is very healthy and when blended together can be extremely nourishing. Lamb is the dominate meat here and before a meal, small hot and cold hors’d’oeuvres, which are called mezedes, are nearly always served. You’ll certainly not go hungry when in Athens.

Historical Wonders

One of the ways to judge a city is on its sights and attractions, and it is common knowledge that Athens has arguable more places of interest than most other major cities. The ancient Greek civilisation is credited with inventing many aspects of modern society and culture such as democracy, the Olympics and numerous myths and legends which are still in folklores to this day. There are more tangible examples of their legacy though, with The Agora, the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch and the National Historical Museum amongst places of interest located in the heart of Athens.

Athens is and will always remain a big draw for tourists. But do not just think that it has to be tackled over a two week period or as part of a larger tour around Greece. Just explore all inclusive holidays and take in a city break to Athens this year for a change.

A special thanks to Ricky Durance from Beat the Brochure for this article.