Athens
Capital of Greece
Athens is the capital of Greece, with a population of 643,452 recorded in 2021. Visitors are drawn to the city by its extensive collection of ancient landmarks, UNESCO world heritage sites, and cultural institutions.
What to see
The city features numerous prominent historical locations and ruins. Key UNESCO sites include the Acropolis of Athens, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Propylaea, and the Daphni Monastery. Other ancient and historic sights consist of the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus, the Stoa of Attalos, the Roman Agora, the Arch of Hadrian, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Theatre of Dionysus, Kerameikos, the Pnyx, the Platonic Academy, and the Lyceum. Visitors can also see the Hellenic Parliament, the Olympic Stadium, Syntagma Square, and Mount Lycabettus. Museum collections are housed at the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, the Benaki Museum, the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art, the National Gallery, the Athens War Museum, the National Historical Museum, Athens, the Numismatic Museum of Athens, the Church of the Holy Apostles, Athens, and Kaisariani Monastery.
When to go
Temperatures vary throughout the year. January and December are the coolest months, with daily highs of 12 °C to 13 °C and lows of 6 °C to 7 °C, alongside higher rainfall of 53 mm to 69 mm. Summer months are hot, with July and August reaching daily highs of 33 °C and lows of 22 °C, accompanied by minimal rain of 6 mm to 9 mm. Spring and autumn offer moderate temperatures, such as April with a high of 20 °C and May with 26 °C.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport located in Spata-Artemida, Greece, situated 20 km from Athens.
Top sights in Athens
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 33 °C. The wettest is December, with about 69 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 12 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 26 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 29 | 23 | 17 | 13 |
| Average low, °C | 6 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 7 |
| Rainfall, mm | 53 | 41 | 47 | 32 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 36 | 63 | 69 |
| Rainy days | 11 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Athens (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Athens War Museum
- Benaki Museum
- Church of the Holy Apostles, Athens
- Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art
- Kaisariani Monastery
- National Gallery
- National Historical Museum, Athens
- Numismatic Museum of Athens
- Roman Agora