There's no end of monuments and attractions in Athens, Greece but these are the best of the best that you won't want to miss in your travel to Greece. Only time for one? It's conveniently placed first.
1. The Jewel of Athens Greece: The Acropolis and the Parthenon
The Acropolis and the Parthenon dominate Athens, and the most sightseeing-weary traveler will catch an enticing glimpse and be scrambling toward it before they know it. Even if there were no Parthenon, the Acropolis is worth the visit just for the magnificent view of Athens and the surrounding temples below. And now the New Acropolis Museum nearby is an attraction worth seeing all by itself.
2. National Archaeological Museum
This extensive collection is housed in the heart of Athens. While even a brief visit is dazzling, the true museum junkie should allow 2-3 hours. Even then, you're speeding through millenia of Greek culture, starting with the Cycladic Island civilization and the Minoans and Mycenaeans, and stretching up toward the present.3. Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon
A great afternoon trip from Athens, this is one of those spots that is as much a favorite with the locals as it is with the tourists. It's a favorite sunset-viewing spot for everyone, and will give you a classically Greek moment against the ruined monument along with a terrific sea view.4. Walking Athens at Night
Athens is one of the safest capital cities in the entire world. While common sense is your best defense anywhere, statistically, you're far safer on the streets of Athens at night than in London, Paris, or Tokyo. So get out there and enjoy yourself!5. Piraeus
Can't get away to the Greek islands? Or already missing the one you just left? Slip away to Piraeus, easily reachable by the Metro, and have dinner at one of the pricy but charming seaside taverns of Microlimano. It's not quite a Greek island, but it will do. Allow yourself some extra time and stop by the excellent Piraeus Archaeological Museum or the equally-fascinating Nautical Museum first.6. The Plaka & Other Neighborhoods in Athens
The Plaka is the area of winding streets around the Acropolis. It's renowned for its small shops, restaurants, and some good examples of local domestic architecture. The downside? These days it's hopelessly touristy, but it's still engaging. My strategy is to stop somewhere for a frappe (iced instant coffee) every few hundred feet, especially in summer. And it's likely you'll wander into Monastiraki or Thissio without even noticing you've left the Plaka.7. Lycabettus Hill
Want to rise above it all, especially on a hot day when the thought of the stony outcrop of the Acropolis seems too warm and bright? Take the easy way up Lycabettus Hill and escape the heat and, if you're lucky, some of the tourist crowds.8. Syntagma Square
Also known as "Constitution Square", this is the heart of Athens in many ways. It's a large, open square which often hosts holiday events, it's the location of several of Athens' most renowned luxury hotels, it's an intense public transporation hub, and it actually has the Parliament Building along one side of the square. Pedestrian-only Ermou Street leads off of it, providing access to some of Athens' better upscale shopping.9. The Agora
Photo by deTraci Regula; licensed to About.com
This is one attraction that gets skipped, partly because it is readily confused with the Roman Agora and while you'd be falling over yourself to visit a Roman agora in Italy, well, this is Greece. (For the same reason, the very nice Egyptian antiquities collection at the National Archaeological Museum gets overlooked, too.) But this spot offers an easy hour's wandering, with the almost-perfect temple of Hephaestus, a rebuilt colonnade housing the museum, and many minor monuments. A multiple-site combo ticket makes it a particularly good bargain to combine a visit here with the Acropolis and other nearby sites.
