Outside the city centre

Outside the city centre

Attica is surrounded by sea to the north, east and south. The southern suburbs of the city, located on the coast of the Saronic Gulf, offer many opportunities for a walk along the seaside. There you will also find many beautiful both organized and free beaches, and shopping centres and nightclubs (especially during the summer). On the opposite direction, in Maroussi (a suburb north of the centre) you can find the Olympic Stadium where the 2004 Athens Olympic Games took place. Kifissia (another suburb north of Maroussi) is also worth a visit, with its beautiful villas, impressive mansions, amazing shops and restaurants.

The neighboring town of Piraeus is Greece s and Athens main port from where most connections to the Aegean islands depart.

Another important site is the Dafne Monastery (11 km west), one of the most significant Byzantine monuments of the country (12th c.) with unique mosaics Other important monuments are the Kessariani Monastery (5km east) which was founded in the 2nd century and was declared a wold Heritage Site in 1990 by UNESCO and Cape Sounio (58 km south) with its astonishing view and the Temple of Poseidon (5th c. BCE). Following a wonderful route along the northeast, you can visit the area of the battle of Marathon (490 BCE) with the Tomb of Marathon, the archaeological sites of Eleusina (23 km west), of Amphiareion (48 km northeast), of Vavron (38 km east)  and Ramfus (close to Marathon). Athens is a basin surrounded by the wonderful mountain massifs of Parnitha with its renovated casino, Penteli and Hymettos.

If you wish to leave Attica region behind you, take a day trip to:

The city of Nafplio:  The first capital city of the modern Greek State - with its charming old town full of post-Byzantine, medieval and neoclassical monuments.

The archaeological site of Mycenae, which was the centre of the Mycenaean world and gave its name to to a civilization that involved between the 12th c. BCE and the Mycenaean Tiryns.

The Asklepeion and the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, the most famous ancient and best preserved of all ancient theaters in Greece, where during the summer months takes place a famous ancient drama Festival hosting productions from all over the world.

The Ancient Olympia, the birth of the Olympic Games, where every four years the Olympic Flame is lit.

The archaeological site of Delphi, the most famous oracle in the ancient Greece which lies in an imposing landscape at the foot of Mount Parnassos.