Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Panionios in Greece on Thursday for the second leg of Europa League Third Round Qualifying. The Greek side is from Athens, the country’s capital and there is plenty of terrific attractions to see while there for the Yellow & Blue match including great cultural activities, music, fine dining and historical sites. Issta Sport has put together a fantastic list of can’t miss recommendations for you to do!
Athens received a major facelift in time for the 2004 Olympic Games which included upgrading the transportation system which is an easy way to get around the city. As one of the most popular tourist destinations, Athens has something to offer for everyone.
Amongst the tourist attractions is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Acropolis (Upper City), the Hellenic Parliament with the Changing of the Guard, the National Gardens, the Monastiraki with its flea market as well as many museums including the National Archaeological Museum.
Along with all of the historical sites that can be found in Athens, you can also enjoy the modern shopping centers, the various restaurants and Greek taverns where you can experience true Greek cuisine, dance and music. Athens is a very interesting city, colorful and unique which you can visit both as a stand alone trip or combined with visits to the neighboring islands.
ATHENS ATTRACTIONS
Acropolis
The Acropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built at the beginning of the 5th century BC by the Greek leader Pericles. The word Acropolis means “Upper City” and is an ancient citadel located on an extremely rocky outcrop above the city of Athens. It contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. Since the 1950’s the area has been under renovation and has gone though many reconstruction projects.
The Olympic Stadium
The stadium was completed in 1982 in time for the European Championship in Athletics and underwent an extensive 260 million Euro renovation in 2004. Today, the stadium is used as the Olympic training facility and has a roof that was designed by Calatrava the same architect who designed the Jerusalem Chords Bridge. The stadium is also named after Spyros Louis, the winner of the first modern Olympic marathon race in 1896 and also houses the AEK Athens Football Club.
Omonoia Square
Omonoia Square is the central square in Athens. It marks the northern corner of the downtown area defined by the city plans of the 19th century and is one of the city’s principal traffic hubs. It is served by the Omonoia train station and has many hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and more. It was established in 1846 and took its current name which means oath of peace in 1862. You can also find the Pentakiklon structure at the square.
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square is the largest square in the city of Athens where you can also find the Greek Parliament. It has also been known as Constitution Square as the Greek constitution was signed in 1843 and is one of the most important squares in Athens due to its history and its current focus on commercial and political activity. The Changing of the Guard takes place at the square and is performed by the Presidential Guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Athens Night Life
Plaka
Over the course of the years , the Plaka has been known as the “Neighborhood of the Gods” due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites. A stroll through the Plaka will reveal charming and well-kept buildings alongside the ruins and antiquities of ancient Greece. There are also a host of small Greek taverns with blue and white tables along the narrow streets along with beautiful shops. You can wander around the Plaka at all hours of the day, but at night it gets even more amazing when the Acropolis of Athens is illuminated with spectacular lighting.
Brettos Bar
The Brettos Bar is not only the oldest distillery in Athens but one of the oldest in Europe and has been operating since 1909. Ouzo, brandy and liqueurs in 36 various flavors using traditional family recipes are prepared on site. The bar is open daily from 10:00 until 03:00.
Address: Kidathineon 41, Athina 105 58, Greece
Kolonaki Neighborhood
Kolonaki is a neighborhood in central Athens, is located on the southern slopes of Lycabettus hill with its name being derived from the two metre column in the square. Kolonaki is a wealthy and upmarket district and is one of the capital’s leading shopping areas which includes a number of high-end boutiques from young adults to casual fashion to prestigious haute couture from Greek and international designers. One of its main shopping streets, Voukourestiou Street is now known for its jewelry.
Perivoli T’ Oyranou
The Perivoli T’ Oyranou is a Rembetika Club in the Plaka neighborhood and plays Greek folk music with 3 singers and a pianist. It is open every night.
Address: Lisikratous 19, Plaka
