City attractions & Landmarks

Athens Greece

When it comes to the art capitals of Europe, Athens is often overshadowed by its neighbors like Paris and Florence, but the ancient city is not one you want to miss. Paintings, sculptures and performances happen everywhere, in a visual extravaganza that stretches from the Acropolis to the city’s tavernas. Then, of course, you have galleries like the Renzo Piano-designed Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and the recently revamped National Museum of Contemporary Art, open after a 12-year hiatus.

There are few hotels in the world that have the privilege to be in front of important monuments. There are even fewer that offer their guests the opportunity to admire from the hotel, simultaneously, a number of Masterpieces.

From the Royal Olympic you have excellent view to The Temple of Zeus, The Acropolis, The Hadrian’s Gate, The Marble Stadium and is in front of the National Garden.

Plaka (Old Town) is just across the road..

You can easily walk to all the above sites and if you wish to take the Underground, the Bus or the Tram they are all next to the Hotel.

You are exactly at the Centre of Historical Athens!

Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a monument of Greece and a former colossal temple at the center of the Greek capital Athens. It was dedicated to Olympian Zeus, a name originating from his position as head of the Olympian gods.
http://www.athens24.com/temple-of-olympian-zeus-general-information.html

The Hadrian’s Gate

The Arch of Hadrian, most commonly known in Greek as Hadrian’s Gate, is a monumental gateway resembling – in some respects – a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens, Greece, to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It has been proposed that the arch was built to celebrate the adventus (arrival) of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and to honor him for his many benefactions to the city, on the occasion of the dedication of the nearby temple complex in 131 or 132 AD.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on an extremely rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word acropolis comes from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “highest point, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”). Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as “The Acropolis” without qualification.

While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site’s most important buildings including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon and the other buildings were seriously damaged during the 1687 siege by the Venetians in the Morean War when gunpowder being stored in the Parthenon was hit by a cannonball and exploded.
http://www.athens24.com/acropolis-general-information.html

Theatre of Dionysus

The visitor has the opportunity to visit nearby the Theatre of Dionysus which is a major theatre in Athens, built at the foot of the Athenian Acropolis. Dedicated to Dionysus, the god of plays and wine (among other things), the theatre could seat as many as 17,000 people with excellent acoustics, making it an ideal location for ancient Athens’ biggest theatrical celebration, the Dionysia. It was the first stone theatre ever built, cut into the southern cliff face of the Acropolis, and supposedly birthplace of Greek tragedy.

To the west of the Dionysiac theatre and quite close to the cliff of the Acropolis lies the Asklepieion, the healing temple, sacred to the god Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine.
http://www.gtp.gr/TDirectoryDetails.asp?ID=80328

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies over the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens.

The museum was founded in 2003, while the Organization of the Museum was established in 2008. It opened to the public on 20 June 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square metres. The Organization for the Construction of the new museum is chaired by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Professor Emeritus of Archaeology, Dimitrios Pandermalis.
Address: 15 Dionysiou Areopagitou Street
Tel.: +30 210 9000900
http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en

Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium or Kallimarmaro, (literal translation “beautiful marble”) is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. It is one of the main historic attractions of Athens. Furthermore, it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.
http://www.panathenaicstadium.gr/thepanathenaicstadium/history/tabid/96/language/en-us/default.aspx

The National Garden of Athens

Right in the heart of Athens, between Syntagma Square and the Kallimarmaro (Panathenaic) Stadium, stands the famous National Garden of Athens, a beautiful area to escape the noisy city centre and relax in a lush green environment.
http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtsgarden.htm

Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum is housed in the Benakis family mansion in downtown Athens, Greece. The museum houses Greek works of art from the prehistorical to the modern times, an extensive collection of Asian art, hosts periodic exhibitions and maintains a state-of-the-art restoration and conservation workshop. Although the museum initially housed a collection that included Islamic art, Chinese porcelain and exhibits on toys, its 2000 re-opening led to the creation of satellite museums that focused on specific collections, allowing the main museum to focus on Greek culture over the span of the country’s history.
Address: 1 Koumbari St. & Vas. Sofias Avenue
https://www.benaki.gr/index.php?lang=en

National Museum of Contemporary Art

The National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST), established in October 2000, is the sole national institution focused only on collecting and exhibiting contemporary Greek and international art in Athens. EMST operated, from 2000 to September 2003, on the ground floor of approximately 1,800 square meters, of the old Fix brewery, a fine example of post-war industrial architecture designed by Takis Zenetos. It is located in close proximity to the center of Athens as well as the archaeological sites of the city, including the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. Currently, the restoration of the building is in progress in order to create state of the art facilities for the permanent collection, periodic exhibitions, educational programs, and workshops.
Address: Kallirrois Avenue & Amvr. Frantzi Str.
http://www.emst.gr/en/

For those who want to explore Athens, the links below provide you further information about:

Useful Links

Municipality of Athens
https://www.cityofathens.gr/

City of Athens
http://www.thisisathens.org/

Explore Events
http://www.athensculturenet.com/en

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
http://en.uoa.gr/