The sheer number of things to enjoy in is no surprise, as it’s one of the oldest cities in the world. Athens—the destination is a master of reinvention. After a decade of darkness on the edge of Grexit Athens is now southern Europe’s cool capital. Visitors are flocking to the city for a long weekend in order to experience the vibrant food scene. cool hotels in Athens. Athens is becoming a magnet for artists and designers, who are drawn by low rents, the promise and abundance of sunshine, as well as the freedom to be themselves. Athens has no order: life is chaotic and the architecture is a mix-up of Byzantine style and Bauhaus. The Parthenon still dominates the skyline—and will forever be one of the key things to do in Athens—but for most Athenians the antiquities embedded among tightly packed apartment blocks are an afterthought. It’s in the graffitied backstreets and café-lined squares, the factories converted into galleries, bars hidden in arcades, and secret coves for skinny dipping where the heartbeat of Athens is racing. These are the top things to do in Athens beyond the classics.
