Athens and Attica

For short breaks or longer stays and the option of
self-drive car rental to visit area of Attica

Athens has been inhabited for 7000 years and has been a city for some 3500. Its greatest period of glory was during the Classical period in the 5th century BCE from which many buildings and artefacts still survive. During this time Perikles oversaw the building of the Acropolis . When Athens became the capital of the modern Greek state in the early 1800s. Architects planned the new European-style city with wide tree-lined avenues and many grand Neo-Classical public buildings and mansions. While much of Athens today is a vast modern metropolis, the historic centre has undergone a transformation in recent years, with many of the fine neo-classical buildings being restored for the Olympic Games. Large areas now sealed off to traffic have created a safe pedestrian walkway around all the main archaeological sites including the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora as well as Plaka , the historic heart of Athens and Monastiraki with its colourful stalls and flea-market. An ultra-modern metro with stations displaying contemporary art and archaeological finds provides an efficient and fast mode of transport. The celebrated designer boutiques, art galleries, smart antique stores, fashionable bars, sumptuous pastry shops, lively pavement cafés add to the picture of this modern vibrant metropolis. But beyond the city lies the whole magical region of Attica, steeped in history and rich in natural beauty. The surrounding mountains: Hymettus, famous for its thyme and honey, Penteli, source of pure white marble and Parnis with its spectacular alpine scenery. Marathon , where the valiant Athenians repelled the Persians; Rhamnous, a site of breathtaking beauty, and Eleusis , where the famous Eleusinian mysteries were celebrated. From Piraeus, frequent ferry-boats carry visitors to the lovely islands of Aegina , Poros , Hydra and Spetses - each of them a unique world with its own distinctive character and colour.

Accommodation

In our portfolio we feature several charming centrally located hotels in Athens, which can be used as a base for visits in the historic centre of the city. Equally there are hotels in the outlying areas such as the Saronic coast and the northern garden suburbs, which allow easier access to the sites in Attica using a hired car.