Greece

Attica

Region

Attica is the peninsula surrounding Athens and, with almost four million inhabitants, by far the most populous region of Greece.

by Felix Gillen

Attica is the peninsula surrounding Athens and, with almost four million inhabitants, by far the most populous region of Greece. Here you'll find the Acropolis and the capital's major museums, but also sanctuaries like Eleusis, Brauron, and Rhamnous, which only a few visitors see.For those planning a few days beyond Athens, you'll find swimming coves and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion along the coast; to the north, the battlefield of Marathon; and Parnitha, a forested mountain range that is reachable from the city in less than an hour.

The region of Attica spans approximately 3,800 square kilometers. Athens and Piraeus fill the basin between the mountains Parnitha, Penteli, Hymettos, and Aigaleo; all around lie the landscapes that make up the excursions.To the west, the road leads past Eleusis towards Megara and Corinth. East of Hymettos lies the Mesogeia plain with the airport and the ferry ports of Rafina and Lavrio. To the south, the coast of the Athenian Riviera stretches with Vouliagmeni and Varkiza to Cape Sounion; in the northeast are Marathon and Rhamnous on the Gulf of Euboea. Administratively, the Saronic Islands such as Aegina, Hydra, and Poros also belong to Attica. In July and August, it gets very hot in the Athenian basin; spring and autumn are more pleasant for sightseeing.

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Athens

Athens is a city that doesn't keep its 3,400 years in a museum, but lives them daily: Beneath the Acropolis lie districts full of tavernas, record shops, and rooftop bars. If you only seek antiquity, stay two days.

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Marathon

Marathon is the site of the 490 BC battle where Athenians and Plataeans routed the Persian landing force on the coast. The Tymvos, burial mound of the fallen Athenians, still lies in the plain.

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Sounion

Cape Sounion is the southernmost tip of Attica, and on its cliff stands the Temple of Poseidon, built between 444 and 440 BC. Of the original 34 Doric columns, 15 still stand, almost 60 meters above the sea.

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dronepicr / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

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Hydra

Hydra is a narrow, rocky island in the Saronic Gulf off the coast of the Peloponnese.

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Sights in Attica

Discover the most important sights and attractions

Akropolis

Perched on the rock above Athens are the structures built in the 5th century BC under Pericles: the Parthenon, Propylaea, Erechtheion with the Porch of the Caryatids, and the small Temple of Athena Nike. The complex has been an ongoing restoration site since the 1970s, as earlier restorations used iron clamps that shattered the marble. The originals of the Caryatids and frieze panels are in the Acropolis Museum on the south slope. The rock offers no shade, and in summer the site closes at midday during heat advisories.

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Daphni Abbey

Daphni Monastery is located on the ancient Sacred Way to Eleusis, today on an arterial road in western Athens. The 11th-century domed church features mosaics that are among the most significant of Middle Byzantine art, foremost among them the Christ Pantocrator in the dome. The 1999 earthquake severely damaged the structure, and restoration took over two decades. The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site; opening hours are limited and should be checked in advance.

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Eleusis

In Eleusis, about 20 kilometers west of Athens, the Eleusinian Mysteries, an initiation cult of Demeter and Persephone, were celebrated for almost two thousand years. Preserved are the foundations of the Telesterion, the Propylaea, and a museum with finds from the excavation. Today, the site lies between shipyards and refineries, making the contrast between ancient and industrial layers visible. Elefsina was the European Capital of Culture in 2023; since then, the town has become more accessible.

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Rhamnous

Situated on the northeast coast of Attica overlooking the Gulf of Euboea, Rhamnous is one of the region's most completely preserved ancient small towns. The site includes the Sanctuary of Nemesis with two temples, a fortress with a gate system, and the burial road leading to it. The complex is located in a pine forest, away from any settlement; visitors are rare. It is approximately 15 kilometers from Marathon, and public transport does not serve the area.

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Sanctuary of Artemis in Brauron

Brauron, on Attica's east coast, was a major Artemis sanctuary where Athenian girls, Arktoi ('she-bears'), served the goddess before adulthood. Highlights: Doric colonnade, classical stone bridge, museum with girl statues. The rarely-visited site lies in a wetland meadow with birdlife, few kilometers from the airport.

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Vouliagmeni Lake

Lake Vouliagmeni on the Athenian Riviera is a collapsed karst cavern, connected to the sea via underground passages. The brackish water is fed from the depths and is usually between 21 and 24 degrees warm; the temperature never drops below 18 degrees Celsius. Admission is charged and organized, with sunbeds, changing rooms, and a café beneath the cliff face. It's about 25 kilometers from Athens along the coastal road; the bus stops on the road above.

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Dining & Drinks

V1935 Luxurious Apartments

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Varoulko Seaside (Piraeus, Mikrolimano)

Chef Lefteris Lazarou's fish restaurant at Mikrolimano Marina in Piraeus, awarded a Michelin star. The kitchen works almost exclusively with fish and seafood from Greek waters, reinterpreting classic recipes. The tables are directly by the water.

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Food and Drink

Attica's cuisine is urban and maritime at once: In Athens, Asia Minor, Cycladic, and Cretan influences converge, while fish dominates along the coast. It also features a wine region that was long underestimated.

Retsina and the Return of Savatiano

The Mesogeia Plain east of Athens is Greece's largest contiguous wine-growing region. For a long time, it was known only for simple Retsina; today, several estates work with old Savatiano vines and produce dry white wines that have made it onto international wine lists.

Fish on the Riviera

Between Piraeus, Vouliagmeni and Lavrio, fish taverns line the water. You order by day's catch and kilo price; ask for both before ordering. In the fishing harbors Mikrolimano and Varkiza, the selection is largest.

Mezedes in the City

The Athenian way of eating: several small plates for the table, accompanied by Ouzo or Tsipouro. Typical dishes include Taramosalata, grilled octopus, Saganaki, and stuffed vine leaves. Dinner is late; before 9 PM, restaurants are half empty.

Pistachios from Aigina

The island in the Saronic Gulf, just a ferry hour from Piraeus, produces pistachios with Protected Designation of Origin. They are smaller and more aromatic than typical imports and are sold freshly roasted at the harbor.

History and Culture

AntiquityAttica was the territory of the ancient city-state of Athens. In the 5th century BC, under Pericles, the buildings of the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, were built, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Scattered across the peninsula were sanctuaries and fortified demes: Eleusis with the Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone, Brauron with the cult of Artemis, Sounion with its Temple of Poseidon, and Rhamnous with the Sanctuary of Nemesis.Byzantium and Modern EraFrom Byzantine times dates the Daphni Monastery with its 11th-century mosaics, also a World Heritage site. After its independence, Athens became the capital of the new Greek state in 1834; many Neoclassical buildings in the center date from this time.Present DayToday, Attica concentrates most of the country's major museums, theaters, and universities. Eleusis was European Capital of Culture in 2023, and in summer, performances of the Athens Festival take place in the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the Acropolis slope.

Out & about locally

From Athens to the RegionAlmost every journey in Attica begins in Athens. The Metro extends to the airport and the port of Piraeus, while the Proastiakos suburban railway also runs towards Corinth and Chalkida. Destinations outside the urban area, such as Sounion, Marathon, Rafina, or Lavrio, are reached with the orange KTEL Attikis buses. Their departure points in the city center have changed several times in recent years, so check them in advance on the operator's website. It's about 70 kilometers from the center to Cape Sounion.By Car and by FerryA rental car is worthwhile for the coastal road along the Athenian Riviera and for the mountainous hinterland around Parnitha and Penteli. In downtown Athens, however, it's rather inconvenient; temporary access restrictions apply, and parking spaces are scarce. Ferries to the Cyclades depart from Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavrio, with Rafina usually being the quicker choice for Andros, Tinos, and Mykonos.

Round trips through this region

Peloponnese Tour

From Athens, you drive across the Corinth Canal to Nafplion, from where Mycenae and Epidaurus are a short drive away. To conclude, head southeast to Monemvasia; the drive from Nafplion takes around two and a half hours.

9 Days

4 stops

Athens & Cyclades: Paros and Naxos

After three nights in Athens, the ferry from Piraeus takes you to Paros in three to four hours. From there, it's just about 45 minutes by ferry to Naxos, where you spend your last five nights.

13 Days

3 stops

Central Greece & Delphi

From Athens, you drive in just over two hours to the mountain village of Arachova on Mount Parnassus and further to nearby Delphi with its Sanctuary of Apollo. Finally, head down to the Gulf of Corinth to Galaxidi, a quiet port town with old captain's houses.

8 Days

4 stops

Nearby

Athens

Attica

Athens

Marathon

Sounion

Hydra