The distances are not great
from Athens to any of the surrounding areas.
While in Athens, consider
a side excursion to one or more of the "isles of Greece." It is easy to
arrange a day trip by boat from Piraeus to one or more of the islands of
the Saronic Gulf. Aegina,
Poros,
Spetses
and Hydra.
All are feasible day trips but it is best not to schedule a tour for the
day before you leave Athens.. It is possible that a sudden storm could
leave you stranded for a day on an island. Allow time to savor an unexpected
adventure such as this!
All excursions from Athens
take the visitor into Attica, which today, as in antiquity, is the name
of the countryside around Athens. According to legend, the hero Theseus
unified the 12 towns of Attica under the leadership of Athens. The Attic
countryside provided Athens with wine grapes, olives, honey, grains, fruits,
marble from Mount Pentelicus Pendeli and Mount Hymettus Imittos, and silver
from the mines at Laurium, near Sounion.
Temple of Poseidon
 Built
in 444BC, the Temple of Poseidon stands on the tip of Cape Sounion, overlooking
the Aegean Sea, and is a spectacular sight, particularly when there is
a good sunset. The site (tel: 22920 39363) is open daily from 1000 until
sunset and admission is €4. The coastal road from Athens offers a
dramatic route to the ruins – by car or bus. From the city centre, the
regular local bus departs from Mavromateon, a side street next to the National
Archaeological Museum.
Mt. Parnitha
20km north of the city,
you can go to the National Park of Mt. Parnitha and enjoy a peaceful nature
with the rest of the Athenians. Air is pure and fresh because the Park
is at an altitude of 1000m. There is a road to the mountain, but you can
also take the cable car, know as "teleferic", for a fantastic view and
great sensations
Peania Caves
To escape the heat of the
summer, the caves at Peania are the perfect place to go. 4km west of Peania
it is possible to reach them only by car, for no public transport go there.
The Caves are really interesting to visit because they have an impressive
quantity of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. |
