Overview

Cradle of democracy, Athens stands at a crossroads in more ways than one. Indeed, the city serves as a strait of sorts, spanning European and Middle Eastern cultures � a fact not lost on first-time travelers, who find the city a cosmopolitan mix of people, influences, and history. Perhaps even more intriguing is Athens' never-ending struggle between past and present, as evidenced by such unforgettable archaeological sites as the Temple of Zeus, the Dionysus Theatre, and the Acropolis, all juxtaposed against the city's dense phalanx of concrete, glass, and steel buildings. Historic Plaka, a thousand-year-old neighborhood just northeast of the Acropolis, boasts timeless Byzantine churches, mosques, and stately homes, which sit alongside trendy street-side cafes and restaurants. Steeped as it is in tradition and history, Athens is also a-bustle with daily activity � its crowded streets and sidewalks seemingly flow in all directions at once. Plus, busy public markets offer large crowds, colorful wares, and exotic Mediterranean aromas. As the sun goes down, Greece's capital city turns toward its vibrant entertainment districts, Gazi and Exarhia, where celebrities and beautiful folks rub elbows and do the club scene. Site of the 2004 Summer Olympics, Athens also benefits from improved public transit, including a subway, which makes all that the city has to offer more accessible to today's travelers.

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