Top Reasons to Go to Athens

The Acropolis: An ancient beacon of bygone glory rising above Athens's smog, this iconic citadel represents everything the Athenians were and still aspire to be.

Evzones on Syntagma Square: Unmistakable in tasseled hats and pom-pom shoes, they act out a traditional changing of the guard that falls somewhere between discipline and comedy.

The Ancient Agora and Monastiraki: Socrates and Plato once discoursed—and scored excellent deals on figs—at the Agora, and today you can do the same at the nearby Monastiraki marketplace.

Opa!: Whether jamming to post-grunge in Gazi—Athens's Greenwich Village—or dirty dancing on the tables at live bouzouki clubs, the Athenians party like no one else.

Benaki Bounty: Housed in a neoclassic mansion, the Benaki Museum—Greece's oldest private collection—has everything from ancient sculpture to modern art.