Getting Oriented

Attica, the southeastern tip of central Greece, is much more than the home of Athens—it is also a fertile land, with fabled temples, idyllic islands, and beautiful Byzantine monasteries. Bordered by three mountain masses—Mt. Hymettos to the east, Mt. Aigaleo and Mt. Parnitha to the west, and Mt. Pendeli to the north—Attica mainly lies east and north of the Athens basin. A tram line from Glyfada to downtown Athens, opened in 2004, allows travelers to easily enjoy the famed Apollo Coast, with its Temple of Sounion and luxurious resorts. The Saronic Gulf islands are now virtually a part of the capital, with Aegina 40 minutes away by hydrofoil. Cradled in the mountains, the Delphi region is set around Mt. Parnassus and Arachova.