2, Meg. Alexandrou str.
10437, Athens, Greece
T. +30 216 8009900
F. +30 216 8009901
E. info@wyndhamgrandathens.com
E. reservations@wyndhamgrandathens.com
Discover Athens
Discover the timeless charm of Athens.
Our hotel, nestled in the vibrant heart of Karaiskaki Square, offers more than just a place to stay - it's your gateway to an unforgettable Athenian adventure. Explore world-renowned historical attractions, immerse yourself in the local culture, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Wyndham Grand Athens
Museums
Acropolis Museum
National Archaeological Museum
Benaki Museum
Ilias Lalaounis Museum
Attractions
Acropolis
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Ancient Agora of Athens
Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro)
Live Like A Local
Locals in Athens tend to avoid the city's attractions that are popular with tourists, preferring establishments that are off the beaten track and off the standard city guide lists. Wyndham Grand Athens offers you the opportunity to discover these hidden treasures in the city! Contact our reception desk for a list of walking tours by experienced city guides.
Lycabettus Hill
With a height of 277m above sea level, Lycabettus Hill is the highest point in Athens. Legend has it that Athena accidentally created the hill when she dropped a giant rock she was going to use for the Acropolis. Whatever its origin, Lycabettus offers the most amazing views of the city and is a popular spot for couples, especially at night when the scorching sun has settled.
Mount Hymettus
A most popular hiking ground for locals, Mount Hymettus is also home to an important archaeological site. Kaisariani Monastery, built in the 12th century was the most active center of the city during the Middle Ages. Hundreds of monks lived here and ran the place like a business, with olive groves, beehives and grape vines. There was also a huge library with famous documents from antiquity that have unfortunately been lost.
Anafiotika
Hidden underneath the Acropolis, next to the more famous Plaka neighborhood, is Anafiotika. The name derives from the island Anafi, since the neighborhood was built by immigrants from the island. The neighborhood is very much like any village you would see in a Cycladic island. A walk through Anafiotika's narrow streets will make you forget that you're in a major urban metropolis.
Strefi Hill
Located in the avant-garde, alternative neighborhood called Exarcheia, you can hike up to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of all of Athens and a clear view of the Acropolis and beyond to the Athenian Riviera. You'll find locals jogging, kids playing at the basketball court at the foot of the hill, dog walkers and young Greek lovers who stop to adore a view of their city that they know most tourists don't know anything about.
Romantso Hub Space
A printing plant in the 1960s for the popular romance story magazine Romantso, this historic building is now an innovative and cultural hub in the city center. By day, Romantso is the home to innovative start-ups who rent out creative work spaces known as "incubators". By night, it's a hub for rock concerts, indie film screenings, theatre performances and art exhibitions. You can also go for a drink in its post-industrial minimalist bar. Romantso Hub Space is located near Omonoia square.
Shopping
In ancient times "agora" meant a public place where people met to discuss and socialize. In ancient times "agora" meant a public place where people met to discuss and socialize. Today it means "shopping" and Athens, just like in ancient times, continues to live up to its word!
The hectic, boisterous and colorful Athens Central Market -a.k.a Varvakeios Market- is in the historic triangle of Athens, in the middle between Omonoia and Monastiraki. Walking around in the indoor market is a sensory and gastronomic delight, featuring an amazing range of herbs, spices, cheeses, olives and other tasty Greek foods. The historic meat market, with hanging carcasses of various animals put on full display is for many tourists an attraction of its own. The tavernas in and around the market are also worth seeing.
Ermou street is Athens's main shopping street. A long pedestrian road which connects Syntagma square with Monastiraki, you'll find brand name department stores, quality souvenir shops and quaint local shops.
For high end shopping, try the Kolonaki district and Voukourestiou street. Expensive jewelry, exclusive boutique hotels and avant-garde fashion stores are all here, spread out around the steep streets of the district.
If it's a more Anatolian street-bazaar experience you're looking for, Monastiraki is the place for you. Shops here sell everything from trinkets to combat army boots, second-hand books to rare zippo lighters and knock-off designer glasses. Some of these stores look like they are nothing more than a tiny room but don't hesitate to walk inside. You'll be surprised to find that they lead to spacious back rooms with tons of great shopping deals.
Athens also has its fair share of shopping malls to visit. Attica is the most centrally located on Panepistimiou street, others are further away from the center but accessible via the Metro or train: The Mall Athens by Neratziotissa station, The Athens Metro by Agios Dimitrios station and Athens Heart by Tavros station.
Athens Riviera
Athens is famous for many things, but surprisingly enough, not well-known for its coastline and sandy beaches. Yet, just 20 minutes south of the city, you'll find landscapes that rival those of any island in the Aegean Sea. If you have already visited all the famous attractions of Athens and still have a day left to explore, the Athens Riviera is definitely worth a visit.
Glyfada is generally considered the area where the metropolitan area ends and where the Riviera begins. Here you'll find posh cafes, high-class boutique stores and stylish tavernas serving fresh fish and Greek delicacies. To get there all you need to do is hop on the Metro's red line and head south toward Elliniko. When you get off at Elliniko you can take a taxi or even the bus for the short distance to Glyfada. After a short meal or coffee, you will want to rent a car to get to Cape Sounio, which is 47 kilometers away, and see all the various attractions in between.
Your first stop is Lake Vouliagmeni. Vouliagmeni means "sunken" in Greek and legend has it that a lost city fell into this deep lake, flanked by an immense limestone cave. Feel free to explore the depths of the lake, but you are most likely to find the place too serene for such adventures. The water is naturally kept at 24 degrees Celsius and is known for its healing properties, attracting those who seek comfort from rheumatism and arthritis.
Driving further south you'll begin to see why so many Athenians head down this road during the summer weekends. One after another, sandy beaches of incredible beauty appear before you behind every twist and turn of the road. You can tell which beaches are most popular by the amount of cars parked on the side of the road, but if you're lucky, you'll find some relatively secluded beaches that you can have all to yourself.
By lunch time you will have reached Anavissos, the fish tavern capital of the Athens Riviera. The beaches are always less crowded here and the nearby cove serves the many fishing boats that supply the local fishing taverns. This is the perfect place to enjoy your lunch and to get ready for the last part of your journey.
Cape Sounio is at the tip of the Attica peninsula and home to the Temple of Poseidon. Perched majestically on the edge of the land, in ancient times these austere Doric columns were a welcome sight for sea travelers looking to return home to Athens. Today the temple is a famous attraction for travelers in the know. Search the foot of the columns to find Lord Byron's famous graffiti inscription and various other tags that have been inscribed throughout history. Wait until sun down and be rewarded with one of the most dramatic sunsets you'll ever see!
