The ancient city is evolving into one of the most modern metropolises in the world.

Surrounded by seas and mountains, the ancient city of Athens is reinventing itself as an outgoing and lively global capital. A new transportation network, including a state-of-the-art metro system, new highways in and around Athens and the internationally-recognised Athens International Airport, ensures that the city is more accessible and cleaner than it has been for many years.

Transformed archaeological sites and museums, modern art galleries, concert halls, operas and live music, luxury hotels and spas, chic boutiques, restaurants, tavernas and bars, street markets and ancient theatres make up a unique city.

Georgios Voulgarakis, an Athenian and Greece’s Minister of Culture has witnessed the transformation of the city firsthand. “Athens is rapidly developing into a metropolis with an overwhelming dynamism and an intense cultural present. All of these things are intertwined with a rich historical past amid the mild Attica scenery and climate. Some view Athens’ urban landscape as chaotic and mind boggling, but within it you can find many hidden gems and the delights of a contemporary city,” he comments.

The living museum that is downtown Athens is looking better than ever. With Athens’ classical sites now unified into a giant archaeological park you can stroll along Dionysiou Areopagitou – a beautiful cobbled boulevard - as the central causeway in a 2.5 kilometre long walk through 3,500 years of history. Once rundown areas such as Plaka, Psiri and Thission have become the nocturnal heart of the city and blend seamlessly into the walkways and parks surrounding its cultural sites, incorporating this heritage into the body of modern Athens.

“Efforts to showcase the monuments within these archaeological sites allows visitors to grasp the original form and function of the ancient monuments, as well as the landscape of antiquity and journey into history. One result is to revitalize the experience of the sites and to make our vision of ancient Athens and its civilization more intimate,” explains Minister Voulgarakis.

From trekking in the forests of Mount Parnitha to lazing on a beach enjoying Attica’s 300 days of sunshine a year, no other city offers such a unique combination of attractions and activities.