Exploring the City. Athens is the historical capital of Europe. It is the birthplace of democracy, the arts, science, and the philosophy of Western civilization. Home to Plato, Socrates, Pericles, Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus, Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, with a recorded history spanning over 3,400 years and continuous habitation since the 11th millennium B.C.E. Today, under the shadow of the Parthenon, the city’s contemporary urban landscape reflects its rich historical legacy, multicultural identity, and modern infrastructure.
See more: Visit Greece, Athens This is Athens
The first day (27 June 2026) of the conference sessions will be held in this historic building.
Athens Rings from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The New Benaki Museum:
Pireos 138, Athina 118 54 [See more...]
The new Benaki Museum building is one of the central development axes of Athens. Its permanent collections feature photographic, historical, performing art, and modern Greek architecture archives, while it also hosts current exhibitions and events showcasing the work of up-and-coming and recognized Greek and international artists that engage audiences using a variety of mediums.
The Ancient Agora and Stoa of Attalos
24 Adrianou, Monastiraki, 105 55 [See more...]
The Agora was the center of pollical, commercial, social, religious, and cultural life in Ancient Athens. Established in the sixth century BC, it grew over a period of several centuries. The Stoa of Attalos- a covered promenade of shop stalls, a precursor to the modern-day mall - was built by the King of Pergamon in the second century. The Hephaisteion, a Doric temple built in the fifth century BC and dedicated to the gods Hephaistos and Athena, is one of the Agora’s most famous attractions. Most Greeks refer to the Hephaisteion as the “Thisseion” because of the scenes depicting the feats of Theseus on its frieze.
National Archaeological Museum
44, 28th of October (Patission) str., 106 82, Athens [See more...]
The Hellenic National Archaeological Museum is the largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to ancient Greek art. It was founded at the end of the 19th century to house and protect antiquities from all over Greece, thus displaying their historical, cultural and artistic value. Its rich collections, enumerating more than 11,000 exhibits, offer the visitor a panorama of ancient Greek culture from the beginning of prehistory to the late antiquity.
National Library
Panepistimiou 32, Athina 106 79 [See more]
Construction on this imposing neoclassical building was completed at the turn of the 20th century. The National Library of Greece’s collection contains over 2,000,000 items, among them 5,200 manuscripts that include over 300 Greek New Testament manuscripts and handwritten renditions of works by Aristotle, Plato and Homer. The interior of the building stands out for the unrivalled charm of its rich décor, green lamps and original bookshelves, stacked with rare books. Since 2017, the National Library has moved at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, however the original building now serves as a reading room and is open to the public.
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens,
Rectorate Building, Downtown, Athens, 30 Panepistimiou (Eleftheriou Venizelou) str., 106 79 Athens.
The first day (27 June 2026) of the conference sessions will be held in this historic building.
Academy of Athens
Panepistimiou 28, Athina 106 79 [See more...]
An exceptional example of neoclassical architecture, this building is home to one of the most important research institutes in Greece. With its perfect proportions and harmonious lines, it is regarded by some experts as the most beautiful neoclassical building in the world. The Academy’s monumental sculptures and murals, which took a decade to complete, depict ancient Greek mythology, 19th century Hellenism, as well as visions of how the artists imagined the future. Christian Griepenkerl’s enormous mural of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, that extends down the western side of the Academy's Main Hall, in eight sections is a must-see.
The Athens City Museum
5-7 I. Paparigopoulou str., 105 61, Athens [See more...]
The Athens City Museum (Vouros-Eutaxias Foundation), housed in two of the capital’s oldest buildings (including a former royal palace), is dedicated to the development of the city of Athens in modern times. The Museum has a Library and hosts a collection of approximately 40,000 items ranging from antiquity to the 21st century, including ancient artifacts, rare books and musical texts, Byzantine and post-Byzantine ecclesiastical art, glass, porcelain, ceramics, recording media, woodcrafts, paintings, engravings, fabrics, photographs, and other items.
Numismatic Museum Iliou Melathron,
12 Eleftheriou Venizelou (Panepistimiou) str., 10671 Athens [See more...]
This historic neoclassical building hosts a collection of ancient and modern coins. This museum’s 500,000-strong coin collection is a treasury of historical data, tracing the political, commercial, religious, and social life of Greek and non-Greek city-states, kings, and rulers through the ages. Visitors particularly enjoy the building’s décor: Pompeian-style frescoes, floor mosaics depicting archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann’s finds at Troy and Mycenae, and excerpts from Greek literary texts on the walls.
Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education, Marasleio,
Marasli 4, Athina 132 45
The second through the fourth day (28-30 June 2026) of the conference sessions will be held in this historic building.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
133 Vasilissis Amalias Ave., Athens 105 57 [See more...]
Located in front of the Hellenic Parliament at Syntagma Square (the largest square in the city), the monument serves as a lasting tribute to Greece's unnamed heroes. The daily Changing of the Guard at the site – one of the most popular sights in Athens – is an impressive display of precision, discipline, stoicism, and a powerful symbol of respect keeping the nation's connection to its past alive.
The Parthenon [See more...]
The Parthenon is arguably the most seminal and best-known historical site in Athens, making it a venue you can’t miss. Dating back to the 5th century BC and constructed entirely out of marble from nearby Mt. Pendeli, the Parthenon represents architectural perfection - a pinnacle of human achievement. Dedicated by the Athenians to the goddess Athena, the patron of their city, it is considered the most magnificent creation of Athenian democracy at the height of its power. It is also the finest monument on the Acropolis in terms of both conception and execution.
National Garden
631 Vasilissis Sofias Ave., Athens 105 57 [See more...]
Established in 1838, the former royal garden was declared a public space in 1927 and stands today as an idyllic park located right next door to the Hellenic Parliament. Home to over 7,000 trees and 40,000 shrubbery, along with hundreds of species of birds, turtles and fish, its rich nature makes it one the most beautiful parks in the city. The National Garden is perfect for relaxing and strolling, as visitors can admire its rich nature as well as the ancient Roman villa mosaic floor, decorated with geometric shapes of plants and leaves.
Zappeion Megaron
Vasilisis Olgas Ave., 105 57 [See more...]
The Zappeion Megaron has been an active part of Greece's history for the last 130 years. Cultural events of great importance take place within the premises. From serving as a venue during the first modern Olympics Games in 1896, an Olympic Village in 1906, to the headquarters of Greece’s first radio station and hospital in the mid 20th century, and as a home to significant contemporary exhibitions, it has continually served as a key site for some of the nation's most significant moments, while always been integrally linked to the Olympic Movement, making it a famous Athens landmark.
Plaka: The Neighbourhood of the Gods [See more...]
Plaka, Athens’ oldest neighborhood, is a top attraction for visitors. Its picturesque streets, historic landmarks and lively shops make it a must-see. Visitors enjoy wandering through its winding pedestrian streets, marveling at the white and fuchsia bougainvillea that spills from balconies, and stumbling upon unexpected ancient ruins, while chasing glimpses of the Acropolis between the neoclassical buildings, Byzantine churches, cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. The neighborhood is also famous for its dining options, ranging from traditional Greek food to old-school cafés.
The Acropolis Museum
Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, 11742 Athens [See more...]
Located in the historic area of Makryianni, the Museum stands about 300 meters southeast of the Parthenon. Its entrance is adjacent to the start of Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian walkway, which links it to the Acropolis and other key archeological sites in Athens. The top floor of the Museum, the Parthenon Gallery, offers a panoramic view of the Acropolis and modern Athens. As one of Athens’ newest venues – having opened in June 2009 – the Museum boldly seeks to maintain, through its highly transparent glass facades, a direct visual connection between its exhibits, the Acropolis itself and the in-situ Acropolis monuments from which the Museum’s exhibits originate.
Temple of Olympian Zeus / Olympieion,
Andreas Syggrou Ave., Athens 105 57 [See more...]
Dating back to the 6th century BC, the Olympeion was once the largest ancient temple in mainland Greece. Today, the 15 standing columns and one fallen one remain to tell the story of the 100 x 50-meter temple dedicated to Zeus, originally featuring 104 columns. The carvings on the columns that are part of the ‘Stone Chronicle’ kept on monuments during Ottoman rule to keep track of noteworthy events such as epidemics and natural disasters are one of the temple’s “must-sees.”
Panathenaic Stadium, the first modern Olympic Stadium in the world
Vasileos Konstantinou Ave., Athens 116 35 [See more...]
A unique archaeological monument, the Panathenaic Stadium represents a living symbol uniting the ancient and modern heritage of sport and the Olympic Games. Home to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, this monument, with its signature white Attic marble, offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the Olympic spirit, while also operating as a modern-day venue for cultural events, such as theatrical performances, concerts, and festivals, while its top rows feature impressive views of Mt. Lycabettus and the Acropolis.
