Athens Overview: Redolent with history and mythology, Athens is an affable city enlivened by bustling outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets that wind through the city's ancient sites and its fair share of urban eccentrics. If you get into the Athenian mindset, you'll enjoy one of the most laid-back and quirky European cities.

The city may look like a concrete jungle and still suffers from bouts of the dreaded nefos (smog), but beyond its noisy and chaotic veneer is an undeniable charm. The spruced up historic centre, major sites and major dining and entertainment precincts are all close together making Athens is a great walking city.

When To Go: Spring and late autumn are ideal, as the summer heat can be brutal and hordes of people in transit to the cooler islands make it hard to get around. If you can stand the heat, the mid-August mass exodus of Athenians make it much easier to get around Athens . Winters in Athens are lively and give you a different experience. You can save money on accommodation and, besides, ithe off-season is quite a pleasant and lively time with few tourists.

Content by Lonely Planet Guides, Athens