Athens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Athens Αθήνα  (Greek)
Capital city
Monastiraki square and Acropolis of Athens The Parthenon Zappeion The Hellenic Parliament Metropolitan Cathedral Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center Academy of Athens
Flag Seal
Nicknames:  τὸ κλεινὸν ἄστυ (tò kleinòn ásty, "the glorious city") τὸ ἰοστεφὲς ἄστυ (tò iostephès ásty, "the violet-crowned city") The City of Wisdom City of Reason
Athens Location in Greece Show map of Greece Athens Location in Europe Show map of Europe
Country	Greece
Geographic region	Central Greece
Administrative region	Attica
Regional unit	Central Athens
Named for	Athena
Districts	7
Government
• Type	Mayor–council government
Area
• Capital city and municipality	38.964 km2 (15.044 sq mi)
• Urban	412 km2 (159 sq mi)
• Metro	2,928.717 km2 (1,130.784 sq mi)
Highest elevation	338 m (1,109 ft)
Lowest elevation	70.1 m (230.0 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Capital city and municipality	643,452
• Rank	1st urban, 1st metro in Greece
• Urban	3,059,764
• Urban density	7,427/km2 (19,235/sq mi)
• Metro	3,638,281
• Metro density	1,242.2781/km2 (3,217.4855/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Athenian
GDP
• Metro	€109.654 billion (2023)
• Per capita	€29,000 (2023)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal codes	10x xx, 11x xx, 120 xx
Telephone	21
Vehicle registration	Yxx, Zxx, Ixx
Patron saint	Dionysius the Areopagite (3 October)
Major airport(s)	Athens International Airport

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. It is a very important city located by the sea in the Mediterranean. Athens is also the capital of the Attica region. It is the southernmost capital city on the European mainland. Over 3.6 million people live in its urban area, making it one of the largest cities in the European Union. The city of Athens itself had about 643,452 people in 2021.

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. People have lived here for at least 5,000 years. According to Greek mythology, the city was named after Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state in ancient Greece. It was a center for democracy, the arts, education, and philosophy. Many people see Athens as the birthplace of Western culture and democracy.

Today, Athens is a big, modern city. It is important for Greece's economy, finance, industry, and culture. It is also a global city and a major economic hub in Southeast Europe. Its port, Piraeus, is very busy. It is the second-busiest passenger port in Europe.

You can still see the city's ancient past everywhere. Famous ancient monuments like the Parthenon show its rich history. Athens also has Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman buildings. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Athens: the Acropolis of Athens and the Daphni Monastery. Athens has many museums, like the National Archaeological Museum. This museum has the world's largest collection of ancient Greek items. Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It also hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics 108 years later.

The Name of Athens

The city's name in Ancient Greek was Athênai. This was a plural word. Later, it became Athḗnē in the singular. Most experts today believe the goddess Athena was named after the city, not the other way around. This is because the ending "-ene" is common for place names.

The Myth of Athena and Poseidon

An old story tells how Athens got its name. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and Poseidon, the god of the seas, both wanted to be the city's patron. They agreed to offer a gift to the people. The king, Cecrops, would choose the best gift. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident. A saltwater spring appeared. Another version says he gave the first horse. Athena offered the first domesticated olive tree. King Cecrops chose Athena's gift. So, Athena became the patron goddess of Athens.

People in ancient times sometimes called Athens the "City of the Violet Crown." They also called it "the glorious city."

A Look at Athens' Past

Athens has a very long and interesting history. It has been lived in for at least 5,000 years.

Ancient Times in Athens

The earliest human presence in Athens dates back to between 11,000 and 7,000 BC. By 1400 BC, Athens was an important center of the Mycenaean civilization. The Acropolis was a strong fortress then. Unlike some other Mycenaean cities, Athens might not have been destroyed around 1200 BC. After a period of economic slowdown, Athens became a leading trade center by 900 BC.

The Golden Age of Classical Athens

Around the 6th century BC, Athens saw important changes. These changes led to the start of democracy in 508 BC. Athens became a strong naval power. It helped Greek cities fight against the Persians. Athens, with Sparta, led the Greek states to victory in the Greco-Persian Wars. Key battles were at Marathon (490 BC) and Salamis (480 BC).

The time after these wars was the Golden Age of Athenian democracy. Athens became the most important city in Ancient Greece. Its culture shaped Western civilization. Famous writers like Aeschylus and philosophers like Socrates lived here. Under Pericles, Athens built the Parthenon and other amazing structures on the Acropolis. Athens also led the Delian League, a group of Greek city-states. This league helped Athens become even more powerful. However, this led to the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), where Athens was defeated by Sparta.

Later, the kingdom of Macedon became strong. In 338 BC, Philip II and his son Alexander the Great defeated Athens and Thebes. Athens then joined the League of Corinth under Macedonian rule.

Roman Rule in Athens

When Rome took over, Athens was still respected for its schools. In the 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian, who was an Athenian citizen, built many things. These included a library, a gymnasium, and an aqueduct still used today. He also helped finish the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Later, the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) ruled from Constantinople. Many Athenian artworks were moved there. The empire became Christianised. Ancient temples like the Parthenon became churches. Athens became a smaller town. It was still a center for learning, especially for Neoplatonism. However, attacks by groups like the Herules (267 AD) and Visigoths (396 AD) caused damage. In 529 AD, the emperor banned pagan philosophy. This marked the end of ancient Athens's history.

Byzantine Athens

Athens was attacked by the Slavs in 582 AD. But it remained part of the Byzantine Empire. The city faced raids from Saracens in the 8th and 9th centuries. Athens supported the use of religious images during the Byzantine Iconoclasm debate. This was partly due to Empress Irene of Athens, who helped end the first period of Iconoclasm.

From the 11th to the 12th century, medieval Athens grew quickly. The Agora (marketplace) was rebuilt. The city became known for making soaps and dyes. This growth attracted traders from places like Venice. Many important Byzantine churches in Athens were built during this time.

The Duchy of Athens

In 1204, the Fourth Crusade took over Athens. The city was ruled by "Latins" (Western Europeans) for a long time. This period is known as the Frankokratia. Athens did not become Greek again until the 19th century.

Ottoman Rule in Athens

The Ottomans captured Athens in 1458. Sultan Mehmed II was impressed by the ancient monuments. He ordered that they should not be destroyed. The Parthenon was turned into the city's main mosque.

Under Ottoman rule, Athens lost much of its importance. Its population became very small. The Ottomans stored gunpowder in the Parthenon. In 1687, during a war, a Venetian attack caused the gunpowder in the Parthenon to explode. This severely damaged the building, giving it the look it has today.

Modern Athens

In 1822, Greeks fighting for independence captured the city. But it fell back to the Ottomans in 1826. The ancient monuments suffered more damage. The Ottomans left in 1833.

After the Greek War of Independence, Athens became the capital of the new Greek kingdom in 1834. It was chosen for its history. At that time, Athens was a small town of about 4,000 people. Architects designed a modern city plan. They wanted to connect modern Athens with its ancient past. Many new buildings were built in the Neoclassical style.

Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. In the 1920s, many Greek refugees came to Athens. This made the city's population grow. After World War II, Athens grew even more in the 1950s and 1960s.

By the 1980s, pollution from factories and cars became a big problem. The city took steps to clean the air in the 1990s. They also improved roads and public transport. This included expanding the Athens Metro and building a new airport. These changes made Athens a much better city. Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics. More city improvements have happened since then, especially along the coast.

Athens' Location and Surroundings

Athens is in a flat area called the Attica Basin. Four large mountains surround this basin. These are Mount Aigaleo to the west, Parnitha to the north, Mount Pentelicus to the northeast, and Hymettus to the east. The Saronic Gulf is to the southwest. Mount Parnitha is the tallest mountain and is a national park. The city stretches about 50 kilometers from north to south.

Athens has many hills. Lycabettus is one of the tallest hills in the city. It offers great views of the whole area. The mountains around Athens can trap air, causing temperature inversions. This, along with industrial pollution, caused air pollution problems in the past.

The Cephissus, Ilisos, and Eridanos are the historical rivers of Athens.

Protecting the Environment

In the late 1970s, pollution in Athens was very bad. It was damaging ancient statues. But measures taken in the 1990s improved air quality. Smog is now less common. However, air pollution can still be an issue on hot summer days. In 2007, wildfires on Mount Parnitha caused worries about air quality.

Waste management efforts have greatly improved water quality in the Saronic Gulf. The coastal waters of Athens are now clean enough for swimming.

Parks and Green Spaces

Parnitha National Park has many paths, gorges, and caves. Hiking and mountain biking are popular activities there. The National Garden of Athens is a large green space in the city center. It was finished in 1840.

Parts of the city center have been improved. A project called the "Unification of Archeological Sites of Athens" created a scenic route. This route connects ancient sites like the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Agora. It offers great views of the Parthenon.

Athens's hills also provide green areas. Lycabettus, Philopappos hill, and Pnyx are covered with trees. The Pedion tou Areos park is near the National Archaeological Museum.

Athens' Climate

Athens has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. Summers can be very hot. The city center can be warmer than other areas due to the urban heat island effect. Fog is rare in the center.

The southern parts of Athens have slightly milder temperatures. This is because they are close to the Saronic Gulf. The northern parts, being higher up, are a bit cooler and get more rain. The mountains around Athens create a rain shadow effect. This makes the climate drier than a typical Mediterranean climate.

Snowfall is not very common in Athens. When it does snow, it usually does not cause big problems. However, in February 2021 and January 2022, the city saw significant snowfall.

Summers in Athens can be extremely hot. Athens is known as one of the hottest cities in mainland Europe. It was the first European city to appoint a chief heat officer. Temperatures over 47.5°C have been recorded in the metropolitan area. In 1977, Athens held the record for the highest temperature in Europe at 48.0°C.

How Athens is Governed

Athens became the capital of Greece in 1834. The city of Athens is also the capital of the Attica region. When people say "Athens," they might mean the city itself, the larger urban area, or the entire metropolitan area.

The main city center is called the Municipality of Athens. This is the largest part of the city by population. It forms the heart of the Athens urban area. The Piraeus area is also a big city center within the Athens urban area.

The Wider Athens Area

The Athens Urban Area includes 40 municipalities. These are divided into four regional units. This urban area covers about 412 square kilometers. It had a population of 3,059,764 people in 2021.

Athens Urban Area

Regional units: Central Athens:      Athens Municipality      Other municipalities      North Athens      South Athens      West Athens      Piraeus

The Athens Metropolitan Area is even larger. It covers about 2,928 square kilometers. It includes 58 municipalities and had 3,638,281 people in 2021. This area covers almost the entire Attica peninsula.

The areas around the city center are called suburbs. They are grouped into northern, southern, eastern, and western suburbs. The Athens coastline has many sandy beaches. These are popular for swimming.

The main Athens Olympic Sports Complex is in the northern suburb of Maroussi. It was updated for the 2004 Olympics. The old Athens Airport grounds are being turned into a large park. This will be called the Hellenikon Metropolitan Park.

City Safety

Athens is considered a very safe city. It ranks low for the risk of terrorist attacks. In a 2017 report, it ranked well in digital, health, and infrastructure security. It was also ranked as a safe city overall.

Athens' Economy

Athens is the financial heart of Greece. In 2014, its economy produced about US$130 billion. This was almost half of the country's total production. Athens is a major economic center in southeastern Europe.

Big projects like investments in the port of Piraeus and the expansion of the Athens Metro are important for the economy. Many Greek and international companies have their main offices in Athens. These include technology, banking, and food companies.

Tourism in Athens

Tourism is a big part of Athens's economy. It has been a popular destination for travelers for a very long time. The city's facilities improved a lot for the 2004 Summer Olympics.

The Greek government has invested in new infrastructure. This includes the Athens International Airport and the expanded Athens Metro. Athens has become a more exciting city with new cafes and street art. It offers many attractions, from ancient sites to modern culture.

Getting Around Athens

Athens is Greece's main transportation hub. It has the country's largest airport and port. Piraeus is a very busy port for both cargo and passengers.

Public transport in Athens is extensive. It includes buses, trolleybuses, the Athens Metro, a Suburban Railway, and a tram network.

Bus and Rail Travel

Buses and trolleybuses are operated by OSY. There are about 322 bus lines. Athens has a large fleet of natural gas-powered buses.

Athens is also a hub for national and international trains. The Athens Suburban Railway connects the airport to the city and other towns.

The Athens Metro has three lines. It helps people travel across the city. Many Greek artifacts found during its construction are displayed in the stations. The metro connects the city center to the port of Piraeus and the airport.

The Athens Tram connects Syntagma Square to the southern suburbs and the coastline. It covers most of the Athens coastline.

Athens International Airport

Athens is served by the Athens International Airport (ATH). It is located about 35 kilometers east of the city center. The airport is a major hub for air travel in southeastern Europe.

Ferry Services

The Port of Piraeus is Greece's largest port. It connects Athens to many Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Rafina and Lavrio are other ports that serve Athens.

Motorways in Athens

Two main motorways start in Athens. The A1 heads north towards Thessaloniki. The A8 heads west towards Patras. The Attiki Odos is a toll motorway network that serves the Athens Metropolitan Area. It connects the western suburbs to the airport.

Learning in Athens

Athens is home to many important educational institutions. The old campus of the University of Athens, the National Library, and the Athens Academy are famous buildings. They are known as the "Athens Trilogy."

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the largest and oldest university in the city. Many university functions have moved to a campus in the eastern suburb of Zografou. The National Technical University of Athens also has a campus in Athens.

Other universities in Athens include the University of West Attica, the Athens University of Economics and Business, and the Panteion University. There are ten state-supported higher education institutions in the Athens Urban Area.

Athens' Culture

Archaeological Sites and Museums

Athens is a global center for archaeological research. It has many archaeological museums. The National Archaeological Museum is the largest in Greece. It has a huge collection of ancient items, covering over 5,000 years.

Other important museums include:

• The Benaki Museum, with collections from ancient times to Chinese art.
• The Byzantine & Christian Museum, showing important Byzantine art.
• The National Art Gallery, which reopened in 2021.
• The New Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009. It is very popular.
• The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art, known for its white marble figurines.
• The Numismatic Museum, with a large collection of ancient and modern coins.

Architecture in Athens

Athens has many different architectural styles. You can see Greco-Roman, Neoclassical, and Modern buildings. The city has strict rules about building height. This is to make sure the Acropolis Hill is visible.

In the 19th century, Neoclassicism was very popular. Famous architects like Ernst Ziller designed many buildings. In the 20th century, modern architecture styles like Bauhaus became popular. After World War II, the city center was rebuilt. Many modern buildings were constructed using glass, marble, and aluminum.

Entertainment and Arts

Athens has 148 theaters, more than any other city. The ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus hosts the Athens Festival. The city also has many cinemas and music venues. The Athens Concert Hall attracts famous artists. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, opened in 2016, houses the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera. In 2018, Athens was named the World Book Capital by UNESCO.

You can find many restaurants, tavernas, and bars in areas like Plaka and Monastiraki. Areas like Gazi and Psyrri are known for nightclubs. Coastal suburbs like Microlimano have many tavernas and beach bars.

Greek music has a rich history. Famous composers like Manos Hadjidakis and Mikis Theodorakis are known worldwide. The famous opera singer Maria Callas spent her teenage years in Athens. The city has honored her with a museum and a theater named after her.

Sports in Athens

Athens has a long history in sports. It has hosted the Summer Olympic Games twice, in 1896 and 2004. The Athens Olympic Stadium is a beautiful venue. It has hosted major football finals. Other stadiums include the Karaiskakis Stadium and the Agia Sophia Stadium.

Athens is home to three big sports clubs: Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and AEK. These clubs are very successful in football and basketball. Olympiacos won a European football competition in 2024. Panathinaikos and Olympiacos basketball teams are among the best in Europe.

The city's mountains offer many outdoor activities. These include hiking and mountain biking. You can also find skiing, rock climbing, and windsurfing nearby.

Athens won the bid to host the 2004 Summer Olympics in 1997. The games helped transform Athens into a more modern city. Over 10,000 athletes from 202 countries participated.

Images for kids

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  The Ancient Agora of Athens, a major commercial center of ancient Athens.

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  The ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

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  The Tower of the Winds in the Roman Agora.

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  The Odeon of Herodes Atticus built in AD 161.

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  The second Parthenon mosque in the ruined Parthenon, destroyed in 1687.

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  The Frankish Tower of the Acropolis of Athens in 1874.

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  Sunset over the Hill of the Nymphs, viewed from the Propylaea.

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  Panathinaikos vs Sparta Prague in the Athens Olympic Stadium, 2008.

See also

In Spanish: Atenas para niños

• List of modern cities named after Athens
• Outline of Athens
• Timeline of Athens