Visitors with an appetite for Greece’s ancient past will discover a virtual smorgasbord of experiences to choose from, given all the archaeological sites, scenic historic spots and freshly refurbished museum galleries now available around Athens. Even with only a few days of “site-seeing” time, there are certain key places not to be missed, as you explore the narrow streets, piney slopes and marble monuments that give the city a sense of timelessness. Εven visitors who think they already know what to expect will discover Athens holds many archaeological surprises and opportunities for new understandings, from inspiring hilltop ruins, to towering Corinthian columns, to richly illustrated Byzantine manuscripts, all in the midst of the bustling modern city cityscape.

Topping the list is the Acropolis: one should always begin with a pilgrimage to the most perfect marble temple ever built, or to have survived condemning Christians, destructive conflagrations or Venetian bomb blasts. But don’t make straight for the Parthenon and miss all the intriguing other details to be noted during your walkabout. The Theater of Dionysus and the stone arches of Herodes Atticus’ music hall lie just beside the path, as you tread up the South Slopes in the footsteps of probably every prominent ancient Athenian to have left their mark on history.

Passing upward through the Propylaia, be sure to notice its coffered ceiling and the exquisite Ionic styling of the Athena Nike Temple to the right, both newly restored by the present-day Acropolis team of cutting-edge architects, engineers, conservators and stonemasons. On emerging from the colonnaded gateway, there lie before you the jewels of the Sacred Rock: the Parthenon with its refined Doric architecture; the Erechtheion with its elegant Caryatids and moldings; and, from the Belvedere, one of the most panoramic views of age-old Athens and its surrounding hills.

Equally impressive experiences can be had at lower altitudes all around the Acropolis, especially at the Acropolis Museum. Here, you will reenact your earlier Acropolis ascent, as you move upward through the galleries, culminating with an opportunity to view the Parthenon’s remaining marbles up close and personal.

East of the Acropolis, as you meander through the winding streets of Plaka, the solitary Lysicrates Monument—a marble trophy-stand recognized today for its pioneering external use of the Corinthian style — not only stands as a tribute to past wealthy sponsors (choregoi) who financially backed ancient Athens’ theatrical performances, but also calls to mind Lord Byron. The flamboyant English nobleman once used this diminutive monument’s internal space as a study — in the early 19th century, when a Capucine convent had grown up around the 4th century BC structure and rented rooms to visitors. Further east tower the massive Corinthian columns of the Olympieion, beside which one feels dwarfed in the shadow of such an ambitious building project. As recently as the mid-19th century, a monk still carrying on the ancient Stylite tradition sought a secluded refuge atop the columns, closer to God, and had his daily sustenance raised to him in basket.

The city’s most notable museums include the foremost National Archaeological Museum, where you will meet such prototypical works of art as the handsome Zeus/Poseidon, the Boxing Boys of Akrotiri and the amused Aphrodite slapping at Pan. Perhaps Athens’ most visually striking museum experience, however, can be had at the Byzantine and Christian Museum, where a resplendent array of artifacts are notable for their rich colors, golden surfaces and enormous spiritual and historical value.