Athens with a twist : immersive experiences in the heart of the city

Maria Goutou – Cultural Manager, PhD Candidate, Department of Tourism Economics and
Management, University of the Aegean
Greece is steeped in history, culture, and natural beauty, with fascinating cultural events and immersive experiences for both visitors and locals. As an urban destination, Athens offers visitors a myriad of options. Living in the centre of Athens myself, I always encourage visitors to look beyond the main sights and experience Athenian daily life — to truly live like a local. This way, visitors gain transformative experiences — ones that can reshape their lives when brought into their daily routines. 

For example, it’s worth visiting the various neighbourhoods of the city, like Pangrati, Kypseli, and the vibrant Koukaki district next to the Acropolis, a unique area at the centre of Athens featuring local charm, pottery workshops and more. I would also recommend a stroll through the city, a visit to the National Garden, a dive into authentic Greek cuisine and the countless benefits of the Mediterranean diet, a walk down Dionysiou Areopagitou Street with the Acropolis on full display, soaking in the gorgeous sunset from Filopappou Hill, and of course, a visit to Plaka and Anafiotika with their unique architecture.

Undoubtedly, many lived experiences are in store for those who visit museums and cultural spaces, but the same is true for places where visitors can interact with the local communities, such as the Maria Callas Museum of the Municipality of Athens – the only museum in the world dedicated to Callas, one of the greatest opera singers of all time – the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation, the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Modern Greek Culture, just to name a few.