Syntagma Square

It is the most important square in Athens, often crowded with both tourists and locals, and chances are, if you are staying in Athens, you will make your way here more than once. There are several things to see here, including the most popular tourist attraction, the House of Parliament. Watch out for the members of the presidential guard dressed in traditional uniforms at the hourly changing of guards here. Ermou Street also starts at the square and is a “pedestrian only” street as well as one of the most popular shopping streets in the city. Fountains and water ponds adorn the square, as do white marble benches to sit on. The square is also where the Grande Bretagne Hotel, Athens’one of the most sought after tourist hotels is located. Both beautiful and historical, this hotel housed Adolf Hitler during the Second World War. It is well worth to pop into the lobby of this hotel and have a hot cuppa. Whether you come to the square to watch the changing of the guards, meet a friend for coffee or simply for a casual stroll, it must all be done while in the city.