Athens
The Acropolis and the cradle of Western civilisation.
📷 Athens · Wikipedia/Wikimedia CommonsAthens is the ancient city where Western civilisation was born, with the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The ancient agoras and the lively Plaka district bring together thousands of years in one view.
🗓️ Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are most balanced for weather and crowds.
Nearby stops
RomeThe Colosseum and Vatican; an open-air museum.Florence – UffiziThe capital of Renaissance art.VeniceCanals, St Mark’s and gondolas.Granada – AlhambraThe summit of Islamic art in Al-Andalus.BarcelonaGaudí architecture and Mediterranean flair.Córdoba – MezquitaAn Al-Andalus masterpiece of red-and-white arches.PragueCentral Europe’s fairy-tale bridge city.MilanA city of fashion, design and the Gothic Duomo.NaplesHistory, sea and pizza in the shadow of Vesuvius.SevilleAndalusia’s liveliest city; the Giralda and Alcázar.MadridSpain’s capital of the Prado and grand palaces.ViennaA city of imperial palaces and classical music.BudapestTwo banks of the Danube, thermal baths and Ottoman traces.AmsterdamCanals, bicycles and world-class museums.ParisThe Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the romance of the City of Light.DubrovnikThe walled pearl of the Adriatic.
Travel guides
Spain: Traces of Al-Andalus
The heritage of Al-Andalus in Córdoba, Granada and Seville: the Alhambra, the Mezquita and traces of Islamic civilisation.
Italy Classic Route: Rome, Florence, Venice
A three-city classic route for a first Italy trip: the history of Rome, the art of Florence and the canals of Venice.
Schengen Visa Guide: Step by Step
A practical guide to the Schengen visa application, required documents, appointment and what to watch for.