General information about Athens. Hotel's categories, seasons. Grand Resort Lagonissi.
Athens, the city named after the goddess Athena, is a beautiful city with thousand years of history. It is the city where the democracy was born and it is the cradle of one of the greatest civilizations ever.
We wanted very much to see Athens, and finally we had this great chance, using the services of www.travels2greece.com/athenshotels.shtml.
Hotels in Athens come in several categories with 5-star being the most luxurious. 4-star corresponds to A-Category, 3-star to B-Category and so on. But the difference in categories does not always have to mean that a hotel is better than another. That is because there are different degrees within a category.
The city of Athens Greece, despite its actual disorganized appearances, has much to offer to the visitor. Greece and It is a large modern city, extending over a plain and surrounded by three mountains: Mount Parnitha (1413), Mount Penteli (1109) and Mount Hymettos (1026). Athens is a very alive city; a city where things are constantly happening.
It is modern, but not less romantic as well, it has busy streets and squares, places where movement never stops, but one can easily find little alleys in quiet, peaceful neighborhoods, such as Plaka and Mets.
Whether one wishes to broaden his/her cultural horizon or just to have fun, Athens is the place to be! The days and the nights present the visitor with a dilemma, what to choose: museums, ancient Greek drama or modern theatre, dance, cinema in high tech theatres or in cute little open-air cinemas, listening to music and/or dancing, eating out or clubbing. Musical events range from opera and classical music at the Megaron Mousikis (Athens Concert Hall) to Greek music played at all sorts of different places (taverns, concert halls, nightclubs), to rock or pop concerts, to Ethnic music events, to Jazz concerts, … everything is there!
One can choose to visit the museums and the archaeological sites or just to taste the vibrant, Greek way of life. In the countless shops, the visitor will find whatever (s) he may need. In the taverns and restaurants (s) he can enjoy any taste sensation, Greek, international or ethnic cuisine; in the nightclubs, pubs, discos and bars (s) he can drink or dance the night away. Because in Athens, the fun never stops before daylight!
The Acropolis Hill is the most important monument and many also consider it as the most important monument of Europe. Today, the ruins of the Acropolis and the famous temple Parthenon are standing proudly over the newly built megalopolis and remind us all that Greece was once one of the greatest civilizations.
Athens has some of Greece's most impressive archaeological museums and some of the richest collections. The most important is the National Archaeological Museums with one of the finest collection and masterpieces in the world.
Athens offers a large variety of shops, from quaint little shops selling antiques, curiosities and jewelry, to fashionable shops selling well-known designer's clothes and objects.
Winter in Greece is not just the off-season. It is the way off-season. But for some people that is a good reason to go there. You may not be lying out on a sunny beach (then again you may) but the winters are mild in Athens and contrary to popular opinion the islands don't actually close down like a summer amusement park would.
There are hotels that stay open year round and restaurants too, and a few days on an island in December or January is a slice of what island life is really like. Trips around the mainland will take you to places like Delphi, Meteora, and Myceneae on days when you can have these famous sites to yourself. Athens comes alive for the holidays with Rembetika, laiko and jazz/blues/rock shows in all the clubs, free concerts in Syntagma square and music and dancing in the tavernas and ouzeries of Psiri and the Plaka.
The famous archaeological sites like the Acropolis and Keramikos are nearly empty and grass and plants poke through from every crevice. Street musicians wander the city playing everything from Mozart to Tsitsanis and the shops of Ermou, Aeolis and Monastiraki are alive with fashionable people.
Grande Bretagne Hotel - Athens Grande Bretagne - building stood across from the royal palace of King Otto and Queen Amalia and a stone's throw from the Greek Parliament.
Metropolitan Hotel - Athens Metropolitan - ideally located in the coastal area of Athens, 15 minutes drive from the city centre.
Grand Resort Lagonissi Hotel - Athens Grand Resort Lagonissi - ideally located on the beach, 35 minutes drive from the city centre.
Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel - Athens Athenaeum Intercontinental - centrally located, with easy access to the business and shopping districts of Athens.
Ledra Marriott Hotel - Athens Ledra Marriott - 10 minutes from the Acropolis and Plaka as well as 15 minutes from the port of Piraeus.
NJV Athens Plaza Hotel - Athens NJV Athens Plaza - located on historic Syntagma Square in Athens, in the heart of the business and shopping districts.
Park Hotel - Athens Park - centrally located opposite one of Athens loveliest parks and within an easy walking distance is the famous National Archaeological Museum.
Royal Olympic Hotel - Athens Royal Olympic - located at the centre of Athens, facing the Olympian Zeus Temple, Hadrian's Arch, Zappeion, the National Garden.
Athens Acropol Hotel - Athens Athens Acropol - first-class hotel ideally situated for visitors to Athens.
President Hotel - Athens President - only minutes away from the museums, archeological sites, commercial and business centers.
Armonia Hotel - Athens Armonia - located at the coastal area of Vouliagmeni, at a distance of 100 metres from the sea.
Athens is a great place to be during the Christmas holidays. And if you are lucky it might even snow!