Athens was born when the gods of Olympus decided that the city should be named after the deity who could gave the most useful gift to the mortals and would become its patron deity. An outrage took place between Athena (goddess of wisdom) and Poseidon (god of the sea). Athena won the right to rule the city by offering an olive tree, symbol of peace and prosperity while Poseidon struck a rock and a horse sprang forth symbolising the strength. The first settlement of Athens 3000 BC was situated on the rock of Acropolis. The rock of the Acropolis was first used as a military fortress as its position offers a view towards the land and the sea.

Athens is known as one of the sunniest cities in Europe, with a semi-arid climate and low average annual rainfall. The rain that does occur falls during the winter months, between mid-October and mid-April, usually as short, heavy showers. Summers are very hot, exacerbated by smoggy conditions. Winters are mild although frost can occur and nights can be cold. The best time to travel to Athens is during the cooler, fine weather of spring and summer.

Greece is an agricultural country. Industry is presented as follows: food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, mining and petroleum. The industry which contributes the most to the economy is the tourism industry and the shipping.

There is an extensive public transport network consisting of buses, trolley buses, minibuses and a fast underground metro service. The Athens Metro is a private owned company (Attica) that has solved a great deal of the transportation problems in Athens. The Attica metro joins together with the Athens Piraeus Electric rail and the Proastiakos suburban and it has 3 lines. Buses and trains link Athens with the Peloponnese and all main towns on the peninsula. The tram network connects the centre of Athens (Syntagma Square) to the southern (coastal) suburbs. All taxis are yellow and equipped with a metre displaying the fare. Driving in Athens is not recommended, there are new laws banning cars from the commercial centre to reduce heavy traffic and pollution, and parking anywhere is near impossible.

Secondary education is provided in both public and private schools and is divided into a compulsory first cycle (Gymnasio), from age 12 to 15, and an optional second cycle (Lykeio) from age 15 to 18. No entrance examinations are required in either case. Higher education is dispensed by institutions which enjoy the status of legal persons under public law; Greece's 18 university institutions (AEI) and its 14 institutions of technological education (TEI) are self-governing and under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs which supports them financially and is responsible for educational policy concerning them. Military Academies enjoy the same status as universities but they fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence.

The complex of temples atop the rugged rock, called the Acropolis of Athens, is the symbol of Athens and its most famous landmark. Every year thousands of visitors from all over the world coming to admire this symbol of the Ancient Greek civilisation. Acropolis in Greek literally means “the highest point of the town”. During the Mycenaean period, the Acropolis was a political as well as religious centre. It was the seat of the local Mycenaean king. The Parthenon or Temple of Athena and other main buildings on the Acropolis were built by Pericles in the fifth century BC as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the inhabitants of Athens. The Parthenon held silver, gold, and ivory treasures when it was constructed. Later in the 6th century A.D. it was used as a church, the Franks turned it into a cathedral in the 13th century. The Erechtheion was built to honor the founder of the city and included the sanctuary of Erechtheus and the temple of Athena Polias. Both Erechtheus and Poseidon were worshiped in this temple.

Clustered below the Acropolis (enter from Odos Adrianou, east of Monastiraki Square) is the remains of the Agora, ancient Athens commercial and civic centre, where once walked and talked the great philosophers Socrates and Plato. In fact the disgraced and despairing Socrates committed suicide in a prison in the southwest corner of the Agora, by drinking poison. The area is littered with the ruins of numerous ancient buildings, including the Dionysos Theatre (the world's oldest theatre where great plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were first performed).

Every year there are a lot of festivals taking place in Athens. The most famous and popular is the Athens festival (also known as the Greek or Hellenic Festival) with many events including classic music, symphonic and philarmonic orchestras, theatre, ancient Greek tragedies (in Epidaurus), opera, dance, exhibitions and more.