Culture

Culture has been synonymous with Athens for centuries. And it’s still one of the city’s biggest USPs. In 2017, Athens was named Emerging Cultural City of the Year by Culture Destinations and it was UNESCO’s World Book Capital in 2018-19.

Athenian culture is a beguiling blend of the ancient and of-the-moment. Athens’ rich cultural heritage is embedded in the modern metropolis—marble columns and mosaics lie in parks, Byzantine churches crouch beneath apartment buildings. In the summer, Greek tragedies are performed at a Roman amphitheatre, while across town young crowds flock to music festivals to watch rock stars perform right beside the sea. 

Of course, the crowning jewel of Athens is one of the most celebrated architectural marvels in history. But the Parthenon is only part of the picture. You will encounter remarkable Greco-Roman, Byzantine, neoclassical, Bauhaus, Art Deco, modernist and post-modern architecture all within a few city blocks. 

There are 48 museums and 148 stages in Athens, not counting open-air theatres and outdoor cinemas — one of the great joys of summer nights in the city. Arts festivals and events take place throughout the year, including the Athens and Epidaurus Festival, Art Athina, the August Full Moon Festival, the Open Air Film Festival, and Technopolis Jazz Festival. 

Athens is emerging as a land of new opportunities for the Cultural and Creative industries. The region of Attica produces 75.5% of the country’s Gross Value Added from the Creative and Cultural Industries. Attica is home to 57.3% of the country’s creative enterprises, which employ 60.8% of employees in this sector nationwide.(in 2014). According to the European Commission, Attica ranks in 9th place in terms of cultural and creative production employment, among 266 municipalities across 30 European countries.