From shows of major international artists like Anselm Kiefer and Cindy Sherman to the debut in Greece of talented visionary painter Yu Nishimura, there's a lot to see in the Greek capital.

Siesta, sun and spritzes.

Here at Fashion Journal, we want to unearth the hidden spots in Australian cities that only the locals know about. There’s no gatekeeping here – this is a breakdown of the best bits of our cities. We want the underrated date spots, favourite restaurants, treasure trove op shops and the bars people will always want to go back to. We also want to sniff out the best spots people find overseas.

This week, 27-year-old Melbourne local Monica Palad takes us through her short stint in Athens, Greece. The fashion marketing and PR professional stayed in Greece’s capital city for two nights between her time in the Greek Islands and Albania. “Athens was never on my bucket list, however, it’s a must,” she says.

In-the-know visitors make time for the spicy neighbourhoods where modern-day Athenians thrive.
I used to think of Athens as a big ugly city with obligatory ancient sights, fine museums, the Plaka (the extremely touristy old centre), and not much else. “The joy of Greece is outside of Athens,” I wrote. “See Athens’ museums and scram.”
But with each return visit I enjoy the city more than ever before, having realized that it’s a many-faceted city that’s getting its act together, still building on the infrastructure improvements it’s enjoyed since hosting the 2004 Olympics.

From ancient temples to beachside bars, here are our top tips.

Athens, a lively city rich in history and modern flair, is an ideal destination for quick getaways with its accessible flights, stylish accommodations and dynamic dining scene

When I first visited over two decades ago to research my books on ancient Greece, I found it a sprawling, gridlocked and gritty eyesore with graffiti-covered streets. Back then, most travelers allocated a day to visit the Acropolis, which is crowned by the beloved Parthenon, then fled to the glittering beaches and seafood tavernas of the Aegean islands.

Para garantir que os bairros de Atenas não sejam afetados negativamente pela atividade turística, o Município de Atenas anunciou a realização de um estudo sobre a capacidade de carga turística (TCC).O estudo deverá estar concluído até ao final deste ano e será realizado em três fases pela Agência de Desenvolvimento e Gestão dos Destinos de Atenas (ADDMA), em colaboração com a Universidade do Pireu e os consultores de planeamento Gimisis + Associates.“Estamos a conceber o futuro de Atenas tendo em conta as necessidades da cidade e da sua população”, afirmou o presidente da Câmara de Atenas, Haris Doukas, durante uma reunião aberta realizada entre as partes interessadas no turismo, tais como hotéis, agências de viagens, companhias aéreas, associações de aluguer de curta duração, peritos, académicos e autoridades de Atenas.

Mixologist Georgia Georgakopoulou shares her favourite Athens cocktail bars, from the iconic Galaxy Bar to newcomer Feelin' Good.For Georgia Georgakopoulou, former bar manager of award-winning drink destination The Clumsies and one of the city's premier bartenders, nightlife is nothing new in her ancient-meets-modern hometown.
"I believe Athens is a city that never rests," she says, when we ask her to name the hottest cocktail bars in town. "Dionysian festivals are part of our history. We've been drinking since then."