As you'd expect from a capital city, Athens has a busy schedule of events - from film festivals to flower shows. Here are some of the best events for visitors to enjoy:
Also known as the Athens and Epidaurus Festival, the Hellenic Festival is easily the biggest cultural event on the Athenian calendar. First staged in 1998, the idea behind the festival is to use the stunning historical theatres and other sites in the city for plays, music performances and talks. The event runs throughout the summer and includes shows at famous ancient venues like the Lycabettus Theatre, as well as a range of modern performance spaces. It's a real cultural delight.
AIFF has been showcasing Greek and international independent cinema since 1995, and it's one of Europe's best art-house film events. Held in late September and early October every year, it's a popular date for well-known indie film makers and attracts its fair share of actors and actresses as well.
Easter is the main event in the year for the Greek Orthodox church, and every year Athenians put on quite a show. From choirs of schoolchildren singing hymns on the Saturday of Lazarus to the candlelit procession on Good Friday to the summit of Mount Lycabettus, Easter is a magical time to visit.
In Greece, Carnival takes place just before the beginning of Lent. In fact, Apokries is a three week festival in almost every Athenian neighbourhood. See homemade kites soaring into the sky, join colourful processions, watch dancers keeping ancient traditions alive and toast the occasion with plenty of Greek wine. There's no better time to make friends with the locals, so make a date to attend by booking your flights today.