Art And Culture in Athens

The cultural programme of Athens divides by means of movement rather than by century — because antiquity is everywhere here, and the only question is how to get round it. Walking routes cover the Acropolis, the Agora and the Hephaisteion: a guide explains how the Doric order differs from the Ionic and why the caryatids stand in different poses. The e-bike covers what cannot be joined on foot: the historic centre and the Riviera in one outing, including an evening version under floodlights.

The second line is thematic. A tour on the trail of the apostle Paul leads to Ancient Corinth, where he wrote to the Corinthians, and to the Athenian Areopagus, where he gave his speech. The Minotaur Code quest turns mythology into tasks across the city. The markets of Athens show culture through food: from the ancient agora to today's Varvakios.

The longer trips are Delphi with its oracle and Meteora, monasteries on rock. Practical notes: the Acropolis is taken on a combined ticket with the Agora and other sites, valid for several days. The monasteries of Meteora require covered clothing, and women are sometimes handed a skirt at the door. Many museums close on Mondays, which evening tours make up for with floodlighting.