Athens, destination report

Next month Air Arabia will start direct flights from the UAE to Athens – its first flight outside the GCC – and this is a very convenient destination for a long weekend outside the region.

Last weekend I caught the Emirates flight with my wife to see some friends in Athens and the city has much to recommend it. For a start this is a short flight, the closest to Europe, under five hours up and three-and-a-half back.

Hot infrastructure

Athens benefited from the recent Olympic Games and has a new airport, highway to the city and metro and tram system. But the basic sites of the Acropolis are unchanged in 3,500 years and the Parthenon is spectacular.

Experience the European Union’s official number one historical site – with entrance free only on Sundays as is the wonderful National Archaeological Museum full of treasures from ancient Greece.

You will also find a city full of designer shopping – try the factory outlet at the airport – and excellent tavernas with the finest steaks and wine. Plus the Greeks live the night and partying to dawn is quite usual.

If you have the energy there are some great sites close to the city: ancient Corinth and the modern canal are worth seeing; or head out to Napfleon for a Greek fishing village with castle of a thousand steps and amazing views over the Aegean Sea.

This is not a particular expensive destination and a clear alternative for the GCC crowd who head for Beirut. There is a formidable variety of shopping and nightlife and the Greeks are a hospitable bunch.

Peace and quiet

Do not be overly put off by the stories of strikes and riots in Athens. The chances are you will see nothing of labour disputes and be far more likely to discover a nice taverna with a view over the sea and enjoy a long and undisturbed dinner in peace.

Of course, the Greek islands are also at your disposal and many visitors use Athens as a stop-over en route to the islands for some truly relaxing sunshine. But if you fail to experience a little of cosmopolitan Athens first then you are really missing something.