Athens: a perfect springtime venture

Spring is the perfect time to travel: the weather is warm, the cost of travel is modest and the crowds of summertime tourists aren't due to appear for another couple of months - so the season provides an ideal opportunity for travellers to visit even the most popular holiday destinations. Athens, Greece, for example, offers the best in sights, culture, food and hospitality. So why not pack your bags this spring, and head to the city that's known for its countless splendours?

Athens certainly has a great deal to offer tourists - from spectacular sights to a truly remarkable historical background. But one of the city's most exciting attractions is undoubtedly the Agora - or the marketplace - which used to stand as the lively heart of Ancient Athens. The Agora was the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, as well as a religious and cultural centre in the city. Over 2000 years later, the site is now a jumble of ruins - but it continues to conjure up the life that it once had during the Ancient Greek era.

The Agora's Temple of Hephaistos - one of the best preserved ancient Greek temples - is usually the first stop on any tour of the district. Other highlights include the Temple of Apollo Patroos, the Bouleuterion and the Stoa Attalou - thought to be a precursor to the modern-day shopping mall. You can even visit fascinating archaeological exhibits that explain the area's history and stores artefacts unearthed through excavations.

While in Athens, you should also visit the city's classical museums - such as the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, the Acropolis Museum and the Byzantine Museum - as well as famous landmarks such as Kallimarmaro Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. You can also walk atop some of the city's famous hills, such as Philopappos Hill and Lykavittos - which, according to ancient legend, was a boulder thrown down from the sky by the Goddess Athena.

If you're considering a springtime trip to Athens, you'll find plenty of airlines which offer direct flights to Athens from London - so getting there is easy. You'll have a remarkable time soaking in all the sights and culture that Athens has to offer, and you'll get to experience the city at one of the most beautiful times of year. Just remember to set aside plenty of time to sample the succulent Greek olives, the delicious feta cheese and of course, the infamous Ouzo.