Athens Leisure
As host to the 2004 Olympic Games, Athens is not short on sporting facilities and visitors to the city can rest assured there will be somewhere to indulge all their sporting passions, whether it be football or waterskiing. While the excellent Olympic Sports Complex provides endless facilities, the beach areas near the city and the Astir Beach Club in particular, offer an extensive array of beach and water sports.
Should your passion be shopping, don’t forget you credit card; Athens has some great shopping areas offering everything from kitsch souvenirs to designer goods and mid-range chain outlets.
Shopping
Shopping is a favourite pastime of Athenians, with Ermou, situated just off Syntagma Square, being the main shopping street in the city. Here you will find a variety of chain stores and various international outlets, mostly with reasonable prices.
Kolonaki is a more upmarket area for shopping, filled with designer boutiques and trendy cafés. If you are looking for designer items by big names such as Ralph Lauren, Armani and Gucci, this is the place to get spend happy. More traditional items can be picked up in the Old City, in particular souvenirs in the Plaka and Monastiraki districts, which are lined with shops selling everything from Parthenon magnets to fake designer sunglasses.
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Olympic Sports Complex
With the city having been host to the 2004 Olympic Games, it is no wonder the city is well equipped for all sorts of sporting activities, with this enormous complex hosting some major athletic and sporting events. The stadium here is home to Panathinaikos Athens football club and visitors can always catch a match during the football season (September to May).
Astir Beach Club
With several beaches within close proximity of the city, visitors can take advantage of the many water-based activities. Astir Beach Club is located on a well-maintained stretch of beach and boasts excellent facilities including showers, changing rooms, lockers, sun-loungers and a volleyball court. Water sports enthusiasts can get wet and try their hand at waterskiing, windsurfing and jet-skiing.