8 top things to do near Athens Airport

First on your list of things to do near Athens Airport is to visit the Archaeological Site of Vravrona (or Brauron). It’s one of the oldest and most revered sanctuaries in Attica, dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Vravrona was one of the 12 ancient cities of Attica and, according to myth, the statue of Artemis that once stood here was brought by Iphigenia and her brother Orestes from Tauris, where she served as a priestess in a local temple of Artemis. Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon, had been brought to Tauris by Artemis herself when she saved her from being sacrificed by her father before the Trojan War.

The highlight is the partially restored stoa (arcade) framing the courtyard of the Temple of Artemis, where you can also make out the remains of unearthed buildings. As you will learn in the museum, the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period (2650-2000 BC) and flourished from 700 BC (specifically in the 5th and 4th centuries BC). Most of the museum artefacts date from this period. They include statues of little girls, known as arktoi, dedicated to Artemis. In addition to being the goddess of hunting and protector of animals, Artemis was also the goddess of childbirth. The statues relate to a fertility ritual held in her honour, known as the Brauronia. Before reaching puberty, girls would perform a dance imitating the movements of a bear (arktos), one of the wild animals most closely associated with Artemis.

↔️ Distance from Athens Airport: 12km (17 mins by car or taxi)

Tip: If you want to learn more about the ancient history of Mesogaia, there’s an archaeological collection at the Athens Airport on the mezzanine level of the Departures Area (Level 2). It is open between 6am-11pm and you’ll be amazed at the discoveries made during the airport construction. You can also enjoy a virtual tour here.

Mesogaia is considered one of the oldest and largest wine-producing regions in Attica and Greece generally, with more than 25 wineries, some dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are many wineries that can be visited within 30 minutes of the airport (details below), in places such as Koropi, Peania, Spata, Markopoulo, Kalyvia and Keratea. Modern wine-making techniques are responsible for excellent wines from local grapes like Savatiano, the predominant indigenous variety of Attica. Savatiano wines are characterised by subtle aromas of fruit (stone fruit, pear, green apple, banana) and flowers (jasmine, honeysuckle).

They are a safe choice for almost all Greek dishes, including stuffed vine leaves, poultry and pasta. Savatiano is also the main grape in retsina wine, which the Mesogaia area is famous for. And before you say anything about retsina, try one of the modern versions being produced… you’ll change your mind about Greece’s famous resinated wine, just as many of the local reds, rosés and whites will make you see Greek wines generally in a whole new light.

Tip: Make sure to try a moustokoulouro cookie from a local bakery. They are made from grape must and contain no dairy products. They have an intense aroma of cloves and cinnamon and a taste that takes Greeks back to their childhood… especially during Lent.

Enjoy an Athens airport layover wine escape

Next on your list of places to see near Athens airport is a local initiative that will bring you even closer to the rural identity of Mesogaia. Gaidourohora, in Koropi, is a recreational and educational centre that is part of the Hellenic Donkey Centre. Open at weekends, it offers organised tours for all ages to learn all about these protected animals, which have traditionally been used in rural Greece for manual and agricultural work. The centre accommodates donkeys that have been abused, abandoned or neglected or whose owners are unable to keep them. It also supports donkey owners who want to learn how to take better care of their animals and it supports donkey adoptions, but only after a donkey has been physically and mentally healed after illness or mistreatment.

↔️ Distance from Athens airport: Both 11-16km (15-20 mins)

What better way to stretch your legs before or between flights than to get a burst of nature? The Kouvaras pine forest, between two hills (Mavrovouni and Merenda), is named after the village of Kouvaras in Mesogaia. Its 20,000 square kilometres of pine forest hide hiking and mountain biking trails and wonderful picnic spots. Or you can head to Kouvaras after your walk for a bite in a local taverna and a stroll around the streets. Meanwhile, at the chapel of Agios Efastathios in Merenda, you’ll never believe you’re on the outskirts of a European capital city. And the Koutouki Cave, on the slopes of Mount Ymittos, is the only cave in Attica open to the public. It was discovered in 1926 when a local shepherd tried to retrieve a goat that had fallen into what was believed to be a sinkhole. He found a 60m x 60m chamber more than 38m below ground, as well as a series of tunnels and smaller chambers filled with stalagmites and stalactites.

Finally, the Vravronas Wetlands are fed by the Erasinos River in a fertile plain between Artemida and Markopoulo. It is one of the most important natural habitats in Attica and part of Greece's Natura 2000 network, with reed beds, tamarisk trees and small seasonal lakes. As well as providing a vibrant habitat for mammals such as foxes, jackals and weasels, it attracts resident and migratory birds, including falcons, eagles, herons and gulls.

↔️ Distance from Athens Airport: Kouvaras Forest (23km, 27 mins), Koutouki Cave (16km, 24 mins), Vravronas Wetlands (10km, 16 mins)

Tip: The best way to enjoy the animal life of the Vravronas Wetlands is to book a birdwatching tour with a certified guide.

Sneaking in a bit of culture is never difficult in Greece and there are a couple of places to see near Athens airport that are extra special because of their personal touch. Vorres Museum is the inspiration of Ian Vorres, a Greek who lived in Canada for two decades. Returning to Greece in 1983, he felt that Athens was becoming overly urbanised and bought three acres of land in Peania. Renovating the abandoned buildings on the land, he created a home and a space dedicated to Greek culture and art, amassing more than 6,000 artefacts of historical and artistic value. Today, the Vorres Museum consists of a folklore section (Pyrgi), which was his residence, and a museum of modern Greek art.

Another little gem, unknown even to most Greeks, is Pes Polytropon in Kalyvia Thorikou, a multi-purpose space in a 400-year-old house (one of the oldest in Mesogaia), which has been converted into an exhibition of hand-picked modern Greek art. The garden and the warm welcome of the owners are part of the experience. And, finally, the Folklore Museum of Anavyssos offers an insight into the descendants of the refugees who arrived from Cappadocia and Asia Minor after the population exchange with Turkey during the 1920s.

↔️ Distance from Athens Airport: Both 13km (15 mins)

A final cultural treat in your things to do near Athens airport is to visit the remains of the fortified towers left behind by the De LaRoche family, who were the rulers of the Duchy of Athens during the Frankish occupation of the region. They were part of a wider network of fortified towers introduced around the 13th century to control the important sea and land passages, monitor crops and watch for pirate raids. Both can be added to other experiences in Mesogaia. The Vravrona Tower, standing amid vineyards and olive grows right next to the airport, has three floors and its battlements are almost intact, while the 8.5m tall Liada (or Daglas) Tower, close to the settlement of Dagla near Markopoulo, has retained two of its original three floors.

↔️ Distance from Athens airport: 10-13km (10-20 mins)