Arch of Hadrian — iA.Savin (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Ready-made walk · Athens

Marble Stadium and the First Cemetery

7 stops · ~1 hr 25 min · 4.7 km

History & Parks

Start at the Arch of Hadrian and the towering Corinthian columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, then stroll through the National Garden, commissioned by Queen Amalia in 1838, past the Zappeion, the first building raised specifically for the revived Olympic Games, to the Panathenaic Stadium, an arena built entirely of marble. Climb the pine-covered slopes of Ardittos Hill above it, then end in the First Cemetery of Athens, the city's first official burial ground, opened in 1837.

The stops, in walking order

iA.Savin (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Stop 1: Arch of Hadrian
~3 min here
The Arch of Hadrian is a monumental gateway linking the ancient route between Athens and the eastern complex that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
iAva Βabili (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Stop 2: Temple of Olympian Zeus
~3 min here
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is the vast ruined sanctuary you see here, an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Zeus.
iA.Savin (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Stop 3: Zappeion
~3 min here
The Zappeion is a grand neoclassical building beside the National Gardens, used for meetings, exhibitions, and ceremonies.
iSjaak Kempe from Groningen, The Netherlands (CC BY 2.0)
Stop 4: National Garden
~3 min here
The National Garden is a public park spreading across 15.5 hectares in central Athens.
iBgabel (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Stop 5: Panathenaic Stadium
~3 min here
The Panathenaic Stadium is an arena built entirely from marble, a distinction that makes it unique worldwide.
iΧρήστης Templar52 Original uploader was Templar52 at el.wikipedia (Attribution)
Stop 6: Ardittos Hill
~3 min here
Ardittos Hill is a public park rising to 133 metres, with pine trees and Mediterranean vegetation covering its slopes.
iNagaremono (CC BY 3.0)
Stop 7: First Cemetery of Athens
~3 min here
The First Cemetery of Athens is the City of Athens’ official cemetery, opened in 1837 as its first burial ground.