National Garden

No visit to Athens is complete without a stroll through its National Garden! It’s a true oasis of green right at the heart of the city! It spans 284 acres and was first laid out in 1840 as a royal garden, once part of the former royal palace that’s now home to the Hellenic Parliament. Queen Amalia, wife of King Otto, the first king of Greece, wished to treat her husband to a gift. So she hatched a plan to build this sumptuous garden right behind their palace. Pretty romantic, right? She planted over 500 different kinds of plants from all over the world, and even brought in turtles, geese, ducks, and peacocks, much to her husband’s delight! It is said that, in ancient times, there was a public garden here, located just outside the city walls. Who knows, maybe Socrates, Plato and other great philosophers of the time strolled these same green paths! The garden, with its beautiful lake and fountains, is a favorite spot for tourists and Athenians alike! You’re in to find all sorts of exotic plants, but also remnants of the ancient world. Here, you’ll enjoy a relaxing and scenic walk under the shade of big, leafy trees, far away from the hustle and bustle of Athens!