The Benefactors' Capital
12 stops · 2 h 5 min · 3 km
How a new kingdom built a capital it couldn't pay for: a library, an academy and a university given by Greeks abroad; the palace that became the parliament that limited its king; a marble stadium rebuilt by one merchant for the first modern Olympics; and the emperor who finished Athens's biggest temple.
Walk it either way
There is a station at each end, so this walk works in both directions — the guide reorders the route and retells the stops to match the way you are going.
- National Library → Arch of Hadrian
- Arch of Hadrian → National Library
Stops on this walk
- 1Vallianeio (National Library)
- 2University (Propylaea)
- 3Academy of Athens
- 4Old Parliament House (Kolokotronis statue)
- 5Syntagma Square
- 6Hellenic Parliament (Old Royal Palace)
- 7Monument to the Unknown Soldier
- 8National Garden (Amalias gate)
- 9Panathenaic Stadium (forecourt)
- 10Zappeion (portico)
- 11Temple of Olympian Zeus
- 12Arch of Hadrian
How this walk works
Wanderful is an audio guide that knows where you are. Start this walk and it speaks as you reach each stop — no reading a map, no hunting for the next number on a sign. Put your phone in your pocket and listen.