Athens’ Best Features Highlighted in French Magazine ‘Destination’

Athens, Greece.

The unique character of Athens captivated renowned travel editor Pierre Gros, who visited the Greek capital, Piraeus, and the islands of the Saronic Gulf in the spring.

The beauty of Athens was showcased to the editor during a press trip organized by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) to promote Attica to the French and global tourism markets.

The urban landscape, narrow streets, and multicultural diversity of the city were captured in a 135-page tribute by Gros, detailing his visit. The tribute was published in the recently released July-September 2024 issue of the French magazine “Destination”.

Published four times a year, “Destination” has a circulation of 30,000 copies and is available at newsstands, train stations, and airports in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the US, as well as on online platforms in French, English, and Italian.

Each issue is dedicated to a specific country or region, including parts of Europe (such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece), the US, Canada, or Japan.

Athens: A city like no other

Photo source: GNTO

In his special tribute, Gros showcases Athens as an ideal destination for both short and extended holidays, detailing its rich heritage, modern cultural scene, unique neighborhood features, and the city’s gastronomy and nightlife.

“Ancient and vibrant, Athens is a city like no other. As the cradle of Western civilization, Greece’s capital is an open-air museum, while simultaneously embracing the present,” Gros writes in his guide.

Further describing his visit, he transports readers to the southern suburbs, the Athenian Riviera, the city of Piraeus, and the nearby islands, mentioning all the experiences that enriched his trip.

“Athens’ streets and alleys are teeming with life, like all southern cities that sleep with only one eye,” the editor highlights, adding that “the authenticity of the old taverns competes with the modernity of its trendy spots, creating a happy melting pot where everyone has a place.”

On his part, the publication’s editor-in-chief, Christophe Bonicel, emphasizes that despite the effects of globalization and gentrification making most big cities alike, “Athens is resisting… intending to remain the authentic destination it has always been.”

According to the Greek tourism board, the guide has already published multi-page travel reports on other regions of Greece, such as Delphi, Meteora, Olympia, Naxos, Paros, Syros, and Santorini.

The trip was supported by the GNTO’s branch in France and the Attica Region.