Europe is home to several famous mega-cities, from London to Paris and Milan. And while all of them can get hot in summer, none come close to the scorching heat of one city slightly further south.
That city is Athens, the capital of Greece, which is home to nearly 3.2 million people in 2025. It is not only one of the oldest cities in Europe but also one of the hottest and biggest. According to The Air Conditioning Co, Athens regularly experiences summer temperatures of over 40C, and has recorded one of the highest temperatures ever seen in Europe – a scorching 48C, measured near the city in 1977.
The heat is relentless in summer. The Met Office says the average high in June is 30.4C, in July it’s 33.4C, and in August it reaches 33.5C.
On top of that, there are around 12 hours of sunshine per day on average and very little rain, just 3mm in August.
Add in occasional smog and the fact that Athens is densely built, and it’s no surprise it ranks among the hottest major cities in the world.
But Athens isn’t just about heat, it’s also one of the most historic cities on the planet. The city is believed to be more than 3,400 years old, with archaeological evidence of settlements on the Acropolis Hill dating back to Neolithic times.
Its recorded history begins with Greek mythology, when the goddess Athena was said to have gifted an olive tree to the city, giving Athens both its name and its ancient symbol, according to Greeka.
Athens also played a huge role in the birth of democracy, and during the 5th century BC, it entered its so-called Golden Age, becoming a centre of culture, philosophy and the arts.
Famous thinkers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle lived and taught there.
Today, visitors flock to Athens to see its ancient monuments. The most famous is the Acropolis, which rises above the city and is home to the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and other important ruins.
Tickets now have a daily cap to prevent overcrowding, so it’s best to book in advance, according to Lonely Planet.
Just below the hill is the Acropolis Museum, where visitors can view ancient treasures and even see the ruins underneath the building through a glass floor.
Other must-see sites include the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Panathenaic Stadium, which hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896.
Away from the ruins, Athens has a lively side. Visitors can shop along Ermou Street, hunt for bargains at Monastiraki flea market, or enjoy leafy walks through the National Garden.
The changing of the guard takes place outside the Parliament every hour, while those after a great view can climb Filopappou Hill, especially around sunset.
Even the city’s metro stations are like mini museums, with displays of artefacts unearthed during construction.
