Athens

Athens is the capital and biggest city of Greece, as well as its economic centre. It is the capital of Attica and one of the world's oldest cities, with a documented history spanning more than 3,400 years and the first human presence dating back to somewhere between the 11th and 7th millennia BC. Athens is the largest city in Attica and one of the world's oldest towns.

Classical Athens was a strong city-state in the classical period. Aristotle's Lyceum and Plato's Academy were both located there, and it served as a hub for the arts, learning, and philosophy in the ancient world. As the cradle of Western civilisation, it is also often referred to as the "birthplace of democracy," owing to the cultural and political influence it had on the European continent, especially on Ancient Rome. Nowadays, Athens is a major cosmopolitan city that serves as the hub of Greek economic, financial and industrial activity as well as the country's marine, political, and cultural life. In 2021, the metropolitan region of Athens was home to more over three and a half million people, accounting for around 35 percent of the country's total population.

Globalization and World Cities Research Network ranks Athens as a Beta global city, making it one of the largest economic hubs in Southeastern Europe and one of the most populous cities in Europe. A significant financial industry exists in the city, as does its port, which is both the biggest passenger port in Europe and the second-largest port on Earth.