An ancient European city has beaten major cities around the world to scoop a prestigous award.

Athens has been named the “World’s Leading Cultural City Destination” for 2024 at the World Travel Awards.

The Greek capital, home to around 3.7million people, saw off competition from cities including London, Paris and New York to claim the prize at a ceremony in Madeira, Portugal last week.

The city has been inhabited for thousands of years – with the site being continiously inhabited for at least 5,000 years.

Athens became a powerful polis, or city state, in Ancient Greece – with many famous figures from the time including philosopher Socrates, historian Herodotus and playwright Sophecles all calling the city home at some point in their lives. 

The city then fell under the rule of various empires for centuries before becoming the capital of Greece in 1834 after the country became independent from the Ottoman Empire following the Greek War of Independence.

The ruins from the city’s ancient period continue to be the main attraction for people coming to visit the city.

These include the Acropolis, which includes the famous Parthenon which dominates the city’s skyline.

Other ancient sites include the Agora, the Lyceum and more.

More modern sites that attract visits include the stadium that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1986 and a range of museums.

And, between its airport and the port at Piraeus, Athens also offers an excellent starting point for visiting other areas of Greece, whether elsewhere on the mainland or on one of the countries many islands.

The city is easily reached from the UK, with direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle and seasonal flights to other destinations including Luton and Bristol.