Athens, Greece » City Info » Geography

Surrounded by Mount Parnitha in the north, Mount Aegaleo in the west, Mount Hymettus in the east, Mount Penteli in the northeast, and the Saronic Gulf in the southwest, Athens extends over 2,928km² of land referred to as Attica (or Athens Basin or Attica Basin). Slouched across the central plain of Attica, the city is covered with gorges, caves, springs, torrents, and well-marked paths. Mount Parnitha is the tallest mountain, around 1,413m (4,636ft) tall and is recognised as the national park of Athens. Acropolis is 156m (512ft) tall and is flat-topped.

There are several hills around Athens, and the tallest is Lycabettus hill. The Cephissus river, the Ilisos and the Eridanos stream are the rivers in Athens. The plains consist of isolated limestone hills, including the Lycabettus or Lykavittos, ascending about 339m (1112ft) above sea level.

Climate

Athens experiences a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. The city is hot and dry between July and August. Sometimes, the summer in Athens is also prone to smog due to air pollution. Spring and autumn are pleasant, going milder towards winter. Spring is from May to June, and autumn is from September to October.

Rainfall is sparse and is enjoyed from mid-October to mid-April. Sometimes, few showers are also observed in summer. Athens also experiences snowfalls almost every year. Fog is unusual and is generally behind the Hymettus mountain range towards the east.