While your average tourist will usually opt for the retrospective approach to exploring Athens - checking out the museums and ancient sites - you might try something different and jump on board the city's futuristic Semiramis Hotel.
Commissioned to the notoriously experimental industrial designer Karim Rashid, the décor of the Semiramis Hotel is both playful and thoughtful. While luxury hotels often err on the side of conservative, aristocratic touches, Rashid refuses to look to the past, and instead has infused the rooms with pinks, yellows, blues, glitz, glam, and his own personal artwork.
After getting your fill of the avant-garde style of the gym, lobby, and pool, branch out into the bustling suburb of Kifissia, known for its quality shopping and dining amenities, and get to know the locals.
And of course, when you're ready to dive into serious history, checking out the Ancient City of Athens - with the Agora, Parthenon, Hadrian's Arch, and more - is an absolute must.