Europe · capital city
What Is the Capital of Greece?
Athens
The capital of Greece is Athens. About 3.2 million people live in the Athens urban area — 30.3% of the country's population.
3.2 million
Urban area population
UTC+2
Time zone (+ daylight saving)
37.98°N
Latitude · 23.73°E
Yes
Largest city
Athens at a glance
Name origin
The origin of the name is uncertain; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, but the name is probably pre-Hellenic .
Time zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.
Coordinates
37 59 N, 23 44 E · IANA time zone Europe/Athens
Location of Greece
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Largest cities in Greece
1
Athens Capital
3.2 million2
Thessaloniki
815,000Urban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Ankara, Türkiye — 819 kmCapitals closest to Athens
Skopje, North Macedonia — 488 km
Tirana, Albania — 500 km
Sofia, Bulgaria — 524 km
Pristina, Kosovo — 564 km
Podgorica, Montenegro — 623 km
Bucharest, Romania — 744 km
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina — 792 km
Belgrade, Serbia — 808 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Athens
What is the capital of Greece?
The capital of Greece is Athens. About 3.2 million people live in the Athens urban area — 30.3% of the country's population.
Is Athens the largest city in Greece?
Yes — Athens is also the largest urban area of Greece (3.2 million).
What time zone is Athens in?
Athens is on UTC+2 — UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.
Where does the name Athens come from?
The origin of the name is uncertain; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, but the name is probably pre-Hellenic .
Which capital is closest to Athens?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Skopje (North Macedonia) is the closest, 488 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).