Athens, the largest city and capital of Greece with a population of approximately four million, is considered one of the oldest cities in the world with its thousands of years of history. It is named after the goddess of wisdom, Athena. A center of art, education, and philosophy in antiquity, the city is widely regarded as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Today, the city is an important regional economy, finance, industry, culture and tourism center. Athens is also an important maritime centre, thanks to the city of Piraeus with its port. The Acropolis of Athens and the medieval Daphni Monastery are two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the city. The city is one of the Founding Members of the B40 Balkan Cities Network and holds the Term Presidency for 2023.

The Second Balkan Cities Network Summit was held in Athens between 22-24 January 2023 and 68 Municipalities participated.