It is generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and private and is one of the city's most renowned modern landmarks.

In 1869, the Greek Parliament allocated 80,000 square metres (860,000 sq ft) of public land between the Palace Gardens and the ancient Temple of Olympian Zeus, and also passed a law on 30 November 1869, "for the building works of the Olympic Games", as the Zappeion was the first building to be erected specifically for the revival of the Olympic Games in the modern world.

[1][2] The ancient Panathenian stadium was also refurbished as part of the works for the Olympic Games.

[6][7] In 1938, the Athens Radio Station, the country's first national broadcaster, began operating in the premises.

The Zappeion was recently selected as the main motif for high-value euro collectors' coins; the €100 Greek The Olympic Village Zappeion commemorative coin, minted in 2003 to commemorate the 2004 Summer Olympics.