Athens

Athens (Greek: Αθήνα, Athína), is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.7 million inhabitants (2020). It is in many ways the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization. It is a place where modern Greek culture business and social life flourishes amidst ancient monuments. Athens has turned into a large and bustling city, but as a result it also suffers from congestion, pollution, and poverty.

Understand


According to mythology, the Greek Gods Poseidon and Athena wanted to claim the city for their own. To persuade the people to accept them, they granted gifts. Poseidon struck his spear into the ground and produced running water. Athena gave the city olive trees - which provide food and economic prosperity through trade. The people were then asked to vote for the Gods, and Athena won by a single vote - resulting in the city bearing her name.

The first pre-historic settlements were constructed in 3000 BC around the hill of Acropolis. According to legend the King of Athens, Theseus, unified the ten tribes of early Athens into one kingdom in around 1230 BC. This process of synoikismos – bringing together in one home – created the largest and wealthiest state on the Greek mainland, but it also created a larger class of people excluded from political life by the nobility.

By the 7th century BCE, social unrest had become widespread, and the Areopagus appointed Draco to draft a strict new law code (hence "draconian"). Still, the Draconian laws were a big advancement, as they codified crime and punishment unlike the previous arbitrary judgments of the rulers. When Draco's system failed, they appointed Solon, with a mandate to create a new constitution (594). This was the great beginning of a new social revolution, which was the result of the democracy under Cleisthenes (508). When Roman historians wrote the history of their own republic, they fudged the date so that their republic would be older than Athenian democracy, but today's scholarly consensus is that Rome "got inspiration" from the Greeks. In the 5th century BCE, Athens reached the peak of its fame. It was the most powerful Greek city-state, and the center of Greek cultural life, hosting perhaps the greatest cultural advances in all of human history. Fields of study like science, philosophy, history, and medicine were developed for the first time by Athenian scholars in the timeframe between 480 (the battle of Salamis) and 343 (when Aristotle went to Macedonia to assume teaching duties to Alexander the royal heir), known as Athens' "golden age" - although political dominance came to an end after the Peloponnesian War (431-404), most famous because of its History written by the Athenian general and scholar Thucydides, the "Father of Scientific History".

Later on, Athens became part of the Macedonian empire under Alexander, and still later part of the Roman Empire. While it was no longer politically significant, its intellectual reputation gave it a special status, until, in the year 529, Emperor Justinian issued an edict imposing a perpetual silence on all its schools, and the empire's intellectual center moved to Constantinople.

Athens was thriving and prosperous during the Crusades, actually benefiting from the Italian trade during this period. However, this fruitful period was short-lived, as Greece suffered badly under the Ottoman Empire, only to recover in the 19th century as the capital of independent Greece. In modern times, the Athens urban area has grown to a population of 3.7 million.

Modern Olympic Games
Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. The entire urban area of Athens underwent major lasting changes that have improved the quality of life for visitors and residents alike. Aside from the new transportation infrastructure that was completed in time for the 2004 Olympics (from new freeways to light rail systems), the city's historic center underwent serious renovation. Most notable among the city's facelift projects are the Unification of Archaeological Sites (which connects the city's classical-era ruins and monuments to each other through a network of pleasant pedestrianized streets) and the restoration of the picturesque neoclassical Thissio and Pláka districts.

The men's and women's shot put competition was held at the restored stadium of Olympia, where the ancient Olympic Games took place from 776 BCE to 394 AD. This was the first time in history that women athletes competed in this venue. It is a lengthy day trip from Athens to visit Olympia, but quite interesting.

Architecture
Athens was just a small provincial city when it was chosen in the 1830s to serve as the national capital of the modern Greek State. Although it had a prestigious past, the city's political, economic and cultural importance had declined over the centuries, leaving behind only its classical ruins as a reminder of better times. With the decision to move the national capital from Nafplio to Athens, architects and city planners were hired to build a new city next to the classical ruins, with grand neoclassical homes and public buildings, large city squares, green spaces, and wide avenues, making a conscious, decisive turn from the city's Ottoman past. The city regained its importance in Greek civilization, and by 1900 had evolved into a very attractive cosmopolitan city, with abundant neoclassical architecture harking to the nation's past.

The 20th century however, marked the rapid development of Athens. The city suffered minor damage during World War II, and suffered extensive urban planning in the decades that followed, as the nation rapidly industrialized and urbanized. In the 1960s and 1970s, many 19th century neoclassical buildings, often small and private, were demolished to make way for office buildings, often designed by great Greek architects. The city also expanded outward through rash development, particularly towards the west, as its population grew by absorbing job-seekers from the provinces. With the onset of the automobile, public officials reduced the city's public transportation services without foreseeing the traffic gridlock and smog that would menace the city by the 1980s.

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the city's reality led to a rude awakening among local and national officials and, coupled with the country's new found remarkable prosperity, large scale projects began to slowly regenerate the city and undo some of the damage of previous decades. Over the course of the next 15 years, money was poured into new transportation infrastructure projects, the restoration of surviving neoclassical buildings, the gentrification of the city's historical center and the renovation of many former industrial areas and the city's coastline. The restoration of charming neoclassical buildings in the city's historical center has been accompanied by the construction of attractive post-modern buildings in newer districts; both of which have begun to improve the aesthetic essence of the city. Athens today is ever evolving, forging a new identity for the 21st century.

Climate
Spring and late autumn are the best times to visit Athens. Summer can be extremely hot and dry during heatwaves, but this rarely happens. Winter is definitely low season, with the occasional rainy or snowy day, but also an ideal time to save money while enjoying the city without countless other tourists.

Whilst peak traffic hour can be a bit smoggy on the main roads, on most sunny days the skies are azure blue. The main reason attributed for the pollution of Athens is because the city is enclosed by mountains in a basin which does not allow the smog to leave. The government's ban on diesel vehicles within Athens and the early 1990s initiatives to improve car emissions have greatly contributed to better atmospheric conditions in the basin.

Orientation
The sprawling city is bounded on three sides by Mt. Ymettos, Mt. Parnitha and Mt. Pendeli; whilst inside Athens are twelve hills [the seven historical are: Acropolis, Areopagus, Hill of Philopappus, Observatory Hill (Muses Hill), Pnyx, Lycabettus, Tourkovounia (Anchesmus)], the Acropolis and Lykavittos being the most prominent. These hills provide a refuge from the noise and commotion of the crowded city streets, offering amazing views down to Saronic Gulf, Athens' boundary with the Aegean Sea on its southern side. The streets of Athens (signposted in Greek and English) now melt imperceptibly into Piraeus, the city's ancient, and still bustling, port.

Places of interest to travellers can be found within a relatively small area surrounding the city centre at Syntagma Square (Plateia Syntagmatos). This epicentre is surrounded by the districts of the Plaka to the south, Monastiraki to the west, Kolonaki to the east and Omonia to the north. Further afield is the port of Athens, the Piraeus.

The Acropolis is the ancient high city of Athens, a prominent plateaued rock perched high above the modern city with commanding views and an amazing array of ancient architecture, mostly from the Classical period of Ancient Greece, the most famous of which is the Parthenon. A visit to Athens is not complete without visiting the Acropolis; hundreds of tourists each day accordingly make the pilgrimage.

Gentrified during the 1990s and now very popular with tourists, Plaka is a charming historic district at the foot of the Acropolis, with its restored 19th-century neoclassical homes, pedestrianized streets, shops and restaurants, and picturesque ruins from the city's Roman era. Thissio, to the west side of the Acropolis, is very similar and now houses many restaurants and cafes. Between the two is Monastiraki, a very bohemian district increasingly popular with tourists, with stores selling a variety of items including antiques, cookware, souvenirs, arts and crafts, movie posters, punk culture, funky clothing, and pretty much anything you can think of. Another part of Plaka is Anafiotika and is on the northernmost place. There you will find the first university of Athens before it was relocated in central Athens. Its an oasis of calm and quietness, and there are many green spaces which are part of the green space of Acropolis.

Plaka's boundaries are not precisely defined. Clear borders are the Ancient Agora and Plateia Monastiraki on the west, the Acropolis and Dhionysiou Areopayitou street on the south, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Leoforos Amalias on the south-east, and the west part of Mitropoleos street, up to the cathedral on the north (but Mitropoleos street and Leoforos Amalias, though boundaries, shouldn't be considered part of Plaka, since they have a modern and fairly non-descript atmosphere). The north-eastern and eastern boundaries are a bit less well defined, but if you're south of Apollonos street and west of Nikis street you'll probably feel like you're still in Plaka.

Syntagma Square is named after the Greek constitution (syntagma) that was proclaimed from the balcony of the royal palace that overlooks the square on 3 September 1843. The former palace has housed the Greek parliament since 1935.

Syntagma Square is a good point from which to begin your orientation in the city, and has been beautified within the last few years ago, and the manic Athenian traffic has been re-routed. it contains cafes, restaurants, fast food outlets, a new metro stop, airline offices.. The square serves as an occasional rallying place for demonstrations and public celebrations.

Omonia Square (Plateia Omonias) is the centre of Athens, and is composed of the actual square together with the surrounding streets, open areas and assemblage of grand buildings that include banks and offices. The neighbouring area of Exarcheia (Εξάρχεια) to the north, dominated by the Athens Polytechnic and its famous band of anarchists, is a bohemian district with lots of bars and clubs visited by students, intellectuals and people who are into alternative culture. Kolonaki is near Lykavittos Hill. The district's borders are not very sharply defined; it covers the south and southeast slopes of Lykavettos Hill north of Vassilisis Sofias Avenue. Kolonaki is the posh area of central Athens. Traditionally the home of the in-town rich, it's the location of a number of embassies and several prominent archaeological schools, including The American School and The British School. It also has the city's greatest concentration of trendy fashion boutiques, and many, mostly upscale, cafes, bars and restaurants.

By plane
Athens airport is a major hub in the Aegean, Balkan and East Mediterranean regions. American, Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta, Emirates, Norwegian Air Shuttle and United maintain non-stop flights from North America (some are only seasonal), while a large number of European carriers fly direct into Athens.

There is a tourist information office in Arrivals, they can provide information about Greek ferries.

There is also a small museum on the top floor with an interesting history on Athens, and a space for temporary exhibits.

Getting there:


 * By Metro to the city center, €9 one way. Group tickets (2 or 3 persons) are also available and they provide some discount (see below). The airport Metro line is an extension of Line 3 (blue line) that takes you to the central Syntagma and Monastiráki stations.


 * At the airport, both metro trains and suburban trains pass from the same platform. If you are travelling to the city centre, you should take the metro trains.


 * Don't forget to validate your ticket before going down to the platform and boarding a train (there are validation machines at the top of the escalators in the ticket hall). Failure to validate your ticket at the start of the journey can mean a fine of up to €200. The ticket inspectors are rigorous and won't hesitate to call for police assistance if you start to object.


 * Not all Metro trains from Athens go to the airport; typically the airport trains run every 36 minutes, while trains in the intervals don't go the whole route. Airport trains are indicated on the schedule and by an airplane logo on the front of the train, they are also announced by the signs on the metro platform. It's useful to go to the Metro station the day before, explain to the agent (most speak English) when you need to be at the airport, and ask what time you should catch the airport train from that station. You can also get this information at the airport metro station, which has a desk staffed most hours by someone who speaks English. It's possible but not necessary to buy your ticket in advance; buying in advance though means you won't risk missing your train if you find at the last minute you don't have change for the ticket machines and have to stand in a line to buy it from the agent.


 * By Suburban Railway to the city center, €9 one way. From Airport station to Athens central station (alt name Larissa or Larissis Station)  leaving at xx:07 every hour, passing through Central Athens before heading to Piraeus. Trains to Northern Greece and the Peloponnese depart from Athens central station. From Airport station to Monastiraki station via change at Nerantziotissa. A change at Neratziotissa suburban station (connection to Metro Line 1 "Neratziotissa station") can take you to The Monastiraki station. Or change at Doukissis Plakentias to Line 3 (blue) of the metro to get to Monastiraki and Syntagma stations. Suburban trains run more sparsely than the metro.


 * By express bus: X93 to Kifissos Coach Station, X95 to Syntagma Square (Lines 2 and 3 and tram), X96 to Piraeus Port (Line 1) and X97 to Elliniko metro station (Line 2) for €5.50. It takes 45 min to 1½ hr depending on traffic. Buses, unlike Metro, operate 24 hours a day. When leaving to the airport early from Syntagma (before the metro opens), tickets can be bought at a kiosk next to the bus stop.
 * By local bus: an unnamed bus departs frequently in front of the Sofitel Hotel to Koropi metro station (€1.80, 15 min). From there you can take the metro to city center (€1.20), from Koropi to airport the ride is €5.5 but from Koropi station direction to city center is the normal ticket price €1.20. You can also take local bus 308 from Koropi metro for the same price.
 * By taxi: if you take a taxi be careful. Taxi rides to the centre cost €40 during the day and €60 during the night. Prices are fixed and includes toll costs.

By bus
Regional coaches (KTEL) connect Athens to other cities in Greece. The fleet of buses has been upgraded, which makes the journey pleasant and safe. For some destinations one can also use the buses of the railroad company (OSE, see next paragraph) that might be international, but can also be used for in-country transport. At times there are collaborations with companies from adjacent countries such as Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, so it's advisable to ask on both the bus and the train companies about the available options.

There are two KTEL coach stations, one at Liosion Avenue, (near Aghios Nikolaos station on the Green line) and the other at Kifissou Avenue,  Bus routes X93 (Athens International Airport), 051 (Athens center), 052 (Elaionas Metro station), 420 (Piraeus port).

From Albania
Several travel agencies offer bus service between Tirana and Athens, also stopping at several other cities in Albania. Cost is usually €30 between Albania and Athens (same cost regardless of the city in Albania).


 * Alb Trans,, albtrans06@yahoo.com, €25, http://www.albtrans.net stops in the following cities: Tirana, Durres, Kavaje, Rrogozhine, Lushnje, Berat, Fier, Ballsh, Krasta, Memaliaj, Tepelene, Athens.
 * Albatrans, albatrans.com.al, info@albatrans.com.al,, €30
 * top-lines.al, Albania: albtoplines@hotmail.com, Greece:  toplines@otenet.gr
 * Papadakis Bros S.A., (Athens),  (Tirana)
 * Osumi Travel, (Athens),  or  (Tirana), €30, or €25 between Gjirokaster and Athens, osumitravel@live.com
 * Alvavel, (Tirana),  (Elbasan),  (Korca),  (Durres),  (Athens), €30

By train
The national rail service, Hellenic Train, connects Athens to other cities in Greece. However, the national railroad system is limited compared to other European countries, in effect having only two lines. One goes south to the Pelopponese. The other goes to the north, connecting Athens with the second major city in Greece, Thessaloniki and Larissa, the capital city of Thessaly region. From there the line continues further to the north and all the way to the east, passing through many other cities of northern Greece and eventually reaching Istanbul. is accessible by Larissa station of the red line (line 2).

There are two types of train you can use; normal, slow, type of train equipped with beds, and the so-called new 'Intercity' type which is more expensive because of a 'quality supplement fee' that grows with distance. For example, travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki by the 'Intercity' type will save one hour at most, but the ticket will be almost twice the price. 'Intercity' tends to be more reliable, yet more 'bumpy' than the normal train. As of 2024, the international trains which used to connect Athens with Belgrade and Sofia via Thessaloniki are all suspended.

By boat
The chief sea port of Athens is the

The ports of and  act as alternative port of Athens; access is made by ktel regional buses.

Get around
The simple €1.20 ("integrated") ticket lets you travel on any means of transport—metro, suburban trains, trams, trolleybuses, buses—with unlimited transfers anywhere within Athens (except the metro airport line east of Doukissis Plakentias and the airport buses) for 90 minutes, and you can also get a €4.10 ticket valid for 24 hours, a €8.20 ticket valid for 5 days or a 72-hour "tourist" ticket for €20 that includes one round-trip to the airport.



By metro


The Athens Metro is efficient and attractive, and generally the only pleasant way to get around Athens. Many metro stations (e.g. Syntagma) exhibit artifacts found during construction. Eating and drinking is forbidden in the metro system. During rush hour, it can become very crowded. There are three lines:
 * Line : Piraeus – Kifissia, connects the port of Piraeus and the northern suburbs of Athens (Kifissia station) via the city centre. Be sure that you keep an eye on your personal stuff when using this line, and be prepared for people getting in the train and asking for money.
 * Line : Anthoupoli – Elliniko connects western and southern Athens via Athens centre.
 * Line : Dimotiko Theatro– Doukissis Plakentias – Airport connects Piraeus and the western suburbs with the eastern suburbs (Halandri and Doukissis Plakentias stations) and the International Airport.

The standard metro fare is €1.20 (as of September 2022) for trips between all stations except the Airport line, east of Koropi Station. This allows travel with all means of public transport and unlimited transfers for 90 minutes. A 24-hour ticket for all public transport in Athens, apart from the Airport line, costs €4.10.

The standard fare to or from the airport is €9 each way (as of September 2022), and this includes the full journey between any point in the Athens public transport system and the airport.

Validate your ticket at the validation machines upon entering the station by beeping your ticket at a ticket validation machine or a ticket gate. Failure to do so will entail a hefty fine if you are caught by ticket inspectors.

There are often several entrances to the stations and often they go straight to the platform, so remember which entrance is for which. It is open from 05:00 to midnight.

By suburban railway
The Athens Suburban Railway (Proastiakos in Greek) is operating by Hellenic Train. There are 3 Proastiakos lines. From Piraeus to Airport, from Piraeus to Aigio and from Athens Central Station (Larissa station) to Chalkida.

By tram
The Athens Tram connects the city centre with the southern suburbs and has connections with the metro lines. There are three tram lines:
 * Line : Peace and Friendship Stadium – Asklipeio Voulas Hospital connects Faliro with the southern suburbs and runs along the coastal zone.
 * Line : Syntagma– Neos Kosmos – Peace and Friendship Stadium connects the city centre with Faliro.
 * Line : Syntagma – Neos Kosmos – Asklipeio Voulas Hospital connects the city centre with the coastal zone and the southern suburbs.

Ticket prices are the same with Athens Metro (€1.20 for 90 minutes). The tram accelerates quickly, so make sure to be careful and hold on to something when it leaves a stop.

By bus
Athens is served by a network of diesel buses, natural gas buses and electric trolleybuses run by the Athens Urban Transport Organisation. The integrated ticket costs €1.20 and allows for multiple trips within 90 minutes, including transfers to the Metro or Tram and it's available in most kiosks. Trips to the Airport cost €5.5. You only need to validate once, before first use. Buses will not stop unless you signal the driver by raising your arm. Most central bus stops have smart displays that show bus arrival times and transport announcements.

By taxi
Canary yellow taxis are a common sight in Athens and are a reasonably priced way of getting around (if you can avoid the traffic jams). The starting fee is €1.19, after which the meter ticks up at €0.34/km ("rate 1") or €0.64/km ("rate 2"), with a minimum fare of €3.20. Rate 1 applies through Athens city limits, including the airport, while rate 2 applies outside the city and from midnight to 05:00. Legal surcharges apply for calling a taxi by radio (€1.60), trips to or from the airport (€3.20) and heavy bags (€0.32). Tipping is not necessary, although it's common to round up to the nearest full euro.

Taxi fare fraud is not as widespread as it used to be, but it still happens, so insist on the meter and make sure the rate is correct. At busy tourist locations, drivers try to con with a set rate that is ridiculously high (e.g. €20 for a short trip). In these cases, it is best to find another and again insist on the charge shown on the meter. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171.

Taxi drivers rarely obey the rules of the road. Expect that if you are leaving Athens on an early flight the driver will drive aggressively to get you there as quickly as possible.

Taxis are considered to be fairly cheap in Athens. Therefore, you can expect to share the ride during rush hours if you can find one, and at night after the Metro has shut down. If you hail a taxi which is already occupied (occupied taxis have a brightly lit TAXI sign on top of the car) the driver will ask where you want to go to before letting you in to join the other customers. Strikes by cabbies and public transit are common, so be prepared and watch the local news.

By car
You can rent a car at the airport where most of the major international companies have a presence. There are also several large local companies which will deliver the car outside of the airport.

By bicycle
Athens is not a friendly city for cyclists, as it does not have many bicycle lanes, and the car drivers tend to drive quite aggressively. Nevertheless (or maybe because of this) riding a bicycle in Athens has become lately some sort of a political (counter-)action, especially by young people with an alternative lifestyle. In general, tourists not familiar with the terrible Athenian traffic are not advised to use a bicycle as a principal means of transport. But within the network of pedestrian streets in the historical city centre, rides are safe and can be quite enjoyable. A bike hire scheme is at its fledgling stages; its bike station is in Technopolis.

The "My City with a Bike" initiative, taken by the General Secretariat for the Youth and several NGOs, offers free conducted tours with free bikes every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00 all year round except for the rainy days. Booking 10 days in advance is required, either by email (admin@anthropos.gr) or.

On foot
With the exception of touristy streets, walking in Athens is a little challenging. Athens' traffic can make crossing the street in some areas difficult, and walking down some very urban streets is an unpleasant experience due to noise pollution. The humidity of summer is exhausting, and there are parks to provide an escape from it. Fortunately, much of the traffic-plagued area of the city can be avoided by the use of the new Metro, which goes most places a visitor would want to see or walk around in.

However, several central streets have been pedestrianized. A mostly car-free archeological walk starts at Vasilisis Amalias Street, passes in front of the New Acropolis Museum, Acropolis, Herodion Theatre, Thiseio (Apostolou Pavlou Str), Ermou Street and ends at the popular area of Kerameikos (Gkazi) where there are many bars and clubs. Pleasant walking can also be had in Plaka, especially its upper reaches, and in much of Kolonaki. The National Garden can provide a welcome respite from the heat and noise of the city centre. Wear comfortable shoes with good traction, and make sure that you leave home any high heels or similar shoes. Some sensitive archeological sites have banned heels because the pointed heels damage the soft, slippery marble that you're walking on. Also the Mayor of Athens announced a big plan to pedestrianize, modernize and rebuilt a lot of central roads in order to offer more accessible walking routes to citizens and tourists.

Talk

 * Please see this section at the country level for a full discussion

While Greek is the official language in Greece, many Athenians speak English and those in the tourist industry are likely to also speak French and German. Almost all signs are written in Greek and English.

See
At first glance, Athens seems entirely to be composed of nasty, four- to six-story concrete buildings, lacking character and badly in need of a paint, but if you look beyond that, you will find little gems tucked in among the grey. The areas at the foot of the Acropolis, Anafiotika, Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio are home to many wonderful Neoclassical buildings, trendy and traditional cafes and shops, narrow winding streets, and incredible views of the Acropolis. Little Greek Orthodox churches are tucked in among the concrete, often in the most unexpected places. These are usually beautifully decorated with icons and brass fixtures inside, but make sure you're appropriately dressed (no short sleeves or bare legs is a good rule of thumb, as a mark of respect).

Acropolis
The was the ancient fortified town of Athens, dating back to the Late Bronze Age. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic role and the many iconic buildings of the Greek Classical age, among them the Parthenon, the Erectheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. The key landmark of Athens, visible from afar, Acropolis dominates the Athenian sky and symbolizes the foundation of modern culture and civilization. Many portions of the site are undergoing major, needed renovations. Some views will be marred by scaffolding.

The Acropolis is open daily, 08:00-19:00 during summer, 08:00-17:00 during winter. . The normal entrance price is €20. The price is discounted or free for many categories of individuals, such as under-18s and European university students. A €30 ticket can be purchased which also provides admission to various other Athens historic sites (Acropolis and Slopes, Kerameikos and its museum, Ancient Agora and its museum, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Olympieion, The Lyceum) within five days. If possible, arrive early to avoid heavy crowds, and summer heat when relevant. The queue to buy tickets can be very long - expect to wait more than an hour. If you can, buy tickets online, the ticket is then sent by email with a QR code which will be scanned at the entrance gate. There are also a limited number of free days for the public listed each year - check Acropolis' website.

Entrance is from the west end of the Acropolis. From the Akropoli metro stop and New Acropolis Museum, walk west along Dionysiou Areopagitou Street and take the first right on to Theorias; from the Thissio metro stop west of Monastiraki, walk west to Apostolou Pavlou Street, turn left on it, and walk south to turn left on Theorias. From Plaka, you can walk south up steep Mnisikleous Street as far as you can go and turn right on Theorias. Following European regulations, disabled access to the Acropolis can be gained by means of special paths and a purpose-built lift on the north face of the hill, only for the use of those in wheelchairs.

A canteen with a wide range of food and drink is reached before you get to the ticket kiosk - but beware: refreshments are available only at exorbitant prices. You will definitely need a bottle of water with you in the hot summer, so either bring it with you or buy it from the kiosk on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, just outside the entrance. There are water fountains within the site, but the water isn't always cold.

Guides can nearly always be found offering to show you around - at a price - at the point where tickets are checked. As an alternative, ask for the free leaflet published by the Archaeological Resources Fund, which includes a ground plan of the site and valuable information on the various monuments.

Additional historic sites and artifacts at the foot of the Acropolis are also included in the admission ticket. Most notably:

Archaeological sites around Acropolis

 * Contains the following sites:
 * Contains the following sites:



Museums and galleries
Because of its antiquity and influence, Athens is full of museums and galleries. The major ones are the National Archeological Museum, the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki and Museum of Cycladic Art, the Agora Museum, and the Kanellopoulos and Folk Art Museums.

Art museums
The visual arts have a big role in the Athenian life. Next to big institutions such as the National Gallery and the Benaki Museum, many small private galleries are spread across the city centre and the surrounding areas, hosting the works of contemporary visual and media artists. Bar galleries have sprung up, where you can have a drink or a coffee while visiting an exhibition.



Other museums

 * - A very interesting museum that should not be missed. Excellent demonstration of some fantastic inventions of the ancient Greeks. Most models are functional and can be interacted with. It's a relatively small museum, but if you take the time to read everything, it will take several hours. A "must see".

Do

 * If you're lucky enough to be in Athens for the Easter Weekend, you'll see the spectacular sight of hundreds of people making their candlelit way down the hill on Holy Saturday night as part of the Easter Vigil procession.
 * Every weekend you can join a free bike tour of the old area of Athens. To take part in this, you should contact the NGO Anthropos or but you can just turn up if you aren't able to contact them in advance. Groups meet at 10:40 outside Thissio metro station.
 * If the weather is good, head out of town on buses A2, B2 or E22 from metro station Sygrou, or the tram from Syntagma to the beaches in south Athens. Just get off wherever the sea takes your fancy. Beach-side cafes can hit you hard with prices of food and drinks. If you are the only person getting on the bus, you must flag the bus down to get it to stop or it will just fly on by.

Parks


Several of Athens' hills - Lycabettus and Pnyx (see above),, - are planted with pines and other trees, and are more like small forests than typical urban parks.



Sport

 * Football: The Greek men's national team play home games at Agia Sophia Stadium (capacity 32,500 all seated), aka Opop Arena. Completed in 2022, it's in Nea Filadelpheia 10 km northwest of city centre. The UEFA Europa Conference League final was played there on 29 May 2024.
 * Athens has four soccer clubs playing in Super League (Σούπερ Λιγκ), the top tier:
 * AEK Athens play at Agia Sophia Stadium.
 * Atromitos play at the 9000-seater Peristeri Stadium 3 km northwest of Syntagma.
 * Olimpiacos play at the 33,300-seater Karaiskakis Stadium in Neo Faliro, 1 km east of Pireaus ferry port.
 * Panathinaikos play at the 16,000-seater Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, 1 km northeast of Syntagma.
 * Lower placed clubs are Apollon Smyrnis at Georgios Kamaras Stadium 5 km north of Syntagma, and Ionikos at Neapolis Stadium 10 km west.


 * Basketball: Athens teams playing in the Greek Basket League, the top tier, are Olympiakos at Peace and Friendship Stadium in Neo Faliro, Panionios and Ionikos at Sofia Befon Palaio Faliro Indoor Hall, Peristeri at Peristeri indoor hall (next to Atromitos) and AEK and Panathinaikos both at Nikos Galis Hall.

Theatre and performing arts
Athens is home to 148 theatrical stages, more than any other city in the world.



In addition to a large number of multiplexes, Athens plays host to a variety of romantic, open air garden cinemas.

The city also supports a vast number of music venues, most notably:

Buy


Although a huge city, Athens has relatively few shopping malls or large department stores; the small, family run shop still conquers all. Souvenirs are of course available everywhere that tourists go. Other shopping opportunities are antiques, museum reproductions, embroideries and other folk art goods, and Greek food and drink products. Here is an overview of the Athens shopping scene:
 * Plaka is lined with souvenir shops, most of them selling cheap souvenir knick-nacks, though there are a few higher-quality shops. Prices can be high for good quality items.
 * In Athens, the Flea Market has two meanings. The sign next to Monastiraki station at the beginning of Ifaistou Street claims that you are entering "the Flea Market of Athens." The street is lined with second-hand and surplus shops of every description. Few of them are of much interest to the visitor, though towards the west end of the street there are some interesting shops selling old books, posters, and Greek and other music recordings. The real Flea Market is held on Sunday mornings in Plateia Avissinia at the western end of Ifaistou Street. There is incredible assortment of used objects, antiques, and junk.
 * Vrettos distillery (see below, under Drink) sells bottles of its own ouzo and other liqueurs.
 * Among all the souvenir and second-hand stores in the area, Martinos at 50 Pandrossou stands out as a genuine antique shop, offering top quality items from Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. Prices are also top of the line, so this is a shop for knowledgeable antique buyers in the market to do some serious spending. Remember that taking antiques out of Greece and into your own country may be subject to the laws of both countries and be sure you're familiar with them before taking anything old home.
 * Kolonaki is the upscale, hip, and artistic shopping area. Kolonaki offers the usual range of shops for an upscale neighbourhood; art galleries, hip clothing boutiques, and antique stores are common. The area is small and along with the small streets north of it, including Skoufa, Anagnostopoulou and the pedestrianized Tsakaloff, are ideal for simply wandering around. (Kolonaki Square) There are also plenty of shops along Patriarchou Ioakim and Haritos streets and their cross streets.
 * Another area is Kifissia.
 * For a more reasonable price tag, try Ermou Street, beside Syntagma Square. Turn right off Ermou at the MAC makeup shop and you'll find yourself on Aghiou Markou and other small streets which have a wide range incredibly cheap shoes, bags, jewellery, gifts and homewares.
 * Street vendors, with their wares laid out on blankets on the pavement, can be found in many places where tourists congregate, especially in Plaka and Monastiraki. Their goods are mostly forgeries, cheap knock-offs, and illegal CDs. These vendors are unlicensed, which is in violation of Greek law, and you may notice them vanishing as soon as a policeman is in sight, to reappear the instant the police have gone. They are best ignored. (This warning doesn't apply to vendors of fruit, nuts, etc., from street carts, who are usually legitimate.)

Eat
The districts Kolonaki and Plaka are especially good areas for dining out.

For quick, decent and low-budget meals that do not fall into the commercialized fast food category, try a souvlaki (pronounced soo- VLAH-kee), mainly grilled meat (pork or chicken) vegetables (tomato and onion slices) and Greek tzatziki (pronounced tzah-TZEE-khee) which is yogurt enriched with garlic and cucumber. All the above (often accompanied by French fries) are wrapped inside a thin slice of pan bread, named pita (PEE-tah). Prices of souvlaki vary according to the confidence and/or nerve of the cornershop owner, but usually cost from €1.70 to €2.20, and another €5 for drink, salad and French fries for a total no more than €7. Take away is cheaper than if you sit at a table. You can get souvlaki just about everywhere, especially in tourist areas. The best souvlaki stands in central Athens are both in Monastiraki, adjacent to each other and just off the main square in front of the Metro stop: Savvas at Mitropoleos 86-88 and O Thanasis at Mitropoleos 69.

If you're interested in a sandwich, cheese pie, spinach pie or the equivalent of a fast snack, try Grigoris (Γρηγόρης) or Everest, two chains of fast food in most districts of Athens and the rest of Greece. Goody's is the Greek equivalent of McDonald's and offers a fair variety of tasty meals, including pasta, different salads, burgers etc. McDonald's is the same like everywhere, but here it has a slight Greek slant.

At the end of Mitropoleos, just around the corner from the Metro station, is a trio of famous souvlaki shops &mdash; Thanasis, Savvas and Bairaktaris (Μπαϊρακτάρης) &mdash; which are, depending on who you ask, the Zeus or the Hades of souvlaki lovers. At any of the three, if you take a seat and ask for a souvlaki, you'll be served a plate with meat, pita and chips for around €9. But, if you ask cashier for a pita-souvlaki, you'll get the same stuff in a sandwich to take away for around €1.70.

Budget
Adrianou, which runs along the north side of the Acropolis from Thissio in the west to Plaka in the east, is packed with tavernas. Many are touristy and a little on the pricy side, so try to pick one that also has locals as customers. Expect to pay a little extra at any place that has views of the Acropolis.

City centre
There are several budget-friendly restaurants in the centre.



Kosher dining
Athens has only one kosher restaurant, Gostijo, a Sephardi restaurant in Psiri.

Drink
The Plateia Exarcheia square and nearby streets like Solomou have lots of clubs and bars. Kolonaki Square (Plateia Kolonaki; its official name is Plateia Filikis Etaireias, but no one ever uses it) is bordered with cafes whose customers tend to be mature Athenian movers and shakers for whom the area is the traditional in-town home. Most of these cafes serve desserts, light meals and drinks, and most of them are expensive. They tend to be liveliest late at night. One of the best established, and most prestigious, is Lykovrisi. Not many foreigners visit these cafes, but the visitor may find they make for interesting people-watching.
 * Greeks love to socialize, and Athens buzzes long after its other European counterparts have laid their heads down to sleep. 20:00 is the earliest most Greeks will consider going to eat out, and clubbers start to get ready at about midnight. Many Athens clubs relocate to the beach during the summer months. Cafes spill onto the streets and the sound of lively conversation is everywhere in the evenings.
 * Have a frappé, the delicious Greek version of cold coffee. It is nothing like the frappé you find in other countries. Served sweet, medium, or without sugar, with or without milk. Delicious with Bailey's too.
 * A 'club zone' is in the coastal district, running to the east- if you go there and you are lucky, you can actually get to listen to non-Greek music. There are also many clubs and pubs in the center of Athens.
 * Go to the Psyrrí area (Monastiraki or Thissio station, Lines 1 and 3 and Line 1 respectively) for a number of smart bars and small clubs. It is the area immediately north of Ermou street between these two metro stops.
 * There are more and better bars in the area north of Ermou street between Monastiraki and Syntagma than there used to be. Aiolou and Kolokotroni streets offer a fair variety of cafés and bars. Magazé, six dogs, Booze and all the bars on Karytsi square (a small square at the end of Christou Lada street, behind Klafthmonos square on Stadiou avenue) can get very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, with visitors having their drinks even on the streets outside from spring through autumn, when the weather is nice.
 * The area around the Kerameikos station, called Gazi (Γκάζι, gas) has been the gay village of Athens for quite a few years. Since the opening of the metro station, in 2007, the neighbourhood has attracted all kinds of crowds. This is a home to dozens of bars, cafés and clubs, gay or not, and to small theatrical scenes, the latter one especially to the northeast of the area, towards Metaxourgeio.
 * Oréa Ellás ("Beautiful Greece") with two entrances 59 Mitropóleos and 36 Pandhróssou, Monastiráki (but just a minute's walk from Plaka; the cafe is upstairs) is a combination cafe and gift shop. The cafe, open all day but not after 18:00, offers coffees and alcoholic drinks and a limited range of snacks and sweets, in a wonderful old fashioned setting with stunning views of the Acropolis out the windows. The shop, called Kendro Ellinikis Paradosis (Centre of Greek Tradition) is an excellent place to buy souvenirs, which are more expensive but vastly better than the knick-knacks offered by the cheek-by-jowl tourist shops lining the street outside.
 * Vrettos at 41 Kydathineon, Plaka is a very atmospheric 100 year old distillery which makes its own ouzo, brandy and liqueurs, and sets up a bar at night where you can order them by the glass. They also offer wine tastings selected from 100s of Greek wines between 10:00-16:00.
 * Vrettos at 41 Kydathineon, Plaka is a very atmospheric 100 year old distillery which makes its own ouzo, brandy and liqueurs, and sets up a bar at night where you can order them by the glass. They also offer wine tastings selected from 100s of Greek wines between 10:00-16:00.
 * Vrettos at 41 Kydathineon, Plaka is a very atmospheric 100 year old distillery which makes its own ouzo, brandy and liqueurs, and sets up a bar at night where you can order them by the glass. They also offer wine tastings selected from 100s of Greek wines between 10:00-16:00.

Clubbing & night life
Athens is famous for its vibrant nightlife. The Athenians like to party and will do so almost every night of the week. The choices are plenty and they appeal to all tastes and lifestyles. In general, things get started pretty late: after midnight for bars and clubbing and after 22:00 for dinner at the city's tavernas, Athens Restaurants and bar-restaurants.

Hip areas include Gazi, Psirri, Metaxourgio, Exarcheia, Monastiraki, Theseion and Kolonaki. Traditional Greek evenings can be spent in Plaka.

Many of Athens' hottest clubs and bars are in Psirri. Gazi has changed tremendously. Most of the galleries, mainstream bars, restaurants, clubs and Greek nightclubs here (featuring live Greek pop singers) are trademarked by their industrial design, as many of them are housed in remodelled—and once abandoned—factories. Gazi is one of the trendiest areas of Athens nightlife. You can get there by metro line 3 at Kerameikos station.

Plaka - Monastiraki are two ancient, historic and all-time classic Athenian neighbourhoods popular with visitors, they do not have many big dance clubs and bars, but offer lively, traditional places to enjoy Greek culture year-round, and several rock and jazz clubs.

You will find plenty nightclubs with live Greek music along Syggrou Avenue and at the industrial strips of Iera Odos and Pireos Street in Gazi. In the summer months, the action moves to Poseidon Avenue and the coastal towns of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. Kolonaki is a staple dining and entertainment destination, catering to the city's urban working professionals who enjoy an after work cocktail at many of its bars that are open - and busy - until after midnight, even on weekdays. The clubs here are also very chic. Exarchia is where to go for smaller more bohemian style haunts that cater to artists and college students. At the foot of Strefi Hill is where you will find most of the bars and clubs, many of which play rock music. An alternative option of Athens nightlife.

Sleep
Athens has a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and hostels, right up to 5 star luxury hotels. For listings of specific hotels, see the individual district sections.

Connect
As of Sept 2021, Athens has 5G from Cosmote and Vodafone, and 4G from Wind Mobile. Wifi is widely available in public places.

100 Hellenic Police

166 Hellenic Emergency Center

199 Hellenic Firefighters

112 European number of Emergency

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Stay safe
While Athens is generally a safe city, there have been a huge number reports of pickpockets on the Metro (especially at the interchanges with the line from the Airport), buses and in other crowded areas, including Plaka. You will notice that natives travel with their hands on their bags and pockets and keeping their bag in front rather than on their side or back, which unfortunately is not without reason. You will probably be warned about pickpockets by hotel staff and friendly waiters, but this may be too late. Be extremely cautious and divide all your documents, cards and money into different places. Street crime is rare; when it happens, it's most commonly purse-snatching from women walking away from banks and ATM machines. Violent crime against tourists is rare.

The friendly stranger bar scam has been reported from areas of central Athens frequented by tourists, including Omonia, Syntagma, and Plaka. There have been some reports of fraud. Usually, someone will stop you and ask for directions. A couple of other men then arrive claiming to be police, showing a badge (obviously a fake one). They ask if you were getting drugs from the other man and then ask for your passport and wallet for verification. While you are busy trying to convince them that your passport is valid, one of them sneaks out some money from your wallet.



Athens is one of the most political cities in Europe. Demonstrations and riots are common and accepted as part of everyday life and democracy by most Athenians. Keep abreast of news of demonstrations, and avoid them if you don't want to run the risk of being arrested or tear-gassed.

Anarchist groups often clash with police, or target governments buildings or perceived representations of gentrification during the night, mainly in Exarcheia. It is unlikely that tourists would be hurt, as the anarchists usually take care to attack only property and police as opposed to civilians. Parking in Exarcheia overnight could result in your car being damaged.

The football rivalry between local club Panathinaikos and Piraeus-based Olympiacos is notoriously intense, and has on occasion resulted in violent confrontations between opposing fans. To be safe, avoid wearing Olympiacos shirts while you are in Athens, especially during matchday, or it could result in you being harassed or even singled out for violence by opposing fans.

Rough areas
Athenians hold negative perceptions for the areas around Omonia Square and locals advise you to avoid these areas late at night. The area is notorious for pickpockets and prostitutes, and there are many people who use drugs in the open even during the day and this can be a harrowing sight for those not used to it.

A particular place to avoid is Vathi square and the area between Agiou Konstantinou and Karolou/Marni.

The Philopappou Hill area should be avoided at night.

The back streets of Piraeus are probably also places where its unwise to wander around late at night.

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Islands

 * Piraeus - the harbour of Athens, and Rafina (on the east coast of Attica) are the departure points for a large number of ferry services to the Greek Islands and other destinations in the eastern Mediterranean, including ports in Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Israel and Cyprus. Fast hydrofoil, catamaran or helicopter services also take you to the Greek Islands. Italy is easily approached by boat from Patras (take a train or a bus to Patras).
 * The port of Lavrion in southern Attica is being increasingly developed as a ferry port, especially for (some) Cyclades routes. Rafina and, especially, Piraeus remain the main hubs for the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.
 * The closest islands, suitable for a day trip from Piraeus, are in the Argosaronic (or Saronic) gulf: Hydra, Aegina, Poros, Spetses and Salamina. Kea (also pronounced Tzia) is a very nearby destination, too, less than two hours from the port of Lavrio. If what you are thinking is an island further away from Piraeus, like Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini or any of the Dodecanese or Northern Aegean isles, you should probably consider with extra days off Athens because of their distance from the mainland. Flying is also an option to the more distant islands.

Nearby

 * Day trips to the Corinth Canal, the ancient theatre at Epidaurus and to the ancient sites of Olympia, Delphi and Mycenae are easy with a rental car. Other towns along the Peloponnese such as Nafplion are charming and worthwhile.
 * Sounio, Ktel bus starts from central Athens and also stop in some areas in south Athens, the ticket from the starting point costs €5 and some cents. There is one bus per hour during a day. 1 hour from central Athens by car.

North

 * Thessaloniki, second biggest city in Greece, Larissa, Karditsa, Trikala, Kalampaba and Katerini. Tickets can be booked online in advance. From Thessaloniki, you can travel onwards to North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

By air
Athens has ultra-low-cost flights to several European countries, to Jordan, Israel, Georgia and to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. (updated May 2022)