Athens travel information
People typically use Athens as a stepping off point for the Greek Islands, and try not to stay for too long. Sure, the place may seem like an impenetrable concrete jungle at first but, given a chance, the city has much to offer the visitor. Ancient monuments, colourful markets, and mouth-watering food are just some of the attractions. Furthermore, with the 2004 Olympic Games came a wave of development and beautification; roads were widened, footpaths were rid of holes, and a brand new metro system has made getting around Athens easier than ever before.
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Spring and late autumn are ideal times to visit Athens, while summer can get unbearably hot. Alternatively, going during winter will save you money on accommodation and there are few tourists, just the odd rainy day to contend with.
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Just about everything of interest to the traveller is within a small area surrounding Plateia Syntagmatos (Syntagma Square). This area is bounded by the districts of Plaka to the south, Monastiraki to the west, Kolonaki to the east and Omonia to the north.
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Within Athens, there are no less than eight hills, which provide a peaceful respite from the clamour of the city and offer stunning views.
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The sparkling new metro system has made getting around the centre of Athens relatively painless. Avoid driving at all costs. Many of the main attractions are within walking distance of one another anyway. If you need to hail a taxi, shout your destination as one passes. If a taxi is heading your way, it might stop even if there are passengers already inside.
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When you wave with your palm towards people, they may interpret it as ‘come here’ instead of ‘goodbye’; and, Greeks often wave goodbye with the palm facing them, which looks like ‘come here’ to English speakers.
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The usually subterranean public toilets, such as those in parks and on main squares, are dirty, so go to a restaurant, hotel or bar. In bus and train stations, attendants hand you a few sheets of toilet paper; leave €0.40 on their plate. You can walk into any large establishment, use the bathroom, and leave, especially if you are discreet. Carry extra toilet paper, because many places don't provide any, or it runs out.
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When you walk into a restaurant and after you have found a table, you will be permitted or encouraged to go to the kitchen to see what they have to offer. Don’t be afraid to ask what the different dishes are, and pick out what looks good.
Useful travel tips resources
Footprint Guides – Athens
Exhaustive resource on Athens from this well-known travel guide publisher.
http://www.footprintguides.com/
Athens Survival Guide
Matt Barrett’s famous guide to Athens, packed with useful advice and information.
http://www.athensguide.com/
Fodor's - Athens
A thorough guide to all there is to know about Athens, including handy tips.
http://www.fodors.com
More topics on this site…
Athens maps and geography
Greece travel information
Greece travel tips
Greece health and safety
Greece maps and geography
Essentials
Visas: Most nationals can stay in Greece for up to three months without a visa
Season: April – October, with June – August being the high season
Money: Euro – ATMs widely available
Language: Greek – English widely spoken
Emergency #: 100; roadside assistance: 104