Athens is one of the most important cities in history and an incredible introduction to Greek culture. Personally, I always hated going there when I was a kid. It was dirty, loud, and unfriendly. It took me several years to go back and when I did, I fell in love with it. It has transformed tremendously.
My Posts on Athens
General Info:
Neighborhoods:
- Akadimia
- Anafiotika
- Exarcheia
- Gazi
- Historic Center
- Kerameikos
- Kolonaki
- Monastiraki
- Plaka
- Psyrri
- Syntagma
- Thiseio
Archaeological Sites:
- Acropolis
- Ancient Agora of Athens
- Areopagus
- Hadrian’s Arch
- Hadrian’s Library
- Kerameikos
- Lyceum
- Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro)
- Parilissia Sanctuaries
- Roman Agora
- Stenopos Kollytos
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Western Hills of Athens (Pnyx, Philopappos Hill, Hill of the Nymphs)
Museums:
- Acropolis Museum
- Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
- Benaki Museum of Islamic Art
- Byzantine Museum
- Canellopoulos Museum
- Epigraphic Museum
- Makronisos Museum
- Maria Callas Museum
- Museum of Ancient Greek Technology
- Museum of Cycladic Art
- Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments
- National Archaeological Museum
- National Gallery
- National Historical Museum
- Numismatic Museum
- War Museum
Historic Buildings:
Churches:
Misc. Attractions:
- First Cemetery of Athens
- Lycabettus Hill
- National Garden
- Pedion Areos
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Varvakeios Agora
Events:
Introduction to Athens
I’ve been to Athens several times in my life. Between my third and fourth trips, there was a gap of 13 years, from 2000 to 2013.During my first few trips, I never looked forward to visiting Athens, but has it ever changed! What a difference a metro makes! It’s cleaner, friendlier, less congested, and overall much better.
Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
Athens is served by Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. It’s about 40 minutes from the city center by car and about an hour by metro.
The airport has plenty of shops, decent places to eat, and is overall a very good airport. It’s relaxed and comfortable compared to the old, dirty, chaotic airport. Also, I’ve never had an issue waiting in long lines for security or at passport control.
Getting to the City Center from the Airport
Every half hour or so there’s a train into the city center from the airport for €9 one way and €16 return (as of April 2024).
Getting Around Athens
The historic center of Athens is very walkable and easy to get around without using the metro. I usually prefer to walk around from place to place unless it’s longer than a 20 minute walk. Also, every hotel I’ve stayed at has been near most tourist sites and some decent restaurants.
Public Transportation in Athens
To use the public transportation system, single rides on any method of transportation are €1.20 (as of April 2024). If you’re staying for three days or less, there are also tourist tickets available that include return airport fares and unlimited rides on all public transportation for €20 (as of April 2024). You can buy tickets at a machine or from a vendor.
You must validate your ticket at a machine before entering the metro platform and when exiting the metro, and once you get on a bus. Your ticket is good for 90 minutes for unlimited transfers. Also, some metro stations have archaeological sites.
Shopping in Athens
For shopping, running west from Syntagma Square is the pedestrian street of Ermou, which is full of shops. On the section running through Monastiraki, Ermou is full of antique shops.
All around Monastiraki and Plaka, you will find souvenir and specialty shops. These shops mostly line Pandrossou in Monastiraki and Adrianou in Plaka.
Right off Monastiraki Square is the flea market and Ifestou, which is lined with all kinds of souvenir and clothing shops. You can find everything there.
Combo Tickets for Archaeological Sites
Finally, for visiting the historical sites, you can get a combo ticket that gives access to the Acropolis and slopes, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, the Roman Agora, the ancient Agora, Aristotle’s Lyceum, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The ticket is valid for five days. It costs €30 for general admission and free for EU citizens up to age 25 and all visitors under age 6 (as of April 2024). It saves visitors a good chunk of money if all the sites are visited, especially from April through October when admission is full price. It’s not worth it from November through March when admission is already half price.
Safety Tips for Athens
Athens is very safe, especially in the tourist zones. Take the usual precautions, use your judgment, and you’ll be fine. At night, stay away from areas around Omonoia Square and don’t go off the tourist track.
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