Athens, Greece Travel Guide

Why go?

Often referred to as the cradle of Western civilisation, Athens is a 2, 500-year-old hotch-potch of concrete upon brick upon stone. Despite recent bad press due to Greece’s economic woes, and harshly imposed austerity measures which have had an extremely negative impact on average Greeks, the great city remains a must-do for culture buffs.

Since 2004, the newly-inaugurated Archaeological Promenade, a 2.5-mile long, pedestrian-only, tree-lined walkway skirting the foot of the Acropolis and linking all the city’s major archaeological sites, has made the city centre infinitely more walkable and reduced the notorious traffic congestion and exhaust fumes.

But visitors don’t come here just for the ancient monuments. Despite the current economic crises, contemporary Athens boasts one of the most happening nightlife scenes in Europe, which now centres on the urban-chic bars and cafés between Syntagma and grungy Monastiraki (at the foot of the Acropolis), and the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Metaxourgiou, known for its art galleries and hip eateries. And somewhat surprisingly, more and more new bars and restaurants keep opening, even in times of strife.

Often referred to as the cradle of Western civilisation, Athens is a 2, 500-year-old hotch-potch of concrete upon brick upon stone.

AP

Athens is served by Piraeus, the largest passenger port in Europe and the major node for the countless ferries, catamarans and hydrofoils that serve the Greek islands. The port has 11 modern berths for cruise ships; during the 2004 Olympics, the world’s largest cruise ship, the Queen Mary II, docked here and served as a floating hotel. Since then, the number of cruise ships passing through Piraeus has increased exponentially. In 2012, it was the world’s fourth most visited cruise port, receiving 2, 067, 000 passengers.

Piraeus is a major embarkation/disembarkation point for short cruises round the Greek Islands, and many companies include it as a port of call on their Mediterranean and world cruises. The main draw is the chance to explore the city’s splendid hilltop Acropolis, home to the majestic fifth-century BC Parthenon, and also to make excursions inland to the much-photographed archaeological site of Delphi.

Tourism accounts for approximately 18 per cent of Greece’s GDP, so if you come here on holiday you’ll be helping the local economy.

Athens’s city centre is a pleasure to explore on foot and most of the main attractions lie within walking distance of one another.

When to go

The Greek capital remains lively all through the year. For sightseeing, warm, sunny days make autumn or spring the best times to visit Athens; soaring temperatures from mid-June to late-August can be tiring. Between November and February the weather is unpredictable, ranging from crisp, bright days to rain and even occasional snow – the compensation being a relative scarcity of tourists. In fact, it can make a lovely winter city break.

Where to go

Athens was built around the Acropolis, today the city’s most visited ancient attraction. On the Acropolis’ northeast slopes, pretty Plaka is Athens’ oldest residential quarter, extending down to grungy Monastiraki. From Monastiraki, Adrianou street leads west to Thissio and Kerameikos, while the pedestrian-only shopping street of Ermou runs east to Syntagma, home to the Greek Parliament. North of Monastiraki, Athinas street delineates the Psirri district and passes the Central Market to arrive at Omonia. South of the centre, ferries to the blissful Greek Islands depart from Piraeus port.

Know before you go

Essential contacts

British Embassy: 00 30 210 7272 600, Ploutarchou 1, Kolonaki; ukingreece.fco.gov.uk
Greek Emergency services: dial 112
Athens Tourist Office: 00 30 210 331 0392; thisisathens.org; Dionysiou Aeropagitou 18-20, Makrigianni (opposite the Acropolis Museum, on the edge of Plaka)

The basics:

Currency: Euro
Telephone code: dial 00 30 for Greece, if calling from the UK

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