Greece Travel Guide: Athens

Athens, Greece

Athens, Greece-Parthenon

Athens, Greece-Plaka

This page is sort of an introduction to Athens and to my Athens Survival Guide. If you are looking for some general information about Athens it will be helpful but I encourage you to visit www.athensguide.com which has a lot more information as well as lots of photos, restaurant reviews, and actually leads you through the different neighborhoods, museums and archaeological sites of Athens.

Introduction

General Info

Athens

Islands

Mainland

Preparation

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Arrival in Athens

If you are coming by air you will be arriving at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. Getting into the city is easy and there is lots of information about trains, taxis, buses and other airport info at www.athensguide.com/airport.html. Most people going to the Greek islands spend their first and last nights in Athens and then maybe one or two extra days at the end of their trip if they want to go to places like Delphi and Meteora and the Argolis. When you book a holiday through a travel agency in Athens it includes transfers from the airport. They actually send someone with a taxi, usually a woman who speaks English and several other languages, whose job it is to make you feel comfortable and get you to your hotel and give you your ferry tickets, hotel vouchers and whatever other information they supply you with. Some people try their luck with the street taxis at the airport while others use George the Famous Taxi Driver who has a great reputation for promptness, honesty and reliability. The train will take you to Syntagma or Monastiraki where you can connect with other trains on the metro system and will cost about 6 euro. If you switch to another train you don't need another ticket. The bus goes to several locations in Athens and the port of Pireaus. If you are coming from Patras the status of the Peloponessos station seems to be up in the air but you can connect with the Proastiakos (Suburban trainline) which has connnections with the metro. Those arriving by bus.... you need to go to www.athensguide.com/practicalinfo

Where to Stay in Athens

When in Athens the desirable areas to stay in are the Plaka, Makrianni, Koukaki, Thission, Syntagma and Monastiraki. These all border the Acropolis and the archaeological park around it. Everything you need including shops, restaurants, the metro to the ferries, buses, taxis and nightlife is within walking distance. It's like being on a peaceful island. There are several hotels in the Plaka area between Syntagma (Constitution) Square and the Acropolis. It's the quietest and most pleasant part of Athens. For now there are no cheap hotels near the airport though there is a big Sofitel that is actually at the airport and a Holiday Inn nearby, but they are pretty expensive. With the money you spend there you could stay downtown, have a nice dinner in a fancy restaurant and take a taxi to the airport in the morning. If you go to www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens I have listed hotels by category and divided them by whether they are in a convenient and safe location. Speaking of safe, it is a good idea to stay in a hotel that has a safe in each room where you can keep extra cash, important documents and whatever credit cards you won't be needing that day. Be sure to photo-copy your passport and drivers license before you leave home and carry the copies around with you instead of the originals when you are out exploring the city.

You can also search for hotels in Athens and see photos and reviews by using this link to Booking.com
For More Info on Athens Hotels take a look at the hotel section in my ATHENS SURVIVAL GUIDE at www.athensguide.com/hotels.html

Hotel Attalos
I can think of several reasons to stay at the Hotel Attalos. OK, so it's not in the Plaka. (It's a five minute walk.) It is next to the Monastiraki Flea Market and Metro Station (for getting to the boats to the islands). It is a five minute walk to the Acropolis and it is a block from Psiri, the hippest part of Athens with great cafes, ouzeries and restaurants at night. It has a rooftop cafe with a view of the Parthenon, airconditioning, breakfast, family owned and what else......oh yes. It is a bargain recommended by travelers and professionals! I listed this hotel before I had ever stayed here because of these recommendations. Then I stayed here and was amazed by the quality of the hotel, the professionalism of the staff, the cool AC in our room and the best rooftop garden-bar of any C-catagory hotel, a great place for meeting people. If you want an inexpensive hotel, but don't want to feel like you are in a cheap hotel then stay here. You won't be disappointed. I love this hotel! In fact this is where I stay whenever I am in Athens (unless they are full).
They also have free wireless internet and for those without a computer they have 2 computers with high-speed connections. So you also save money because you won't have to spend money at an internet cafe every day to get your e-mail.All rooms have a safe so you don't have to wander around Athens with bulging pockets and important documents. See their prices on their web page at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/attalos

The Attalos fills up quickly so if you know that this is where you want to stay book it. You won't find cheaper rates for this hotel than what they offer on this secure booking page and they are offering a furthur 10% discount for people who book through my Guide. See their rates on their web page at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/attalos

Other Economy Hotels in or near the Plaka

Cecil Hotel
Cecil Hotel occupies a beautifully renovated neo-classical building in the heart of old Athens, close to the Ancient Market and the City Market. It is located near the most central pedestrian street of Athens, the Acropolis, and the Plaka and Psiri are only a short way away. Cecil Hotel offers easy walking access to numerous tavernas, restaurants and many places like cafes, nightclubs and cinemas, offering all forms of daytime and evening entertainment for which Athens is famous. Very economically priced too. If the Attalos is full, this is half a block away. It is like staying in a preserved 19th century hotel.
See www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/cecil

Hotel Adams
This small family run hotel is on a back street in the Plaka and since the 2004 Olympics has been completely rennovated. If you are looking for location this has to be at the top of the list. See www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/adams

Hotel Adonis
There was a time that you could not find a room at the Hotel Adonis because it is small and very popular. But with sites like Trip-Advisor elevating some obscure hotels way off the beaten-path to Top Ten status you can now get a room at the Adonis if you are lucky. See www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/adonis

Youth Hostels
There are a few in Athens and you don't have to be a youth to stay there if you don't mind slightly Spartan conditions, sharing a bathroom or living dormitory style. See my Youth Hostel page with links to a site where you can book in advance with no extra fee at www.greecetravel.com/youth-hostel and if you don't feel like sharing a room with 6 other strangers you can also find inexpensive hotels and see photos and reviews by using this link to Booking.com

A Little More Expensive but not too much more

View from Hotel Astor in Athens Hotel Central
The story goes that this hotel in the Plaka was bought and rennovated for the Olympics by a wealthy person who then tried to sell it after the Olympics ended. It is still for sale. But don't let that stop you from staying in this modern, almost futuristic hotel which is rarely full. Great views of the Acropolis, DSL in the rooms (you will need a laptop and you have to pay), a rooftop bar and a terrific location. See www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/central

Athens Cypria Hotel
I proposed to my wife in the honeymoon suite at the Athens Cypria. The regular rooms may not be so inspriring that you will propose to yuors but they are clean, decent sized and the hotel has a great location on a pedestrian street right off Ermou, Athen's main shopping street. Easy walk to the Plaka, Psiri, the Metro and the archaeological sites.
See www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/cypria

The Athens Gate Hotel
Not many hotels can offer a view of the Acropolis from one side and a view of the Temple of Olympian Zeus from the other, but the Athens gate does and also have a beautiful rooftop garden so you can look at both over cocktails. Great location on the edge of the Plaka and the pedestrian zone that surrounds the Acropolis. The hotel was totally gutted down to the cement and rebuilt almost from scratch. Its a beautiful hotel with friendly service. See www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/athens-gate

Expensive but Worth It

I have stayed at most of the luxury hotels in central Athens (no of course I did not have to pay for it. That's why I stayed there.) Some were very good while others seemed like they watched a movie about a fancy hotel over and over again and then tried to recreate it. These three are the best in central Athens, in my opinion.

The Grande Bretagne
The Grande Bretagne or GB as they call it, for those of you who don't know, is the oldest and most elegant luxury hotel in Athens and one of the finest and most well-known in the world. A room there will cost you a few hundred bucks a night at least but if you have the money it is worth it. The Grande Bretagne (and our room) overlooks Syntagma Square and you can watch the changing of the Evzone guards from your balcony. We had a view of the Parthenon, tons of channels on the TV, a fridge full of booze and snacks and a room service menu about 8 pages long. Incredible breakfast buffett. There is a pool on the roof, and a pool in the basement. In fact there is an entire luxury spa in the basement. The GB Corner is one of the most renknown restaurants in Athens and the rooftop restaurant and bar may be even better. It certainly gets points for the view. But the place to be is the Alexander Bar where you never know who you will be rubbing shoulders with. For information and booking see my web page for the hotel at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/grandebretagne

The Electra Palace Hotel
If you are looking for a really nice hotel and willing to pay more, read my review of the Electra Palace Hotel, where I stayed quite comfortable during an Athens heat wave. There are not many hotels of this caliber in the Plaka, at least not with a swimming pool! They have a pretty steady business clientele so you need to book pretty far in advance to get a room here in the summer.
For information and booking see my review of the hotel at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/electrapalace

The Royal Olympic
This is a really nice hotel with views of both the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis and when I say view I mean it. You are literally right on top of the largest temple of the ancient world. Beautiful rooms and a great outdoor swimming pool. There is a rooftop bar and their restaurant is one of the better hotel restaurants in Athens. It is a little pricy as you would expect but you can't beat the view. Fantasy Travel has discounted rates on this hotel at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/royalolympic/

See Athens from the Islands of Aegina, Poros and Angistri

Aegina Who says you have to stay in Athens to see Athens? OK. Cities are not for everyone. So why not stay on an island that is one hour from Athens? You can be on the Acropolis in an hour and a half! (Sometimes it takes that long from the Hilton). The island of Poros is a sensible option to city life and it is also a 3-minute boat ride from the Peloponessos. I highly recommend the Saga Hotel there. See www.greektravel.com/greekislands/poros

The beach town of Agia Marina on the island of Aegina is about 45 minutes by boat. There are two nice little inexpensive hotels there called the Hotel Karyatids and the Voula Apartments, plenty of tavernas, and a slice of island life within sight of Athens.

Angistri is another island close enough to Athens so you can visit by day and the Agistri Club Hotel is a favorite of many professional Greece Travelers. See www.greektravel.com/greekislands/angistri

Booking Hotels in Athens

You can book these and many other hotels in Athens and the rest of Greece through the following recommended agencies: Dolphin Hellas Travel , Fantasy Travel, or Aegean Thesaurus Travel . By using a Greek Travel agency you don't only get discount rates on hotels, tours, rental cars and cruises but you have someone to call if you have any problems and who can help you with tickets and information on getting to the islands and back. If a hotel price seems to good to be true then check the location. There are several quality hotels located in neighborhoods that have not quite turned the corner yet.

For apartments and houses in and around Athens see www.greecetravel.com/villas

Even if you are backpacking and not booking hotels until you get to the island or staying in campsites I still recommend booking your hotel in Athens. For a city of it's size Athens sometimes has a shortage of hotel rooms, particularly economy class and wandering around looking for one can be disheartening.

For more hotels in Athens see www.hotelsofgreece.com and www.athensguide.com/hotels.html

Matt Barrett's-Hotel Search: If you don't want to go through a travel agency try this. You can check hotel rates on several booking sites to find the best one or to compare it to the agency rates. My advice is that if the rates are anywhere close to the agencies go with the agency. Having them to book your ferries, make changes to your itinerary or solving any problems you may encounter will be worth it.

You can also search for hotels in Athens and see photos and reviews by using this link to Booking.com

New Economical Packages: Fantasy Travel has put together a number of packages that offer quality accomodation for economical prices. Most packages that seem too good to be true are actually not as good as they seem, often using hotels in Athens that are in areas you really don't want to stay in, to keep the price down. But Fantasy's economy packages feature hotels in and around the Plaka in Athens and are all good quality hotels. I recommend Fantasy Travel's program The Pursuit of Pleasure which is 12 Days and 11 nights in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini including hotels, ferries, transfers, tours, admission to archaeological sites and breakfast starting at 940 euros per person. You can't beat the price for these hotels and this itinerary. Or their 8 day package that includes a 4-day cruise plus Athens-Delphi-Meteora which starts at 595 euros per person. For these and more visit Fantasy Travel's Special Offers Page

What to see in Athens

Of course you have to see the Acropolis. I have a pretty interesting page about it in my Athens Guide with lots of photos at www.athensguide.com/acropolis.html

There are ancient ruins, some Greek and some Roman scattered around the Acropolis and in the Plaka. There are some excellent museums including the Benaki and the National Museum which are two of my favorites. See www.athensguide.com/museum.html

Athens has the best nightlife in the world and terrific restaurants too. The whole downtown area is a shoppers paradise, much of it closed to traffic. You can find all of this in the Athens Survival Guide. From Athens you can do day-trips and overnight trips to Delphi, Sounion, Meteora and Nafplio and the Argolis which are all covered in the mainland page. Athens has a great new metro system and getting around is easy. There is a new coastal tram so you can get on in Syntagma and in 40 minutes be at the beach. All the travel agencies offer tours around the city as well as half-day, day-trips and overnights on the mainland. For an example see Fantasy Travel's Organized Land Tours. You can also hire private taxis and limos like George the Famous Taxi Driver.

There is lots to see in the area outside Athens known as the Attika Peninsula. See Exploring Attika by Car.

Jewelery in Athens

Hand-crafted Gold is inexpensive in Greece. Not because gold is cheaper. Gold costs the same everywhere. But labor is cheaper. People who anywhere else would be master craftsmen with million dollar ads in fashion magazines are working away in little shops in and around Athens. My wife, Andrea makes Greek style 22k and recommends a store called BYZANTINO at 120 Adrianou in the Plaka. Their work is so good and so inexpensive that Andrea, (who is considered one of the finest goldsmith in America), buys from them. Most of the shops in Athens and the islands buy from wholesalers but George and Kosta are craftsmen, creating their own designs and recreating ancient pieces. If you are a lover of Gold jewelery don't buy anything until you have seen their work. If you walk down Adrianou towards monastiraki it is on your left at #120(next to an ice-cream shop). For directions you can call them at (01130) 210 324-6605 or fax 210 324-7079. There are a number of stores at the same address so be sure you are going into Byzantino. It is right next to the ice-cream shop. Let them know Matt and Andrea sent you. You don't have to worry about the language barrior because Laura, the saleswoman is American. See www.athensguide.com/byzantino

It's all Happening at to the Zoo!

Got time between flights? Looking for something to do after seeing the Acropolis? Go to the zoo! The Attika Zoological Park opened in May of 2001 and after the Acropolis it is probably the most interesting place in Athens. If you have a layover in Athens before your flight to the islands or home, why sit around and look at stressed people when you can see one of the happiest collections of animals in the world. The zoo in Spata is one of the most humane and is the third largest bird collection in the world! It is a short ride from the airport and if you are traveling with kids it is a surefire way to keep them happy and interested in what would normally be wasted time. For more information see www.athensguide.com/zoo

You can combine this on a day trip with the Megapanos Winery tour!

Far from the Maddening Crowd: In response to the travelers who worry that recent demonstrations in Athens may disturb their sleep pattern, at my request Fantasy Travel has put together a 10-Day Athens-Mykonos-Santorini package which includes a tour of Athens and all transfers and ferry tickets. The package starts at 790 euros per person. What makes it unique is for the Athens part of the trip you will be staying by the beach in Faliron, just 20 minutes from downtown by taxi or 30 minutes by bus or coastal tram. For more information see www.fantasytravelofgreece.com/farfromcrowds.html

Athens Maps

I asked my friend George from Fantasy Travel to send me a few Athens maps to give out. He did. At least 1000 of them! They are pretty good maps of downtown Athens on one side and Greece on the other. There are also inserts of the Athens Metro System and the new Tram that runs along the coast. There's info on transportation within Athens (buses, trolly's, ferries, trains), helpful phone numbers and some sightseeing ideas. It is not the best map in the world but it will do until you get to Athens and can get a better one.

If you want a map of Athens (and Greece) send $2 for shipping and handling to GreeceTravel /102 Old Pittsboro Rd/Carrboro/NC 27510. If you are writing from Europe or Australia better make that $3. If you send a check make it to GreeceTravel.

Questions about Athens? You can e-mail me at matt@greecetravel.com

Be sure to visit these Athens photo albums too:
The Best of Athens
Everyday Athens
The Acropolis
Athens in the Sixties