Athens, the capital city of Greece and holds roughly half its population. While this sprawling metropolis may seem daunting at first when you first see its size, it is actually a very manageable city with most points of interest in easy walking distance from each other. With its ancient monuments, fascinating history and incredible food, it’s a city not to be missed.

Getting There

The gateway to Athens for most people will be Athens International Airport which can offer you a selection of transport methods for getting into Athens.

Taxi – Between 5am and midnight, a flat rate of €38 will get you anywhere within the city of Athens. This can take anywhere between twenty minutes to an hour depending on location and traffic. Between midnight and 5am the rate goes up to €54. Also expect to pay a little more if your destination is one of Athens outlying towns such as the port of Piraeus.
Suburban Railway – These trains run from the Airport to Athens Central Station (Stathmos Larisis) as well as the port of Piraeus 7 days a week. There is one train an hour, the first leaving at 6:09am with the last one at 22:09.
Metro – Trains run every 30 minutes from 6:30am to 11:30pm and take about 40 minutes to get to the centre of Athens, Syntagma Station.
Buses – The cheapest method to get into Athens and running 24 hours a day. There are four routes depending on your destination.

X97 to Eliniko Metro Station

X96 to the Port of Piraeus

X95 to Syntagma

X93 to Kifissos KTEL

Uber – Uber does not operate in Athens but the App can be used to hail a metered taxi to your location.

Getting Around

While there are several methods of getting around, Athens is a very easy to navigate on foot. Most of your standard issue tourist attractions and facilities are within easy walking distance of each other. There are taxis and buses available but depending on your destination and time of day it would almost certainly be quicker to walk. There are two alternative forms of transport that are worth mentioning.

City Tour Buses – There are three companies offering hop-on, hop-off bus tours where you can jump on and off as many times as you want throughout the day (sometimes two days), stopping at most of the main attractions. The three companies follow more or less the same route and either have live or pre-recorded information on the POIs.
Lime Scooters – You will see these electric scooters littered across Athens. Download the Lime – Your Ride Anytime App, register your details and scan the bar code on the handlebars of the scooter then you are good to go. The cost of each trip is €1 plus 15 cents for every minute of use.

Money

Greece uses the Euro
Expect to spend roughly €35 for a decent meal (excluding tips)
Tipping is expected, 10-15% for decent service
You can get 500ml of Greek wine from €5

Attractions

Depending on what time of year you decide to visit, Athens can sometimes alter the price of certain attractions. During the summer months (April to the end of October), attraction entry will cost more than during the winter months (November to the end of March). I recommend for €30, the “Ticket Package for the Archaeological Sites of Athens” which lasts three days and will get you entry into seven of the sites across Athens including the Acropolis slopes, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Olypieion, Kerameikos and Aristotle’s Library.

Acropolis – Often confused with the Parthenon, the Acropolis is the iconic rock in the middle of Athens. Its home to the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Propylaea at the entrance and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Acropolis opens to the public at 8am and is worth getting there early as tour groups start arriving from 9am and it gets a bit busy. The ticket to the Acropolis and its slopes will also get you access to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysus.

Acropolis Museum – A beautiful building housing artefacts and relics from the Acropolis located on the southern side of its slopes. €5 entry fee.

Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olypieion) – Dedicated to the king of the gods, this ruin sits in a small meadow and has decent views of the Acropolis. It’s also a great place to watch boyfriends take arty photos of their girlfriends.

Panathenaic Stadium – Once home of the Panathenaic games (the ancient Olympic games), the only stadium to be made of marble and the only stadium to host three of the modern Olympic games.

National Archaeology Museum – Home to archaeological relics from across Greece. Entrance fee is €5 November to March and €10 April to October.

Syntagma Guards Ceremony – Outside the Parliament building by the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, the Evezone Guards do an hourly sentry change 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For extra pomp and ceremony they are accompanied by a band on Sundays at 11am.

Ancient Agora – The political, social, commercial and administrative heart of classical Greece along with the religious, cultural centre and seat of justice. Home of the Temple of Hephaestus along with 19 other structures.

Other Points of Interest

Roman Agora
Philopappos Monument
Hadrian’s Library
Arch of Hadrian
Temple of Poseidon – 30/40 min drive outside of Athens
Mount Lycabettus – The highest point in Athens with a chapel of St George on top
National Gardens
Pinball Museum
The Plaka neighborhood - A village within a city with the Anafiotika neighborhood within that.
Sunday Flee Market – Along Ermou St. and surrounding streets.

Dates worthy of note

March 25th – Greece Independence Day where you will be treated to a full military parade and fly over on Syntagma Square.
August Full Moon – The most spectacular full moon during the year where several attractions stay open longer and offer free entry to view the moon.

Restaurants

Adrianou Street – This street will spoil you for choice of traditional Greece food or other western cuisine depending on your choice. While a little more expensive due to its location in the centre of the tourist area, many of these restaurants offer views of the Acroplois and Ancient Agora, either from the street or the upper levels and roof of the restaurants.

Dipylo – A lovely, small taverna just outside the main tourist area with a wide range of traditional food and live music.

Mnisikleous St. – A steep pedestrian street in Plaka full of tavernas in the shadow of the Acropolis. Chances are you may be the only non-Greeks there.

Argyropoulos Fot & Son OE – Set along the fence of the Roman Agora

Quick Pitta – The best gyros in town if you want quick snack.

Bars

360 Bar – Cocktail bar near Monastiraki Square with some great views of the Acropolis. Cocktails €9-€13.

six d.o.g.s – Featuring the most photographed staircase in Athens, this is one of the “coolest” bars in the city.

City ZEN – Another bar near Monastiraki Square. This rooftop bar offers great views of the Acropolis and Athens

Adrianou Street – If it’s just a drink you are after, it is quite nice to just sit outside watching the word go by next to the Ancient Agora with the Acropolis in the background.

Accommodation

Hotel Jason – 3 Star hotel a five-minute walk away from Monastiraki Square and various attractions.

Hotel Grande Bretagne – 5 Star hotel on the corner of Syntagma Square, this hotel was the official host of foreign diplomats, statemen, political figures and royalty for the inaugural modern Olympic Games.

A for Athens – 3 star hotel right on Monastiraki Square in the centre of Athens with great views of Acropolis.

Air BnB – There are many scattered around Athens to suit all budgets.

Safety

Athens is generally a very safe city, even in the most graffiti ridden areas at night. That being said it still worth exercising a little bit of common sense. Pickpockets operate in busy tourist areas and the metro and while there are traffic signs, give yourself an extra second to look each way before stepping off the curb.

Other Bits

Many places will advertise as having an Acropolis view. In central Athens it would be more impressive to not have an Acropolis view
The Metro system works on an honesty system. There is nothing to stop you just walking on without a ticket like the rest of the population, but if you are caught you risk paying a hefty fine. Paper tickets need to be validated before use or you can get yourself an Ath.ena Card which is Athens stored value card, similar to London’s Oyster Card.