Athens Facts and Free Time 

33001GRE

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 

• €1.40 ticket valid for 90 minutes on as many rides as you want on metro/bus/trolley/tram 

• Buy in metro stations (machines and cashiers) or some kiosks. 

• Validate as enter metro/tram station or as you alight the bus/tram, keep your ticket to hand until you finish the whole journey. 24-hour, 3 day and 5-day tickets are available. 

• Metro is VERY easy to navigate (3 lines marked in Latin and Greek alphabet). 

• Public Buses: http://www.oasa.gr/?id=ind3ex&lang=en 

• Metro: http://www.ametro.gr/page/default.asp?id=48&la=2  

• For up-to-date information regarding tickets and offers visit http://www.athenstransport.com/english/tickets/ 

*BEWARE PICKPOCKETS!!* 

• The US Embassy is located near the Megaro Mousikis metro (Blue Line)   

TAXIS  

• FREE NOW and UBER are alternatives to the standard yellow taxis. Safe, reliable and drivers can’t “vary” prices.  

• Maximum 4 passengers per taxi.  There are no exceptions. 

• Tipping is not compulsory. 

• Most taxis take credit/debit cards, but always good to check.  

• If paying in cash, use smaller bills (never a €50-if that’s all you have, let the driver know). 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION 

Religious Services  

**the Greek Catholic church celebrates Easter on Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday. 

• Most churches you see in Greece are Greek Orthodox (Christian).  Liturgy times vary per church (depending on holy days); check with hotel reception or in publications.  

• Catholic Cathedral Saint Dennis (Dionysos): Panepistimio or Syntagma metro.  Mass times vary by season; check with hotel reception or in publications.  Tel: 210-362-3603.   

• Mass in English is celebrated on Sunday. St Paul’s Anglican Church at Philellinon 27 (Plaka).  Tel 21 0 721 4906  

• Synagogue Beth Shalom at 5 Melidoni Street (off Ermou Street).  Tel 210-325-2773.  

Major Sites 

• Acropolis 

• Temple of Olympian Zeus 

• Hadrian’s Arch 

• Keramikos Ancient Cemetery 

• Ancient Agora (includes Temple of Hephaistos and Stoa of Attalos) 

• Theatre of Dionysos 

• Hadrian’s Library 

• Roman Forum 

• Areopagos/Mars Hill near entrance to Acropolis: Great after dinner activity on arrival day; location of Ancient Athenian Supreme Court, Paul was brought up here to explain why he was preaching in the Agora below. Great views over the Ancient Agora and Western Athens, nice sunset spot. 

Changing of the Guards Syntagma Square. 

• Every hour on the hour (or so), 24 hours a day.   

• Be there 10 minutes before the hour to see entire event. 

• Every half hour on the half-hour mark they “stretch” their legs.  This involves a shorter routine to the changing of the guards but is also worth seeing if you are not there on the hour. 

• Ceremonial change every Sunday at 11.00 am.  

• Please note that Syntagma Square is in front of the Parliament Building where there are sometimes scheduled demonstrations. 

Thission Pedestrian street (Apostolou Pavlou Street) between Acropolis and Thission metro. 

• Nice for group evening activity from Parthenon and Acropolis Select Hotels, and can be combined with a walk up Mars Hill and a stop at a café/ice cream. 

• Great views of Acropolis and Lykavittos Hills 

• Location of Herakleidon Museum which runs interesting exhibitions on science, art and history, from ancient to modern times.  Check http://herakleidon-art.gr/en-us/ to see what’s on. 

Plaka Acropolis or Syntagma or Monastiraki metro.   

• Oldest residential district in Athens (walk group up to the Anafiotika neighborhood for the less touristy side of the Plaka).  

• Main souvenir shopping and taverna area.  

• Main streets are Adrianou and Kidathinaion (perpendicular to each other). Walk along Tripod Street (oldest street in Europe!) for a quieter and more quaint route. 

Psirri Monastiraki metro. 

• Close to Monastiraki Square. Lots of cafes and artsy stores. Newly gentrified. 

Kolokotroni Street and streets running off it, Syntagma metro. 

• Downtown Athens’ most lively (local) nightlife area, loads of bars, cafes, streetfood and restaurants 

MUSEUMSNational Archaeological Museum: 44 Patission St. (Omonia metro). 

Acropolis Museum: Makrigiannis (Acropolis metro stop).  Friday open until 22.00.  Café and restaurant inside.Byzantine Museum: 22 Vasilissis Sofias, Rigilis (Syntagma or Evangelismos metro).  Café in back.Cycladic Art Museum: Neofytou Douka St, Kolonaki. (Syntagma or Evangelismos metro)Benaki Museum: Vasilias Sofias St, Kolonaki (Syntagma or Evangelismos metro).  Thursday and Saturday open til midnight.  Restaurant upstairs. 

Goulandris Foundation great new museum in Pangrati (very close to Panathenaic Stadium), private collection includes works by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, El Greco and more. 

National Gallery (Central Building) opposite Hilton Hotel, Evangelismos metro, newly refurbished, Greek & European art from 14-20^th century 

SHOPPING 

Plaka Syntagma, Monastiraki, and Acropolis metro. 

• Souvenir and some clothing stores.  

• Bargaining is acceptable – the more you spend the more you save.  

• Main streets: Adrianou, Kidathenaion, Pandrosou 

Ermou Street Syntagma and Monastiraki metro. 

• Longest pedestrian shopping street in Athens. Non-souvenir shopping.  

• All the high street shops can be found here (Zara, Marks & Spencer, Sephora, H&M etc.) 

• Groups like to walk it from Syntagma Square all the way down to Monastiraki Square. 

Kolonaki Evangelismos or Syntagma metro 

• Upscale shopping and cafes. Antiques 

•  

Athinas/Aiolou Streets & Agia Irini Square area Monastiraki metro stop 

• Central food market (on Athinas) and spice market (on Evripidou).  

• Cafes and non-souvenir shopping on Aiolou.  

• Agia Irini Square area full of trendy cafes, bars, restaurants 

• Kolokotroni Street and streets running off it is the hot spot for local nightlife 

PARKS AND WALKSEthnikos Kipos (National Garden) Syntagma metro. Park between the old Royal Palace (Parliament) and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.  Café near the Presidential Palace side.  Great for picnic lunch or getting out of the heat. Closes at dusk.Zappeion Syntagma and Acropolis metro. Exhibition building in relaxing park (extension of the National Garden). Also has a nice shaded terrace. Good place to avoid the midday heat. Photography or book exhibits are common there in the evenings during the summer months (also has outdoor cinema in summer).  Café Aigli a bit pricey but great atmosphere.Lykavittos Evangelismos and Syntagma metro. This is a rocky hill (909 ft.) at top of Loukianou Street in Kolonaki.  An easy but rather steep pathway winds up to the summit.  Alternative: take a 3-minute funicular ride (check on the price—as of winter 2025, €7 o/w, €10 r/t). Runs every 30 minutes from 9 am until 1:30 am. Café and restaurant (quite expensive) at top. Restrooms at top (to right as exit funicular via the turnstiles) 

Pedestrian walk around the Acropolis Acropolis or Thission or Monastiraki metro. Filopappou Hill Acropolis metro.  

It is an easier climb than Lykavittos.  Winding paths up to Filopappou monument. Prison of Socrates location on the hill. Offers stunning views of Acropolis, Athens and Piraeus. AVOID at night. 

OTHER FREE TIME SUGGESTIONSBeaches 

There are loads of organized beaches along the south coast of Athens, from Palio Faliro to Vouliagmeni. Check with the hotel reception or online for latest information, as they tend to change name/proprietors from year to year.  

The swankiest is Astir Beach in Vouliagmeni. Expensive but worth it, there’s even an ancient temple to Apollo right on the beach! Reservations needed in high season, especially on weekends. All facilities, restaurants, etc available. 

Closest to Athens: Trocadero Marina and beach Bus 550 to end or tram to Trocadero. 

• Easy/fast/cheap access to waterfront to see yachts and swim at rough sand beach (not the nicest) just a few minutes’ walk from the marina.  

• Cafes, ice cream shops, restaurants at the marina. Public toilets free of charge at marina.  

• No changing facilities at beach (unless you get an umbrella at a beach café).  

• Safe and pleasant at night, too 

Off Season Swimming 

• Lake Vouliagmeni (natural thermal spa) is a fairly constant 20 C, so a possible activity in Spring. Very impressive surroundings. Organized with changing facilities, restaurant, loungers. 

Outdoor Cinema all over Athens during summer evenings – late showings 

• Check publications for times and films.  

• Original language films (usually American) with Greek subtitles.  

• Close to our hotels: Cine Paris (Plaka), Thisseon (Thisseo), Aigli (Zappeion) – Cine Thisseo has views of the Acropolis from the back rows! 

Full-day Excursions Speak with Evi about pricing/booking (not guide or driver) 

• Mycenae and Epidavros  

• 3 Island cruise (Aegina, Poros, Hydra) 

• Day trip to Hydra (or other nearby islnd) via high speed ferry 

Half-day Excursion to Sounio  

• Speak with Evi about booking guide and bus for Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon (1.5 hour drive each way).  

• You can do it on public transport, but it takes twice the time and seats are not guaranteed. 

Hotels and Nearest Metro StationsAcropolis Select * Fix or Acropolis (equidistant)   Red lineDivani Acropolis Acropolis