The most complete information guide about Athens, Greece
About
a great afternoon
and old stories
We
realize it is not the most common thing to do
for most tourists during their vacation but you
may want to follow up on this tip when you visit
Athens.
When
it gets real warm in the afternoon, the Greeks
stay off the streets or find a shady terrace.
You will mostly find them (the men that is) in
a kafeneion, the coffee shops, where they talk,
play cards and backgammon or just enjoy a drink
and the company they are in.
Not
too many older Greeks speak English but you may
find a few who do or have some knowledge of French
or German. You will find yourself having the time
of your life trying to communicate and you will
be surprised with the stories and legends the
old Greeks have to tell. Buy them a drink and
you will be sitting at their table in no time.
This
is the very best way to get to know Athens and
its people, its traditions and it's human culture,
its ups and downs and, long after you have returned
home, you will remember that warm afternoon on
the shady terrace of a kafeneon in Athens.
Walking
tours
Athens
is well suited for walking, as most of the sights
are centrally located. The Unification of Archaeological
Sites is a project currently underway to link
the ancient sites of the city by a four-kilometer
(2.5 mile) traffic-free promenade. The first phase
of the route, leading from the Acropolis metro
station along Dionissiou Areopagitou on the south
side of the Acropolis, has already been inaugurated.
There
are no organized walking tours as such, although
numerous companies and travel agencies offer their
own program of tours and can arrange tailor-made
tours for groups. See our Travel
Agents page for more info.
For
guided tours, visitors are advised to contact
the Association of Tourist Guides of Athens,
9A Apollonos street (tel: 210 322 9705 or 0090),
which provides guides for individual and group
tours and supplies licensed guides to the travel
agencies.
It
is often more satisfactory to go walking alone,
armed with a map
and a guidebook or print-outs of the Athens Info
Guide. Syntagma Square makes a logical starting
point. From here, walkers can either advance up
Vassilissis Sofias Avenue and then left through
the well-to-do district around Kolonaki Square
and on to Lykavittos Hill, or go south along Amalias
past the National Gardens turning right towards
Plaka and the Acropolis. Another route to the
Acropolis might start at the bazaar on Monastiraki
Square, leading uphill past the Agora. A wander
around the Plaka, using the main thoroughfares
of Adrianou and Kidathinaion for orientation,
is equally rewarding. Also see our walks
in Athens pages.
Climbing
up Phillopappou or Lykavittos Hill or up to the
Acropolis is something you do not want to do in
the afternoon, the warmest part of the day. Do
this in the morning and spend your afternoon (for
example) in the sun-sheltered small Plaka
and Monastiraki streets or visit one of the many
(air-conditioned) museums
Athens offers.
Important:
make sure you drink a lot while
walking unless your sightseeing agenda includes
to see the inside of an Athens hospital.
-
the parliament
- tomb of the unknown soldier with the Evzone's
- the Acropolis (visit)
- Theatre of Dionyssos
- Hadrian's Arch
- Temple of Olympian Zeus (visit)
- the Panathenaic Stadium
- the Royal Palace
- the Academy
- the University
- the National Library
An
impressive evening where you will discover the beauty of Athens
by night with dinner and traditional folk dances at a typical
Greek tavernas. (during winter, a visit to the Mikrolimano yacht
harbor is included).
Afternoon
drive along the scenic coastal road through the wonderful beach
resort areas of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, arriving at
the most south-eastern point of Attika, Cape Sounio, where the
white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon still stand.
This
is a photographers delight so bring your camera!
Early evening return to your hotel.
Every
Monday and Friday from 18 April to 27 October
Leave
Athens and drive south west to the Corinth canal
which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian
Sea (short stop). Drive on to visit the ancient
town of Corinth where Saint Paul lived and preached
for two years.
The
remains of the city, which include the Agora (market
place) and Apollo's temple (6th century BC) clearly
show how rich and important Corinth was in ancient
times. A short stop at the site of the ancient
port of Cehries, where St. Paul disembarked, will
conclude the visit. Return to Athens.
8.00
am: Transfer by bus from Athens to Flisvos Marina
and embark on the cruise ship.
8.30
am: Sail for the island of Hydra. In Hydra you
have time at leisure for a stroll, shopping or
swimming. In the early afternoon sail for the
island of Aegina, passing through the narrow strait
separating the Peloponnesian coast from the island
of Poros. Lunch is served after sailing. Short
stop in Poros. Upon arrival in Aegina you can
either join the excursion to the temple of Aphaia
(extra) or walk around the main town. Finally,
re-embark to return to Flisvos Marina.
7.15
pm: Arrival at Flisvos Marina and transfer to
Athens.
Every
Monday and Wednesday
Saturday only on 08 & 22/04 - 06 & 20/05 - 03 & 17/06
-
01, 15 & 29/07 - 12 & 26/08 - 09 & 23/09 - 07 &
21/10
Day
1: Transfer to renowned Delphi. Two hours at leisure
to stroll through the picturesque village, enjoy
the breathtaking scenery from the slopes of Mount
Parnassus to Itea, take pictures and enjoy a "Greek
Coffee". Departure for Kalambaka, passing
through picturesque villages and towns of central
Greece. Dinner and overnight.
Day
2: Visit Meteora and enjoy unique and most impressive
scenery with ageless monasteries, containing priceless
historical treasures, standing between earth and
sky atop huge rocks. Return to Athens via Trikala,
Lamia, Thermopylae. Visit the Leonidas Monument
and Kammena Vourla. (visit to the Archaeological
site and the Museum in Delphi are not included)
Drive
through the towns of Thebes, Levadia and Arakhova
famous for its colorful rugs. Arrive at Delphi,
the center of the ancient world. Visit the treasury
of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the
museum. Lunch in the village of Delphi. Return
to Athens in the evening.
Day
1: Bus ride through Thebes, Levadia, Arakhova
(short stop) arriving at Delphi, the centre of
the ancient world. Visit the museum and the sanctuary
of Apollo. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.
Day
2: After breakfast, you'll spend the morning relaxing
in Delphi doing as you please. After lunch return
to Athens by the same route.
Day
1: Departure for Delphi via Thebes, Levadia and
the picturesque village of Arakhova (short stop).
Arrival in Delphi. Visit the sanctuary of Apollo
Pythios and the museum. Afternoon free. Dinner
and overnight stay.
Day
2: Breakfast and free morning. Leave Delphi for
an interesting trip through central Greece and
the towns from Lamia to Kalambaka. Diner and overnight
stay.
Day
3: Visit Meteora after breakfast where the natural
beauty combines with the ageless monasteries containing
priceless historical and religious treasures,
stand suspended between earth and sky on top of
huge granite rocks. Return to Athens via Trikala,
Lamia, Thermopylae (visit) and Kammena Vourla.
Drive
along the scenic coastal roads of the Saronic
Gulf to Corinth (stop). Proceed to Mycenae and
visit the ruins including the Lion's Gate, the
tomb of Agamemnon and the Palace. Depart for Nafplio
through Argolis. After lunch, leave for Epidaurus
where you will visit the famous theatre known
for its superior acoustics. Return to Athens in
the evening. Read more about Epidaurus...
Day
1: Drive along the scenic coastal roads of the
Saronic Gulf to Corinth (visit). Proceed to Mycenae
and visit the ruins, including the Lion's Gate,
the tomb of Agamemnon and the palace. Depart for
Nafplio via Argolis. Dinner. Overnight in Nafplio.
Day
2:Breakfast. Morning is at leisure to take photos
or just relax. After lunch, leave for Epidaurus
where you will visit the famous 4th century theatre
known for its acoustics. Return to Athens in the
evening.
Every
Monday, Tuesday, & Saturday from 1 April.
Thursdays only on 06 & 20/04 - 04 & 18/05 - 01, 15 &
29/06 -
13 & 27/07 - 10 & 24/08 - 07 & 21/09 - 05 & 19/10
The
most outstanding classical sites are visited on this tour, reminding
you of Greece's ancient glory.
Day
1: Morning drive to the Corinth canal (stop). Next a visit to
the Theatre of Epidaurus then on to the picturesque town of Nafplio
(stop). In Mycenae you'll visit the archaeological site and the
Tomb of Agamemnon. Then drive to Olympia through the central Peloponnese
and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Dinner and overnight
stay in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games.
Day
2: Visit to the archaeological site with the Sanctuary of Olympian
Zeus, the ancient stadium and the archaeological museum in the
morning. Then drive on through the plains of Ilia and Achaia and
over the magnificent cable bridge which crosses the Corinthian
bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpaktos
(Lepanto) and Itea on they way to Delphi. Dinner and overnight
stay.
Day
3: In the morning visit to the archaeological site and the museum.
Then drive through the village of Arachova, famous for its colorful
rugs and carpets. Return to Athens via Levadia and Thebes. Arrival
in Athens early in the evening.
This
visit to the classical sites of the three day tour is combined
with a visit to Meteora and its famous monasteries.
Day 1: Drive to Corinth canal (stop). Next a visit to the Theatre
of Epidaurus and then on to the picturesque town of Nafplio (short
stop). Then on to Mycenae where you'll visit the archaeological
site and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Drive to Olympia through the central
Peloponnese and the towns of Tripolis and Megalopolis. Dinner
and overnight stay in Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games.
Day
2: Visit to the archaeological site with the Sanctuary of Olympian
Zeus, the ancient stadium and the archaeological museum in the
morning. Then drive on through the plains of Ilia and Achaia and
over the magnificent cable bridge which crosses the Corinthian
bay from Rion to Antirion. Pass by the picturesque towns of Nafpaktos
(Lepanto) and Itea on they way to Delphi. Dinner and overnight
stay.
Day
3: In the morning you'll visit the archaeological site and the
museum. Then drive to Kalambaka, a small town situated at the
foot of the astonishing rock formations of Meteora. Dinner and
overnight stay.
Day
4: Visit to Meteora. Amidst striking scenery, perched on huge
rocks which seem to be suspended in mid-air, you wil visit ageless
monasteries where you can enjoy unique Byzantine art. Return to
Athens via Trikala, Lamia , Thermopylae (visit to the monument
of Leonidas ). Arrival in Athens early in the evening.