**Athens** (Greek: , *Athína*) is the capital city of Greece with a metropolitan population of 3.15 million inhabitants (2025). It was a major cultural, political and religious centre of Classical Greece, a place that deeply influenced the course of Western civilization. Don't come expecting a philosopher's theme park; contemporary Athens is the graffiti-coated, fast-beating urban heart of the country, where modern Greek culture, business and social life flourish amidst ancient monuments.


### Ancient Athens

thumb|The reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, in the Ancient Agora

According to mythology, the Greek Gods Poseidon and Athena wanted to claim the city for their own. To persuade the people to accept them, they granted gifts. Poseidon struck his spear into the ground and produced running water. Athena gave the city olive trees, which provide food and economic prosperity through trade. The people were then asked to vote for the Gods, and Athena won by a single vote, resulting in the city bearing her name.

The first pre-historic settlements were constructed in 3000 BCE around the hill of Acropolis. According to legend the King of Athens, Theseus, unified the ten tribes of early Athens into one kingdom in around 1230 BCE. This process of *synoikismos* () – bringing together in one home – created the largest and wealthiest state on the Greek mainland, but it also created a larger class of people excluded from political life by the nobility.


By the 7th century BCE, social unrest had become widespread, and the Areopagus appointed Draco to draft a strict new law code (hence "draconian"). Still, the Draconian laws were a big advancement, as they codified crime and punishment unlike the previous arbitrary judgments of the rulers. When Draco's system failed, they appointed Solon, with a mandate to create a new constitution (594 BCE). This was the great beginning of a new social revolution, which was the result of the democracy under Cleisthenes (508 BCE). When Roman historians wrote the history of their own republic, they fudged the date so that their republic would be older than Athenian democracy, but today's scholarly consensus is that Rome "got inspiration" from the Greeks.
thumb|Evzones marching, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
In the 5th century BCE, Athens reached the peak of its fame. It was the most powerful Greek city-state, and the center of Greek cultural life, claiming many important cultural advances within European history. Fields of study like science, philosophy, history, and medicine were advanced by Athenian scholars in the timeframe between 480 (the battle of Salamis) and 343 (when Aristotle went to Macedonia to assume teaching duties to Alexander the royal heir), known as Athens' "golden age" - although political dominance came to an end after the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE), most famous because of its *History* written by the Athenian general and scholar Thucydides, the "Father of Scientific History".

Later on, Athens became part of the Macedonian empire under Alexander, and still later part of the Roman Empire. While it was decreasingly politically significant, its intellectual reputation gave it a special status, until, in the year 529 CE, Emperor Justinian issued an edict imposing a perpetual silence on all its schools, and the empire's intellectual center moved to Constantinople.


Athens was thriving and prosperous during the Crusades, actually benefiting from the Italian trade during this period. However, this fruitful period was short-lived, as Greece suffered badly under the Ottoman Empire, only to recover in the 19th century as the capital of independent Greece.

### Modern Athens

thumb|250px|Old Athens
Athens was just a small provincial city when it was chosen in the 1830s to serve as the national capital of the modern Greek State. Although it had a prestigious past, the city's political, economic and cultural importance had declined over the centuries, leaving behind only its classical ruins as a reminder of better times. With the decision to move the national capital from Nafplio to Athens, architects and city planners were hired to build a new city next to the classical ruins, with grand neoclassical homes and public buildings, large city squares, green spaces, and wide avenues, making a conscious, decisive turn from the city's Ottoman past. The city regained its importance in Greek civilization, and by 1900 had evolved into a very attractive cosmopolitan city, with abundant neoclassical architecture harking to the nation's past.


thumb|The National Observatory as seen from the Acropolis
The 20th century however, marked the rapid development of Athens. The city suffered minor damage during World War II, and suffered extensive urban planning in the decades that followed, as the nation rapidly industrialized and urbanized. In the 1960s and 1970s, many 19th century neoclassical buildings, often small and private, were demolished to make way for office buildings, often designed by great Greek architects. The city also expanded outward through rash development, particularly towards the west, as its population grew by absorbing job-seekers from the provinces. With the onset of the automobile, public officials reduced the city's public transportation services without foreseeing the traffic gridlock and smog that would menace the city by the 1980s.

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the city's reality led to a rude awakening among local and national officials and, coupled with the country's new found remarkable prosperity, large scale projects began to slowly regenerate the city and undo some of the damage of previous decades. Over the course of the next 15 years, money was poured into new transportation infrastructure projects, the restoration of surviving neoclassical buildings, the gentrification of the city's historical center and the renovation of many former industrial areas and the city's coastline. The restoration of charming neoclassical buildings in the city's historical center has been accompanied by the construction of attractive post-modern buildings in newer districts; both of which have begun to improve the aesthetic essence of the city. The Athens urban area has grown to house 3.15 million people, nearly half the population of the entire country.

### 2004 Olympic Games


thumb|Panathenaic Stadium, hosting sporting events for over 2000 years.
Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. The entire urban area underwent major lasting changes that have improved the quality of life for visitors and residents alike. Aside from the new freeways and rail systems that were completed in time for the 2004 Olympics, the city's historic center underwent serious renovation. Most notable among the city's facelift projects are the *Unification of Archaeological Sites* (which connects the city's classical-era ruins and monuments to each other through a network of pleasant pedestrianized streets) and the restoration of the picturesque neoclassical *Thissio* and *Pláka* districts.

The men's and women's shot put competition was held at the restored stadium of Olympia, where the ancient Olympic Games took place from 776 BCE to 394 CE. This was the first time in history that women athletes competed in this venue. Olympia is a lengthy but interesting day trip from Athens.

### Climate

Spring and late autumn are the best times to visit Athens. Summer can be extremely hot and dry during heatwaves, but this rarely happens. Winter is definitely low season, with the occasional rainy or snowy day, but also an ideal time to save money while enjoying the city without countless other tourists.

Whilst peak traffic hour can be a bit smoggy on the main roads, on most sunny days the skies are azure blue. The main reason attributed for the pollution of Athens is because the city is enclosed by mountains in a basin which does not allow the smog to leave. The government's ban on diesel vehicles within Athens and the early 1990s initiatives to improve car emissions have greatly contributed to better atmospheric conditions in the basin.

### Orientation


thumb|right|Hellenic Parliament by sunset
The sprawling city is bounded on three sides by Mt. Ymettos, Mt. Parnitha and Mt. Pendeli; whilst inside Athens are twelve hills [the seven historical are: Acropolis, Areopagus, Hill of Philopappus, Observatory Hill (Muses Hill), Pnyx, Lycabettus, Tourkovounia (Anchesmus)], the Acropolis and Lykavittos being the most prominent. These hills provide a refuge from the noise and commotion of the crowded city streets, offering amazing views down to Saronic Gulf, Athens' boundary with the Aegean Sea on its southern side. The streets of Athens (signposted in Greek and English) now melt imperceptibly into Piraeus, the city's ancient, and still bustling, port.

Many places of interest can be found within walking distance of the city centre at **Syntagma Square** (*Plateia Syntagmatos*), named after the Greek constitution (*syntagma*) proclaimed from the balcony of the royal palace that overlooks the square on 3 September 1843. It has been beautified, and the manic Athenian traffic has been re-routed. It contains a major metro stop flanked by cafes, restaurants, fast food, and airline offices. The square occasionally serves as a rallying place for demonstrations and public celebrations. It is bordered by the districts of Plaka to the south, Monastiraki to the west, Kolonaki to the east and Omonia to the north.

The **Acropolis** is the ancient high city of Athens, a prominent plateaued rock perched high above the modern city with commanding views and an amazing array of ancient architecture, mostly from the Classical period of Ancient Greece, the most famous of which is the Parthenon. A visit to Athens is not complete without visiting the Acropolis; hundreds of tourists each day accordingly make the pilgrimage.


Gentrified during the 1990s and now very popular with tourists, **Plaka** is a charming historic district at the foot of the Acropolis, with its restored 19th-century neoclassical homes, pedestrianized streets, shops and restaurants, and picturesque ruins from the city's Roman era. **Thissio**, to the west side of the Acropolis, is very similar and now houses many restaurants and cafes. Between the two is **Monastiraki**, a very bohemian district increasingly popular with tourists, with stores selling a variety of items including antiques, cookware, souvenirs, arts and crafts, movie posters, punk culture, funky clothing, and pretty much anything you can think of. Another part of Plaka is **Anafiotika** and is on the northernmost place. There you will find the first university of Athens before it was relocated in central Athens. It's an oasis of calm and quietness, and there are many green spaces which are part of the green space of Acropolis.

Plaka's boundaries are not precisely defined. Clear borders are the Ancient Agora and Plateia Monastiraki on the west, the Acropolis and Dhionysiou Areopayitou street on the south, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Leoforos Amalias on the south-east, and the west part of Mitropoleos street, up to the cathedral on the north (but Mitropoleos street and Leoforos Amalias, though boundaries, shouldn't be considered part of Plaka, since they have a modern and fairly non-descript atmosphere). The north-eastern and eastern boundaries are a bit less well defined, but if you're south of Apollonos street and west of Nikis street you'll probably feel like you're still in Plaka.


**Omonia Square** () is the centre of Athens, and is composed of the actual square together with the surrounding streets, open areas and assemblage of grand buildings that include banks and offices. The neighbouring area of **Exarcheia** () to the north, dominated by the Athens Polytechnic and its famous band of anarchists, is a bohemian district with lots of bars and clubs visited by students, intellectuals and people who are into alternative culture.

**Kolonaki** is near Lykavittos Hill. The district's borders are not very sharply defined; it covers the south and southeast slopes of Lykavettos Hill north of Vassilisis Sofias Avenue. Kolonaki is the posh area of central Athens. Traditionally the home of the in-town rich, it's the location of a number of embassies and several prominent archaeological schools, including The **American School** and The **British School**. It also has the city's greatest concentration of trendy fashion boutiques, and many, mostly upscale, cafes, bars and restaurants.


### By plane

Athens airport is a major hub in the Aegean, Balkan and East Mediterranean regions. American, Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta, Emirates, Norwegian Air Shuttle and United maintain non-stop flights from North America (some are only seasonal), while a large number of European carriers fly direct into Athens.

- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport

There is a **tourist information office** on the arrivals level which can provide information about Greek ferries.

There is also a small **museum** on the top floor with interesting history information about Athens, and a space for temporary exhibits.

- flight by Eurowings

- flight by Sky Express

### By bus

**KTEL regional coaches** connect Athens to other cities in Greece. The fleet of buses has been upgraded, which makes the journey pleasant and safe. For some destinations one can also use the buses of the railroad company (OSE, see next section) that might be international, but can also be used for in-country transport. At times there are collaborations with companies from adjacent countries such as Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, so it's advisable to ask on both the bus and the train companies about the available options.

There are two KTEL coach stations:

Construction on a single consolidated terminal is underway in Eleonas, expected to open in 2026.

#### From Albania

Several travel agencies offer bus service between Tirana and Athens, also stopping at several other cities in Albania.
Cost is usually €30 between Albania and Athens (same cost regardless of the city in Albania).

#### From Bulgaria

### By road

The main approaches to Athens by road are by the A1 motorway (European route E75) from the north and the A8 motorway (European route E94) from the west.

### By train


thumb|You have to run the rail lines to Athens somewhere.
**Hellenic Train**, the national rail service, connects Athens to other cities in Greece. However, the national railroad system is limited compared to other European countries, in effect having only two lines. One goes south to the Peloponnese. The other goes to the north, connecting Athens with the second major city in Greece, Thessaloniki and Larissa, the capital city of Thessaly region. From there the line continues further to the north and all the way to the east, passing through many other cities of northern Greece and eventually reaching Istanbul.

There are two types of train; normal, slow, type of train equipped with beds, and the so-called new 'Intercity' type which is more expensive because of a 'quality supplement fee' that grows with distance. For example, travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki by the 'Intercity' type will save one hour at most, but the ticket will be almost twice the price. 'Intercity' tends to be more reliable, yet more 'bumpy' than the normal train.

As of 2024, the international trains which used to connect Athens with Belgrade and Sofia via Thessaloniki have been suspended.

### By boat


is the chief sea port of Athens. It is served by many ferries. Cruise ships also regularly visit, especially during warm months. Generally, pedestrian ferry users will be closer than cruise passengers to the Metro station providing access to central Athens; walking distances can vary considerably. Cruise passengers on larger ships usually reach the main cruise terminal by port shuttle bus; otherwise, it can be a non-trivial walk. Smaller ships (e.g., 1200 or fewer passengers) may dock near the terminal, an easy walk. From the terminal, pedestrians face a safe, level walk of over a mile to the Piraeus Metro station; taxis are readily available to go there, but are not cheap.

south of city centre and east of city centre act as alternative ports of Athens. They are served by KTEL regional buses.


**Transport for Athens (OASA)** operates public transportation in Athens. Its subdivisions include STASY and OSY. A single ticket allows you to travel on any types of transport, metro, trams, buses, with unlimited transfers anywhere time within Athens for 90 minutes.

If you do not read Greek, signs on Athens transit always have a transliteration into Roman letters. Transliteration can vary; for example, *Ellinko* and *Helliniko* are both spellings for . English information is abundant and most staff can communicate in English.

### Fares

The base ticket price is . This covers all OASA routes except for Airport Express lines (Line and Route X80). There are also Daily, 3-Day + Airport, 5-Day and bulk ticket packs. See details on the OASA fare table.
+
price
time
Includes X80?
€1.20
90min
No
€4.10
1 day
Yes
€8.20
5 days
No
€20
3 days
Yes

*(As of Dec 2025)*

**The standard fare to or from the airport is each way**. This includes the full journey between any point in the Athens public transport system and the airport.

The contactless payment system "tap2ride" is available on all means of transport. Just tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard card or mobile phone (GPay, Apple Pay) on the reader! This will pay for a simple ticket (or the airport fare). The cost is billed at the end of the day and capped at .

Discounted fares (students, seniors) are only available through a personalised ATH.ENA card, though the hassle and one-time cost of will probably not be worth it for a short stay. Please note that the **ATH.ENA card and ticket are different**: they have different regulation. For example, the **ticket** is the better choice for tourists (easier and temporary) and does not allow to use for Athens Airport.

### By metro


thumb|Public transport map of Athens|350px
thumb|A Line 2 train in Anthoupoli station|300px
There are three lines:
 Line : **Piraeus – Kifissia**, the oldest line, connects the port of Piraeus and the northern suburbs of Athens (Kifissia station) via the city centre. Be sure that you keep an eye on your personal stuff when using this line, and be prepared for people getting in the train and asking for money.
 Line : **Anthoupoli – Elliniko** connects western and southern Athens via Athens centre.
 Line : **Dimotiko Theatro– Doukissis Plakentias – Airport** connects Piraeus and the western suburbs with the eastern suburbs (Halandri and Doukissis Plakentias stations) and the International Airport.

Syntagma (constitution; ), Larissa () station and Acropolis (Akropoli; ) station are the major three stations in this system.

Usually you need to pass a ticket validator before entering, but it is not needed at all exits. The stations run from 5:30 to 12:30.

Many metro stations (e.g. Syntagma) exhibit artifacts excavated during construction. During rush hour, it can become very crowded. In the summer, the air conditioning is not very efficient.

### By suburban railway

The **Athens Suburban Railway** (Proastiakos/) is operated by Hellenic Train. There are 3 Proastiakos lines:
 From Piraeus to Airport
 From Piraeus to Aigio
 From Athens Central Station (Larissa station) to Chalkida.

### By tram


thumb|[[File:Tram-Logo.svg|20px]] (2019)
The **Athens Tram** connects the city centre with the southern suburbs and has connections with the metro lines. There are three tram lines:
 Line : **Peace and Friendship Stadium – Asklipeio Voulas Hospital** connects Faliro with the southern suburbs and runs along the coastal zone.
 Line : **Syntagma– Neos Kosmos – Peace and Friendship Stadium** connects the city centre with Faliro.
 Line : **Syntagma – Neos Kosmos – Asklipeio Voulas Hospital** connects the city centre with the coastal zone and the southern suburbs.

### By bus

The Athens Urban Transport Organisation runs a network of diesel buses, natural gas buses and electric trolleybuses. The price of express (X) bus lines like X93 (Airport - Kifissos Station) is ( for children, teenagers, over 65).

Most central bus stops have smart displays that show bus arrival times and transport announcements.

### By taxi

Canary yellow taxis are a common sight in Athens and are a reasonably priced way of getting around (if you can avoid the traffic jams). The starting fee is , after which the meter ticks up at €0.34/km ("rate 1") or €0.64/km ("rate 2"), with a minimum fare of €3.20. Rate 1 applies through Athens city limits, including the airport, while rate 2 applies outside the city and from midnight to 05:00. Legal surcharges apply for calling a taxi by radio (€1.60), trips to or from the airport (€3.20) and heavy bags (€0.32). Tipping is not necessary, although it's common to round up to the nearest full euro.


Taxi fare fraud is not as widespread as it used to be, but it still happens, so insist on the meter and make sure the rate is correct. At busy tourist locations, drivers try to con with a set rate that is ridiculously high (e.g. €20 for a short trip). In these cases, it is best to find another and again insist on the charge shown on the meter. If you feel you have been overcharged, ask for a receipt (they are obliged to give one) and take the plate number, then phone the tourist police to report the driver on 171.

Taxi drivers rarely obey the rules of the road. Expect that if you are leaving Athens on an early flight the driver will drive aggressively to get you there as quickly as possible.

Taxis are considered to be fairly cheap in Athens. Therefore, you can expect to share the ride during rush hours if you can find one, and at night after the Metro has shut down. If you hail a taxi which is already occupied (occupied taxis have a brightly lit TAXI sign on top of the car) the driver will ask where you want to go to before letting you in to join the other customers.

Strikes by cabbies and public transit are common, so be prepared and watch the local news. If this puts you in a bind, your lodging host may have some creative solutions for you.

### By car


You can rent a car at the airport, where most major international car rental companies have a presence. There are also several large local companies which will deliver the car outside of the airport. There are two rental car lots at the airport, Lots A and B. Keep track of which one you picked up the car at, because that is where you must return it. Both are a long walk from the rental car counters.

Rental cars with automatic transmissions are expensive. Collision damage waiver (CDW) with deductible and "super cover" to reduce CDW deductible to zero are both very expensive. When you see the scratched-up appearance of many Greek cars, you will understand why.

Unless you plan to stay off toll expressways, you will probably need euro bills or coins to pay cash tolls on the Attiki Odos expressway going to and from Athens. The Attiki Odos company does not have any system in place with Greek rental car companies to automatically pass through tolls from its e-PASS electronic toll system to individual renters' accounts.


Driving in Athens is notoriously difficult. Streets are extremely narrow, corners are blind and often tight, curbside parking is virtually impossible to find, drivers are aggressive, and accidents are frequent. Motorcyclists often split lanes and weave across all lanes in order to filter forward through heavy vehicular traffic. Road signs are small and cryptic. Road markings are often faded and confusing. As with much of Europe, street names are usually posted on signs affixed to building walls (rather than standalone posts at street corners). Certain intersections are configured in ways unheard of elsewhere, such as having a one-way street oscillate back and forth between completely opposite directions with each traffic light cycle to accommodate traffic on a perpendicular one-way street that does not line up with its onward counterpart on the other side (e.g., Agiou Meletiou at Moschonision). Do not attempt to drive in Athens unless you have already acquired extensive experience driving elsewhere in similar conditions in a variety of rental cars.

Numerous Athens traffic lights come with a stop sign on top, to remind drivers to come to a complete stop if the traffic light is not working. Obviously, if the traffic light is showing a green light, that overrides the stop sign.

Athens does not have parking meters or ticket vending machines for curbside parking. In the unlikely event you can actually find a curbside space in Athens, curbside parking requires you to acquire a scratch-off card from a kiosk, scratch off the date and time you started parking, and leave the card on your dashboard. In the alternative, you can pay online through a parking app, which will require data roaming or arranging for a local eSIM for your cell phone.


Most garages in the city centre offer only valet parking. Your car and any objects left inside are at the mercy of the valet staff, and it may end up three or four cars deep inside a tiny garage. If you leave the car for a while, expect a long wait for retrieval since the valet has to move other cars out of the way.

Self-park garages exist in Athens, but are rare. If you insist on driving in Athens and prefer self-park, research such garages thoroughly and mark their locations in your map app. Most adhere to the common system of requiring you to take a ticket to lift the entrance gate. The notable exception is Klafthmonos Square, where a camera reads your license plate at both the entrance and exit gates, and you must pay by plate number to exit.

The most convenient self-park garage for visiting the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum is at the Sygrou-Fix metro station. The Klafthmonos Square self-park garage is convenient for visiting Syntagma Square and Monastiraki Square. The PolisPark self-park garage at Platia Egiptou is convenient for visiting the National Archaeological Museum. It is one of the few self-park garages which sits outside the Daktylios boundary which is also within walking distance of a metro station (Victoria).


Always discuss with the rental car company whether your assigned vehicle is eligible to enter the Daktylios pollution control area in the city centre whenever that restriction is in effect (usually from October to July). For vehicles not exempt from Daktylios, whether your vehicle's license plate number ends in an even or odd number controls whether the vehicle can enter the Daktylios area on calendar days that are even or odd numbers. In other words, if your vehicle's number is an even number and the current calendar day is an odd number, you cannot enter the Daktylios, and vice versa.

### By bicycle

Athens is not a friendly city for cyclists, as it does not have many bicycle lanes, and the car drivers tend to drive quite aggressively. Nevertheless (or maybe because of this) riding a bicycle in Athens has become lately some sort of a political (counter-)action, especially by young people with an alternative lifestyle. In general, tourists not familiar with the terrible Athenian traffic are not advised to use a bicycle as a principal means of transport. But within the network of pedestrian streets in the historical city centre, rides are safe and can be quite enjoyable. A bike hire scheme is at its fledgling stages; its bike station is in Technopolis.

### On foot

Several central streets have been pedestrianized. A mostly car-free archaeological walk starts at Vasilisis Amalias Street, passes in front of the Acropolis Museum, Acropolis, Herodion Theatre, Thiseio (Apostolou Pavlou Str), Ermou Street and ends at the popular area of Kerameikos (Gkazi) where there are many bars and clubs. Pleasant walking can also be had in **Plaka**, especially its upper reaches, and in much of **Kolonaki**. The National Garden can provide a welcome respite from the heat and noise of the city centre.


Away from the touristy streets, walking in Athens is more challenging. Athens traffic can make crossing the street in some areas difficult, and walking down some very urban streets is an unpleasant experience due to noise pollution. The humidity of summer is exhausting, and there are parks to provide an escape from it. Fortunately, much of the traffic-plagued area of the city can be avoided by the use of the Metro, which goes most places a visitor would want to see or walk around in.

Wear comfortable shoes with good traction, and make sure that you leave home any high heels or similar shoes. Some sensitive archaeological sites have banned heels because the pointed heels damage the soft, slippery marble that you're walking on.

### Airport transfers

#### Metro and suburban train

At the airport both metro trains and suburban trains pass from the **same platform**. If you are travelling to some small stations, you should take the metro trains, because there are more stations for stop.

The airport trains run every 36 minutes. Not all Metro trains from central Athens go to the airport; trains in the intervals turn around at Doukissis Plakentias. Airport trains are indicated on the schedule and by an airplane logo on the front of the train, they are also announced by the signs on the metro platform.

The airport metro station has a desk staffed most hours by someone who speaks English. They hang the time table of airport train on the window at the shelter (at Syntagma station). It's useful to go to the Metro station the day before, explain to the agent (mostly English can be spoken) when you need to be at the airport, and ask what time you should catch the airport train from that station.


You can buy the ticket from a vending machine with credit card or cash, or tap your contactless credit card at the fare gate.

'''Suburban Railway''' (line A1/A2) from Airport station to Athens Central station (Larissa/Larissis) leaves at xx:07 every hour, passing through Central Athens before heading to Piraeus. Trains to Northern Greece and the Peloponnese depart from Athens central station. From Airport station to Monastiraki station via change at Nerantziotissa. A change at Neratziotissa suburban station (connection to Metro Line 1 "Neratziotissa station") can take you to The Monastiraki station. Or change at Doukissis Plakentias to Line 3 (blue) of the metro to get to Monastiraki and Syntagma stations. Suburban trains run more sparsely than the metro.

#### By express bus

It takes 45 minutes to 1½ hours depending on traffic. Buses, unlike Metro, operate 24 hours a day. When leaving to the airport early from Syntagma (before the metro opens), tickets can be bought at a kiosk next to the bus stop.

#### By bus


**KTEL Attikis Buses**, the sole transport provider for all long-distance bus lines of Attica, depart from a stop in front of the Sofitel Hotel to Koropi metro station (€1.60, 15 min, as of Mar 2025). Their frequency varies throughout the day, from every half an hour to more than three; see linked schedule (the workers at the express bus stop have no information about KTEL buses). From Koropi Station you can take the metro to the city centre paying the normal ticket price of €1.20, and so avoid the additional fare of €5.50 charged to Koropi from the airport and vice versa. You can also take local bus 308 from Koropi metro for the same price. For getting to the airport, KTEL buses pass Koropi Station 20-30 minutes before the departure times from the airport listed on the above linked schedule.

#### By taxi

If you take a taxi, you should know that there is a special rule. Taxi rides to the centre cost €40 during the day and €60 during the night. Prices are fixed and includes toll costs.


*Please see this section at the country level for a full discussion*

While Greek is the official language in Greece, many Athenians speak English and those in the tourist industry are likely to also speak French and/or German. Almost all signs are written in Greek and English.


At first glance, Athens seems entirely to be composed of unremarkable, four- to six-story concrete buildings, lacking character and badly in need of a paint job. But if you look beyond that, you will find little gems tucked in among the grey. The areas at the foot of the Acropolis, Anafiotika, Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio are home to many wonderful Neoclassical buildings, trendy and traditional cafes and shops, narrow winding streets, and incredible views of the Acropolis. Little Greek Orthodox churches are tucked in among the concrete, often in the most unexpected places. These are usually beautifully decorated with icons and brass fixtures inside, but make sure you're appropriately dressed (no short sleeves or bare legs is a good rule of thumb, as a mark of respect).

### Acropolis

- Acropolis of Athens

Atop the Acropolis are several dramatic ruins, in various states of restoration:
 - Propylaea

thumb|The Acropolis, the birthplace of Western civilization
 - Parthenon

- Erectheion

The full ticket is €30, reduced ticket is €15 (see sidebar). Hours are 08:00-20:00 during summer (Apr-Aug). During the winter, closing time tracks sunset, down to 17:00 in Dec. *Last entry is 30 min before closing time*.

Many portions of the site are undergoing significant but badly needed renovations. You will encounter the construction office along the south side of the Parthenon. Some views will be marred by scaffolding, cranes, tracks, and other modern equipment.


The Acropolis has two entrances, from the west and the south.
 The main entrance is at the west end of the Acropolis. From the Akropoli metro stop and New Acropolis Museum, walk west along Dionysiou Areopagitou Street and take the first right on to Theorias; from the Thissio metro stop west of Monastiraki, walk west to Apostolou Pavlou Street, turn left on it, and walk south to turn left on Theorias. From Plaka, you can walk south up steep Mnisikleous Street as far as you can go and turn right on Theorias.
 The entrance from the south is near the Theater of Dionysos.

To comply with European regulations, disabled access to the Acropolis is allowed by means of special paths and a purpose-built lift on the north face of the hill. The lift is *only* for the use of those in wheelchairs. All other visitors are expected to be able to climb and descend the Acropolis on their own, including the very old and very young.

Since 1 April 2024, timed-entry tickets are mandatory. Buying online in advance is strongly recommended. Make sure you are buying from the **HHTicket official web site**. The on-site ticket offices can sell timed-entry tickets, but then you have to stand in a long line to buy a ticket, and in peak season, the ticket offices may not have time slots available for that same day. As for accessing the actual entrance gates, Acropolis staff will not let you into the line to have your ticket scanned until less than 15 minutes before the scheduled entry time on your ticket.


Guides can nearly always be found near the entrance gates offering you a private tour of the Acropolis, at a price. As an alternative, ask for the free leaflet published by the Archaeological Resources Fund, which includes a ground plan of the site and valuable information on the various monuments.

Additional historic sites and artifacts at the foot of the Acropolis are also included with the admission ticket. Most notably:
 - Theatre of Dionysus

- Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Acropolis Museum is outside the Acropolis security perimeter, you will need to buy a separate timed-entry ticket for that attraction. Therefore, to see both on the same day, you must estimate how much time you will need for both attractions. Most people need a minimum of one hour to tour the Acropolis. Anyone with a passion for history, classics, or scenic photography will need at least two hours. Opinions vary on which to see first, but most people agree that you should see both. If it's a sunny summer day, you may want to be inside the air-conditioned museum instead of atop the shadeless Acropolis during the peak heat.

- Acropolis Museum

### Archaeological sites

The Acropolis is the only major attraction where extreme overtourism requires extensive advance planning. Other ancient sites can be seen at your leisure. Nearly all are within 2 km of the Acropolis.

- Pnyx

- Ancient Agora

Contains the following sites:
 - Temple of Hephaestus

- Stoa of Attalus

- Church of the Holy Apostles

thumb|right|The Tower of the Winds and the ruins of the Roman Forum
 - Roman Agora

- Kerameikos

thumb|The Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Gate, seen from the Acropolis
 - Temple of Olympian Zeus

- Arch of Hadrian

- The Lyceum

- Plato's Academy

- Hadrian's Reservoir

### Modern sites


- Panathinaiko Stadium

- Lycabettus Hill

- Olympic Stadium

- National Theatre

thumb|right|Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the bottom of the Greek Parliament
 - Syntagma Square

- Hellenic Parliament Building

- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

### Further away

thumbnail|Dafni monastery
 - Daphni Monastery

- Kaisariani Monastery and Gardens

### Museums and galleries

Because of its antiquity and influence, Athens is full of museums and galleries. The major ones are the National Archaeological Museum, the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki and Museum of Cycladic Art, the Agora Museum, and the Kanellopoulos and Folk Art Museums.

#### Archaeology museums

thumb|The Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient computer.
 - National Archaeological Museum of Athens

- Kanellopoulos Museum

#### Art museums

The visual arts have a big role in the Athenian life. Next to big institutions such as the National Gallery and the Benaki Museum, many small private galleries are spread across the city centre and the surrounding areas, hosting the works of contemporary visual and media artists. Bar galleries have sprung up, where you can have a drink or a coffee while visiting an exhibition.

- Benaki Museum of Greek Culture

thumb|The Museum of Cycladic Art
 - Museum of Cycladic Art

- National Gallery

- Benaki Museum of Islamic Art

- Museum of Greek Folk Art

- Athens Municipal Art Gallery

- Vorres Museum

thumb|250px|National Historical Museum (Old Parliament)
thumb|right|250px|Averof ship museum

#### Other museums

thumb|Museum of Ancient Greek Technology
 - Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Kotsanas

- National Historical Museum

- Numismatic Museum

- Museum of Greek Popular Musical Instruments

- National War Museum

- Park of Maritime Tradition

- Hellenic Air Force Museum

- City of Athens Technopolis

- Spathario Museum

- Cultural Centre Hellenic Cosmos

- Hellenic Motor Museum

- OTE Telecommunications Museum

- Michael Cacoyannis Foundation cultural center


- Planetary Evgenidio Foundation

- Onassis Cultural centre

- Epigraphical Museum

- National Museum of Contemporary Art

- Digital Museum Plato

- Museum of Mineralogy and Petrology

- Gounaropoulos Museum


If you're lucky enough to be in Athens for the **Easter Weekend**, you'll see the spectacular sight of hundreds of people making their candlelit way down the hill on Holy Saturday night as part of the Easter Vigil procession.
 If the weather is good, head to the **beaches in south Athens**. Take buses A2, B2 or E22 from metro station Sygrou, or the tram from Syntagma. Just get off wherever the sea takes your fancy. Beach-side cafes can hit you hard with prices of food and drinks. If you are the only person getting on the bus, you must flag the bus down to get it to stop or it will just fly on by. See the articles on Piraeus, Palaio Faliro and Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni for more details.

### Parks and nature

thumb|250px|National Gardens

Several of Athens' hills - **Lycabettus** and **Pnyx** (see above), , - are planted with pines and other trees, and are more like small forests than typical urban parks.

- National Gardens

 - Pedion tou Areos

 - Dionysiou Aeropagitou Street

 - Parnitha National Park

 **Attica Zoological Park** in nearby Spata.

### Sport

 thumb | 300px | Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena
 **Football:** The Greek men's national team play home games at Agia Sophia Stadium (capacity 32,500 all seated), aka Opop Arena. Completed in 2022, it's in Nea Filadelpheia 10 km northwest of city centre. The UEFA Europa Conference League final was played there on 29 May 2024.
 Athens has four soccer clubs playing in Super League (Σούπερ Λιγκ), the top tier:
 **AEK Athens** play at Agia Sophia Stadium.
 **Atromitos** play at the 9000-seater Peristeri Stadium 3 km northwest of Syntagma.
 **Olimpiacos** play at the 33,300-seater Karaiskakis Stadium in Neo Faliro, 1 km east of Pireaus ferry port.
 **Panathinaikos** play at the 16,000-seater Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, 1 km northeast of Syntagma.
 Lower placed clubs are Apollon Smyrnis at Georgios Kamaras Stadium 5 km north of Syntagma, and Ionikos at Neapolis Stadium 10 km west.

 **Basketball:** Athens teams playing in the Greek Basketball League, the top tier, are Olympiakos at Peace and Friendship Stadium in Neo Faliro, Panionios and Ionikos at Sofia Befon Palaio Faliro Indoor Hall, Peristeri at Peristeri indoor hall (next to Atromitos) and AEK and Panathinaikos both at Nikos Galis Hall.

### Theatre and performing arts

Athens is home to 148 theatrical stages, more than any other city in the world.

 - Athens Festival

In addition to a large number of multiplexes, Athens plays host to a variety of romantic, open air garden cinemas.

The city also supports a vast number of music venues, most notably:
 - Athens Concert Hall

### Cultural activities

thumb|View towards Acropolis from Stavros Niarchos Cultural Foundation
 - Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre


thumb|Souvenir shop in Plaka
thumb|Plaka District

Although a huge city, Athens has relatively few shopping malls or large department stores; the small, family run shop still conquers all. Souvenirs are of course available everywhere that tourists go. Other shopping opportunities are antiques, museum reproductions, embroideries and other folk art goods, and Greek food and drink products.

**Plaka** is lined with souvenir shops, most of them selling cheap souvenir knick-knacks, though there are a few higher-quality shops. Prices can be high for good quality items.
 **Flea Market** could refer to two places. The sign next to Monastiraki station at the beginning of Ifaistou Street claims that you are entering "the Flea Market of Athens." The street is lined with second-hand and surplus shops of every description. Few are of much interest to the visitor, though towards the west end of the street there are some interesting shops selling old books, posters, and Greek and other music recordings. The real Flea Market is held on Sunday mornings in Plateia Avissinia at the western end of Ifaistou Street. There is incredible assortment of used objects, antiques, and junk.
 Among all the souvenir and second-hand stores in the area, **Martinos** at 50 Pandrossou () stands out as a genuine antique shop, offering top quality items from Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. Prices are also top of the line, so this is a shop for knowledgeable antique buyers in the market to do some serious spending. Remember that taking antiques out of Greece and into your own country may be subject to the laws of both countries and be sure you're familiar with them before taking anything old home.

**Kolonaki** is the upscale, hip, and artistic shopping area. Kolonaki offers the usual range of shops for an upscale neighbourhood; art galleries, hip clothing boutiques, and antique stores are common. The area is small and along with the small streets north of it, including Skoufa, Anagnostopoulou and the pedestrianized Tsakaloff, are ideal for simply wandering around. (Kolonaki Square) There are also plenty of shops along Patriarchou Ioakim and Haritos streets and their cross streets.

For a more reasonable price tag, try **Ermou Street**, beside Syntagma Square. Turn right off Ermou at the MAC makeup shop and you'll find yourself on Aghiou Markou and other small streets which have a wide range incredibly cheap shoes, bags, jewellery, gifts and homewares.

**Street vendors,** with their wares laid out on blankets on the pavement, can be found in many places where tourists congregate, especially in Plaka and Monastiraki. Their goods are mostly forgeries, cheap knock-offs, and illegal CDs. A surprising number of them sell large collections of coins, most of them fairly modern, which may be of interest to the numismatically inclined, though anything especially antique is likely a reproduction. These vendors are unlicensed, which is in violation of Greek law, and you may notice them vanishing as soon as a policeman is in sight, to reappear the instant the police have gone. They are best ignored. (This warning doesn't apply to vendors of fruit, nuts, etc., from street carts, who are usually legitimate.)

The main supermarket chains are Sklavenitis and Masoutis. Most Greek supermarkets are closed on Sundays. If you need to buy groceries on Sunday, you must find one of the rare exceptions which opens for business on Sunday, find a well-equipped convenience store, or simply do without groceries until Monday.
- Laiki

### Shopping malls

 - The Mall Athens

 - Golden Hall

 - Athens Metro Mall

 **Designer Outlet Athens** and **Smart Park** in nearby Spata.


thumb|right|Traditional restaurants (sing.: taverna, pl.: tavernes) in the side streets of the Plaka district
The districts *Kolonaki* and *Plaka* are especially good areas for dining out.

### Fast food

For a quick, decent and low-budget meal, try a **souvlaki** (σουβλάκι, *soo-VLAH-kee*), meat (usually pork or chicken) grilled on a skewer. They are typically served with tomato, onion and **tzatziki** (τζατζίκι, *tzah-TZEE-khee*), yogurt enriched with garlic and cucumber, wrapped inside a **pita** (πίτα, *PEE-tah*), a thin pan bread. Prices of souvlaki vary according to the confidence and/or nerve of the cornershop owner, but usually cost from €1.70 to €3, and another €5 for drink, salad and French fries for a total no more than €7. Take away is cheaper than if you sit at a table. You can get souvlaki just about everywhere, especially in tourist areas.
 At the end of Mitropoleos, just around the corner from the Monastiraki Metro station, is a trio of famous souvlaki shops — **Thanasis**, **Savvas** and **Bairaktaris** (Μπαϊρακτάρης) — which are, depending on who you ask, the Zeus or the Hades of souvlaki lovers. At any of the three, if you take a seat and ask for a souvlaki, you'll be served a plate with meat, pita and chips for around €9. But, if you ask cashier for a *pita-souvlaki*, you'll get the same stuff in a sandwich to take away for around €1.70.
- Σουβλάκι Κώστας 1950 συνταγμα (Kostas)

- The 2 Brothers

If you're interested in a sandwich, cheese pie, spinach pie or the equivalent of a fast snack, try **Grigoris (Γρηγόρης)** or **Everest**, two chains of fast food in most districts of Athens and the rest of Greece. **Goody's** is the Greek equivalent of McDonald's and offers a fair variety of tasty meals, including pasta, different salads, burgers etc. McDonald's is the same like everywhere, but here it has a slight Greek slant.

### Budget

Adrianou, which runs along the north side of the Acropolis from Thissio in the west to Plaka in the east, is packed with tavernas. Many are touristy and a little on the pricy side, so try to pick one that also has locals as customers. Expect to pay a little extra at any place that has views of the Acropolis.

There are several budget-friendly restaurants in the centre.
 - Vegan Beat Athens

 - The Traditional

 - Krasopoulio tou Kokkora

 - Aspro Alogo

 - Atlantikos

 - Kafeneio Ivis

### Mid-range

- Lefka

 - K Filippou

 - Karamanlidika

 - Karavitis

 - Το Κιούπι (To Kioupi)

 - Platanos Taverna

 - Zeus Xenios

 - Pame Psirri

- O Morias

- Voskopoula (The Shepherdess)

- Τaverna Μanolis.

 - Rosalia

 - Giántes

 - Kostarelos Cheese and Dairy

 - Orea Penteli

### Splurge

 - Cafe Avissinia

### Kosher dining

Athens has only one kosher restaurant, Gostijo, a Sephardi restaurant in Psiri.


thumb|Cafe in Kolonaki district
Greeks love to socialize, and Athens buzzes long after its other European counterparts have laid their heads down to sleep. 20:00 is the earliest most Greeks will consider going to eat out, and clubbers start to get ready at about midnight. Many Athens clubs relocate to the beach during the summer months. Cafes spill onto the streets and the sound of lively conversation is everywhere in the evenings.

Go to the **Psyrrí** area (Monastiraki or Thissio station, Lines 1 and 3 and Line 1 respectively) for a number of smart bars and small clubs. It is the area immediately north of Ermou street between these two metro stops.

There are more and better bars in the area north of Ermou street between Monastiraki and Syntagma than there used to be. Aiolou and Kolokotroni streets offer a fair variety of cafés and bars. **Magazé**, **six dogs**, **Booze** and all the bars on Karytsi square (a small square at the end of Christou Lada street, behind Klafthmonos square on Stadiou avenue) can get very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, with visitors having their drinks even on the streets outside from spring through autumn, when the weather is nice.

The area around the Kerameikos station, called **Gazi** (Γκάζι, *gas*) has been the gay village of Athens for quite a few years. Since the opening of the metro station, in 2007, the neighbourhood has attracted all kinds of crowds. This is a home to dozens of bars, cafés and clubs, gay or not, and to small theatrical scenes, the latter one especially to the northeast of the area, towards Metaxourgeio.
 - Balux

The **Plateia Exarcheia** square and nearby streets like **Solomou** have lots of clubs and bars.
- Taximi

- Rebetiki Istoria


**Kolonaki Square** (*Plateia Kolonaki;* its official name is *Plateia Filikis Etaireias,* but no one ever uses it) is bordered with cafes whose customers tend to be mature Athenian movers and shakers for whom the area is the traditional in-town home. Most of these cafes serve desserts, light meals and drinks, and most of them are expensive. They tend to be liveliest late at night. One of the best established, and most prestigious, is **Lykovrisi.** Not many foreigners visit these cafes, but the visitor may find they make for interesting people-watching.
- Showroom

**Oréa Ellás** ("Beautiful Greece") with two entrances 59 Mitropóleos and 36 Pandhróssou, Monastiráki (but just a minute's walk from Plaka; the cafe is upstairs) is a combination cafe and gift shop. The cafe, open all day but not after 18:00, offers coffees and alcoholic drinks and a limited range of snacks and sweets, in a wonderful old fashioned setting with stunning views of the Acropolis out the windows. The shop, called Kendro Ellinikis Paradosis (Centre of Greek Tradition) is an excellent place to buy souvenirs, which are more expensive but vastly better than the knick-knacks offered by the cheek-by-jowl tourist shops lining the street outside.
 - Ydria

**Vrettos** at 41 Kydathineon, Plaka is a very atmospheric 100 year old distillery which makes its own ouzo, brandy and liqueurs, and sets up a bar at night where you can order them by the glass. They also offer wine tastings selected from 100s of Greek wines between 10:00-16:00.
- Costa

- Metamatic_taf

### Cafes

Have a **frappé**, the delicious Greek version of cold coffee. It is nothing like the frappé you find in other countries. Served sweet, medium, or without sugar, with or without milk. Delicious with Bailey's too.

- Playce

- Filion Cafe

### Clubbing and nightlife


Athens is famous for its vibrant nightlife. The Athenians like to party and will do so almost every night of the week. The choices are plenty and they appeal to all tastes and lifestyles. In general, things get started pretty late: after midnight for bars and clubbing and after 22:00 for dinner at the city's tavernas, Athens Restaurants and bar-restaurants.

Hip areas include **Gazi, Psirri, Metaxourgio, Exarcheia, Monastiraki, Theseion and Kolonaki**. Traditional Greek evenings can be spent in **Plaka**.

Many of Athens' hottest clubs and bars are in **Psirri**. **Gazi** has changed tremendously. Most of the galleries, mainstream bars, restaurants, clubs and Greek nightclubs here (featuring live Greek pop singers) are trademarked by their industrial design, as many of them are housed in remodelled—and once abandoned—factories. Gazi is one of the trendiest areas of Athens nightlife. You can get there by metro line 3 at Kerameikos station.

**Plaka - Monastiraki** are two ancient, historic and all-time classic Athenian neighbourhoods popular with visitors, they do not have many big dance clubs and bars, but offer lively, traditional places to enjoy Greek culture year-round, and several rock and jazz clubs.


You will find plenty nightclubs with live Greek music along **Syggrou Avenue** and at the industrial strips of **Iera Odos** and **Pireos Street** in Gazi. In the summer months, the action moves to **Poseidon Avenue** and the coastal towns of **Glyfada**, **Voula and Vouliagmeni**. **Kolonaki** is a staple dining and entertainment destination, catering to the city's urban working professionals who enjoy an after work cocktail at many of its bars that are open - and busy - until after midnight, even on weekdays. The clubs here are also very chic. **Exarchia** is where to go for smaller more bohemian style haunts that cater to artists and college students. At the foot of Strefi Hill is where you will find most of the bars and clubs, many of which play rock music. An alternative option of Athens nightlife.

A 'club zone' is in the coastal district, running to the east- if you go there and you are lucky, you can actually get to listen to non-Greek music. There are also many clubs and pubs in the center of Athens.


Athens has a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping and hostels, right up to 5 star luxury hotels.

For most tourists, the primary question is Plaka or not Plaka. For the latter, the next question is whether to stay just outside of Plaka, or along one of the main routes going to the coast (e.g., Leoforos Andrea Siggrou is home to the Grand Hyatt, Marriott, and InterContinental hotels), or in one of the coastal suburbs like Glyfada or Piraeus. These latter options may allow for staying in more modern hotels or with a scenic coastal view, but then one has to travel to Plaka and back for sightseeing.

For hotels near the airport, see listings in Spata and Rafina.

### Camping

 - Dionissotis Camping

### Budget

 - Athens Backpackers

 - Athens Psiri Hotel

- Safestay Athens Monastiraki

 - Hotel Dioskouros Athens

 - Tony Hotel

 - Hostel Aprodite

 - Orion

 - Hotel Elite Athens

### Mid-range

 - Acropolis View Hotel Athens

 - Hotel Acropolis House

 - Athos

 - Central Hotel

 - O&B Athens Boutique Hotel

 - Hotel Omiros Athens

 - Fresh Hotel

 - Periscope Hotel

 - Mirabello

### Splurge

 - Radisson Blu Park Hotel

 - The St George Lycabettus Hotel Athens

 - Conrad Athens the Ilisian

- President Hotel Athens

 - Royal Olympic Hotel

 - Electra Hotel

 - Grande Bretagne Hotel

 - King George Palace

 - Hellenic Vibes


As of February 2026, Athens has 5G from Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova. Wi-fi is widely available in public places.


Athens is **generally a safe city**. There are many police officers and security guards around the city. Many places have CCTV. Street crime is rare. Violent crime against tourists is rare.

There are **pickpockets** on the Metro (especially at the interchanges with the line from the Airport), buses and in other crowded areas, including Plaka. You will notice that natives travel with their hands on their bags and pockets, and keep their bag in front rather than on their side or back, which unfortunately is not without reason. If any pocket, purse, or backpack is visible as you travel on the Metro, assume it will be targeted by pickpockets. Assume that any stranger on the Metro (no matter how well-dressed) is a potential pickpocket and take appropriate precautions. Beware of dense crowds at Metro vehicle doors, especially when a door seems to be broken or jammed.

The **friendly stranger** bar scam has been reported from areas of central Athens frequented by tourists, including Omonia, Syntagma, and Plaka. There have been some reports of fraud. Usually, someone will stop you and ask for directions. A couple of other men then arrive claiming to be police, showing a badge (obviously a fake one). They ask if you were getting drugs from the other man and then ask for your passport and wallet for verification. While you are busy trying to convince them that your passport is valid, one of them sneaks out some money from your wallet.

thumb|Patission Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Athens


**Demonstrations and riots** are common and accepted as part of everyday life and democracy by most Athenians. (You shouldn't expect any less from the cradle of democracy!) Keep abreast of news of demonstrations, and avoid them if you don't want to risk being arrested or tear-gassed, which often happens near Syntagma. Anarchist groups often clash with police, or target government buildings or perceived representations of capitalism during the night, mainly in Exarcheia (). It is unlikely that tourists would be harmed, as the anarchists usually take care to attack only property and police as opposed to civilians. However, parking in Exarcheia overnight could result in damage to your car. Anti-Israel pro-Palestine activities (such as graffiti) are common seen on the streets.

The **football rivalry** between local club Panathinaikos and Piraeus-based Olympiacos is notoriously intense, and has on occasion resulted in violent confrontations between opposing fans. To be safe, avoid wearing Olympiacos shirts while you are in Athens, especially during matchday, or it could result in you being harassed or even singled out for violence by opposing fans.

In the summer, the weather is very **hot**. Remember to drink enough water and apply sunscreen to your skin.

Athens has **poor urban planning**, especially poor road planning. When walking around, the greatest danger is on streets where sidewalks/pavements are nonexistent or too narrow for pedestrians to pass each other. If a car or motorcycle comes around the corner too fast at that very second, someone may get run over.

**In case of emergency, dial 112**. This is the pan-European emergency number that connects to police, ambulance, and fire services free of charge.

### Rough areas


Athenians hold negative perceptions of the areas around **Omonia Square**. Locals advise you to avoid these areas late at night. The area is notorious for pickpockets and prostitutes, and there are many people who use drugs in the open, even during the day. Other places to avoid are Vathi square and the area between Agiou Konstantinou and Karolou/Marni.

The Philopappou Hill area should be avoided at night. The back streets of Piraeus are probably also places where it's unwise to wander around late at night.


### Embassies and representative offices

 - Armenia

 - Australia

 - Austria

 - Brazil

 - Bulgaria

 - Canada

 - China

 - Colombia

 - Croatia

 - Cyprus

 - Denmark

 - Egypt

 - Estonia

 - Finland

 - France

 - Germany

 - Hungary

 - India

 - Indonesia

 - Ireland

 - Israel

 - Italy

 - Japan

 - Malta Embassy

 - Netherlands

 - Republic of North Macedonia

 - Norway

 - Portugal

 - Romania

 - Russia

 - Saudi Arabia

 - Serbia

 - South Africa

 - Spain

 - Sweden

 - Switzerland

 - Taiwan

 - Turkey

 - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

 - United States of America


### Islands

Piraeus - the harbour of Athens, and Rafina (on the east coast of Attica) are the departure points for a large number of ferry services to the Greek Islands and other destinations in the eastern Mediterranean, including ports in Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Israel and Cyprus.

The closest islands, suitable for a day trip from **Piraeus**, are in the Argosaronic (or Saronic) gulf:
 Hydra
 Aegina
 Poros
 Spetses
 Kea (also pronounced *Tzia*) is a very nearby destination, too, less than two hours from the port of Lavrio.
Evia, or Euboea, is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete, and in close proximity to Athens. In less than 1.5 hours by bus, train, or car, you can reach Chalkis, or Halkida, the island's capital city and enjoy the local beaches, Ottoman castle on the hill, the promenade with bars & restaurants. From here you can continue to Kymi and take the ferry to Skyros island or choose to explore the islands hidden gems.

If what you are thinking is an island further away, like Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini or any of the Dodecanese or Northern Aegean isles, consider extra days off Athens because of their distance from the mainland. Flying is also an option to the more distant islands.

### Nearby

Sounio, Ktel bus starts from central Athens and also stop in some areas in south Athens. 1 hour from central Athens by car.
 Day trips to the Corinth Canal, the ancient theatre at Epidaurus and to the ancient sites of Olympia, Delphi and Mycenae are easy with a rental car.
 Towns along the Peloponnese such as Nafplion are charming and worthwhile.

### North

 Thessaloniki, second biggest city in Greece
 Larissa
 Karditsa
 Trikala
 Kalambaka

### By air

Athens has ultra-low-cost flights to several European countries, to Jordan, Israel, Georgia and the United Arab Emirates.