Athens Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Athens Travel & Tourism, Free Athens Travel Guide Online

Athens Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Athens Travel & Tourism, Free Athens Travel Guide Online

Greece is the cradle of European civilization, and Athens has been its capital since 1834. There is never time to be bored or to be at a loss for an interesting activity in Athens. Visit the flea market and the bazaar area at Monastiraki, look inside some of the hundreds of tiny Byzantine churches, shop for a few hours in the fascinating boutiques of Pláka, have a leisurely lunch in a taverna, watch the people walk by, and maybe spend a little time writing in your travel diary.

When planning a trip to Athens, the weather is a consideration. Attica's sunshine and pleasant climate give visitors the opportunity to enjoy a trip to this beautiful city during any season. From March through May, it is almost always pleasant and mild. Between June and August, the temperature rises steadily, making August the month in which Athenians try to avoid the city. September is usually balmy, with occasional light rain. October offers beautiful weather. Most rain falls between November and February. Even so, there are many sunny days in winter and a brief, heavy rain is often followed by hours of brilliant sunshine. Average daytime temperatures range from 52F in January to 92F in August.

Athens has a population of five million. It is the country's heart and the economic and industrial center, as well as the political and cultural center. No matter how crowded it becomes with residents and tourists, visitors still find it hospitable and welcoming.

The structure of the land is characterized by a constant alternation of low mountains and small plains. Bays and rocky or sandy coves dot the coast of Attica. During the summer the beaches are filled with Athenians and others enjoying their beauty.

Athens can seem overwhelming at first. The mountains, the rocks, the historic ruins, the panoramic views of valleys and sea: nothing is small. Athens is not scrubbed and polished; it has an ancient, lived-in look as befits a city that has been inhabited for over 7000 years. Yet, it is so modern. An interesting feature of Athens is that it is a study in contradictions! At one moment you will be walking on modern streets with malls and superstores, then you will turn onto a side street and suddenly find yourself in another world with open air meat and fish markets, vegetable and fruit stands, and pigs, rabbits, and cows hanging upside down by their feet.

There are ruins in unexpected places throughout the city. What first appears to be a modern street will have fenced off areas containing parts of ancient toppled columns, statues, etc. They have been sitting there for hundreds of years and are now fenced for protection. Repair and restoration work is ongoing. A visit to the Acropolis will include the sight of workmen and ladders everywhere. The extensive work of preservation is impressive.

Following a visit to the Acropolis, it is an easy downhill stroll to the Agora, the heart of ancient Athens's political and commercial center. The Agora is steps from the Monastiraki and Pláka districts, each filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants. The next stop might be the National Archaeological Museum to see the Mycenaean gold, the classical bronze statues, and the beautiful frescoes from Akrotiri, the Minoan Pompeii on the island of Santorini. It is hard to leave the Museum, so try to plan for a return visit on another day.

The whole family will enjoy a walk (run) through the National Gardens, and will be able to join Greek children in admiring the ducks and peacocks in the small zoo. Another peak experience will be the culinary adventure of sampling Greek cuisine. Huge feta cheese salads with olives, tomatoes, lettuce, and locally produced olive oil are outstanding. The main course of a meal in a taverna specializing in spit roasting is usually a plate of some type of seafood or meat such as chicken, pork, lamb or beef. The meat is grilled on a spit outdoors. Side dishes of fruit and vegetables are also served. Local wines provide a complement to the meal.

While in Athens, consider a side excursion to one or more of the "isles of Greece." It is easy to arrange a day trip by boat from Piraeus to one or more of the islands of the Saronic Gulf: Aegina Egina, Poros, and Hydra Idra. All are feasible day trips but it is best not to schedule a tour for the day before you leave Athens. It is possible that a sudden storm could leave you stranded for a day on an island. Allow time to savor an unexpected adventure such as this!

Whatever the season, whether you have a day, a week, or a month to explore Athens, it is time to be treasured. Athens, rich in culture and contrasts, is a city like no other in the world.

Athens Attractions: Athens Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Athens Travel & Tourism, Free Athens Travel Guide Online

Note:
Strikes that close museums and archaeological sites can occur without warning. Decide what you most want to see, and go there as soon as possible after your arrival. What is open today may be closed tomorrow. If you're visiting in the off-season, check with the Greek National Tourist Organization 01/331-0437 for the abbreviated winter hours of sites and museums.

Acropolis:
01 323 6665
Mon-Fri. 8-7; Sat., Sun. 8:30-3
Bus 1,5,9,230,231
The rock of the Acropolis rises up in the middle of the Athenian basin. This naturally de3fensible rock was the sacred focal point of ancient Athens. What is seen today dates mainly from the 5th century BC, an era of peace and prosperity. The summit is reached through the Propylaia, a magnificent stepped gateway, with the graceful temple of Athena Nike to the right. Ahead rises the great Doric temple of the Parthenon; built using no perpendicular lines. Its columns actually taper, giving the whole structure a feeling of superb lightness. It was decorated by the leading Athenian sculptors and dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos, whose statue by the sculptor Pheidas stood inside.

Agorá:
01321 48255
Tues-Sun. 8:30-2:45
Theseion or Monastiraki tram
The Agora was the most important part of every city-state in ancient Greece. It was the center of life, of economic, social, political and judicial activity, as well as the main commercial center. The Ancient Agora of Athens covers an area of about 10 acres. It lies below the Acropolis, south of the hill of the Areopagus. Today, the site is a jumble of tree shaded ruins, and it takes imagination to envision as it was in its glorious past. Dominating one end is the reconstructed fifth century BC Doric Temple known as the Thieío.

The National Archaeological Museum:
3-01-8217717
Patission Street 44, at the corner of Tositsa Street.
Tues-Fri 8-7 Sat, Sun 830-3
Tram: Omonia
Bus: 2,3,11,13,15,18
The National Archaeological Museum is an unrivalled treasure house of Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and Classical Greek art.

The Archaeological Museum of the Acropolis:
3-01-3210219
next to the Parthenon
Mon-Fri. 8-7 Sat.,Sun. 8:30-3
Tram: Theseion
Bus: 1,5,9,230,231
On the southeast side of the Parthenon is the modern Acropolis Museum. Built on a level just below that of the main monuments, the Acropolis Museum contains almost all of the portable objects removed from the site since 1834.

The Benaki Museum:
The main building is at the corner of Vas. Sofias and Koumbari Sts.
3-01-3611817
Hours to be scheduled. telephone for information.
Bus: 3, 7,8,13
The museum is undergoing a reorganization, but the contents of each floor will remain essentially the same. It contains many spectacular cycles from Greek art, in its course down through the centuries.

The Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos:
148 Ermou St
3-01- 3463552
Metro: Thissio
Tues-Sun 8:30-3
It is in the cemetery of ancient Athens, with unique exhibits of artistic and historical importance and brought to light by excavations in the area. This ancient cemetery has been a burial ground since the 12th century BC. Plaster copies of the excavated sculptures are on the site. The originals are in the National Archaeological Museum.

The Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art:
(Nicholas P. Goulandri Foundation)
4 Neofilou Dooka St
Bus 3,7,8,13
3-01-72-49-706
Mon-Fri. 10-4 Sat. 10-3 Closed Sundays
This modern museum has the world's finest collection of Cycladic art. It contains a collection of ancient Greek art with the earliest pieces from about 5000 years ago. The Cycladic figurines dating from the third millennium BC have never enjoyed the popularity of Classical sculpture. However, the haunting simplicity of the pieces inspired many modern artists, including Picasso, Modigliani, and Henry Moore.

The Numismatic Museum of Athens:
3-01- 8217760
1 Tositsa St
Has over 300,000 coins from the 7th century BC to the present.

The Byzantine Museum:
3-01- 7211027
22 Vassillissis Sofias Avenue
Tues-Sun. 8;30-3 Closed Mon. except national holidays
Has exhibits, wall paintings and portable icons from the Early Christian, Byzantine and post Byzantine period.

The Kanellopoulos Museum:
3-01- 3212313
Tues-Sun 8:30-3
Metro: Monastiraki
At the comer of Theorias and Panes Sts, in Pláka
This museum has important ancient, Byzantine and more recent finds. it is located in an immaculately restored Neo-classical townhouse. A varied collections of artifacts from all over the Hellenistic world are displayed. There are 3 floors of exhibits.

The National Historical Museum:
3-01- 3237617
9-1:30 1:55 PMues-Sun.
Bus: 1,2,4,5,9,10,11,18
In the Old Parliament building
13 Stadiou St.
Designed by French architect, Francois Boulanger, (1807-1875), this museum was originally built as the first home of the Greek Parliament. It contains rare exhibits and mementos from the Greek War of Independence, the Balkan Wars and World War. The Historical Society seeks to collect and display objects that illuminate the history of Modern Greece. The museum displays cover all of the major events from the Byzantine period to the 20th century in a chronological display.

The Military Museum
3-01- 7290543
At the corner of Vas. Sofias and Rizari Sts
Tues-Sun. 9-2 Closed Mon.
Bus: 3.7.8.13
The museum contains exhibits and mementos from the wars the Greeks fought, from antiquity to the present.

The Anthropological-Ethnological Museum:
3-01- 7771193
47 Mikras Asias St in Goudi
Has the collections of the University of Athens containing utensils, weapons and other exhibitions from all the races of the world.

The Goulandri Museum of Natural History:
3-01- 8015870
Tues-Thurs, Sat. and Sun. Telephone for hours of operation.
13 Levidou St in Kifissia
This large collection covers all aspects of Greece's wildlife and minerals.
There are over 200,000 plant specimens and over 1300 examples of taxidermy. The stuffed creatures are displayed in their natural habitats. The museum has botanical, entomological and palentological exhibits.

The National Gallery of Art:
3-01- 721 1010
Bus: 3,13
9-3 Mon., Wed-Sat
50 L. Vasileos Konstantinou St
The National Gallery is housed in a modern, low rise building that contains a permanent collection of European and Greek art. Ithas a rich collection of the works of Greek painters from the 19th and 20th century and a noteworthy collection of representative works of European painters, It also plays host to major temporary exhibitions of international importance and maintains a sculpture exhibition. Artists represented include ElGreco, Rembrandt, Dürer, Brueghel, Van Dyck, Watteau, Utrillo, Cezanne, and Braque, among others.

The Center for the Study of the Acropolis:
3-01- 9239186
2-4 Makryyianni St
9-2:45 daily
The museum is housed in a neo-classical building, and acts as a research center and storehouse of historical information on the Acropolis. Ithas copies of the statues of the Parthenon and the entire history of the Acropolis from the Penteli quarries to the present.

The Center for Folk Art and Tradition:
3-01- 3243987
Tues, Thurs 9-7 Wed,Fri, Sat 9-1 and 5-9pm Sun 9-1
6 Hatzimichali St
Metro: Monastiraki
Free admission
The Center displays a collection of ceramics, wood carvings, furniture and utensils from the collection of Angeliki Hatzimichali.

The Museum of Eleftherios Venizelos:
3-01- 7224328
Tues-Sat. 10-1 and 6-8 Sun: 10-1. Closed Monday
10 Evzonon St
The museum displays personal effects, photographs and a variety of documents from this important Greek Prime Minister. Also available is a library with books which refer to Venizelos and his activities.

The Gennadios Library:
3-01- 7210536
At 61 Soudias St in Kolonaki
Bus: 3,7,8,13
Mon,Tues., Fri. 9-5 Wed and Thurs.: 9-8 Sat. 9-2
The Greek diplomat, Ioannis Gennadios (1844-1932) spent a lifetime accumulating rare first editions and illuminated manuscripts. In 1923 he donated his collection to the American School of Classicl Studies. The collection contains over 70,000 rare books and manuscripts. The exhibits in the main reading room include a set of 192 Edward Lear sketches and the last known portrait of Byron made before his death in 1824. Researchers need special permission to gain access to the collection.

The Greek Museum of the Theater and Study Center:
3-01- 3629430
50 Akadimias St.
Bus: 3,8,13
9-2:30 Mon-Fri
This small museum traces Greek theatrical history from Classical times to the present. There are displays of original posters, costumes, and programs and designs from productions. There is also a colorful puppet theater. The dressing rooms of famous Greek actresses such as Eleni Papadaki and Elli Lampeti have been recreated to give insight into their lives.

Historical Museum of the University of Athens:
3-01- 3640861
At Tholou and Klepsidras Sts in Pláka.
It contains books, and photographs from the oldest university in Greece.

The Museum of Katina Paxinou:
3-01- 3245089
At 13 Thoukidiou St. in Pláka
The museum contains the personal effects, photographs and objects from the life of the famous actress. Also on display is the Oscar she won.

The Palamas Museum:
3-01- 3603039
3 Asklipiou St.
The dwelling where the famous poet spent 40 years of his life and where he wrote most of his poems. Visitors can see the poet's personal affects, his manuscripts and his notes.

The Roman Agora:
3-01- 3245220
Aiolou and Pelopida Sts.
Lying east of the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora has actually nothing to do with Romans, but took this name because it was created during the Roman times -1st century AD- in order to serve a growing Athens. It constitutes a self-sufficient space and is entered from Aiolou Street. Among its well-known buildings is the Agoranomeion for the Market Authorities, the Portico, and the Gate of Athena Archigetis.

The Shadow Puppet Theater:
3-01- 6127245
Tues.-Sun.
On Vas. Sofias and D. Ralli Sts in Marousi.
It contains many objects from the performances at the Shadow Puppet Theater donated by Evgenios Spatharis and his wife Fani. Shadow Theater originally came to Greece from the Far East via players who traveled throughout the Ottoman Empire from the Far East. They performed for the aristocracy in the 18th century. It was soon transformed into a popular folk art. The museum displays the history of the family, of the theater and of the puppets.

The Nautical Museum of Piraeus:
3-01- 4516822
At Marina Zea.
It contains 13,000 exhibits concerned with Greek naval activities from prehistoric times to the present.

The Athens City Museum:
7 Paparigopoulou St.
01-3230168
Bus: 1,2,4,5,9,11,12,15,18
Mon,Wed., Fri., Sat. 9-1:30
King Otto and Queen Amalia lived in this modest mansion for seven years (1831-1839) while their new palace was being completed. It was restored in 1980 and opened as a museum devoted to Royal memorabilia, furniture, family portraits, maps and prints. The museum also has a fine art collection. This includes Nicholas Gyzis's painting The Carnival in Athens.

The Jewish Museum:
Odos Nikis 39
01/322-5582; fax 01/323-1577
Mon-Fri., Sun 9-1
Beth Shalom, the Athens synagogue, on Odos Melidoni, stands in what was, before World War II, a vibrant Jewish neighborhood. Across the street from Beth Shalom is the old synagogue, which Beth Shalom, with its marble facade, replaced. You can get information on visiting the synagogue, and on services, from the Jewish Museum.

Sightseeing Tours:
Many travel agencies offer 4 hour morning bus tours, including a guided tour of the Acropolis. Reservations can be made through most hotels.

Personal Guides:
Major agencies can provide English speaking guides. The Association of Guides Apollonas 9A, tel. 01/322-9705 provides licensed guides for individual or group tours,. for a 4 hour tour of the Acropolis and its museum. It is advisable to arrange for a guide through a reliable agency; be sure to hire one licensed by the EOT Greek National Tourist Organization; tel. 01/322-2545, tel. 01/961-2722, or tel. 01/413-5716.

Special-Interest Tours:
Athens by Night tours, offered by all agencies, are a convenient way to see some of the evening entertainment, especially for single travelers who may not want to venture out alone. For those interested in folk dancing, there is a 4 hour evening tour. from April to October, which includes the Sound and Light Spectacle and a performance of Dora Stratou folk dances. Another evening tour follows the Sound and Light Spectacle with a dinner show at a Pláka taverna.

The Amphitrion Holidays agency Karageorgi Servias 2, tel. 01/322-8884 through 8887, fax 01/323-0370

Deuteras Merachias 3, Piraeus, tel. 01/411-2045 through 01/411-2049, fax 01/417-0742

Karageorgi Servias 4, tel. 01/323-0344, fax 01/323-1295 specializes in educational and offbeat tours for individuals in Athens and elsewhere, including island-hopping tours and treks in the Pindos mountains.

Excursions:
Most agencies offer excursions at about the same prices.

Taking a half-day trip to the breathtaking Temple of Poseidon at Sounion avoids the hassle of dealing with the crowded public buses or paying a great deal more for a taxi.

A one day tour to Delphi with lunch or without lunch is offered, but the two day tour is far more comprehensive.

There's also a one day tour to Mycenae and Epidauros with lunch.

There's a two day tour to ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Nauplion, and Epidaurus including half-board.

A three day tour takes in both Delphi and the stunning monasteries of Meteora with half-board in first-class hotels.

A full-day cruise from Piraeus, visiting three nearby islands: Aegina, Poros, and Hydra- and includes buffet lunch on the ship.

Parks & Gardens:
The National Garden, between Leoforos Amalias and Irodou Attikou, south of Vas. Sofias, was once the royal family's palace garden. Now a public park, the area combines a park, a garden, and a small, rather sad zoo with shady trees, benches, a cafe, and small lakes and ponds with ducks, swans, and a few peacocks. There are several cafes tucked away in the garden, and you can also picnic here. The large neoclassical exhibition/reception hall in the garden was built by the brothers Zappas and so is known as the Zappion. The garden is open daily from 7am to 10pm.

Mount Likavitos Lycabettus, which dominates the northeast of the city, is a favorite retreat for Athenians and a great place to get a bird's-eye view of Athens and its environs-if the nefos smog isn't too bad. Even when the nefos is bad, sunsets can be spectacular here. On top, there's a small Chapel of Ayios Yioryios St. George, whose name-day is celebrated on April 23. Each summer, there are performances at the Lykavitos Theater here, and the expensive Dionysos Café on the summit is usually open all year. You can take the funicular from the top of Odos Ploutarchou between 8am and 10pm it leaves every 20 min. in summer, or walk up from Dexameni Square, which is the route preferred by young lovers and the energetic.

Shopping:
The main shopping districts are in the area bounded by Syntagma, Monastiraki, Omonia, and Kolonaki. Most locals head to the shopping streets that branch off central Syntagma and Kolonaki squares. The Kolonaki quarter, has boutiques and designer shops on fashionable streets near the square like Anagnostopoulou, Tsakalof, Skoufa, Solonos, and Kanari. In general, stores are open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays 9-3, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9-2 and 5:30-8. In summer they often stay open until 8:30, 9 or even 10pm.

Caves
Attica, Village of Peania
tel. 664-29-10
9:30-4 daily

The Peloponnese: Diros Cavern
0733-522-223
Daily 8-2:30

Entertainment:

Hellenic American Union
Odos Massalias 22 between Kolonaki and Omonia squares
01/362-9886
The Hellenic American Union, often hosts performances of English-language theater and American-style music If you arrive early, check out art shows or photo exhibitions in the adjacent gallery.

Dora Stratou Folk Dance Theater
Since 1953, the Dora Stratou Folk Dance Theater has been giving performances of traditional Greek folk dances. Athenians were alarmed in 1998 when Dora Stratou announced that she might have to close her company at the end of the 1998 season unless a promised government subvention materialized. The Dora Stratou troupe is such an institution that it's almost impossible to imagine that performances at the Dora Stratou Theater on Filopappos Hill won't continue. At present, performances take place May through September at 10:15pm, with additional performances at 8:15pm on Wednesday and Sunday. There are no performances on Monday. You can buy tickets at the box office, Odos Scholio 8 in the Pláka, from 8am to 2pm (01/924-4395, or 01/921-4650 after 5:30pm). Prices range from Dr2,500 to Dr3,500 ($8 to $12). Tickets are also usually available at the theater before performances.

Megaron Mousikis Concert Hall
Leoforos Vas. Sofias 89
01/729-0391 01/728-2333
The acoustically marvelous new Megaron Mousikis Concert Hall hosts a wide range of classical-music programs that include quartets, operas in concert, symphonies, and recitals. On performance nights, the box office is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and Sunday from 6pm to 10:30pm. Tickets run Dr1,000 to Dr20,000 ($3.35 to $67), depending on the performance. The Megaron has a limited summer season, but is in full swing the rest of the year.

Olympia Theater
Odos Akadimias 59, at Mavromihali
01/361-2461
The Greek National Opera performs at the Olympia Theater, The summer months are usually off-season.

Pallas Theater
Odos Voukourestiou 1
01/322-8275
The Pallas Theater has many jazz and rock concerts, as well as some classical performances. Prices vary from performance to performance.

Sound and Light Shows:
Seen from the Pnyx, Sound and Light Shows illuminate Athens's history by telling the story of the Acropolis. As lights pick out monuments on the Acropolis and the music swells, the narrator tells of the Persian attack, the Periclean days of glory, the Turkish occupation. Shows are held April through October. Performances in English begin at 9pm and last 45 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the Athens Festival Office, Odos Stadiou 4 (01/322-7944), or at the entrance to the Sound and Light (01/922-6210). Tickets are Dr1,500 ($5) for adults and Dr600 ($2) for students. You'll hear the narrative best if you do not sit too close to the very front.

Athens Events: Athens Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Athens Travel & Tourism, Free Athens Travel Guide Online

The Greek calendar is filled with religious celebrations, cultural festivals, and civic occasions. Those events with roots in Byzantine Greece combine religious belief and national pride in a way unfamiliar to most Americans. Shops may close early for local or national celebrations, and hotels may be booked during major events. Verify the dates of events with the Greek National Tourist Organization GNTO or EOT; Festivals Box Office, 4 Stadiou St., Athens; 01/322-1459 or 01/322-3111 ext. 240.

Dec. 31:
New Year's Eve is the occasion for carol singing by children and the exchange of gifts.

Jan. 1:
The Feast of Saint Basil marks the beginning of the New Year. A special cake, the Vassilopita, is baked with a coin in it, which brings good luck to the finder.

Jan. 6:
Epiphany, the day for blessing the waters, is the occasion for an official ceremony at Athens's harbor, Piraeus.

February 2:
Candlemas An Orthodox feast all over Greece. A quiet time before Lent.

Carnival Sunday:
(first Sunday before Lent) Carnivals take place for 3 weeks leading up to this climax of pre-Lenten activities. There are parades and costume balls in many large cities.

Cxlean Monday:
(immediately after "Cheese Sunday", 7 Sundays before Easter) Kites are flown in the countryside.

Mar. 25:
Independence Day commemorates the call for independence in 1821 by Germanos, the Metropolitan of Patras, which began the uprising in the Peloponnese that eventually freed Greece from Ottoman rule. Today it is marked by parades of the armed forces in Athens.

Holy Week:
March/April (varies) Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday are the most sacred days on the Orthodox calendar. The traditional candlelight funeral processions staged throughout the country on Good Friday are very powerful to watch. Not only do they attest to the strength of the participants' faith, but they link modern Greece with its Byzantine roots, and the soldiers carrying the coffins illustrate the ties between church and government. Processions to churches on the night of Holy Saturday are a memorable sight. Following the midnight ceremony of the Resurrection, the congregations head homeward to feast, with the traditional red-dyed eggs and mayiritsa soup. More red-dyed eggs and roast lamb highlight the feasting on Easter Sunday. Seeing the rituals of Holy Week makes you understand the depth of meaning that the Easter greeting Christos aneste, "Christ is risen," and its response Alithos aneste, "He has indeed risen," has for most Greeks.

April 23:
St. George Day. One of the most important feast days in the Orthodox calendar, commemorating the patron saint of shepherds and marking the start of the grazing season.

May 1:
May Day, also known as Labor Day is a national holiday. Families pick wildflowers in the countryside and make them into garlands with garlic. These are hung on doors, balconies, fishing boats, and hoods of cars to ward off evil. There are parades also and rallies.

May - Sept:
Folk dancing is performed at the amphitheater on Filopappou Hill in Athens.

May 21:
A celebration throughout Greece for Constantine and his mother, Helen, the first Orthodox Byzantine rulers.

Feast of the Ascension:
(40 days after Easter) An important religious feast day.

Whitsunday or Pentecost:
(seven weeks after Orthodox Easter) A feast day celebrated throughout Greece.

June-Sept:
The Athens Festival presents ancient dramas, operas, music, and ballet performed by nationally and internationally famous artists, in the 2nd-century Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the south slope of the Acropolis.

Mid-June-late Aug:
Lycabettus Theater presents a variety of performances in the amphitheater on Lycabettus Hill overlooking Athens.

July 17:
Agía Marína Feast to honor the saint, an important protector of crops.

July 18-20 Profitis Ilias:
The Feast Honoring the Prophet Elijah

August 6:
Feast of the Transfiguration

August 15:
Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A national holiday, and one on which Greeks traditionally return to their home villages for celebrations.

Aug - Sept:
At the Aeschilia festival, ancient dramas are staged at the archaeological site of Eleusis near Athens.

September 8:
Feast of the birth of the Virgin Mary

September 14:
Exaltation of the True Cross

October 26:
Agios Dimítrios: The end of the grazing season when sheep are brought down from the hills.

October 28:
Ochi Day: A national holiday with patriotic parades and much dancing. The day commemorates the reply in 1940 to Mussolini's ultimatum calling for Greek surrender. the answer was a firm: óchi NO!

November 21:
Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple.

November 30:
St. Andrew Pátra feast day.

Athens Facts: Athens Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Athens Travel & Tourism, Free Athens Travel Guide Online

Population:
5,000,000

Time Zone:
Greece's clocks are 6 hours ahead of eastern standard time in the United States, and 1 hour ahead of Greenwich mean time.

Language:
Greek is the native language. Many Greeks know some English, but will appreciate a two-way effort to learn and try basic phrases.

Telephones:
The country code for Greece is 30; the city code for Athens is 01.

The Greek telephone company, the OTE pronounced "oh-tay", has card phones everywhere. Phone cards used for intercity and overseas calls can be purchased at kiosks or the local OTE office. You can also make calls from OTE offices, which have limited hours, and from kiosks . Avoid making calls from your hotel, where the surcharge can be high.

For any international call, you must first dial 00, then the country code 1 for the U.S. and Canada, 44 for England.

Operators and Information
There are English-speaking operators on the International Exchange 161 and 162, and recorded instructions in English, French, and German for making direct international calls on tel. 169. .

The tourist police Dimitrakopoulou 77, tel. 171 can answer questions in English about transportation, direct you to an open pharmacy or doctor, and locate phone numbers of hotels and restaurants.

Average Temperatures

When to Go:
The best time to visit Athens is late spring and early fall. In May and June the days are warm, even hot, but dry, and the sea water has been warmed by the sun. The evenings, are pleasant enough to dine alfresco. For sightseeing or visiting the beach, this is the time to visit. Athens is less crowded in April and early May. Carnavali, just before Lent, and Greek Easter, with its religious processions, lambs, and red eggs, are the highlights of the season.

September and October are an alternative to spring and early summer. Things begin to shut down in November, however, when the winter chill and rains begin. Winter in Greece is deceptive. Any given day may not be very cold. Snow is uncommon in Athens and to the south. The cold is persistent, and the level of heating is not what it is in the US.

Toward the end of July and through August the temperatures climb, pushing the 100°F mark. In the south a dry, hot wind may blow across the Mediterranean from the coast of Africa. The air quality in Athens, which is surrounded on all sides by mountains except in the direction of the harbor and oil refineries of Piraeus, can be unhealthy on especially hot days, and air-conditioning is rare

National Holidays

January 1 New Year's Day

January 6 Epiphany

February/March Shrove Monday

March 25 Independence Day

April/May (varies) Good Friday (Greek Orthodox)

April/May (varies) Easter Monday

May 1 Labor Day

May/June Pentecost Monday

August 15 Assumption of the Virgin

October 28 Ochi Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 St. Stephen's Day

Emergencies:
In an emergency, dial 100 for the police and 171 for the tourist police. Dial 199 to report a fire and 166 for an ambulance and the hospital. If you need an English-speaking doctor or dentist, call your embassy for advice or try SOS Doctor at 01/331-0310. The English-language daily Athens News lists some American and British trained doctors and hospitals offering emergency services.

Newspapers & Magazines:
The Athens News is a daily newspaper published locally in English, with a weekend section "Scope" listing events of interest; it's available at kiosks everywhere for Dr250 80˘. Most central Athens newsstands also carry the International Herald Tribune, which has an English-language insert of highlights from the Greek daily Kathimerini, and USA Today. Local weeklies include the Hellenic Times, with its entertainment listings. The free magazine Athens Today, with information on restaurants, shopping, museums and galleries, is published about six times a year and is usually available in major hotels .

Pharmacies:
Pharmakia, identified by green crosses, are scattered throughout Athens. Hours are usually Monday through Friday from 8am to 2pm. In the evening and on weekends most are closed, but usually post a notice listing the names and addresses of pharmacies that are open or will open in an emergency. Newspapers, including the Athens News, list the pharmacies open outside regular hours.

Radio & Television:
There are 11 major Greek TV stations in Athens and at least two local stations. In addition, foreign-language channels from Italy, Spain, and Germany can be seen, as well as CNN around the clock. Most foreign-language films shown on Greek TV are not dubbed, but have the original soundtracks with Greek subtitles. All current-release foreign-language films shown in Greek cinemas have the original soundtracks with Greek subtitles.

Safety:
Athens is among the safest capitals in Europe, and there are few reports of violent crimes.

Taxes:
A VAT value-added tax of between 4% and 18% is added to everything you buy. Some shops will attempt to cheat you by quoting you one price and then, when you hand over your credit card, adding on a hefty VAT charge. Be wary. In theory, if you are not a member of a Common Market/EU country, you can get a refund on major purchases at Hellenikon airport when you leave Greece.

Tipping:
Athenian restaurants include a service charge in the bill, but many visitors add a 10% tip. Most Greeks do not give a percentage tip to taxi drivers, but often round out the fare.

Equivalent Weights And Measures
1 cm - 0.39 inches
1 meter - 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards
1 km - 0.62 miles
1 liter - 0.26 gallons
1 inch - 2.54 cm
1 foot - 0.39 meters
1 yard - 0.91 meters
1 mile - 1.60 km
1 gal - 3.78 liters

Electricity:
To use your U.S.-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a converter and an adapter. The electrical current in Greece is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current AC; wall outlets take Continental-type plugs, with two round prongs.

Packing:
In the summer bring lightweight, casual clothing and good walking shoes. A light sweater or jacket is a must for cool evenings. There's no need for rain gear in summer, but don't forget sunglasses and a sun hat. Be prepared for cooler weather and some rain in spring and fall, and in winter, add a warm coat.

Casual attire is acceptable everywhere except in the most expensive restaurants in large cities, but you should dress conservatively when visiting churches or monasteries. Some stricter monasteries and churches will not admit men or women men wearing shorts and women in pants, though they often provide long skirts or some sort of draping at the entrance.

For dimly lit icons in churches, a small flashlight comes in handy. A pair of binoculars can greatly enhance the appreciation of an archaeological site or give the tourist a better view of wall paintings in a church, for example.

ATMs:
Automatic teller machines are common at banks throughout Athens, and the National Bank of Greece operates a 24-hour ATM in Syntagma Square. A Warning about ATMs: It is not a good idea to rely on using ATMs exclusively in Athens, since the machines are often out of service when you need them most: on holidays or during bank strikes.

Banks:
Banks are generally open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 2pm and Friday from 8am to 1:30pm. All banks are closed on Greek holidays. Most banks exchange currency at the rate set daily by the government.

Business Hours:
In winter, Athens's shops are generally open Monday and Wednesday from 9am to 5pm; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10am to 7pm; and Saturday from 8:30am to 3:30pm. In summer, shops are usually open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 8am to 3pm; and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8am to 2pm and 5:30 to 10pm.

Most food stores are open Monday and Wednesday from 9am to 4:30pm, Tuesday from 9am to 6pm, Thursday from 9:30am to 6:30pm, Friday from 9:30am to 7pm, and Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Many shops geared to visitors stay open late into the night-but often only if the shop owner thinks that business will be good. In other words, the shop that was open late yesterday may close early today.

Credit Cards:
Many Athenian restaurants do not accept credit cards. Each year, some restaurants that formerly accepted credit cards stop accepting them. Be prepared to pay with cash or traveler's checks at even the finest establishments. If you want to pay with a credit card, double-check to make sure the restaurant will accept your credit card before going.

Currency:
Currency is the Euro (EUR). The notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro. The denominations of coins are 2 euro, 1 euro, 50 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 10 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2 euro cent, and 1 euro cent.

Tipping:
How much to tip in Greece, especially at restaurants, is confusing. By law a 15% service charge is figured into the price of a meal menus sometimes list entrées with and without service, to let you know their net cost. If the service was good, it's customary to reward it by leaving 10% more. For taxis, round up the fare.

Arriving by Plane:

Getting To Athens:

Eleftherios Venizelos International
Athens's International airport, Eleftherios Venizelos International, is located at Spata, 17 miles outside Athens. 01 353 0000.
Since buses run on erratic schedules, the easiest way into town is to take a taxi from immediately outside the terminal. Three 24-hour express bus lines serve the airport and connect with the Metro.

Getting Between The Airport and Piraeus:
Take a taxi from the airport to Piraeus. It is important to know that island boats leave from several different Piraeus harbors. Most ferryboats and hydrofoils Flying Dolphins for Aegina leave from the Main Harbor. Hydrofoils for other islands leave from Marina Zea, a half-hour walk from the Main Harbor. All this makes Piraeus a good place to take a taxi to and from the airport. If you do not know which harbor your boat is leaving from, tell your taxi driver your destination and he can probably find out the harbor and even the pier.

Bus no. 19 runs from the East to the West Terminal and then to Piraeus every hour from 5am to midnight, and every 2 hours from midnight to 5am. The bus will leave you in Karaiskaki Square, several blocks from the harbor.

When making air connections after an island trip: It is unwise to allow anything less than 24 hours between your return to Piraeus by island boat and your departure by air, as rough seas can cause significant delays.

Getting Around:
The Metro subway is designed to allow travel in much of central Athens and beyond. The existing tram line runs from Piraeus to Kifissia, covering only the western part of the city. Most visitors encounter the subway when they take it from Omonia or Monastiraki to Piraeus to catch a boat to the islands. Don't miss the spectacular view of the Acropolis as the subway comes above ground by the Agora. Buy your tickets at the station, validate them in the machines as you enter, and hang on to the ticket. If you're not carrying much luggage, the harbor in Piraeus is a 5-minute walk left from the station.

In Athens there are two principal bus terminals. Coming into Athens from Northern Greece or the Peloponnese, you arrive at Kifissou 100, a ten-minute bus ride from the center. Routes from Central Greece arrive at a terminal at Liossion 260, north of the train stations. From the Piraeus port you can go in almost every inhabited island in the Aegean Sea, as well as to other Mediterranean ports. In Piraeus port is a very large number of regular ferries, hydrofoils and "flying dolphins" which connect the capital with the maritime Greece. From here you can catch ferries to Cyprus, Turkey, Israel and Egypt as well as and cruisers for the same destinations. Attica has two smaller ports, the port of Rafina which connect some Cycladic islands to mainland Greece and the port of Lavrio. Athens public transport networks operate from 5 am to midnight. The public transportation is operated by the buses, the metro, the yellow trolley buses, the blue city buses and the taxis. All these can bring you to the most of the city's sight-seeing with a low fare.

By Car: The highways are very slick when wet, and there are many fatal accidents. Avoid driving in rain and on days preceding or following major holidays.

By Train
Greek trains have a well-earned reputation for being slow and having a limited network. The main line runs north from Athens to the former Yugoslavia, dividing into three lines at Thessaloniki. The main line continues on to Belgrade, a second line goes east to the Turkish border and Istanbul, and a third line heads northeast to Bulgaria. The Peloponnese in the south is served by a narrow-gauge line dividing at Corinth into the Mycenae-Argos route and Patras-Olympia-Kalamata.

Churches and Monasteries:
There is no set schedule when churches and monasteries are open to the public. The best time to find churches unlocked is during mass, especially on Sunday; otherwise try from about 8 AM to noon and 5:30 to 7:30 on any day, unless where noted. The hours for monasteries are dependent upon their keepers, but they are more likely to be open in the morning to early afternoon.

Museums and Sites:
The days and hours for museums and sites vary; they are usually open daily 8-3 except one weekday usually Monday, although in summer, depending on personnel available that year, the hours are extended to as late as 7 PM. The Acropolis is open summer evenings when there is a full moon. On major holidays, most sites and museums are closed; on minor holidays they may have Sunday hours or close at 12:30. The Byzantine Museum, Kerameikos cemetery, and Agora Museum are closed Monday; the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art is closed Tuesday and Sunday. Admission to most museums and archaeological sites is free on Sunday November through mid-March.

The export of antiquities from Greece is forbidden. If any such articles are found in a traveler's luggage, they will be confiscated and the individual will be liable for prosecution. Reproductions of ancient works of art, some of very high quality, can be purchased throughout Greece and may be exported freely.

Athens Kids Activities: Athens Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Athens Travel & Tourism, Free Athens Travel Guide Online

There are usually many new-release American movies showing in central Athens, and a couple of hours in an air-conditioned theater is not a bad way to pass a hot afternoon. Check the English-language daily Athens News or the daily Kathimerini insert in the International Herald Tribune for listings.

The "Scope" section in the weekly Hellenic Times lists activities of interest to children in Athens, including Girl Scout meetings, hiking excursions, and day camps, in its "Kids Corner."

The National Garden:
Is off Syntagma Square and has a very small zoo, several duck ponds, a playground, and lots of room to run around. There's also a Children's Library with books in English and some toys and coloring material adults are usually not allowed to stay with their children. The library is usually open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30am to 3pm, and is closed in August. The National Garden is open from sunrise to well after sunset. There are other small parks and gardens scattered through Athens, but this is the best for children.

Mount Likavitos:
The ride up on the cable-car railway teleferique is often a hit with children. It usually operates every 20 minutes from 10am to 10pm in summer There's a cafe on top that sells ice cream, and children can let off steam by running along any number of paths downhill.

Museum of Greek Musical Instruments:
Dhioyenous 1-3
01/325 0198
Metro: Monastiraki
Tues-Sun. 10-2 Wed. 12-6
This delightful, modern museum has three floors, each devoted to a different type of musical instrument. Headphones allow visitors to listen to recorded examples of each while reading the explanations in either English or Greek. A set of pictures shows how to make music from worry beads and a glass. Parents and older children can enjoy the exhibits together.

Museum of Greek Children's Art:
Odos Kodrou 9, Pláka
01/331-2621
where admission is Dr500 $1.65.
Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 2 and Sunday 11- 2; closed in August.
A good place to check to see if there are any special activities going on. This small museum has changing displays of children's art from throughout Greece, and your children may enjoy seeing what Greek kids like to draw. Workshops for children are offered here, and conducted in Greek.

Children's Museum
Odos Kidathineon 14
There are workshops here the but usually no exhibitions. In addition, there are sometimes Karaghiozis Puppet Shows shadow theater a few doors away at the Greek Folk Art Museum, Odos Kidathineon 17. You don't need to understand Greek to appreciate the slapstick comedy of Karaghiozis.

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