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Access

Metro - You can access the airport via Metro line 3 - Egalio/Airport. Currently, journeys are scheduled every 30 minutes to/from the airport with the following timetable. The Metro is the best way to reach the center of Athens area including Syntagma and Monastiraki.

Suburban Rail - Proastiakos
Airport -> Ano Liosia, Magoula, Kiato
Kiato, Magoula, Ano Liosia -> Airport

The Metro & Suburban Rail train station at the airport is accessed from the departure terminal (level 1) outside the gate 2. There you can buy tickets before accessing the railway platforms. Do not forget to validate your ticket before boarding.

Airport EXPRESS Bus Lines
The bus stop is outside gate 5 at the arrival terminal (level 0), before boarding you need to get a ticket from the kiosk at the bus stop. The following line buses are available on 24 hours basis:
X93 : Kifissos Coach Station - Airport
X95 : Syntagma - Airport
X96 : Piraeus - Airport
X97 : Dafni Metro Station - Airport

Airport Metro & Bus Public Transport Map

METRO

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  There are three Metro lines in Athens [map]:
  
  Metro line number 1 Pireus - Kifisia (Green line) or the Athens Piraeus Electric Railways (ISAP) is more commonly known by Athenians as "ilectriko", distinguishing it from Metro lines 2 ,3. Metro stations of line 1 can be recognized with the following sign.
  
  The first train from Piraeus and Kifisia stations is at 05:00 AM and the last train at 00:15 AM. The first and last scheduled train from intermediate stations between Piraeus and Kifisia can be found in the following document [ §3 page 2 ]
  
  Metro line number 2: Agios Antonios - Agios Dimitrios (red line). - Timetables.
  Metro line number 3: Egaleo - Doukissis Plakentias - Airport (blue line). - Timetables
  Metro line 3 is the best way to reach the airport from the center of Athens. Trains are scheduled on line 3 to/from the airport every half an hour with the following airport route timetable. Trains on line 3 that do not go to the airport have a terminal stop at Doukissis Plakentias Metro station.

TRAM

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  There are three Tram routes [map]:
  
  Line 3: SEF - ASKLIPIO VOULAS
  Line 4: SYNTAGMA - SEF
  Line 5: SYNTAGMA - ASKLIPIO VOULA
  
  The tram operates daily from 05:00 am to 01:00 am. On Fridays and Saturdays it operates from 05:30 am to 02:30 am.
  

BUSES & TROLLEYS

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  The following tables: table1 & table2 gives the available buses and trolleys lines in Athens. In these tables the yellow bus sign indicates a trolley, a blue sign is a bus. Clicking on any line number in the table, will give you further details such as the timetable and a map of the itinerary.
  
  Bus lines number 040 - 500 - 790 - X14 - 11 are available for 24 hours as well as the lines that serve the Airport known as Airport EXPRESS bus lines. Further information and timetables on the 24 hours buses can be found here .
  
  To get on and off a bus or trolley use the middle or rear doors. If your ticket hasn't been already validated, you can do it in one of the validation machines in the bus/trolley you are boarding.

Tickets & Fares

• The most common used ticket is the so called "Integrated ticket" that is valid on all transportation means for 90 minutes. There are a few exceptions: the integrated ticket is not valid on Express bus lines to/from the airport, on Metro and Suburban rail to/from the airport and on E22 bus route between Varkiza-Saronida.
  
  All tickets need to be validated on validation machines before using any transportation mean. These machines are found within the buses and trolleys. On Metro, the validation machines are found at the entry of the stations. Validation machines for trams are found on the boarding platforms.
  
  Further detailed information can be found at the official site of Athens Urban Transportation Organization at the following links: Tickets Prices & Tickets General Information
  
  Tickets are bought from distribution machines found in Metro stations and Tram stops or at ticket offices in Metro stations. At Athens International Airport, you can get a bus ticket from the kiosk outside gate 5, at the arrival terminal (ground level).
  

Athens Transit

• The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA), in collaboration with Google has added to Google maps the complete routes of Athens public transport. From now on, you will be able to schedule your routes and transfers to get from one point to another of the city, using the urban transportion. Link: maps.google.gr/transitathens

Brettos
At the heart of Plaka, Brettos Bar offers to the visitor a delightful decoration with hundreds of colorful liqueur bottles all around its walls. At the bar you have the choice between more than 40 flavors of liqueurs, 7 star brandy, ouzo and wine. Brettos bar is a quite popular among tourists, since it is recommended in most of the guides and is mentioned in many articles.

From Monastiraki metro station Brettos bar is a 20 minute walk across souvenirs shops and restaurants [see map].

See also: Brettos 360 panoramic view.

The James Joyce - Irish Pub
Entering the James Joyce pub you'll forget for a moment that you are in Athens. With native English speaking staff and a great choice of draught beers this place has everything to remind you of an Irish pub. It is located near Thisio Metro station at Astiggos 12 Street, Thisio.

Orea Hellas
This coffee house is located in the center of Monastiraki on the first floor of Pandrosou 36 Street building. It has a beautiful view of the Acropolis of Athens. Beside coffee, you can try one of their Greek 'meze' dishes accompanied with the traditional ouzo.

On the same floor, there are exhibitions rooms with Greek ceramics from the Agean islands and a shop with a variety of Greek decoration objects. The second floor of the building features an exhibition of paintings with title "About the sea". These exhibitions are maintained by the Center of Hellenic Tradition, an independent cultural agency that promotes Greek folk art and traditions.

Hours: Open till 06:00 PM.
Location: Pandrosou 36 Street, Monastiraki
Transit: Monastiraki

Melina
This Café is named after Melina Mercouri, the famous Greek singer, actress and politician. The place is nicely decorated with pictures of Melina, reminding the visitor of her great career. Located at 7 minutes walk from the Museum of Acropolis, it is an excellent place to rest after the museum visit.
Location 22, Lysiou Street, Plaka
Transit: Akropolis

Tzitzikas kai Mermigas
At the center of Athens near Syntagma square, "Tzitzikas kai Mermigas" restaurant offers Greek traditional dishes. It is among the first restaurants to introduce the 'New Greek Cuisine' wave. Indeed, the menu is more refined than a standard Greek 'taverna', making it a good choice for every gourmet.

Location: 12 Mitropoleos Street, Syntagma
Phone: 210 3247607
Price range: Medium
Transit: Syntagma

Gourounakia
The restaurant is located in the northern suburbs of Athens at Othonos 99 Street, Kifisia. It offers Greek specialties like the "souvlaki", pork "gyros" and grilled versions of chicken, pork and veal. Price Range: Medium.
Transit: Kifisia

Pork Chops House on Evripidou Street
These are the kind of restaurants in Athens that specializes only in one dish. The "Minotavros" & "Telis" restaurants at Evripidou Street 86, serves only grilled pork chops. Each dish contains three chops with French fries. You may order a Greek salad with Feta cheese called "Xoriatiki". With half a liter of house wine, the all cost 13 euros a person.

Evripidou Street area is not a touristic area. Although the restaurants are well known among Athenians, we usually don't hang out there late by night. The best time to go there is for launch the afternoon. The restaurants are best accessed by foot from Monastiraki station through the Psiri neighborhood [see map].
Price Range: Low.
Reviews: Tripadvisor
Transit: Monastiraki or Thisio

Altamira - Ethnic Food
If you want to taste something different than Greek cuisine in Athens, then Altamira is the perfect alternative. There you''ll have the choice between Mexican, Arabian, Asian and Indian specialties. The restaurant located at Tsakalof 36, Kolonaki, offers a beautiful and calm atmosphere for a romantic dinner.
Price Range: High
Reviews: Tripadvisor
Transit: Syntagma

Ouzo Melathron
The origins of this restaurant are from the city of Thessaloniki in the North of Greece. It is very popular and considered one of the must-eat places in the city. In Athens, the restaurant does not get the same credit as Thessaloniki. However, it offers something different from a traditional Greek taverna. You'll find there a big choice of small dishes called "mezez" in Greek. A lot of the proposed dishes contain melted cheese. They even have a 'Fondue' specialty with Greek cheese, don't expect it thought to be close in taste to the well known national Swiss 'Fondue'.
Ouzo Melathron is located in Thisio area at Agiou Filippou 10 Street.
Price Range: Medium.
Reviews: Tripadvisor
Transit: Thisio or Monastiraki.

Diporto
In Greek, Diporto means two doors. Indeed, this restaurant has two entry doors, one on Theatrou Street and the other on Sokratous Street. Once there, you'll just notice the doors, there are no any signs with the name of the restaurant. You'll have to walk down the stairs to discover the restaurant space with the lined up wine barrels. The restaurant specialty are grilled sardines with chickpea soup, there are also other two or three main dishes according to the day. The restaurant is very well known and referenced in many guides, so most probably you'll find a lot of tourists there. The restaurant is open for launch and usually closes between 05:00 pm and 06:00 pm.
Location: Sokratous 9, Athens
Price Range: Low
Transit: Monastiraki or Omonia.

Taverna Psara

This Taverna has all to please a tourist. The atmosphere is relaxing and very quite. In summer time, some of the outdoor tables on the terrace offer a nice view of Athens Lykavitos Hill. The food is what you could expect from a traditional Greek Taverna, there you have the choice between sea food and other Greek specialties like grilled lamb chops, Pastissio, stuffed tomatoes and many more. The restaurant is somehow difficult to find in Plaka, so make sure you use the map in the location link below.
Location: 16, Erechtheos Street Plaka.
Price Range: Medium
Reviews: Tripadvisor
Transit: Monastiraki or Akropolis.

Acropolis Museum
Location
Transit: Akropolis
See also: 360 Panoramic view of the new Acropolis Museum


National Archaeological Museum
Opening hours & Tickets
Location
Transit: Victoria



Benaki Museum
The oldest private museum founded by Antonis Benakis. Its permanent collection at the main building on Koumpari Street contains items from the Greek antiquity to the modern state of Greece (1830). The building on 138 Peireos Street hosts different events ranging from photography, architecture to contemporary art exhibitions. Finally, the building complex at Agion Asomaton 22, Kerameikos exhibits a collection of Islamic art.

Museum of Ancient Agora
Transit: Thisio

Illias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
This museum is devoted to the art of jewelry and the decorative arts.
Transit: Acropolis

Numismatic Museum, Athens
Transit: Syntagma

Cycladic Art Museum
Transit: Evagelismos

National gallery
Transit: Evagelismos

Athens 3rd Biennale
23/10 - 11/12 2011.

The Athens Concert Hall (Megaro Mousikis)

Greek National Opera

National Theater of Greece

National Gallery

Technopolis - Gazi - Greek only
This is a concert and exhibition space. Check next cultural events here.

Transit: Kerameikos

Onasis Cultural Center

Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
The foundation goal is the creation of a modern cultural institution which would engage in the study, support and promotion of the Performing Arts, particularly Theatre and Cinema. The founder "Michael Cacoyannis" is a well known international filmmaker. Among the films he directed is "Zorba the Greek" with actor Anthony Quinn.

Acropolis
The Acropolis at the center of Athens is the major touristic attraction of the city. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The walk to the Acropolis through Thisio allows you to admire the Parthenon from different angles as you slowly reach the top of the hill. The alternative path, is from Acropolis Metro station, which is closer and passes in front of the New Acropolis Museum.
Transit Thisio or Akropolis

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The tomb is guarded constantly by two Evzone soldiers dressed in unique traditional uniforms (see picture). The ceremony of Changing the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier occurs every hour. Every Sunday, at 11:00 am, the official guard change takes place with the presence of a platoon of Evzones. It is a major touristic attraction that is worth attending.

More detailed information on the Evzones and the ceremony of the Changing of Guard can be found here and on Wikipedia.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located at Sytagma Square at the foot of the Greek Parliament,

Athensfever on Flickr
Athens city as seen by Flickr photographers.


Athens Street Art - Flickr
Pictures of Athens street art on Flickr. Featuring Brazilian artists: Os Gemeos, Nunca and Nina. and Greek artists: Alexandros Vasmoulakis, b., Joad, Dreyk the Pirate, Kasapis and many others.


Breathtaking Athens - Facebook
Visiting and travel info on Athens. Their site breathtakingathens.com has for objective to promote the city of Athens. Watch their introductory video on YouTube

Yes Hotels in Greece - Flickr
YES!HOTELS is a Greek Hotel Chain, which includes Semiramis, Twentyone and Kefalari Suites in Kifissia and Periscope Hotel in Kolonaki, Athens. You will find in this Flickr page pictures of these hotels featuring the Semiramis hotel which is designed by Karim Rashid.

The Benaki Museum - Facebook

The Athens Center - Facebook
The Athens Center is a focal point for academic and cultural activities in Greece. It also offers instruction in Modern Greek on a year-round basis to adults of all nationalities.

Living in Greece - Twitter
Provides breaking news about Greece and tips to the visitor. It is maintained by Kat, an American journalist living in Athens. Her website: Living in Greece is a great practical reference with accurante information for the traveler in Greece.

Life in Athens - Twitter
By Thalia Geladaki. Her blog lifeinathens.com talks about fashion, arts and everyday life in Athens.

TEDxAcademy Facebook
TEDxAcademy is an Athens, Greece based programme that aims to bring people together to share a TED-like experience. See also their site www.tedxacademy.com.

Chic tooth Blogspot
Lifestyle in Athens.

Athens Slurp N Tell
All you need to know about food in Athens.

There are many free WiFi hot-spots in Athens. Most of these are located in coffee shops or bars. The municipality of Athens also provides free access to the internet in three main areas in Athens. These are:

- Syntagma Square
- Thissio
- Kotzia Square


For more information please visit Athenswifi site.

I usually go to the Attica Zoological Park on a one day excursion in weekends. It is located at Spata which is about one hour drive from the center of Athens. You will find in a 20 hectares area a big variety of animals including birds, bears, monkeys, lions, reptiles and dolphins, making it an ideal place for children and for photography. I don't think that as a tourist in Athens, you will want to visit the zoological park. However, if you are in Athens with children and have nothing to do, then this is a good destination. The park is also very close to the Athens International Airport (map). If for any reason your flight gets delayed for one day, then all you have to do is rent a car and go at the zoo :)

Katie Rask, a student who spent some time in Athens, describes in her blog Antiquated Vagaries three itineraries for jogging in Athens, I thought these worth mentioning:
Jogging in Athens #1: The Olympic Stadium
Jogging in Athens #2: The University Run
Jogging in Athens #3: Lykabittos Hill

Other good places for Jogging in Athens are:

Alsos Neas Smyrnis
The park has one jogging path that makes a 840m (2756ft) loop with a slight elevation range. At the center of the park there is a coffee shop and children playgrounds. The high trees provides shade along the path, which makes this place very popular for jogging among the resisents of the area, specially in summer time.

The National Garden of Athens located in the center of Athens near Sintagma square.

If you like jogging you might want to take part at the Athens Classic Marathon. The course (see MAP) start at the city of Marathonas and ends at the Panathinaiko Stadium (Kalimarmaro in Greek). Other races, organized the same day, are the 5 Km race and the 10 Km race.

Municipality of Athens
http://www.cityofathens.gr/en/

Athens Weather
http://www.meteo.gr
Athens Center Weather

White pages
OTE White pages

Yellow pages
http://www.xo.gr

Scroutz.gr - Greek only
Get the lowest price for a product you want to buy on Skroutz.gr in more than 600 shops.

Shop & Save - Greek only
On this site you can compare prices for food products in Athens supermarkets.

Athinorama.gr - Greek only
The weekly guide of Athens. Everything you want to know about restaurants, concerts, events, movie theaters can be found here.

Rollout.com - Greek only
First city guide to Athens for disabled persons.

stockadika.gr - Greek only
A list of stock houses in Athens.

ForFree
A site with a guide to free events in the city.

Athens Transport
The latest info on Athens transport. The Greek version of this site is more updated than the English version.

This section is reserved to people I've met and impressed me by the quality of their work. It is more intended for the residents of Athens rather tourists.

George Michalas - Photographer
By only visiting George Michalas web site, I'm sure you'll be impressed by the quality of his photography. Beside your wedding day, Michalas will dedicate a whole day for shooting you in a place of your choice. That is because, the day of your wedding, you are a little bit stressed, and the pictures are never as good as they should be - Michalas says. The result is always close to style and fashion photography you ever dreamed of having.

Vangelis Elefsiniotis - Hardwood Floor Technician
I called on Vagelis Elefsiniotis services when I moved to my new home. The hardwood floor was worn and needed a refinishing. I selected Vangelis because he is the only one that explained to me that the process needs time and patience. Six days later my 100 m2 hardwood floor was as good as new. Below some pictures of Vagelis working in my house.

Parking in the center of Athens is payable for visitors, it is free for locals. More detailed information can be found here [Greek only]

Blue line parking: Free parking for locals.

White line parking: Payable parking for visitors on weekdays from 9 am to 9 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.

Map of the parking places in the center of Athens can be viewed here.

Athens traffic reports by the Greek Police provide real-time updates on traffic road conditions. The same information on a map can be found at ntua.gr or ploigos.gr (Greek only).

http://www.squidoo.com/athens-maps
This is a handy page that contains links of maps that you'll need during your stay in Athens, Greece.

http://www.acropolis.gr/
The Acropolis of Athens live!

Syntagma Square Live

Gazi Web Cam

http://www.pireas.gr/
Webcam live from Piraeus - Athens.

http://www.ymittosmeteo.gr/camera.htm
Imittos weather station web cam.

http://www.kyklogenesis.gr/drupal/node/191
Athens Weather Live from Hlioupolis.

http://pireas.meteoclub.gr/
Piraeus/Zefiros weather station web cam.

www.webcameras.gr
A lot of web cameras here in the Attica area.

Summer movie theaters

Cine Thisio
This open air movie theater has been selected by CNN as the world's best movie theater. From your seat at this movie theater, not only you can watch a movie but you'll have a faboulous view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

Pharmacies in Athens are open during normal business hours:

Monday & Wednesday: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Saturday & Sunday: closed

If you need a pharmacy during the weekend or outside the opening hours, the following MAP will show you the on duty pharmacies and hospitals in Athens.

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• Strikes are quite common these days in Greece. The following sites give a detailed snapshot of the scheduled strikes:
  http://www.apergia.gr/index.php - (Greek only)
  http://apergies.gr/ - (Greek only)
  http://livingingreece.gr/strikes/
  
  Other links:
  Q & A: Strikes in Greece.
  

Get Those tourists to Greece CNN Video.

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