kid friendly athens - luxury link...acropolis, through the quaint neighborhood of plaka, the flea...

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Kid Friendly Athens

Athens, 5 Days

Table of contents:Guide Description 2

Itinerary Overview 3

Daily Itineraries 4

My List 15

Athens Snapshot 17

http://www.nileguide.com/destination/athens/trips/kid-friendly-athens/7553977

Guide Description

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AUTHOR NOTE: Here is a compiled list of some of the mostfamily-friendly places Athens has to offer. There is a suggesteditinerary based on location to simplify logistics and organizingtransportation. Here are a few additional details:..-The Attica Zoo is very near the Venizelos Airport, making it aworthwhile visit if you have some time after arriving or beforedeparting...- A walk through the National Garden will produce lovelysurprises. Fish, turtles, flowers, and a little reading room amongthe many...-- Attending a football game at the Olympiakos, KaraiskakiStadium might be an investment but it can also be one of themost memorable events you'll have. Ever!..- In terms of accommodations, The Ava Hotel is recommendeddue to it's large, apartment like rooms making them well suited totraveling families. The Baby Grand has whimsy and fun that kidswill appreciate.

Itinerary Overview things to do

restaurants

hotels

nightlife

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Day 1 - Athens

Attica Zoological ParkDolphins and monkeys and bears, oh my!

Day 2 - Athens

Athens PlanetariumViewing Space

Kifissia/Piraeus RailwayNorth to South in fifty minutes or more.

Karaiskaki StadiumHistorical Stadium

Day 3 - Athens

Greek Children's MuseumThe best way to keep little hands busy in Plaka.

The Sunshine ExpressThe little train that could.

Museum of Greek Children's ArtMuseum of the young, gifted, and expressive.

Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery MuseumA jewelry lovers museum

Hard Rock Cafe AthensA Tribute to Rock Music

Day 4 - Athens

Goulandris Museum of Natural History(The)From fossils to rare plants

Spathario Museum of Shadow TheatreHand-held puppets

Goody'sGreek Food, Fast!

Day 5 - Athens

Hellenic CosmosA virtual reality trip to Ancient Greece

Allou Fun ParkWhen you're sick of stones and museums...

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Day 1 - AthensQUICK NOTE

contact:tel: +30 210 663 4724http://www.atticapark.gr

location:YalouAthens Attica 190 04

hours:Daily 9a-sunset

1 Attica Zoological Park

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:The zoo is very near the airport. You can easily fit itin before a mid-afternoon to early evening flight byarranging a private transfer with a taxi or minibus.

DESCRIPTION: For a zoo that is only ten years old, Greece'sfirst and only zoo sure has made a name for itself. Startedby a Frenchman, Jean-Jacques Lesueur, the park's firstclaim to fame was their bird collection, the third largest in theworld. Year by year it has grown into two thousand varietiesof birds living in walk-in aviaries, a reptile house, fauna fromfour continents including brown bears, white tigers, giraffes,monkeys, lions, hippos, free-range rabbits, a petting zoo, anupcoming dinosaur park and aquarium of "international stature,"and the newly installed dolphinarium, the only one of its kind inGreece.Four dolphins and two sea lions are some of the latest additionto the park and are currently being trained for special showsthat will take place in the near future. For now they're beingstudied by researchers working with the Catalonian Polytechnicand the SaveWave company, both working to better understandthe dolphins' auditory perception as well as possible therapeuticrelationships between dolphins and children with autism.Educational presentations in the dolphinarium are offered twoto three times a day for an extra three euros on top of the park's

Attica Zoological Park

Day 1 - continued...

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admission. Check their website or call for exact hours as theychange seasonally.Necessary information on the park:Hours9am to sunset, 365 days a year.Presentation hours for the dolphinarium from 31/10/2010 until26/03/2011Weekdays 11:30 and 15:30 Saturday 11:00 13:30 15:30Sunday and holidays (06/01/2011, 07/03/2011,25/03/2011) 11:00 12:30 14:00 15:30Prices:Adults: € 15Children under three and the disabled are offered freeadmission.Children until the age of twelve get a discounted rate of € 11.Groups of twenty-five or more are also offered the discountedrate.Family passes are offered at €48 and for two adults + twochildren€58 for two adults + three children.*There are places to buy sandwiches, drinks and tiropita(cheese pies) as well as welcoming picnic places for somethingthat you brought along with you.© NileGuide

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contact:tel: +30 21 0 946 9641fax: +30 21 0 943 0171http://www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp

location:Singru 387Paleo Faliro 17564

1 Athens Planetarium

DESCRIPTION: Enjoy a 360-degree, 3D view of space atthe Athens Planetarium. Located in Paleo Faliro, this 280-seat interactive digital planetarium is the biggest of its kind inthe world and is equipped with the latest technology. Enjoy acloser look at space from the comfort of your chair! The high-budget IMAX and OMNIMAX film productions will also be airedhere on huge screens that are ten times the average size! ©wcities.com

Evgenides Foundation

contact:tel: 210 5194 012http://www.amel.gr

location:Athens Ece

Kifissia/Piraeus RailwayOUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:Beware: certain stations are usually under construction thesedays and can either cause delays or interruptions that mightend in being funneled out of the train and onto a bus.

DESCRIPTION: Part of this track is the oldest in Athens, dating back to1869. It runs the length of the Port of Piraeus to lush and pricey Kifissia,with twenty two stops in between. Among the stops, some of the moreinteresting include the Faliro stop, running directly underneath home topopular Olympiakos football club, Karaiskakis stadium , the Monastriakiand Thissiou stations that lead immediately to the Ancient and Romanagoras and popular flea markets, and the Victoria station, the neareststation to the Archaeological museum.

editor


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The Piraeus Station is housed in a nineteenth century building that wasrestored for the Olympic Games. It gives access to the train museum andthe Piraeus Archaeological Museum. The Kifissia Station gives access tothe Goulandris natural museum.© NileGuide

contact:tel: +30 210 481 8440http://www.karaiskaki.gr/

location:Karaoli Dimitriou -SophianopoulouAthens Attica 16675

2 Karaiskaki Stadium

DESCRIPTION: The Karaiskaki Stadium, with a seatingcapacity of 33,000, is one of the largest football stadiums inGreece and the second largest stadium in Athens. A completelymodern football stadium, it is home to one of Greece's mostprestigious clubs-Olimpiacos. Karaiskaki was built in 1895 as avelodrome for the first Olympic Games that took place in 1896.The stadium is located south of the city center in Neo Faliro.Only the museum is open to visitors. © wcities.com

Paige Moore

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contact:tel: +30 210 331 2995fax: +30 210 331 2995http://www.hcm.gr

location:14 Kydathineon StreetAthens Attica 105 58

1 Greek Children's Museum

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:The large team of staff and volunteers frequentlycoordinate special events and educational walksthroughout the year. Call or email for an up to dateprogram.

DESCRIPTION: The Hellenic Children's museum was foundedin 1987 by a group of experts in child development with thephilosophy that direct experiences and entertainment supportlearning. Located in a restored neoclassical building in historicPlaka, it is dedicated to children from four to twelve years ofage with a large number of hands-on interactive exhibits. Whilemuch of the written information is in Greek, there's plenty ofactivities that require no language at all and allow kids to play,research, think, experiment, create and observe.*Read the NileGuide Local Flavor Blog featuring the HellenicChildren's Museum's start of the 2010/2011 season for a morein-depth look at what they do.© NileGuide

editor


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contact:tel: +30 210 8213185http://www.sunshine-express.gr/Welcome_Page.htm

location:Aiolou Street, Plateia Agoras

The Sunshine ExpressDESCRIPTION: The little blue and white "Sunshine Express"is the best way to get an overview of the historical section ofAthens without ruining your Greek sandals. It runs all alongAeropagitou street, the pedestrian road circling the base of theAcropolis, through the quaint neighborhood of Plaka, the fleamarket of Monistiraki, past the Roman and ancient Agoras, theAcropolis and the New Acropolis Museum. Raise your hand toget on, flag the attention of the driver to get off... it's Greece.The rules are flexible. Five euros for adults for a one hour ride(hop on and off service) and free for small children (who reallyreally love it.) Short commentary is offered over a loudspeakerin five languages. © Travelmuser

editor

contact:tel: +30 210 331 2621 / +30210 331 2750fax: +30 210 331 3734http://www.childrensartmuseum.gr/

location:9 Kodrou StreetAthens Attica 105 58

2 Museum of Greek Children's Art

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:Free admission for children.

DESCRIPTION: Picasso said, "It took me four years to paint like Raphaeland a lifetime to paint like a child." Two museums in the world were amongthe first in recognizing the value of children's art to the extent of makingit the focus of their collection, and one of those is in Athens, Greece. Theaim of the museum is to preserve, study, and promote children's art aswell as encouraging development in the young artists and art educators. Children will enjoy seeing work of other children their own age.There are also activity workshops most months of the year held everySunday from 10am to 11:30. While most classes are in Greek, bilingualinstructors can assist English speaking children.© NileGuide

editor

contact:tel: +30 210 922 1044 / +30210 922 7260fax: +30 210 923 7358http://www.lalaounis-jewelrymuseum.gr/

location:12 KalisperiAthens Attica 11742

hours:Mon and Thurs-Sat 9am-4pm;Wed 9am-9pm (free after3pm); Sun 10am-4pm

3 Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:Free on Wednesdays from 3-5. Free admission ALWAYS forchildren under 10, teachers, journalists and members of theDiplomatic Corps.

DESCRIPTION: Anyone who appreciates attention to detail, artistry andcraftsmanship will enjoy a visit to one of the world's only jewelry museumswhere 4,000 creations of its founder, Ilias Lalounis, gleam brilliantlyfrom display cases. You'll see all of the cultural and historical points ofreference from which he drew inspiration, such as earrings inspired byan ivory plaque from Samaria, decorated with the motif of the sacred treeof life, or a pendant taken from the folds of a "chiton" an ancient Greekgarments. The third level is given to temporary exhibitions by local artistsand the first level has a protected courtyard for refreshments, rooms forspecial workshops (some directed specifically toward children) and a giftshop that sells fashion books, children's books, hats, t shirts, ceramics,silk scarves, and, hm... oh yes! World class jewelry.

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Hours are 9-9 on WednesdayThr, Fri, Sat 8:30-4Sunday 11-4closed on MondaysAcropolis Metro is a two minute walk. Located on Karyatidon andKallisperi streets, just off of Dionysiou Areopagitou St.© NileGuide

contact:tel: +30 210 325 2758http://www.hardrock.com/

location:18 Filellinon StreetAthens 10557

4 Hard Rock Cafe Athens

DESCRIPTION: Hard Rock Cafes all over the world are well known for the style and extravagantinteriors, suited for a rock cafe. Wood is an essential element in the interiors and the florid wallsshow off memorabilia of the legendary rock stars. It's a spacious three storeyed cafe with arestaurant and an elaborate American and Mexican fusion menu. Nachos, quesadillas, fajitas,burgers, barbecue and of course spirits and wines. The spaces are available for private parties,events and performances as well. Like every Hard Rock Cafe around the world, there's a RockMerchandise shop where souvenirs and gifts can be bought. The restaurant is open daily from 10a.© wcities.com

MY NOTE: If you're dealing with picky eaters that need recognizable food, the Hard Rock Cafe willbe a comforting delight. The hamburgers are great.

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contact:tel: +30 210 801 5870 / +30210 808 6405fax: +30 210 808 0674http://www.gnto.gr/pages.php

location:Levidou Street 13Athens Attica 145 62

1 Goulandris Museum of NaturalHistory (The)

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:Stick around in Kifissia for lunch. The cafes,restaurants and tavernas around the leafy mainsquare provide a nice change from the busier feel ofAthens.

DESCRIPTION: A wealth of information on the natural historyof Greece can be found in this museum situated in the northernsuburb of Kifissia. Its aim is not just to educate school studentsand adults about the evolution of life and the environmentalchanges observed over thousands of years but also to raisethe public's ecological awareness. Most interesting is themuseum's collection of fossils, mammals, birds, reptiles, insectsand shells as well as the great variety of rocks and mineralson display. Among the 200,000 plant species exhibited hereare 145 species which were discovered by the museum's ownresearchers. © wcities.com

Nikalaos S Karastathis


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contact:tel: +30 210 612 7245fax: +30 210 612 7206http://www.karagiozismuseum.gr/en/index.htm

location:Kastalias SquareAthens Attica 151 24

hours:M-F 9a-2p, W 9a-2p and6p-8p

2 Spathario Museum of ShadowTheatre

DESCRIPTION: Greece has a long tradition of shadow theatreor Karagiozis, which is played out using transparent puppetsagainst white screens. This art form has entertained manygenerations with its funny stories and political satire, withchildren possibly enjoying the performances the most. Themuseum—which is located in the northern suburb of Maroussi—features a rich collection of puppets made by members ofthe Spatharis family who are renowned Karagiozis players. Themuseum's collection also includes puppets from Indonesia,Thailand, Turkey and China—where this form of entertainmentoriginated. Unfortunately, Karagiozis performances are notheld at the museum, but it does hosts a 5-day festival everySeptember. © wcities.com

Courtesy of true-athens.com

contact:http://www.goodysnet.com/page/default.asp

location:Athens Ece

hours:11:30am-late

Goody'sDESCRIPTION: Watch out, golden arches. Thanks to Goody's,the people of Greece have "fast" food that is based on theirtraditional diet of olive oil, vegetables, and trustworthy meat.While the menu has all of the usual suspects you would expectfrom a fast food restaurant, (cheeseburgers, chicken tenders,fries, kids meals) Goody's prides itself on quality. Based on thecrowds at any given time of the day, it seems that it's working.Some of the best features include a self service salad bar withbig blocks of feta cheese and a bottle of olive oil to use at yourdiscretion, freshly baked bread, the aforementioned kids mealsand occasionally, play areas for the kids.There are 172 restaurants all over Greece. 72 of them are inAttica, four directly in the heart of the city center in four majorsquares:Monastiraki Square on Ermou StreetKolonaki Square on Irodotou Street17 Stadiou Street just down from Kolokotroni Squareand Omonia Square in a restored neoclassical building.There is also one just next to the Ledra Marriott again acrossfrom the Syngrou-Fix metro station, both on Syngrou Avenue.© NileGuide

editor

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contact:tel: +30 212 254 0000fax: +30 212 254 0123http://www.hellenic-cosmos.gr/ and http://www.fhw.gr/index_en.html

location:254 PireosTavros 17778

hours:Hours in flux. Check beforevisiting

1 Hellenic Cosmos

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:Check out the new virtual reality theater showing afilm that brings the Ancient Agora to life.

DESCRIPTION: New at Hellenic Cosmos is the Tholos - adome-shaped virtual reality theater with a 130 person seatingcapacity. Virtual reality technology is employed at this culturalcentre to recreate scenes from antiquity. Visitors can walkthrough several virtual reality presentations which will takethem back to cities of the Ancient World. They could chooseto visit the majestic Zeus Temple in Ancient Olympia or elsea Byzantine palace. Visitors can also look around exhibitions,stop by the museum shop or relax at the Internet café. Call orvisit the website for show schedules. © wcities.com

Courtesy of Hellenic Cosmos

contact:tel: 210-4256999,210-4256994http://www.alloufunpark.gr

location:Kanapitseri Street 5, AgiosIoannis RentisAthens

2 Allou Fun Park

DESCRIPTION: An amusement park, pure and simple. Goplay the classics, the things that light up when you hit themwith mallets, carousels, roller coasters, or go shopping in someof the name brand shops. Several franchised coffee placesand eateries are there if you don't feel like leaving. There'sa fantastic, super stereo, mega-huge screen featuring majorfilms (mostly English speaking with Greek subtitles) and aspecial park for the kiddoes aged 3-8 called "The Kidom."

Konstantinos Efremidis


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Open from 5pm until 12/1 on weekdays and 10am to same onweekends. Take the B18, Γ18 bus or 21 trolley from OmoniaSquare or several buses from Piraeus (420,703,801,802,803,804, 828,831,845,909) © Travelmuser

My List

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contact:tel: +30 210 3250900fax: +30 210 3250920http://www.classicalhotels.com/babygrandhotel/

location:65 Athinas StreetAthens 10552

1 Classical Baby Grand Hotel

OUR LOCAL EXPERT SAYS:As fantastic as the hotel is, the area can be a bit sketchy inthe evenings. Take precautions when walking around anddon't carry all of your valuables.

DESCRIPTION: Ever walked into a hotel to be greeted by stuffedmonkeys swinging from paper vines? What about finding the receptionistsitting behind a full size MiniCooper, retrofitted to serve as a desk? TheClassical Baby Grand Hotel has a wildly unique vision, filling each of its76 rooms with unexpected touches. The "Graffiti" rooms have originalartwork painted directly on the walls by ten international Graffiti artists.Kids are made welcome with many amenities directed toward parents,including the use of Bugaboo strollers and Stokke baby cots. The colorfulbreakfast room and indoor swimming pool are also popular with theyounger generation. There's even a Spiderman room.Classical Baby Grand is part of the Classical Chain of hotels, operated bywell-established Grecotel.Location.In Athens's Omonia neighborhood, this hotel is close to Athens CityHall, Kotzia Square, and Omonia Square. Also nearby are NationalArchaeological Museum of Athens and Roman Agora.© NileGuide

more photos onHotels.com

contact:tel: +30 210 320 9000fax: +30 210 3259001http://www.avahotel.gr/

location:9-11 Lyssikratous StreetPlakaAthens 105 51

2 AVA Hotel, Apartments & Suites

DESCRIPTION: The AVA Hotel, Apartments & Suitesunderwent a major renovation in January 2010. Its outstandingneo-classic Greek architecture blends perfectly with the tranquiland exclusive district of Plaka and its surroundings. The hotelwas built with flavour and flair for the discerning visitor toAthens, offering all the amenities, comfort and services of adeluxe hotel, plus the exclusiveness and privacy of a privatehome. Hotel AVA is located in the Plaka area of Athens, oneof the city's most exclusive districts, just below the Acropolisand only a few steps from the Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus,Hadrian's Arch and the other exquisite monuments of Greekcivilization. Only minutes away are the Greek Parliament, OldOlympic Stadium, National Gardens and Athens' top shoppingareas. Popular with business and leisure travellers seekingpersonalized care and 'home away from home' qualities, AVAHotel guarantees a comfortable stay in a private and discreetenvironment. Being self contained, all apartments and suitesare ideal for pleasant short or long stays in Athens. Pleasenote that smoking is not allowed in all public areas and that allapartments and suites are non-smoking. © Hotels.COM

more photos on Hotels.com

My List - continued...

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contact:tel: +30 210 4903163

location:4 Siokou StreetAthens Ece

3 Athens Railway Museum

DESCRIPTION: A museum for train enthusiasts, lovers of oldthings, clock-punk Victoriana types and anyone with a littletime to kill before their ferry to the islands departs. 19th centurytools, gears, uniforms and tickets, restored and stuffed intothe former steel workshop of the then Peloponnese Railway inPiraeus. See old steam engines, wagons for royalty, and theimpressive smoking car of the Sultan Abdul Aziz of the OttomanEmpire, a gift from a French queen and taken as a trophy bythe Greeks in the Balkan Wars.Metro: Piraeus StationAdmission FreeTuesday-Friday: 09.00-13.00Monday: ClosedSaturday-Sunday: 10.00-13.00 © NileGuide

K. Krallis

Athens Snapshot

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Local InfoThe warrior Goddess of wisdom, Athena,once gifted to the people an olive tree. Shepromised it would bring them prosperity.To thank her they named the city in herhonor and dedicated temples to the virgingoddess, the"Parthenos"or"maiden" onthe place known around the world as theAcropolis. Those temples are still standing on thesacred rock high above the surroundingstreets, alive with yellow cabs and honkinghorns, leather vendors and leatherylaturna organ players, gypsy balloonsellers, ancient theatres, modern theatres,snap-happy tourists, street performersin cobblestone squares, posh cafes,souvlaki stands, evzones, flower, fishand flea markets, sweeping views fromhilltops, caves of furies, fruit vendors andtri-wheeled trucks driven by"paliotzis," thecollector of old things...weaving in andbetween the towers of white concrete andneoclassical facades.

Athenians are generous, helpful soulson one side, opinionated rebels on theother, but wholly colorful.They are famousthroughout the world for their intellect andhospitality. They love to share their storiesof heroism and tragedy while displayingtheir love of simple pleasures: good foodfrom the earth and surrounding themselveswith friends and family.

No one can wonder Athens has attractedtravelers for the last two millenniums, orwhy in spite of every kind of trouble, shewill continue to draw visitors throughout thenext.

Syntagma Square"Syntagma" means"constitution" in Greek.It is the place where the citizens of the citystood outside of the palace and demandedtheir rights. Today, still, it is where all ofthe action is, always a buzz with taxis,shoppers, people sitting at cafes, and,yes, the occasional demonstration. CrossAmelias Avenue to watch the Evzoneschange post every hour on the hour.

Feed the pigeons or dip into the NationalGarden for some shade. It is home to themagnificent Hotel Grand Bretagne otherfive star hotels and is the starting point ofthe pedestrian shopping district of ErmouStreet. The Syntagma Metro station is likea museum, full of archeological treasuresfound during construction. It provides easyaccess to the Acropolis Metro station andthe Panepistimiou station along the red line.The blue line takes you to the airport.Plaka

What once was called the"Turkish Quarter"is now affectionately titled"Plaka," andis the area for wandering amidst narrowcobblestone roads, low, hundred-year-old houses, pots of basil and rosemary,traditional Greek eateries or"tavernas" andmore souvenir shops than you can shake astick of souvlaki at.Some areas of Plaka have been inhabitedfor thousands of years. Walk down TripodonStreet to see the Lysicrates monumentand follow it to the Theater of Dionysus,one access into the mighty Acropolis. Orhead up toward Anafiotika to get lost in anisland in the middle of the city. Plaka is pureromance.

Monastiraki

Monastiraki, or"little Monastery" is alwaysa great place for people watching. Thecourtyard and narrow roads that lead tothe Roman Agora are always full of streetperformers, artists and antique vendors.Go on Sundays for treasure hunting atAvyssinias Square, or just wander aroundthe flea market any day of the week. Buyfresh fruit from the kiosk and enjoy it whilegazing at the remains of Hadrian's Libraryor the Tower of the Winds. Jump on theKifissia/Piraeus railway for a nostalgictrain ride to the very north or very south ofAthens, respectively.

Psirri, Thissio and Gazi

Psirri has been home to the free thinkersand Bohemians since the start of the 20thcentury, when sad-eyed Rembetika singersbelted their woes to the accompanimentof a line of instrumentalists, all sitting in

wooden chairs while people smoked anddrank beneath the stage. While it still holdsa certain grungy appeal to the modern-day Bohemian, the streets are lined withtrendy cafes and eateries that make it alsopalatable to more mainstream visitors, oreven those with a dazzled eye pointedtoward the"live for the day" world of theartists and non-conventionalists of Psirri.Thissio, on the other hand, is a wellsculpted garden surrounding the AncientAgora and is well known for its poshplaces to enjoy a beverage for a fewhours with a view on the Acropolis. Theexpansive pedestrian road of ApostolouPavlou(Apostle Paul) circles around untilit connects with Aereopagitou, making forlovely strolls.The pedestrian road ends atthe ancient cemetery of Keramikos. Fromhere you can see some strange metalstructures puncturing the sky. This is thewildly popular area of Gazi, named for thegas factory whose buildings are now usedas edgy cafes, tavernas and art centers.Organized graffiti decorates the walls andbeautiful people fill the tables.The culturalcenter of Technopolis is where you can spyup and coming Greek talent in every field.

Museum Mile

An exceptional collection of privatelyrun museums can all be found along V.Sophias Avenue amidst the embassybuildings and various official ministries.The eclectic Benaki Museum shows officonic pieces to represent several periodsof Greek history spanning 8,000 years.The Museum of Cycladic Art displayingall of the neolithic artwork of the Cycladicislands. The Byzantine Museum presentsthe riches and religious art associated withmedieval Greece, and the nearby WarMuseum gives a detailed history of thecountry through artifacts of warfare fromancient until modern times. A vast collectionof art acquired from Greek collectors andby Greek artists at the National Art Gallery.

Kolonaki

The streets around Kolonaki Square featurethe most elegant boutiques in Athens. Thesquare itself(officially named Filikis Eterias)

Athens Snapshot continued

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is the favorite meeting place of celebritiesand beautiful people. They can be seenhanging out any of Kolonaki's numerouscafés after a shopping spree or in theexcellent gourmet restaurants and chicbars at night. Kolonaki lies on the slopes ofLykavittos Hill, the city's best vantage point.

Exarhia

The scenery changes just a few blocksaway from elegant Kolonaki. The areaaround Exarhion Square is dominated byrock music bars, jazz clubs and traditionaltavernas which are frequented by studentsand intellectuals.

Panepistimiou and Stadiou Streets

These two streets connect SyntagmaSquare with Omonia Square. As wellas shops and restaurants, they featuresome of the city's most beautiful 19th-century buildings. Among them is theso-called Panepistimiou Street(officiallynamed El. Venizelou Street), along with theuniversity and National Library. The historicIliou Melathron Mansion now houses theNumismatic Museum and the NationalHistory Museum.

Omonia Square

Omonia is considered part of"downtown"Athens where the locals go to buy commonhousehold goods and clothing and payless. It is now home to the majority of theimmigrant population of Athens. A surgeof modern hoteliers with an emphasis ondesign has hit Omonia and could breathenew life into this convenient location for abase in the Athens city center.

Patission Street

Patission Street(officially named 28Oktovriou Street) is one of the city's majorthoroughfares. At No. 42 is the majesticTechnical University, a splendid exampleof 19th-century architecture. Next door isthe National Archaeological Museum, oneof the world's greatest museums, housingan outstanding collection of ancient Greekart. Many fine boutiques can be foundfurther north, past Kodringtonos Street. Thebest place to rest after a shopping spreeis in any one of the numerous cafés and

tavernas of the Fokionos Negri pedestrianzone in Kypseli.

Piraeus

Piraeus- the port town of Athens- is locatedon a peninsula, 10 kilometres southwestof central Athens. It features a busycommercial port and a Sunday flea marketin the streets near the metro station. Themost picturesque part of Piraeus is theMikrolimano fishing harbor, with its rowof traditional fish restaurants. Other goodplaces for eating fish are the numerousseafood eateries of Akti ThemistokleousStreet, on the peninsula's eastern coast.Traces of the area's 2,500-year old historycan be found at the Piraeus ArchaeologicalMuseum.

Glyfada and Vouliagmeni

The city's southern suburbs are locatedalong the Apollo Coast and feature astring of beaches as well as numerousrestaurants and nightclubs. One of thesesuburbs, Glyfada, boasts a golf course,an excellent shopping area on MetaxaStreet and elegant restaurants and bars.Further south lies the exclusive resort townof Vouliagmeni renowned for its luxurioushotels, sophisticated restaurants and sailingclubs. The resort also features excellentbeaches and watersports facilities at theAstir Beach Club.

Kifissia

An urban retreat for the wealthy sincethe times of Herodes Atticus(the mega-millionaire of ancient times responsiblefor the Kalimarmara Stadium and theHerodus Atticus Theater) Kifissia is ashady, upscale neighborhood full of eleganthotels, restaurants, and elite businesses.Kolokotroni Street and Argiropoulou Streetare good destinations for serious shoppersas they're lined with boutiques from thebiggest names in fashion and luxury.ThePentelikon hotel is an elegant placeto stay to experience it, but theSemiramisHotel, designed by Karim Rashid and partof the Design Hotel group, is a better

choice for an appreciator of modern art anddesign.© NileGuide

HistoryAthens is rightfully considered to be thecradle of Western civilization. It is thebirthplace of democracy and home of theworld's greatest philosophers and artists,many of whom set the foundations ofmodern society.

The Greek capital is the oldest continuouslyinhabited city in Europe, first settled duringthe neolithic period more than 5,000 yearsago. Archaeological finds prove that aBronze Age fortification and a palace werebuilt on the Acropolis Hill as early as 1400BCE.

Athens takes its name from the goddessAthena. According to Greek mythology,there was a contest between Athena, thegoddess of wisdom, and Poseidon, the godof the sea, over who would become theguardian of the city. Each deity granted thecitizens a gift: Poseidon opened a well onthe Acropolis, while Athena made an olivetree grow on the rocky soil of the hill. Thecitizens considered the gift of Athena moreprecious and dedicated their city to her,thus gaining wealth and wisdom.

The foundations of the city's explosiveeconomic and cultural growth were laidin the 6th century BCE, when the world'sfirst democratic rules were introduced.The new laws relieved the poor of theirdebts, established the equality of all freemen regardless of their wealth and gaveall citizens the right to vote. A popularassembly of free citizens began to meet onPnyx Hill to put the city's affairs to vote.

However, the world's first democracywas threatened with destruction followingthe Persian invasion in 490 BCE. TheAthenians and their allies defended theirhomes with an army of 11,000 againstthe 100,000 Persian soldiers. Despitebeing greatly outnumbered, the Athenianarmy defeated the Persians at Marathonthanks to the innovative strategy employedby General Miltiades. A messenger wassent to Athens to inform the citizens of thevictory, thereby performing the world's firstmarathon run. This event is commemoratedworldwide with hundreds marathons heldeach year. One of these is the AthensMarathon which follows the original route.


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A second Persian invasion with an evenlarger army led to the evacuation of Athensin 480 BCE. The Persian king Xerxes burntdown the abandoned city but witnessedthe total destruction of his fleet by theAthenians at the naval battle of Salamis.

The two victorious battles at Marathon andSalamis established the the city's positionas a naval superpower and marked thebeginning of a phase of unprecedentedprosperity. Athens flourished and becamethe commercial hub and cultural centre ofthe Mediterranean during the 5th CenturyBCE. The wealth was used by the Athenianleader Pericles to rebuild the city on agrand scale. Pericles also introduced newpolitical reforms which led to the maturityof the world's first democracy. The city'spopulation reached 140,000, with 40,000male citizens enjoying full political rights.It was the beginning of the Golden Age ofAthens.

The destroyed temples of the Acropoliswere replaced by some of the greatestarchitectural masterpieces of all time,such as the splendid Parthenon(dedicatedto Athena) which still inspires architectsall over the world. The public buildingswere decorated with works by outstandingsculptors such as Phidias and Praxiteles,some of which can be seen at the AcropolisMuseum and the National ArchaeologicalMuseum.

A new art form, namely theatre, was bornhere; plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles,Euripides and Aristophanes were firstperformed at the Dionysos Theatre whichis the the oldest in the world. Athens wasalso the place where the world's greatestphilosophers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotlechanged the way we think and perceive theworld today. Visitors can stroll through theAgora(the ancient marketplace), retracingthe footsteps of Socrates who used to walkaround the once-crowded square engagingpeople in long discussions.

The Golden Age lasted until 404 BCE,when Athens was defeated by Sparta inthe Peloponnesian Wars. The city lost itsindependence once again in 338 BCE whenit came under the rule of the Macedoniankings, and was finally annexed by theRoman Empire in 146 BCE. Foreignrule reduced the city's political role butit remained a major cultural centre formany centuries. The Romans, who greatlyadmired the city's cultural heritage, built

many monuments such as the Odeonof Herod Atticus, the Roman Agora, theTemple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian'sArch. Many Romans came to Athens tostudy at its renowned schools of philosophy.

The decline of Athens was caused by thefirst Christian emperors. Initially, in 394,Theodosius prohibited the worship of theancient gods, to be followed by the closureof the philosophical schools in 529 orderedby Justinian.

Athens turned into a small town duringthe Byzantine era. Monuments fromthat time include the Church of PanagiaGorgoepikoos and the KessarianiMonastery. A large number of works ofart from this period can be seen at theByzantine Museum.

The Crusaders who conquered theByzantine Empire in 1204, controlledthe city until 1458- the year the Turksoccupied Athens and annexed it to theOttoman Empire. Turkish rule lasted foralmost four centuries, bequeathing thecity monuments such as the TzisdarakisMosque on Monastiraki Square and theFethiye Mosque at the site of the RomanAgora.

A fierce war of independence broke outin 1821, leading to the proclamation ofthe infant Greek state in 1829. Athensawakened to a new life in 1834- the yearthe capital was moved to the city. PrinceOtto of Bavaria, who was appointed Kingof Greece, brought his architects to planthe new royal city. A number of splendidbuildings were constructed during thistime, such as the Parliament building(theformer royal palace), the university and theAcademy.

Athens hosted the first modern OlympicGames, which were held at the imposingPanathenaic Stadium in 1896. The cityhosted the Olympics again in 2004.

The 20th century witnessed the city'sexplosive growth. Its population grewfrom a mere 200,000 to four million,making it one of the largest and mostfascinating cities in Europe despite itsinfrastructural and environmental problems.Great population growth in the 1920swas caused by the arrival of thousandsof ethnic Greek refugees from Turkey, butthe city's growth was really acceleratedduring the 1950s and 1960s with millions

of immigrants arriving from the Greekprovinces, impoverished after years of war.

In 1941, German Nazi troops occupied thecountry, causing the death of hundredsof thousands of people. The liberationof Greece in 1944 didn't bring peace butinstead a civil war, which ended in 1949.A period of political unrest led to acoupd'etat in 1967 and the severe oppression ofthe Greek people. Democracy was finallyrestored in 1974. Greece became a fullmember of the European Community in1981.

The fate of the city is best illustrated bythe changes that have occurred to theAcropolis throughout the centuries: theParthenon was built as the temple ofAthena, but was subsequently transformedinto an Orthodox church by the Byzantineemperors, a Catholic church by theCrusaders and a Muslim mosque bythe Turks. This unique monument wasseverely damaged in 1687 during theVenetian bombardment of Athens, whenthe gunpowder stored by the Turks in theParthenon exploded. Further damage wasinflicted during the 1801 plundering by LordElgin, who removed its splendid sculpturaldecoration and sold it to the British Museumin London. A major preservation andrestoration project was initiated severalyears ago, when the polluted air of modernAthens caused additional destruction to themarble buildings of the Acropolis.©

Hotel InsightsThere are more than 350 hotels in theGreater Athens metropolitan area, rangingfrom backpackers' hostels to five-star beachresorts and from historic landmark buildingsto contemporary high-rises. The mostimportant choice you will have to make isthe location of your hotel. This decision isimportant in such a large city, consideringthe traffic jams that appear in certain areasat different times of the day. If on are on asightseeing trip, be sure to stay in a hotelin the city centre. Most sights are withineasy walking distance or can be reachedby metro, so you don't have to worry abouttraffic. Business travelers also prefer thecity centre for its excellent hotels andnumerous evening entertainment options.

Syntagma Square


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There are several hotel clusters indowntown Athens. The most central placeto stay is Syntagma Square, the site of themajestic Grande Bretagne. This historicfive-star landmark(run by Sheraton) datesback to 1842 and is the ciy's oldest hotel.Its old-world charm has been carefullypreserved in the rooms, lounges andrestaurant. Also on Syntagma Square isthe stylish NJV Athens Plaza, which offersthe city's most attractive hotel rooms. Thisfive-star hotel is run by the Grecotel group.Less expensive are the comfortable Electra,a four-star hotel located in Ermou Street'spedestrianized shopping zone, and thefour-star Amalia. Plaka, the Acropolis andthe boutiques of Kolonaki are just a shortstroll away.

Closer to the city centre are several four-star hotels in Glyfada and Voula such asBlazer Suites and Best Western Fenix.These hotels are located near the MetaxaStreet shopping and entertainment district,the Glyfada Golf Course and severalbeaches. Even closer to the city centre isthe three-star Best Western Coral which ison Paleo Faliro beach.

Plaka

The old town of Plaka is the site of manyinexpensive hotels, with the exceptionof the four-star Golden Tulip ElectraPalace. Located a five-minute walk fromSyntagma Square, the hotel features arooftop swimming pool commanding aview of the city and the Acropolis. Furtheraway is another four-star hotel, the RoyalOlympic- which overlooks the city's ancientmonuments.

Omonia Square

Many cheap hotels can be found in thestreets around Omonia Square. Thewhole area was upgraded recently, withthe opening of two upscale hotels on thesquare itself. Both the Grecotel AthensAcropol and the Omonia Grand Hotel arefour-star hotels.

Panepistimiou and Stadiou Streets

Situated halfway between Syntagma andOmonia squares are the four-star BestWestern Esperia Palace on Stadiou Streetand the superior three-star Titania onPanepistimiou Street both ideally locatedfor leisure and business travelers.

Kolonaki

Kolonaki is one of the city's most attractiveneighborhoods thanks to its upscaleboutiques, gourmet restaurants and trendynightspots. The best hotel here is the five-star St George Lycabettus Hotel, whichcommands spectacular views from itsrooms, restaurant and rooftop swimmingpool. A less expensive alternative is thecosy Athenian Inn a two-star hotel with agreat location. Syntagma Square is just afifteen-minute walk away.

Ilissia

The opening of the imposing Athens Hiltonin the Ilissia district in 1963, was followedby the construction of other five-star hotelsin this part of of the city, which is just atwo-minute metro ride from SyntagmaSquare. The Divani Caravel and the AthensHoliday Inn were both opened in the 1970s,providing yet more deluxe accommodationand facilities ranging from swimming poolsto large banqueting halls. The HolidayInn recently opened the Holiday Suites- afour-star extension with 29 junior suites.A choice of restaurants and bars can befound in the immediate vicinity of thesehotels.

Syngrou Avenue

Syngrou Avenue is one of the city's majorthoroughfares, connecting the city centrewith Piraeus and the seaside suburbs.Among the hotels located along thisavenue is the five-star Athenaeum Inter-Continental, the city's best hotel, offeringguests a wealth of facilities and services.Of the same high standard is the nearbyLedra Marriott. Both of these hotels are aten-minute drive from Syntagma Square.Closer to the city centre and within walkingdistance of the Acropolis is the AcropolisSelect, a newly refurbished three-star hotelhidden away on a side street of SyngrouAvenue. At the far end of this avenue is thestylish five-star Metropolitan Hotel whichhas a swimming pool, fitness centre andmany other amenities.

Alexandras Avenue

Also within easy reach of the city centre aretwo hotels on Alexandras Avenue. The five-star Park Hotel- located near the NationalArchaeological Museum- offers a great viewof the Acropolis from its rooftop swimmingpool. The same holds true for the four-starZafolia.

Kifissia

The northern suburb of Kifissia is a popularchoice for both business and leisuretravelers who are drawn by its upscaleboutiques, splendid restaurants andnightspots. Reviving the elegance of abygone era are two landmark hotels fromthe 1920s: the five-star Pentelikon featuresan inviting garden swimming pool and oneof the city's top restaurants while the moreintimate four-star Kefalari Suites consists ofjust twelve individually themed rooms.

Glyfada and Vouliagmeni

Many visitors to Athens chose to stayin one of the splendid seaside suburbssouth of the city centre. The best hotelscan be found in Vouliagmeni one of theMediterranean's most elegant resorts. Thefive-star Astir Palace, occupying a privatepeninsula, offers a wealth of recreationaland business amenities such as beaches,indoor and outdoor pools, watersportsfacilities and conference rooms. Anotherluxurious resort hotel is the Divani ApollonPalace which overlooks Kavouri Beach.The elegant Margi House is a more intimatefive-star hotel, located just a stone's throwfrom Vouliagmeni Beach.©

Restaurants InsightsThe Greeks are renowned for theirhedonistic lifestyle and the long nightsthey like to spend eating, drinking anddancing. Few other places on earth canmatch the city's lively nightlife scene.Late dinners(taken at around 10p) andnightclubs that fill up after midnight areextremely typical here so don't be alarmedby the empty tables if you show up early fordinner!

Several factors make dining and partyingpleasurable in Athens: there is thecontagious joy shown by Athenians as theysavor their food, their tendency to danceon any available surface including tables,and the endless chats. The picture perfectscenery, be it a traditional taverna locatedin a vine-covered backyard in Plaka or aseaside fish restaurant in Piraeus- will addto your enjoyment. Finally, the pleasantweather means that you can dine and partyoutdoors for most months of the year. Whatbetter way to end the day than by diningunder the stars beneath the Acropolis?

Syntagma Square


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A restaurant that stands out for its great cityview is the Dionysos Café and Restaurantat the foot of the Acropolis. For a romanticevening, one of the most beautiful diningrooms is G.B. Corner, which shares theold-world charm of the adjacent GrandeBretagne Hotel on Syntagma Square.A large number of nightclubs can befound all over Athens. Some featurelive Greek music, while others play thelatest international hits and attract thecity's clubbers: Wild Rose and Kaluanear Syntagma Square are both fantasticoptions. Symposio offers a grand viewof the Acropolis as well, and has a wideselection of expertly seasoned meats thatcome paired with exotic sauces. WhileFurin Kazan, near Syntagma Square isideal for a quick sushi lunch or dinner.

Plaka

Classic Greek cuisine is also served in theelegant Daphne's in Plaka. Bakaliarakiais a comfortable Greek tavern with alarge crowd of regulars. For delectableham and pork dishes, try Xynou, whereyour meal will be accompanied by livemusic. There is also a backyard gardenfor those interested in dining outside.Eden Vegetarian Restaurant isn't just forvegetarians, they have many menu itemsthat contain fresh seafood. For a samplingof some traditional Greek fare, try AkropolResaturant Tavern, where there is livemusic from local bands. Scholarheion isa family owned and operated restaurantthat focuses on serving guests qualitymeals at reasonable prices. Taverna TouPsarra features a lovely rooftop gardenwith stunning views of Plaka. Among thenumerous tavernas of the old town of Plakaare Damigos and Xynou, the latter servingfood in its garden during the summer.

Kifissia

Great alfresco dining is offered on theterrace of Ta Kioupia in Kifissia, with itssplendid view of the city and the culinarycluster of around forty traditional dishesyou will find on your table. For someMediterranean food with a modern twist, tryBeau Brummel. There is a large selectionof cigars and cognac for those who enjoy asmoke after dinner. Cuisine of the highestquality is served at the elegant Frenchrestaurant Vardis. Souvlakia Kifissias isa popular take out restaurant where youcan go to get some souvlaki on the go.Be sure to try the garlic pie, one of the

restaurants specialties. Il Salumaio diMontenapoleone represents classic Italiandishes like lasagna and risotto with trufflesand foie gras. The wine list also offersselections from Italy.

Kolonaki

Le Grand Balcon in the St GeorgeLycabettus Hotel in Kolonaki. Kafenio inKolonaki serves traditional Greek fare.Athens boasts a large selection of ethnicrestaurants featuring cuisine from everycontinent. These range from informaleateries to gourmet temples such as thesophisticated Italian restaurant Boschetto,the excellent Polynesian restaurant WhiteElephant and Kiku, the best Japanese intown.

A major component of each diningexperience is not just the food but also theexcellent Greek wine, which has played animportant role in the Athenian way of lifefor thousands of years. The Attica regionis actually one of the oldest wine-growingregions of the world. Vintners have beenproviding Athenians with their elixir forthousands of years and wines range fromthe simpleretsina to excellent reds andwhites. Excellent pasta and other Italianspecialties are served at Casa di Pasta.

Psirri

Eating out in one of the traditional tavernasis a must for any visitor. These servetasty Greek dishes(made from meat,seafood and vegetables) that are precededbymezedes. These mouth-wateringappetizers are varied and can constitutean opulent meal in themselves. A goodplace for samplingmezedes is the Psirridistrict, where there are several tavernassuch as Silfio, located on Taki Street, aswell as Athinaikon near Omonia Squareand Vlassis near Mavili Square. Fans ofmodern cuisine should try the innovativeKouzina Cine-Psirri. Athens also featuresseveral elegant wine bars such as Aspro inPsirri, and Thirio.

Omonia Square

Visitors interested in a more authenticexperience should opt for a clubfeaturingrebetiko music, such as theStoa Athanaton. Meanwhile, the cuisineof ancient Greece has been revived byArcheon Gevsis, a restaurant chain withbranches near Omonia Square and inPiraeus. Neon Omonia was built insidewhat was once one of Athens' oldest hotels.

Serving coffee and breakfast food, it's apopular place for people in the hurry in themorning. Olive Garden shares its name withthe American chain, but the food here isMediterranean, Greek, Italian, French andMoroccan all rolled into one. For a rusticdining experience, try Athinaikon, a tavernthat serves traditional, hearty Greek dishessuch as stuffed spleen.©

Nightlife InsightsAthens- a bustling metropolis of fourmillion inhabitants offers its visitors a hugeselection of entertainment options, as wellas world-class sightseeing opportunitiesfew other places on earth can match.Athens boasts some of mankind's greatestheritage sites such as the Acropolis, theAncient Agora and the Dionysos Theatre.

Museums and Galleries

Of no lesser interest are the city's greatmuseums for example the NationalArchaeological Museum with its splendidcollection of ancient Greek art. Also wortha visit is the"Museum Mile" on VassilissisSophias Avenue featuring the BenakiMuseum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, theByzantine Museum, the War Museum andthe National Art Gallery.

Festivals

The city's cultural life is extremely varied.Many concerts and performances takeplace between May and October innumerous open-air venues such as theLykavittos Theatre overlooking the city. Themajor cultural event is the Athens Festival-one of Europe's largest summer festivalsheld each year from June to September.Younger crowds are attracted by the three-day Rockwave Festival held each July.

Music

The winter season includes great concertsat the splendid Athens Concert Hall aswell as opera and ballet performancesby the Greek National Opera. Also worthmentioning are the city'srebetiko and jazzclubs, such as the Stoa Athanaton and theHalf Note Jazz Club.

Theater

Performances at the historic NationalTheatre truly stand out amongst the dozensof theatrical productions which take place inthe city. There are also many art exhibitions


22

to choose from, including those held at GaziTechnopolis Manos Chatzidakis, AthinaisCultural Centre and Artower Agora.

Cinema

If you fancy watching the latest movie,the language barrier is no problem as allmovies are featured in the original languagewith Greek subtitles(with the exception ofsome films for children). There is a hugechoice of cinemas in Athens including,among others, Village Park(Europe'slargest entertainment complex), VillageCentre Maroussi and Athinais. Still moreenjoyable though, is watching a movieunder the stars at one of the city's open-aircinemas- such as the one at Aegli, in theZappion Gardens.

Family-Friendly

Children will also have a great time inAthens. They can explore the NationalGarden, visit the mystical Koutouki Caveand the world's third largest bird collectionat the Attica Zoological Park. Try out thehands-on exhibits at the Greek Museumof Childhood or even see the creations ofother children, exhibited at the Museum ofGreek Children's Art.

Sports

At the disposal of both children and adultsare the city's excellent beaches andwatersports facilities, such as the AstirBeach Club in Vouliagmeni, Schinias Beachand Karavi Beach Club in Marathon and theEOT beach clubs in Alimos and Varkiza.Other sports facilities can be found at thefreely accessible Agios Kosmas sportscomplex in Elliniko and the Glyfada GolfCourse. Hikers can head to the Mt ParnithaNational Park, just north of the city.

Shopping

The city's excellent shops present anadditional recreational opportunity. Athensis a great place for clothes shopping-women in particular will appreciate both thequality and the attractive prices of clothessold at the city's elegant boutiques. You canalso shop for works of art, antiques, homeaccessories and exotic souvenirs.

For an up to date programme of events,art exhibitions, concerts, performancesand cinema screenings, consult the pagesofAthens News, a weekly English-languagenewspaper published every Friday. Moredetailed information, as well as many dining

and nightlife suggestions can be found inthe Greek-language magazineAthinorama,which is also published on Fridays.©

Things to Do InsightsThe best way to explore a city is on foot.This is especially true of Athens, whichhas a number of sights located in closeproximity to one another.

National Archaeological Museum

World renowned museum, the NationalArchaeological Museum should be atthe top of your list of museums to visit.Although you will face a crowd due toits popularity, it is for good reason. Thismuseum houses artifacts that date backto the sixth millennium BCE. Art from theAegean islands and Mycenaean art isshowcased, including the funeral masksthat were used to cover the deceasedMycenean leaders. In addition, the earliestknown Greek sculptures dating from 2000BCE and an Egyptian Art collection areon display. Another must see attraction isthe Benaki Museum. This classic museumwas established in 1930 and is home torare collections and hosts conservationworkshops. Items from the Prehistoricperiod are featured as well as work fromthe Roman Empire. Then quench your thirstand appetite at the nearby Neon cafe, theperfect stop before continuing on. Also,don't miss the Museum of Cycladic Artwhich is near the Benaki Museum, andfeatures the ancient cultures of Aegean andCyprus(3rd millennium BC).

Panathenaic Stadium

As you venture towards VassileosKonstantinou Street the PanathenaicStadium will make you stand in awe asyou gaze up at this impressive structure.The Panathenaic Stadium is built on theremains of an ancient stadium dating back330 BCE, and was host to the first modernOlympic Games in 1896 CE. Today, this70,000-seat venue is used for concertsand other large-scale events. On nearbyVassilissis Olgas Street is the entrance tothe Temple of Olympian Zeus, one of thelargest temples ever constructed. Todayonly some of the temple's columns canbe seen. In better shape is the adjacentHadrian's Arch, built in 131 CE in honorof the Roman emperor Hadrian. For atraditional greek cuisine experience as

you tour this area try Eden VegetarianRestaurant.

Acropolis

The ascent to the Acropolis with itsarchitectural masterpieces dating back tothe 5th century BCE is the most famedsymbol of Athens. You can reach thetop of this hill by entering through themonumental Propylea in order to admirethe magnificent Parthenon and the gracefulCaryatid statues at the Erechthion Temple.The museum features splendid examplesof ancient Greek art. Next, check outLysicrates Monument, a cyclical towerfrom the 4th century BCE. From here,it is just a brief walk along DionysiouAreopagitou Street to the southern slopeof the Acropolis- the site of the DionysosTheatre. Constructed in the 6th centuryBCE, it is one of the world's oldest theatresand the place where the great works ofAeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides andAristophanes were first performed. Walkingdown the street towards the entrance ofthe Acropolis, you will come across a morerecent theatre, the Odeon of Herod Atticusfrom the second century BCE, which is stillused for concerts and performances. Agreat place for Greek cuisine in the area isTaverna Xynos.

Philopappou Hill

Opposite the entrance of the Acropolisstands Philopappou Hill. From themonument on the hilltop, built in the 2ndcentury CE, you can enjoy a magnificentview of the Acropolis. Nearby is Filistron,a great place to dine at while you take inthe view of the Acropolis. On a lower hilllies Pnyx, the birthplace of democracyand the venue of the world's first popularassembly. Not far from here you can visitArios Pagos a small hill that was used asthe seat of court during the 5th centuryBCE. This is the place where the ApostlePaul preached to the citizens of Athens2,000 years ago. The stairs next to theArios Pagos will take you down to theAncient Agora marketplace. Among thenumerous sights in this archaeological parkis the well-preserved Temple of Hephaistosand the reconstructed Stoa Attalou. A shortstroll away is the more recent Roman Agorafrom the first century BCE and the landmarkTower of the Winds.

Plaka


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Plaka is one of the city's major attractions.Many interesting sights such as ancientmonuments, Byzantine churches andbeautifully restored mansions can be foundin its narrow streets, most of them closedto traffic. There is also a good choiceof tavernas, cafés and souvenir shopsin the area, among them is RestaurantTaverna Plaka. Upon entering KydathineonStreet from the Filellinon end, you willcome across the 11th Century, AgiaSotira Church, one of the few remainingByzantine churches in Athens. Oppositethe church is the Museum of Greek FolkArt. Its exhibits include a wide range ofartifacts such as traditional costumes, woodcarvings and pottery. Turning left at MonisAsteriou Street, you will come to the theVlassis Frissiras Museum of ContemporaryEuropean Art, although the children wouldprobably prefer a visit to the Greek Museumof Childhood at 14 Kydathineon Street. Oneof Plaka's most interesting churches is the11th-century Agios Nikolaos Rangavas onPrytaniou Street. Down the street standsthe Agii Anargyri Monastery, which wasbuilt in the 17th century, and the Museumof the History of Athens University, housedinside the stately mansion on TholouStreet. Next to the museum is the PanagiaChryssokastriotissa Church in AlibertiStreet, made famous by its miraculous iconof the Virgin Mary.

With so much to see and do, Athens is bestseen on wheels or by foot, just make sureto pack comfortable walking shoes.

Walking Tours

Athens Walking Tours( +30 210 884 7269/http://www.athenswalkingtours.gr/)

Car and Bus Tours

Greece Taxi( +30 694 013 1734/http://www.greecetaxi.gr/) Interdynamic( +30281 030 0330/http://www.ellada.net/)Sightseeing Bus( http://www.oasa.gr/)Chat Tours( +30 210 322 3137/http://www.chatours.gr/) Hop-in Zion Tours( +30210 428 5500/ http://www.hopin.com/)

Bike Tours

Experience Plus!( +1 800 685 4565/http://www.experienceplus.com/) CycleGreece( +30 210 921 8160/http://www.cyclegreece.gr/) Pame Volta( +30 210675 2886/ http://www.pamevolta.gr/)

©

Travel TipsGetting There

By Air

The new Athens International Airport(+30210 353 0000/http://www.aia.gr)(ATH),located 17 miles northwest in Spata,opened in 2001 in anticipation of the 2004Olympics. The sleek new airport has onemassive main hall and a satellite terminalthat looks like an architectural afterthought.Both facilities are stocked with shops andrestaurants. A business center(+30 210 3536416), numerous conference rooms andbusiness lounges are also onsite. Majorairlines include:

Air Berlin(+49 180 573 7800/http://www.airberlin.com) Air Canada(+1 800776 3000/http://www.aircanada.ca)Air France(+1 800 871 1366/http://www.airfrance.com) Air Malta(+356 21690 890/http://www.airmalta.com) AirScotland(+1 44 141 222 2363/http://www.air-scotland.com) Air Transat(+877872 6728/http://www.airtransat.com)American Airlines(+1 800 433 7300/http://www.aa.com) Blue1(+358 20 585 6000/http://www.blue1.com) British Airways(+1800 247 9297/http://www.british-airways.com) Condor(+1 800 524 6975/http://www7.condor.com) Delta(+1 800221 1212/http://www.delta.com) EasyJet(+871 244 2366/http://www.easyjet.com)Finnair(+1 800 950 4768/http://www.finnair.com) Iberworld Airlines(http://www.iberworld.com) Lufthansa(+1 800645 3880/http://www.lufthansa.com)My Travel(+870 238 7710/http://www.mytravel.com) Singapore Air(+1 800742 3333/http://www.singaporeair.com)Sterling.dk Airline(+457 033 3370/http://www.sterlingticket.com) Sun Express(+180595 9590/http://server1.sunexpress.com.tr)Thomsonfly(+870 190 0737/http://www.thomsonfly.com) Transavia(+3120406 0406/http://www.transavia.com) VirginAtlantic(+1 800 862 8621/http://www.virgin-atlantic.com) Wizz Air(+48 22 351 9499/http://www.wizzair.com)

The Athens Urban TransportOrganization(http://www.oasa.gr) provides24-hour bus service to the downtownarea. Four dedicated express routes areavailable: Line E94 deposits passengersat the Ethniki Amyna metro station. Ridesexit every 15-30 minutes. Line E95 servicesSyntagma Square and departs every 15-35minutes. Line E96 attends Pireaus Port,exiting every 20-40 minutes. Rides for allthree lines take 45-60 minutes. Line E97connects the airport with the Dafini metrostation.

Taxis are easy to find outside the terminal.Rides, depending on traffic, last 30-60minutes.

Taxi Reservations(+1 44 20 8123 3567/http://www.taxireservations.gr)

Rental Car Companies

Avis(+1 800 831 2847/http://www.avis.com)Budget(+1 800 527 0700/http://www.budget.com) Europcar(+49 069 697970/http://www.europcar.com) Hertz(+1 800654 3131/http://www.hertz.com) National(+1800 227 7368/http://www.nationalcar.com)Sixt(+30 210 353 0576/http://www.e-sixt.com)

Once you pick up the car(and a good streetmap) search out the Attiki Odos, the mainthoroughfare into the city. From here youcan link to most parts of town. Although itis a toll expressway and a menagerie ofconstruction projects, it beats getting loststraight out of the gate. Toll free options areavailable starting with Lavirou Avenue withconnects to the airport, but if you choose togo exploring, have a good map.

By Train

Rail travel in Greece compared to the restof Europe is extremely antiquated andlimited with most service confined to thenorthern and eastern halves of the Greekmainland. For information on specific routesand times check with the Hellenic RailwaysOrganization(OSE)(+30 210 529 7777/http://www.osenet.gr). Trains arriving inAthens from the south and west operateout of the Peloponnese Station(+30 210513 1601). Passengers can then catch a


24

taxi or bus into downtown. Arrivals from thenorth depart at the Larissa Station(+30 210529 8837), which conveniently connects todowntown via the metro's Line 2.

By Bus

Greece's bus travel is handled byKTEL(Koino Tameio EispraxeonLeoforeion), a conglomerate of privatelyoperated companies. Its coverage isextensive, providing service to andfrom every town, regardless of howrural, on the mainland. Eurolines(http://www.eurolines.com), based out of London,also accesses Greece. Terminal A(+30210 512 9233) handles buses fromPeloponnese and northern Greece.Terminal B(+30 210 831 7096) focuses onbus traffic to and from central Greece.

By Boat

All boat traffic arrives at the port ofPiraeus(the largest in Europe), locatedsix miles southwest of Athens. Ferriesprovide service to and from the SaronicIslands, Samos, Crete, Cyclades, northernGreece, and the northeast Aegean Islands.For faster service to the islands thereare also hydrofoils and catamarans.However, they are also twice as expensiveand dependent upon good weather. Formore detailed information call the PiraeusPort Authority(+30 210 428 6842/http://www.olp.gr).

By Car

Bear in mind that Greece has one of thehighest car-accident rates in Europe.Drivers treat red lights as optional andpassing on curves and hills seems to be thenorm rather than the rare exception. If youare not deterred, Athens can be reached byE75 from the north which hugs the easterncoast, and by E65 from the west.

Getting Around Town

The Athens Urban TransportOrganization(http://www.oasa.gr) offersbuses, trolley buses, and a subway systemmaking it very easy to negotiate downtownand the surrounding suburbs without a car.

Its metro system(http://www.ametro.gr) iscurrently experiencing one of the biggest

transportation expansions in Europe. Indirect response to the 2004 Olympics ithas bloomed from one line to three linesand now handles 470,000 passengersdaily. Line 1(ISAP) extends from Kifissiato the north to Piraeus harbor to the south.Major tourist stops include the NationalArchaeological Museum, Omonia Square,and the nightlife districts of Psirri andThission. Line 2(Sepolia-Dafni) includes theAcropolis and Syntagma Square. And Line3(Ethniki Amyna-Monastiraki) attends suchmajor stops as the National Gallery andthe Byzantine Museum. Stops are servicedevery three minutes during rush hours, orevery 10 minutes otherwise.

Blue and white buses offer more 300 routesin and around downtown Athens. Moststops are attended every 15 minutes.Service operates from 5a-12:30a.Attempting to decipher the bus routes iscomplicated, especially with new routesbeing constantly added in conjunction withthe expanding metro system. Green andwhite buses service between Athens andPiraeus. If you are seeking comfort beaware that buses are usually packed.

There are 19 electric trolleybus routes mostof which service downtown's main touristareas.

Compared to most other European cities,Athen's taxis are inexpensive and honest.Hailing is inexplicably difficult, however, soit is best to call ahead. Some of the morenoted companies are: Athina(+30 210 9217942) Ermis(+30 210 411 5200) Ikaros(+30210 515 2800)

Possessing a car in Athens is more ofa hassle than a convenience. Traffic isfrustrating and parking is so limited thatlocals park on sidewalks.

Most of Athens main tourist attractionsare centrally located making it extremelyconvenient for walking. To encourage foottravel, new pedestrian zones have beenadded in the commercial triangle and inPlaka, the center of the old city.© NileGuide

Fun FactsTop 12 Interesting Facts about Athens

1. The first history of Athens was recordedaround 3,400 years ago making it Europe'soldest capital and one of the oldest cities ofthe world.2. The city center of Athens is only 15 sqmiles or 39 sq kilometers.

3. Athens is statistically one of the lowestranking capital cities when it comes toviolent crime.

4. Fun Fact: Everyfull moon in August, theAcropolis stays open until 2am with livemusic and theatrical performances; it is freeto all.5. Before hosting the 2004 Olympic Games,all of the street signs of Athens had to bechanged to include a Latin spelling underthe Greek.

6. Athens was part of the OttomanEmpire(1458-1832) while the rest ofWestern Europe was experiencing theRenaissance and the Industrial Revolution.

7. Weird Fact: The first modern king ofGreece was a Bavarian prince and only 17years old.

8. Athens is the second capital city ofGreece. King Otto(see fact 7) changedit from the Port of Nafplio in 1834 forsentimental reasons related to the city'sglorious past.9. The oldest hotel in Athens,The GrandBretagne, was first the royal guesthouse.During German occupation(1941-1944) itwas used as Nazi HQ. Hitler and Rommelwere there on the eve of the SovietInvasion.10. The sporting event known asthe"Marathon" was created for the firstModern Olympic games set in Athens in1896. It was a recreation of the route usedby the legendary runner, Pheidippides,in 490 BC to announce the Athenianvictory against the Persians at the battle ofMarathon 25 miles away. 11. Athens and Greece was under a harshmilitary dictatorship, the"Junta" from1967-1974.


25

12. Actress, activist, and Minister ofCulture, Melina Mercouri, is credited

with the establishment of the institution,the"European Capital of Culture." Athensbecame the first in 1985.

© NileGuide

Weather

Statistics Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Temperature C

Average High 13 13 15 19 24 29 32 32 28 23 18 14

Average Mean 10 10 11 15 20 24 27 27 23 19 15 11

Average Low 7 6 8 11 15 20 22 22 19 16 12 8

Temperature F

Average High 56 56 60 67 76 85 90 90 83 74 65 58

Average Mean 50 50 53 60 68 76 81 81 75 67 59 53

Average Low 45 44 47 53 60 68 73 73 67 61 54 48

Rainy Days 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 4 6 7

Rain Fall (cm) 3.4 2.8 3.4 2.2 0.9 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.2 6.2 5.1

Rain Fall (in) 1.3 1.1 1.3 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.9 2.4 2.0

© NileGuide

kid friendly athens - luxury link...acropolis, through the quaint neighborhood of plaka, the flea...

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