ATHENS
Survival Guide
Arrival & transport
Athens’ airport is 27km east of the city centre. Metro line 3 links with the central Syntagma station – journey time 30 minutes, one-way ticket €6 (£4). The second stop from the airport, Doukissis Plakentias, connects to the suburban railway line (Proastiakos; top picture) up to Neratziotissa, close to the Olympic stadium.
An airport express bus, the X95, runs to Syntagma Square (journey time 70 minutes) round the clock. A one-way ticket costs €3.20 (£2.15). A taxi should cost €20-30 (£13-20).Central Athens is served by a three-line metro system. A single ticket is €1 (70p). There are also buses and trolleybuses. A one-day ticket (€3/£2) allows travel on most public transport. Visit www.oasa.gr for details.
The city’s yellow taxis can be flagged down or hired at the rank at Syntagma near Ermou.
Hotels
The Greek tourism organisation (main Athens office at 7 Tsoha, Ambelokipi; +30 210 870 7000; www.gnto.gr) offers information on accommodation.
One of the smarter hotels, at €200 (£135) per double room per night, is the centrally located Electra Palace (18-20 N. Nikodimou; +30 210 337 0000; www.electrahotels.gr). The mid-range Hera (9 Falirou; +30 210 923 6682; www.herahotel.gr) and Plaka (pictured second top) (7 Kapnikareas & Mitropoleos; +30 210 322 2706 or 2707; www.plakahotel.gr), both around €150 (£100), are also conveniently situated. Budget options include the €85 (£60) Adonis (3 Kodrou & Voulis; +30 210 324 9737) near Syntagma and the €60 (£40) Fivos (23 Athinas; +30 210 322 6657; www.consolas.gr)
Eating & drinking
The Greeks eat late and traditional tavernas are still the mainstay – Athinaikon (2 Themistokleous, Omonia Square), Giouvetsakia (144 Adrianou, Plaka) and To Steki tou Ilia (7 Thessalonikis, Thissio) are three fine examples. Terrace cafes in Thissio, Kolonaki and Plaka throng with locals. Aplakafe (1 Adrianou) and Athinaion Politeia (1 Akamantos) both have great views of the Acropolis.
Daytime entertainment
The Acropolis, one of the wonders of the Ancient World, is a collection of temples and monuments, with the Parthenon as its figurehead. Below, Plaka, with its market, spreads across what was the centre of the old city. The National Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Museum and Benaki Museum are the other must-sees.
After dark
The hub of the thriving nightlife scene is in Psyrri, the other side of Ermou from Plaka.
Newsletter
