Athens is the capital city of Greece. It was the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful empire. It is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, which are wildly popular today.
Area: 1,131 mi²
Population: 664,046 (as of 2011)
Currency: Euro
If the city of Athens, Greece is on your bucket list, as it well should be, then I have some tidbits of helpful hints for you as you venture into this beautiful part of the world.
FYI
- Athens is a very safe city. My daughter and I wandered the streets, day and night, with absolutely no problems. Much of our strolling was where tourists mingle but a great deal of it was off the beaten path to find the hidden gems.
- The BEST way to see the city is to walk everywhere. Do not be afraid of the little alley ways, it is an adventure with hidden treasures.
- Google maps will be your best friend to get to and fro. Make sure you have enough data for when you are walking but never fear most places have Wi-Fi.
- Most of the popular, historical sites are within walking distance of each other, not far from the Acropolis. It is splendid to just meander and see the sites.
- Try the local shops and restaurants away from the tourist areas; they can be quaint and charming.
- Tourist sites are not too bad for shopping and dining, they just have more people.
- Most people are helpful and kind, and they try to speak English.
- It is wise to get a translating app because everything is written in Greek and it is not comprehensible to most of us. They cannot understand you so translate it and let them read it.
- Greek is difficult to speak and impossible to read without training.
- The plumbing in Greece is very faulty, so please do not place toilet paper in the toilets.
TRANSPORTATION
- When we had wandered too far we did not hesitate to take a taxi. They are quite inexpensive and simple to use.
- The BEAT app is a wonderful tool for cab service. You simply input your desired destination and they tell you the price up front. Most often it is about 5Euros, not bad for a chance to rest on the way back to your room.
- The Metro was confusing to us, but you can buy from a teller so ask and they will help you.
- You must know which bus to take (time, number and direction) and you pay for the ticket on the bus.
- Driving is scary. They do not necessarily follow the rules and are reckless as they go about it. Cutting across lanes, creating new ones, swerving in front of you…be very careful of cars and motorcycles when walking near any streets.
FOOD
- Greek food is delicious and easy to order. They completely understand vegetarian or vegan needs and provide options to satisfy every taste.
- The food is much healthier than American food because the EU has stricter health codes than the USA. There are no antibiotics or Bovine growth hormones given to animals. Most food is made fresh with whole foods and therefore is fabulous. They have excellent cheeses with no dyes or added chemicals, making it far more digestible.
- Tipping is not always necessary so pay attention to your Restaurant receipts; sometimes they will include a tip (VAT), but not always. Watch what the other patrons do, it is not a requirement but is sometimes considered a courtesy.
Strange but True
- Athens could very well be called the “City of Cats,” since they are everywhere. The people leave food and water out for them and they roam the city freely and happily. I wonder if they have a rodent problem.
- There are also a great many stray dogs moping about. Although, most of the dogs I saw were on a leash, there was an occasional stray. I would be cautious around stray dogs, stay alert and mindful of children. I think they need a massive spay and neuter campaign to curb these two issues.
- There is a lot of graffiti, everywhere. Luckily they have somehow managed to keep much of it off of the important historical sites, but the rest of the city is very colorful.
- You will see homeless people. Some build little tent-like shanties and sleep there, but they are ever present.
Panhandlers
- There are beggars. You can give them a trifle and move right along, or ignore them, they will not bother you.
- Do not engage the gypsies (they play instruments and sing, often are children) or they will be persistent pests. Give them money if you want but shoo them and they will leave you alone.
- Beware of the man who insists on giving you a gift. Do not allow them to give you a flower or try to give you a bracelet, it is a scam. They work in groups and will follow you to get money for the “Gift” they gave you. It is a trap to avoid.
Helpful Hints
- AirBnB was a great choice for us. We chose an attic flat of a woman’s home. It was very personable and felt like home with a new friend to help on our holiday adventures.
- Avoid flying to Greece via New York City. You will have to change airports, which is a pain and not worth the inconvenience.
- If flying through Frankfurt, Germany, be sure that you have at least a 3-4 hour layover (this is probably wise for most transfer times) so that you can make your connecting flight. Frankfurt has a huge airport and it is not possible to land and make the next flight with an hour layover.
- If you are changing airlines be sure your luggage will be checked to your final destination by calling the airline before your departure date. Sometimes you will have to recheck it when you change airlines, not fun.
- Do not use the Cash Exchange booths that are available in the city, they are expensive, because they charge a fee for the service.
- Take a few Euros if you feel the need, but you can pull money from your bank at an ATM at the airport, it is the best way. Just ATM when you need cash, they are available in most places. Please remember not to carry too much cash around with you, it is too risky.
- You can buy antibiotics over the counter in the drugstores. They will want to know why you need them and for whom they are being purchased. This is standard in most countries, as it should be everywhere.
Delights
- Greece is the third largest producer of Olive oil in the world. Producing some 353,000 tons of this golden liquid, buy some!!
- They are the 6th largest producer of Pistachio nuts, they sell them everywhere. Aegina touts theirs are the best, but who really knows. Since you cannot have Iranian pistachios, buy Greek.
- According to the Greeks we met, they love wines that are blends, and there are many to choose from. Some stores will let you sample them before purchasing. We brought home several bottles that have proven to be a success with friends and family.
Out of the City
- It was a simple one day trip by bus to go south along the coast to see the Temple of Poseidon. Take the bus into Sounion for lunch on the square, and then go back to Athens inland to have a different view of the countryside.
- We took a boat (smelled strongly of gas) to the Island of Aegina and did some walking by the shore to see the Temple of Apollo. It would be wise to have your international license and rent a moped to see the other side of the island, and the Temple of Aphaia. It was lovely and not very crowded since we were visiting during November.
- We took the metro then a bus to the Daphni Monastery, north of the city. It is fenced in with a gate, you must ring the bell and the nuns will open the gate for you.
- We walked then took a cab up to the hillside of Mt. Hymettos to see the Kaisariani Monastery. It is an active church so please dress respectfully. There are lots of good hiking trails and many who take advantage of them, as well as cross-country bicyclers.
I hope these little nuggets of information are helpful and get you excited about traveling to Athens, Greece. Always remember, the world is a safe place and most people are kind and helpful. The key is being mindful of where you are, and listening to the little voice in your head at all times.
Perhaps I will see you around. SAFE TRAVELS!!