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European Vacations -
Greece Vacation Packages &
Travel Information |
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Overview |
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Greece is the cradle of European
civilization, and Athens has been
its capital since 1834. There is
never time to be bored or to be at a
loss for an interesting activity in
Athens. Visit the flea market and
the bazaar area at Monastiraki, look
inside some of the hundreds of tiny
Byzantine churches, shop for a few
hours in the fascinating boutiques
of Pláka, have a leisurely lunch in
a taverna, watch the people walk by,
and maybe spend a little time
writing in your travel diary.
When planning a trip to Athens, the
weather is a consideration. Attica's
sunshine and pleasant climate give
visitors the opportunity to enjoy a
trip to this beautiful city during
any season. From March through May,
it is almost always pleasant and
mild. Between June and August, the
temperature rises steadily, making
August the month in which Athenians
try to avoid the city. September is
usually balmy, with occasional light
rain. October offers beautiful
weather. Most rain falls between
November and February. Even so,
there are many sunny days in winter
and a brief, heavy rain is often
followed by hours of brilliant
sunshine. Average daytime
temperatures range from 52F in
January to 92F in August.
Athens has a population of five
million. It is the country's heart
and the economic and industrial
center, as well as the political and
cultural center. No matter how
crowded it becomes with residents
and tourists, visitors still find it
hospitable and welcoming.
The structure of the land is
characterized by a constant
alternation of low mountains and
small plains. Bays and rocky or
sandy coves dot the coast of Attica.
During the summer the beaches are
filled with Athenians and others
enjoying their beauty.
Athens can seem overwhelming at
first. The mountains, the rocks, the
historic ruins, the panoramic views
of valleys and sea: nothing is
small. Athens is not scrubbed and
polished; it has an ancient,
lived-in look as befits a city that
has been inhabited for over 7000
years. Yet, it is so modern. An
interesting feature of Athens is
that it is a study in
contradictions! At one moment you
will be walking on modern streets
with malls and superstores, then you
will turn onto a side street and
suddenly find yourself in another
world with open air meat and fish
markets, vegetable and fruit stands,
and pigs, rabbits, and cows hanging
upside down by their feet.
There are ruins in unexpected places
throughout the city. What first
appears to be a modern street will
have fenced off areas containing
parts of ancient toppled columns,
statues, etc. They have been sitting
there for hundreds of years and are
now fenced for protection. Repair
and restoration work is ongoing. A
visit to the Acropolis will include
the sight of workmen and ladders
everywhere. The extensive work of
preservation is impressive.
Following a visit to the Acropolis,
it is an easy downhill stroll to the
Agora, the heart of ancient Athens's
political and commercial center. The
Agora is steps from the Monastiraki
and Pláka districts, each filled
with shops, cafes, and restaurants.
The next stop might be the National
Archaeological Museum to see the
Mycenaean gold, the classical bronze
statues, and the beautiful frescoes
from Akrotiri, the Minoan Pompeii on
the island of Santorini. It is hard
to leave the Museum, so try to plan
for a return visit on another day.
The whole family will enjoy a walk
(run) through the National Gardens,
and will be able to join Greek
children in admiring the ducks and
peacocks in the small zoo. Another
peak experience will be the culinary
adventure of sampling Greek cuisine.
Huge feta cheese salads with olives,
tomatoes, lettuce, and locally
produced olive oil are outstanding.
The main course of a meal in a
taverna specializing in spit
roasting is usually a plate of some
type of seafood or meat such as
chicken, pork, lamb or beef. The
meat is grilled on a spit outdoors.
Side dishes of fruit and vegetables
are also served. Local wines provide
a complement to the meal.
While in Athens, consider a side
excursion to one or more of the
"isles of Greece." It is easy to
arrange a day trip by boat from
Piraeus to one or more of the
islands of the Saronic Gulf: Aegina
Egina, Poros, and Hydra Idra. All
are feasible day trips but it is
best not to schedule a tour for the
day before you leave Athens. It is
possible that a sudden storm could
leave you stranded for a day on an
island. Allow time to savor an
unexpected adventure such as this!
Whatever the season, whether you
have a day, a week, or a month to
explore Athens, it is time to be
treasured. Athens, rich in culture
and contrasts, is a city like no
other in the world. |
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Facts |
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Population:
5,000,000
Time Zone:
Greece's clocks are 6 hours ahead of
eastern standard time in the United
States, and 1 hour ahead of
Greenwich mean time.
Language:
Greek is the native language. Many
Greeks know some English, but will
appreciate a two-way effort to learn
and try basic phrases.
Telephones:
The country code for Greece is 30;
the city code for Athens is 01.
The Greek telephone company, the OTE
pronounced "oh-tay", has card phones
everywhere. Phone cards used for
intercity and overseas calls can be
purchased at kiosks or the local OTE
office. You can also make calls from
OTE offices, which have limited
hours, and from kiosks . Avoid
making calls from your hotel, where
the surcharge can be high.
For any international call, you must
first dial 00, then the country code
1 for the U.S. and Canada, 44 for
England.
Operators and Information
There are English-speaking operators
on the International Exchange 161
and 162, and recorded instructions
in English, French, and German for
making direct international calls on
tel. 169. .
The tourist police Dimitrakopoulou
77, tel. 171 can answer questions in
English about transportation, direct
you to an open pharmacy or doctor,
and locate phone numbers of hotels
and restaurants.
When to Go:
The best time to visit Athens is
late spring and early fall. In May
and June the days are warm, even
hot, but dry, and the sea water has
been warmed by the sun. The
evenings, are pleasant enough to
dine alfresco. For sightseeing or
visiting the beach, this is the time
to visit. Athens is less crowded in
April and early May. Carnavali, just
before Lent, and Greek Easter, with
its religious processions, lambs,
and red eggs, are the highlights of
the season.
September and October are an
alternative to spring and early
summer. Things begin to shut down in
November, however, when the winter
chill and rains begin. Winter in
Greece is deceptive. Any given day
may not be very cold. Snow is
uncommon in Athens and to the south.
The cold is persistent, and the
level of heating is not what it is
in the US.
Toward the end of July and through
August the temperatures climb,
pushing the 100°F mark. In the south
a dry, hot wind may blow across the
Mediterranean from the coast of
Africa. The air quality in Athens,
which is surrounded on all sides by
mountains except in the direction of
the harbor and oil refineries of
Piraeus, can be unhealthy on
especially hot days, and
air-conditioning is rare
National Holidays
January 1 New Year's Day
January 6 Epiphany
February/March Shrove Monday
March 25 Independence Day
April/May (varies) Good Friday
(Greek Orthodox)
April/May (varies) Easter Monday
May 1 Labor Day
May/June Pentecost Monday
August 15 Assumption of the Virgin
October 28 Ochi Day
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 St. Stephen's Day
Emergencies:
In an emergency, dial 100 for the
police and 171 for the tourist
police. Dial 199 to report a fire
and 166 for an ambulance and the
hospital. If you need an
English-speaking doctor or dentist,
call your embassy for advice or try
SOS Doctor at 01/331-0310. The
English-language daily Athens News
lists some American and British
trained doctors and hospitals
offering emergency services.
Newspapers & Magazines:
The Athens News is a daily newspaper
published locally in English, with a
weekend section "Scope" listing
events of interest; it's available
at kiosks everywhere for Dr250 80˘.
Most central Athens newsstands also
carry the International Herald
Tribune, which has an
English-language insert of
highlights from the Greek daily
Kathimerini, and USA Today. Local
weeklies include the Hellenic Times,
with its entertainment listings. The
free magazine Athens Today, with
information on restaurants,
shopping, museums and galleries, is
published about six times a year and
is usually available in major hotels
.
Pharmacies:
Pharmakia, identified by green
crosses, are scattered throughout
Athens. Hours are usually Monday
through Friday from 8am to 2pm. In
the evening and on weekends most are
closed, but usually post a notice
listing the names and addresses of
pharmacies that are open or will
open in an emergency. Newspapers,
including the Athens News, list the
pharmacies open outside regular
hours.
Radio & Television:
There are 11 major Greek TV stations
in Athens and at least two local
stations. In addition,
foreign-language channels from
Italy, Spain, and Germany can be
seen, as well as CNN around the
clock. Most foreign-language films
shown on Greek TV are not dubbed,
but have the original soundtracks
with Greek subtitles. All
current-release foreign-language
films shown in Greek cinemas have
the original soundtracks with Greek
subtitles.
Safety:
Athens is among the safest capitals
in Europe, and there are few reports
of violent crimes.
Taxes:
A VAT value-added tax of between 4%
and 18% is added to everything you
buy. Some shops will attempt to
cheat you by quoting you one price
and then, when you hand over your
credit card, adding on a hefty VAT
charge. Be wary. In theory, if you
are not a member of a Common Market/EU
country, you can get a refund on
major purchases at Hellenikon
airport when you leave Greece.
Tipping:
Athenian restaurants include a
service charge in the bill, but many
visitors add a 10% tip. Most Greeks
do not give a percentage tip to taxi
drivers, but often round out the
fare.
Equivalent Weights And Measures
1 cm - 0.39 inches
1 meter - 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards
1 km - 0.62 miles
1 liter - 0.26 gallons
1 inch - 2.54 cm
1 foot - 0.39 meters
1 yard - 0.91 meters
1 mile - 1.60 km
1 gal - 3.78 liters
Electricity:
To use your U.S.-purchased
electric-powered equipment, bring a
converter and an adapter. The
electrical current in Greece is 220
volts, 50 cycles alternating current
AC; wall outlets take
Continental-type plugs, with two
round prongs.
Packing:
In the summer bring lightweight,
casual clothing and good walking
shoes. A light sweater or jacket is
a must for cool evenings. There's no
need for rain gear in summer, but
don't forget sunglasses and a sun
hat. Be prepared for cooler weather
and some rain in spring and fall,
and in winter, add a warm coat.
Casual attire is acceptable
everywhere except in the most
expensive restaurants in large
cities, but you should dress
conservatively when visiting
churches or monasteries. Some
stricter monasteries and churches
will not admit men or women men
wearing shorts and women in pants,
though they often provide long
skirts or some sort of draping at
the entrance.
For dimly lit icons in churches, a
small flashlight comes in handy. A
pair of binoculars can greatly
enhance the appreciation of an
archaeological site or give the
tourist a better view of wall
paintings in a church, for example.
ATMs:
Automatic teller machines are common
at banks throughout Athens, and the
National Bank of Greece operates a
24-hour ATM in Syntagma Square. A
Warning about ATMs: It is not a good
idea to rely on using ATMs
exclusively in Athens, since the
machines are often out of service
when you need them most: on holidays
or during bank strikes.
Banks:
Banks are generally open Monday
through Thursday from 8am to 2pm and
Friday from 8am to 1:30pm. All banks
are closed on Greek holidays. Most
banks exchange currency at the rate
set daily by the government.
Business Hours:
In winter, Athens's shops are
generally open Monday and Wednesday
from 9am to 5pm; Tuesday, Thursday,
and Friday from 10am to 7pm; and
Saturday from 8:30am to 3:30pm. In
summer, shops are usually open
Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from
8am to 3pm; and Tuesday, Thursday,
and Friday from 8am to 2pm and 5:30
to 10pm.
Most food stores are open Monday and
Wednesday from 9am to 4:30pm,
Tuesday from 9am to 6pm, Thursday
from 9:30am to 6:30pm, Friday from
9:30am to 7pm, and Saturday from
8:30am to 4:30pm.
Many shops geared to visitors stay
open late into the night-but often
only if the shop owner thinks that
business will be good. In other
words, the shop that was open late
yesterday may close early today.
Credit Cards:
Many Athenian restaurants do not
accept credit cards. Each year, some
restaurants that formerly accepted
credit cards stop accepting them. Be
prepared to pay with cash or
traveler's checks at even the finest
establishments. If you want to pay
with a credit card, double-check to
make sure the restaurant will accept
your credit card before going.
Currency:
Currency is the Euro (EUR). The
notes are in denominations of 500,
200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro.
The denominations of coins are 2
euro, 1 euro, 50 euro cent, 20 euro
cent, 10 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2
euro cent, and 1 euro cent.
Tipping:
How much to tip in Greece,
especially at restaurants, is
confusing. By law a 15% service
charge is figured into the price of
a meal menus sometimes list entrées
with and without service, to let you
know their net cost. If the service
was good, it's customary to reward
it by leaving 10% more. For taxis,
round up the fare.
Arriving by Plane:
Getting To Athens:
Eleftherios Venizelos International
Athens's International airport,
Eleftherios Venizelos International,
is located at Spata, 17 miles
outside Athens. 01 353 0000.
Since buses run on erratic
schedules, the easiest way into town
is to take a taxi from immediately
outside the terminal. Three 24-hour
express bus lines serve the airport
and connect with the Metro.
Getting Between The Airport and
Piraeus:
Take a taxi from the airport to
Piraeus. It is important to know
that island boats leave from several
different Piraeus harbors. Most
ferryboats and hydrofoils Flying
Dolphins for Aegina leave from the
Main Harbor. Hydrofoils for other
islands leave from Marina Zea, a
half-hour walk from the Main Harbor.
All this makes Piraeus a good place
to take a taxi to and from the
airport. If you do not know which
harbor your boat is leaving from,
tell your taxi driver your
destination and he can probably find
out the harbor and even the pier.
Bus no. 19 runs from the East to the
West Terminal and then to Piraeus
every hour from 5am to midnight, and
every 2 hours from midnight to 5am.
The bus will leave you in Karaiskaki
Square, several blocks from the
harbor.
When making air connections after an
island trip: It is unwise to allow
anything less than 24 hours between
your return to Piraeus by island
boat and your departure by air, as
rough seas can cause significant
delays.
Getting Around:
The Metro subway is designed to
allow travel in much of central
Athens and beyond. The existing tram
line runs from Piraeus to Kifissia,
covering only the western part of
the city. Most visitors encounter
the subway when they take it from
Omonia or Monastiraki to Piraeus to
catch a boat to the islands. Don't
miss the spectacular view of the
Acropolis as the subway comes above
ground by the Agora. Buy your
tickets at the station, validate
them in the machines as you enter,
and hang on to the ticket. If you're
not carrying much luggage, the
harbor in Piraeus is a 5-minute walk
left from the station.
In Athens there are two principal
bus terminals. Coming into Athens
from Northern Greece or the
Peloponnese, you arrive at Kifissou
100, a ten-minute bus ride from the
center. Routes from Central Greece
arrive at a terminal at Liossion
260, north of the train stations.
From the Piraeus port you can go in
almost every inhabited island in the
Aegean Sea, as well as to other
Mediterranean ports. In Piraeus port
is a very large number of regular
ferries, hydrofoils and "flying
dolphins" which connect the capital
with the maritime Greece. From here
you can catch ferries to Cyprus,
Turkey, Israel and Egypt as well as
and cruisers for the same
destinations. Attica has two smaller
ports, the port of Rafina which
connect some Cycladic islands to
mainland Greece and the port of
Lavrio. Athens public transport
networks operate from 5 am to
midnight. The public transportation
is operated by the buses, the metro,
the yellow trolley buses, the blue
city buses and the taxis. All these
can bring you to the most of the
city's sight-seeing with a low fare.
By Car: The highways are very slick
when wet, and there are many fatal
accidents. Avoid driving in rain and
on days preceding or following major
holidays.
By Train
Greek trains have a well-earned
reputation for being slow and having
a limited network. The main line
runs north from Athens to the former
Yugoslavia, dividing into three
lines at Thessaloniki. The main line
continues on to Belgrade, a second
line goes east to the Turkish border
and Istanbul, and a third line heads
northeast to Bulgaria. The
Peloponnese in the south is served
by a narrow-gauge line dividing at
Corinth into the Mycenae-Argos route
and Patras-Olympia-Kalamata.
Churches and Monasteries:
There is no set schedule when
churches and monasteries are open to
the public. The best time to find
churches unlocked is during mass,
especially on Sunday; otherwise try
from about 8 AM to noon and 5:30 to
7:30 on any day, unless where noted.
The hours for monasteries are
dependent upon their keepers, but
they are more likely to be open in
the morning to early afternoon.
Museums and Sites:
The days and hours for museums and
sites vary; they are usually open
daily 8-3 except one weekday usually
Monday, although in summer,
depending on personnel available
that year, the hours are extended to
as late as 7 PM. The Acropolis is
open summer evenings when there is a
full moon. On major holidays, most
sites and museums are closed; on
minor holidays they may have Sunday
hours or close at 12:30. The
Byzantine Museum, Kerameikos
cemetery, and Agora Museum are
closed Monday; the Goulandris Museum
of Cycladic Art is closed Tuesday
and Sunday. Admission to most
museums and archaeological sites is
free on Sunday November through
mid-March.
The export of antiquities from
Greece is forbidden. If any such
articles are found in a traveler's
luggage, they will be confiscated
and the individual will be liable
for prosecution. Reproductions of
ancient works of art, some of very
high quality, can be purchased
throughout Greece and may be
exported freely. |
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Attractions |
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Note:
Strikes that close museums and
archaeological sites can occur
without warning. Decide what you
most want to see, and go there as
soon as possible after your arrival.
What is open today may be closed
tomorrow. If you're visiting in the
off-season, check with the Greek
National Tourist Organization
01/331-0437 for the abbreviated
winter hours of sites and museums.
Acropolis:
01 323 6665
Mon-Fri. 8-7; Sat., Sun. 8:30-3
Bus 1,5,9,230,231
The rock of the Acropolis rises up
in the middle of the Athenian basin.
This naturally de3fensible rock was
the sacred focal point of ancient
Athens. What is seen today dates
mainly from the 5th century BC, an
era of peace and prosperity. The
summit is reached through the
Propylaia, a magnificent stepped
gateway, with the graceful temple of
Athena Nike to the right. Ahead
rises the great Doric temple of the
Parthenon; built using no
perpendicular lines. Its columns
actually taper, giving the whole
structure a feeling of superb
lightness. It was decorated by the
leading Athenian sculptors and
dedicated to the goddess Athena
Parthenos, whose statue by the
sculptor Pheidas stood inside.
Agorá:
01321 48255
Tues-Sun. 8:30-2:45
Theseion or Monastiraki tram
The Agora was the most important
part of every city-state in ancient
Greece. It was the center of life,
of economic, social, political and
judicial activity, as well as the
main commercial center. The Ancient
Agora of Athens covers an area of
about 10 acres. It lies below the
Acropolis, south of the hill of the
Areopagus. Today, the site is a
jumble of tree shaded ruins, and it
takes imagination to envision as it
was in its glorious past. Dominating
one end is the reconstructed fifth
century BC Doric Temple known as the
Thieío.
The National Archaeological Museum:
3-01-8217717
Patission Street 44, at the corner
of Tositsa Street.
Tues-Fri 8-7 Sat, Sun 830-3
Tram: Omonia
Bus: 2,3,11,13,15,18
The National Archaeological Museum
is an unrivalled treasure house of
Cycladic, Minoan, Mycenaean, and
Classical Greek art.
The Archaeological Museum of the
Acropolis:
3-01-3210219
next to the Parthenon
Mon-Fri. 8-7 Sat.,Sun. 8:30-3
Tram: Theseion
Bus: 1,5,9,230,231
On the southeast side of the
Parthenon is the modern Acropolis
Museum. Built on a level just below
that of the main monuments, the
Acropolis Museum contains almost all
of the portable objects removed from
the site since 1834.
The Benaki Museum:
The main building is at the corner
of Vas. Sofias and Koumbari Sts.
3-01-3611817
Hours to be scheduled. telephone for
information.
Bus: 3, 7,8,13
The museum is undergoing a
reorganization, but the contents of
each floor will remain essentially
the same. It contains many
spectacular cycles from Greek art,
in its course down through the
centuries.
The Archaeological Museum of
Kerameikos:
148 Ermou St
3-01- 3463552
Metro: Thissio
Tues-Sun 8:30-3
It is in the cemetery of ancient
Athens, with unique exhibits of
artistic and historical importance
and brought to light by excavations
in the area. This ancient cemetery
has been a burial ground since the
12th century BC. Plaster copies of
the excavated sculptures are on the
site. The originals are in the
National Archaeological Museum.
The Museum of Cycladic and Ancient
Greek Art:
(Nicholas P. Goulandri Foundation)
4 Neofilou Dooka St
Bus 3,7,8,13
3-01-72-49-706
Mon-Fri. 10-4 Sat. 10-3 Closed
Sundays
This modern museum has the world's
finest collection of Cycladic art.
It contains a collection of ancient
Greek art with the earliest pieces
from about 5000 years ago. The
Cycladic figurines dating from the
third millennium BC have never
enjoyed the popularity of Classical
sculpture. However, the haunting
simplicity of the pieces inspired
many modern artists, including
Picasso, Modigliani, and Henry
Moore.
The Numismatic Museum of Athens:
3-01- 8217760
1 Tositsa St
Has over 300,000 coins from the 7th
century BC to the present.
The Byzantine Museum:
3-01- 7211027
22 Vassillissis Sofias Avenue
Tues-Sun. 8;30-3 Closed Mon. except
national holidays
Has exhibits, wall paintings and
portable icons from the Early
Christian, Byzantine and post
Byzantine period.
The Kanellopoulos Museum:
3-01- 3212313
Tues-Sun 8:30-3
Metro: Monastiraki
At the comer of Theorias and Panes
Sts, in Pláka
This museum has important ancient,
Byzantine and more recent finds. it
is located in an immaculately
restored Neo-classical townhouse. A
varied collections of artifacts from
all over the Hellenistic world are
displayed. There are 3 floors of
exhibits.
The National Historical Museum:
3-01- 3237617
9-1:30 1:55 PMues-Sun.
Bus: 1,2,4,5,9,10,11,18
In the Old Parliament building
13 Stadiou St.
Designed by French architect,
Francois Boulanger, (1807-1875),
this museum was originally built as
the first home of the Greek
Parliament. It contains rare
exhibits and mementos from the Greek
War of Independence, the Balkan Wars
and World War. The Historical
Society seeks to collect and display
objects that illuminate the history
of Modern Greece. The museum
displays cover all of the major
events from the Byzantine period to
the 20th century in a chronological
display.
The Military Museum
3-01- 7290543
At the corner of Vas. Sofias and
Rizari Sts
Tues-Sun. 9-2 Closed Mon.
Bus: 3.7.8.13
The museum contains exhibits and
mementos from the wars the Greeks
fought, from antiquity to the
present.
The Anthropological-Ethnological
Museum:
3-01- 7771193
47 Mikras Asias St in Goudi
Has the collections of the
University of Athens containing
utensils, weapons and other
exhibitions from all the races of
the world.
The Goulandri Museum of Natural
History:
3-01- 8015870
Tues-Thurs, Sat. and Sun. Telephone
for hours of operation.
13 Levidou St in Kifissia
This large collection covers all
aspects of Greece's wildlife and
minerals.
There are over 200,000 plant
specimens and over 1300 examples of
taxidermy. The stuffed creatures are
displayed in their natural habitats.
The museum has botanical,
entomological and palentological
exhibits.
The National Gallery of Art:
3-01- 721 1010
Bus: 3,13
9-3 Mon., Wed-Sat
50 L. Vasileos Konstantinou St
The National Gallery is housed in a
modern, low rise building that
contains a permanent collection of
European and Greek art. Ithas a rich
collection of the works of Greek
painters from the 19th and 20th
century and a noteworthy collection
of representative works of European
painters, It also plays host to
major temporary exhibitions of
international importance and
maintains a sculpture exhibition.
Artists represented include ElGreco,
Rembrandt, Dürer, Brueghel, Van
Dyck, Watteau, Utrillo, Cezanne, and
Braque, among others.
The Center for the Study of the
Acropolis:
3-01- 9239186
2-4 Makryyianni St
9-2:45 daily
The museum is housed in a
neo-classical building, and acts as
a research center and storehouse of
historical information on the
Acropolis. Ithas copies of the
statues of the Parthenon and the
entire history of the Acropolis from
the Penteli quarries to the present.
The Center for Folk Art and
Tradition:
3-01- 3243987
Tues, Thurs 9-7 Wed,Fri, Sat 9-1 and
5-9pm Sun 9-1
6 Hatzimichali St
Metro: Monastiraki
Free admission
The Center displays a collection of
ceramics, wood carvings, furniture
and utensils from the collection of
Angeliki Hatzimichali.
The Museum of Eleftherios Venizelos:
3-01- 7224328
Tues-Sat. 10-1 and 6-8 Sun: 10-1.
Closed Monday
10 Evzonon St
The museum displays personal
effects, photographs and a variety
of documents from this important
Greek Prime Minister. Also available
is a library with books which refer
to Venizelos and his activities.
The Gennadios Library:
3-01- 7210536
At 61 Soudias St in Kolonaki
Bus: 3,7,8,13
Mon,Tues., Fri. 9-5 Wed and Thurs.:
9-8 Sat. 9-2
The Greek diplomat, Ioannis
Gennadios (1844-1932) spent a
lifetime accumulating rare first
editions and illuminated
manuscripts. In 1923 he donated his
collection to the American School of
Classicl Studies. The collection
contains over 70,000 rare books and
manuscripts. The exhibits in the
main reading room include a set of
192 Edward Lear sketches and the
last known portrait of Byron made
before his death in 1824.
Researchers need special permission
to gain access to the collection.
The Greek Museum of the Theater and
Study Center:
3-01- 3629430
50 Akadimias St.
Bus: 3,8,13
9-2:30 Mon-Fri
This small museum traces Greek
theatrical history from Classical
times to the present. There are
displays of original posters,
costumes, and programs and designs
from productions. There is also a
colorful puppet theater. The
dressing rooms of famous Greek
actresses such as Eleni Papadaki and
Elli Lampeti have been recreated to
give insight into their lives.
Historical Museum of the University
of Athens:
3-01- 3640861
At Tholou and Klepsidras Sts in
Pláka.
It contains books, and photographs
from the oldest university in
Greece.
The Museum of Katina Paxinou:
3-01- 3245089
At 13 Thoukidiou St. in Pláka
The museum contains the personal
effects, photographs and objects
from the life of the famous actress.
Also on display is the Oscar she
won.
The Palamas Museum:
3-01- 3603039
3 Asklipiou St.
The dwelling where the famous poet
spent 40 years of his life and where
he wrote most of his poems. Visitors
can see the poet's personal affects,
his manuscripts and his notes.
The Roman Agora:
3-01- 3245220
Aiolou and Pelopida Sts.
Lying east of the Ancient Agora, the
Roman Agora has actually nothing to
do with Romans, but took this name
because it was created during the
Roman times -1st century AD- in
order to serve a growing Athens. It
constitutes a self-sufficient space
and is entered from Aiolou Street.
Among its well-known buildings is
the Agoranomeion for the Market
Authorities, the Portico, and the
Gate of Athena Archigetis.
The Shadow Puppet Theater:
3-01- 6127245
Tues.-Sun.
On Vas. Sofias and D. Ralli Sts in
Marousi.
It contains many objects from the
performances at the Shadow Puppet
Theater donated by Evgenios
Spatharis and his wife Fani. Shadow
Theater originally came to Greece
from the Far East via players who
traveled throughout the Ottoman
Empire from the Far East. They
performed for the aristocracy in the
18th century. It was soon
transformed into a popular folk art.
The museum displays the history of
the family, of the theater and of
the puppets.
The Nautical Museum of Piraeus:
3-01- 4516822
At Marina Zea.
It contains 13,000 exhibits
concerned with Greek naval
activities from prehistoric times to
the present.
The Athens City Museum:
7 Paparigopoulou St.
01-3230168
Bus: 1,2,4,5,9,11,12,15,18
Mon,Wed., Fri., Sat. 9-1:30
King Otto and Queen Amalia lived in
this modest mansion for seven years
(1831-1839) while their new palace
was being completed. It was restored
in 1980 and opened as a museum
devoted to Royal memorabilia,
furniture, family portraits, maps
and prints. The museum also has a
fine art collection. This includes
Nicholas Gyzis's painting The
Carnival in Athens.
The Jewish Museum:
Odos Nikis 39
01/322-5582; fax 01/323-1577
Mon-Fri., Sun 9-1
Beth Shalom, the Athens synagogue,
on Odos Melidoni, stands in what
was, before World War II, a vibrant
Jewish neighborhood. Across the
street from Beth Shalom is the old
synagogue, which Beth Shalom, with
its marble facade, replaced. You can
get information on visiting the
synagogue, and on services, from the
Jewish Museum.
Sightseeing Tours:
Many travel agencies offer 4 hour
morning bus tours, including a
guided tour of the Acropolis.
Reservations can be made through
most hotels.
Personal Guides:
Major agencies can provide English
speaking guides. The Association of
Guides Apollonas 9A, tel.
01/322-9705 provides licensed guides
for individual or group tours,. for
a 4 hour tour of the Acropolis and
its museum. It is advisable to
arrange for a guide through a
reliable agency; be sure to hire one
licensed by the EOT Greek National
Tourist Organization; tel.
01/322-2545, tel. 01/961-2722, or
tel. 01/413-5716.
Special-Interest Tours:
Athens by Night tours, offered by
all agencies, are a convenient way
to see some of the evening
entertainment, especially for single
travelers who may not want to
venture out alone. For those
interested in folk dancing, there is
a 4 hour evening tour. from April to
October, which includes the Sound
and Light Spectacle and a
performance of Dora Stratou folk
dances. Another evening tour follows
the Sound and Light Spectacle with a
dinner show at a Pláka taverna.
The Amphitrion Holidays agency
Karageorgi Servias 2, tel.
01/322-8884 through 8887, fax
01/323-0370
Deuteras Merachias 3, Piraeus, tel.
01/411-2045 through 01/411-2049, fax
01/417-0742
Karageorgi Servias 4, tel.
01/323-0344, fax 01/323-1295
specializes in educational and
offbeat tours for individuals in
Athens and elsewhere, including
island-hopping tours and treks in
the Pindos mountains.
Excursions:
Most agencies offer excursions at
about the same prices.
Taking a half-day trip to the
breathtaking Temple of Poseidon at
Sounion avoids the hassle of dealing
with the crowded public buses or
paying a great deal more for a taxi.
A one day tour to Delphi with lunch
or without lunch is offered, but the
two day tour is far more
comprehensive.
There's also a one day tour to
Mycenae and Epidauros with lunch.
There's a two day tour to ancient
Corinth, Mycenae, Nauplion, and
Epidaurus including half-board.
A three day tour takes in both
Delphi and the stunning monasteries
of Meteora with half-board in
first-class hotels.
A full-day cruise from Piraeus,
visiting three nearby islands:
Aegina, Poros, and Hydra- and
includes buffet lunch on the ship.
Parks & Gardens:
The National Garden, between
Leoforos Amalias and Irodou Attikou,
south of Vas. Sofias, was once the
royal family's palace garden. Now a
public park, the area combines a
park, a garden, and a small, rather
sad zoo with shady trees, benches, a
cafe, and small lakes and ponds with
ducks, swans, and a few peacocks.
There are several cafes tucked away
in the garden, and you can also
picnic here. The large neoclassical
exhibition/reception hall in the
garden was built by the brothers
Zappas and so is known as the
Zappion. The garden is open daily
from 7am to 10pm.
Mount Likavitos Lycabettus, which
dominates the northeast of the city,
is a favorite retreat for Athenians
and a great place to get a
bird's-eye view of Athens and its
environs-if the nefos smog isn't too
bad. Even when the nefos is bad,
sunsets can be spectacular here. On
top, there's a small Chapel of Ayios
Yioryios St. George, whose name-day
is celebrated on April 23. Each
summer, there are performances at
the Lykavitos Theater here, and the
expensive Dionysos Café on the
summit is usually open all year. You
can take the funicular from the top
of Odos Ploutarchou between 8am and
10pm it leaves every 20 min. in
summer, or walk up from Dexameni
Square, which is the route preferred
by young lovers and the energetic.
Shopping:
The main shopping districts are in
the area bounded by Syntagma,
Monastiraki, Omonia, and Kolonaki.
Most locals head to the shopping
streets that branch off central
Syntagma and Kolonaki squares. The
Kolonaki quarter, has boutiques and
designer shops on fashionable
streets near the square like
Anagnostopoulou, Tsakalof, Skoufa,
Solonos, and Kanari. In general,
stores are open Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Saturdays 9-3, Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Fridays 9-2 and
5:30-8. In summer they often stay
open until 8:30, 9 or even 10pm.
Caves
Attica, Village of Peania
tel. 664-29-10
9:30-4 daily
The Peloponnese: Diros Cavern
0733-522-223
Daily 8-2:30
Entertainment:
Hellenic American Union
Odos Massalias 22 between Kolonaki
and Omonia squares
01/362-9886
The Hellenic American Union, often
hosts performances of
English-language theater and
American-style music If you arrive
early, check out art shows or photo
exhibitions in the adjacent gallery.
Dora Stratou Folk Dance Theater
Since 1953, the Dora Stratou Folk
Dance Theater has been giving
performances of traditional Greek
folk dances. Athenians were alarmed
in 1998 when Dora Stratou announced
that she might have to close her
company at the end of the 1998
season unless a promised government
subvention materialized. The Dora
Stratou troupe is such an
institution that it's almost
impossible to imagine that
performances at the Dora Stratou
Theater on Filopappos Hill won't
continue. At present, performances
take place May through September at
10:15pm, with additional
performances at 8:15pm on Wednesday
and Sunday. There are no
performances on Monday. You can buy
tickets at the box office, Odos
Scholio 8 in the Pláka, from 8am to
2pm (01/924-4395, or 01/921-4650
after 5:30pm). Prices range from
Dr2,500 to Dr3,500 ($8 to $12).
Tickets are also usually available
at the theater before performances.
Megaron Mousikis Concert Hall
Leoforos Vas. Sofias 89
01/729-0391 01/728-2333
The acoustically marvelous new
Megaron Mousikis Concert Hall hosts
a wide range of classical-music
programs that include quartets,
operas in concert, symphonies, and
recitals. On performance nights, the
box office is open Monday through
Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday
from 10am to 2pm, and Sunday from
6pm to 10:30pm. Tickets run Dr1,000
to Dr20,000 ($3.35 to $67),
depending on the performance. The
Megaron has a limited summer season,
but is in full swing the rest of the
year.
Olympia Theater
Odos Akadimias 59, at Mavromihali
01/361-2461
The Greek National Opera performs at
the Olympia Theater, The summer
months are usually off-season.
Pallas Theater
Odos Voukourestiou 1
01/322-8275
The Pallas Theater has many jazz and
rock concerts, as well as some
classical performances. Prices vary
from performance to performance.
Sound and Light Shows:
Seen from the Pnyx, Sound and Light
Shows illuminate Athens's history by
telling the story of the Acropolis.
As lights pick out monuments on the
Acropolis and the music swells, the
narrator tells of the Persian
attack, the Periclean days of glory,
the Turkish occupation. Shows are
held April through October.
Performances in English begin at 9pm
and last 45 minutes. Tickets can be
purchased at the Athens Festival
Office, Odos Stadiou 4
(01/322-7944), or at the entrance to
the Sound and Light (01/922-6210).
Tickets are Dr1,500 ($5) for adults
and Dr600 ($2) for students. You'll
hear the narrative best if you do
not sit too close to the very front. |
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