Introducing Athens

Athens, the capital of Greece, constitutes today a modern Metropolis with singular aesthetic and cultural assets which signify both its ancient and modern history. The Greater Athens Area is a self-contained region of the country, the region of Attica. It is the largest region of the country in terms of population and density, as well as economic activity.

Map of the prefecture of Attica.

Athens is considered to be one of the world's oldest cities as its recorded history spans around 3400 years. The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by a number of ancient monuments and works of art the most famous of them being the Acropolis and the Parthenon, Thiseio and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

The Parthenon as seen from Areopagitou street

The city also has a vast variety of Roman (Herod Atticus Odeon, Roman Agora), Byzantine and Ottoman monuments revealing its long history into the past.

Practical Info for Athens Visitors

Money

The euro has replaced the drachma since January 1^st, 2002. The euro (sign: € ; code: EUR) is the official currency of the country and of the eurozone. It is used daily by 332 million Europeans. The euro is divided into 100 cents. Notes are issued in €500, €200, €100, €50, € 20, €10 and €5. Coins are issued in € 2, € 1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c and 1c

Changing Money – Currency

At the airport there are banks and ATM machines. Most hotels will change money for their guests. There are several banks and bureau de change in the downtown area where currency can be converted.

Banking hours

Banks are open to the public from 08:00 to 14:00 Monday to Thursday (to 13:30 on Fridays). They are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is a plethora of ATM’s in the downtown area. Most of them are in front of bank stores, in the Metro stations and in Department stores.

Greek & Foreign Press –Magazines

Major international newspapers and magazines from around the world are sold in several kiosks at Syntagma Square opposite to the Parliament building and in front of McDonald’s. There is a store also closed to the Omonia Square Metro station on Panepistimiou Avenue.

There are also newspapers published in Greece in the English and German language. Amongst them, The Athens News which is a daily English language newspaper focused on Greece and some international news and the German daily paper the Athener Zeitung.

Bookstores

Eleftheroudakis (main store: 11, Panepistimiou Avenue and two smaller stores on 41, Panepistimiou Avenue and 20, Nikis street) is one of the largest bookstores in the downtown Athens area and has a very long tradition. The main store is located on Panepistimiou Avenue closed to Syntagma Square. It offers one of the best selection of books in English in Athens. The bookstore’s offer covers a wide variety of topics, and although it is primarily a Greek bookstore, it has special sections dedicated to titles in English and other foreign languages. A large selection of titles related to Greece can be found and this bookstore can serve as a great source of information and knowledge for tourists visiting Athens whether you are interested in Greek history, travel guides, maps, ancient and modern Greek literature.

Papasotiriou Bookstore (stores in Athens: 35, Stournari Str. - 37, Panepistimiou Avenue - 39, Ermou Str.) Most branches of Papasotiriou have a section with English language mainstream books. They have though a wide variety of technical books written in English.

Public (1, Karageorgi Servias street, Syntagma Square) has also a section dedicated to titles in English and other foreign languages.

Librairies Kaufman (28, Stadiou Street) Mostly French books, but also some German, English and Spanish.

Politia (1-3 Asklipiou and Akadimias) Greek bookstore with a nice section of English books especially in classics and literature

Best Book Hunters (41A, Z. Pigis 41A) Greek and foreign language books.

Bookstop (69, Akadimias & Mavrokordatou 2) Even though the bookstore specializes on foreign language books taught at schools, educational institutions and language schools around the country it also offers a variety of fiction and non-fiction books in the original language. They carry also a broad selection of dictionaries and other reference material from almost all languages into Greek and vice versa. Travel guides and maps by several publishers can be found in the bookstore.

INTRODUCING ATHENS

Athens, the capital of Greece, constitutes today a modern Metropolis with singular aesthetic and cultural assets which signify both its ancient and modern history. The Greater Athens Area is a self-contained region of the country, the region of Attica. It is the largest region of the country in terms of population and density, as well as economic activity.

Map of the prefecture of Attica.

Athens is considered to be one of the world's oldest cities as its recorded history spans around 3400 years. The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by a number of ancient monuments and works of art the most famous of them being the Acropolis and the Parthenon, Thiseio and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

The Parthenon as seen from Areopagitou street

The city also has a vast variety of Roman (Herod Atticus Odeon, Roman Agora), Byzantine and Ottoman monuments revealing its long history into the past.

Hotels in Athens

Athens offers a wide range of accomodation options, from cosy, romantic hotels to luxurius international chain hotels, and from budget hostels and pensions to sharply styled boutique hotels.

Booking your accomodation in advance is strongly recommended (especially if you plan to stay in or near the center of the city in peak periods).

Hotels usually require you to check out on the day of departure between 10 a.m. and noon.

Hotel listings below are broken down first by neighbourhood and then by budget, from most to least expensive.

Neighbourhood: Makrygianni

Makrygianni is situated right at the foot of the Acropolis. This is the place to stay if you are interested to be close to the historical center of Athens. You will be within a short walk to the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the Temple of Zeus, Syntagma Square. The closest Metro station is the Acropolis Station.

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ROYAL OLYMPIC HOTEL (*****),  Map 1
28-34 Athanasiou Diakou Str., 117 43, Athens  Tel:  +30 210 92.88.400
Fax.: +30 210 92.33.317

This is a five star hotel located just in front of the famous Temple of Zeus and the National Gardens. The hotel lays underneath the Acropolis and only two minutes walk to the new Acropolis Museum. The Royal Olympic was renovated in 2009 and it was transformed to an art hotel very elegantly decorated and more important very well looked after in every detail. The luxurius rooms have views of the Zeus's Temple or of the swimming pool garden. The hotel has an excellent restaurant and a terrace with a superb outlook over the city.

Map 1: Hotels in the Makrygianni neighborhood in Athens. (1) Royal Olympic Hotel  (2) Athens Gate Hotel  (3) Acropolis Museum Boutique  (4) Airhotel Parthenon

ATHENS GATE HOTEL (****), Map 1
10, Syngrou Avenue, 117 42, Athens Tel: +30 210 92.38.302-3
Fax.: +30 210 92.37.493

This is a four star hotel located in front of the Hadrian's Arch and the famous Temple of Zeus. The hotel has a perfect location for tourists. It is situated just 100 meters from the new Acropolis Museum and close to the Acropolis and Plaka district. The hotel was fully renovated in 2007. Its style is modern and simple, as befits the area. The hotel has 7 floors, 99 rooms,  a roof garden bar and a a la carte restaurant and a lobby bar cafeteria. The rooms are spacious and most of them have great view. The roof garden is unique with bar service and restaurant, with a stunning view of the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus and the Lecabettus hill.



AIRHOTEL PARTHENON  (****), Map 1
6, Makri Str., Koukaki, 117 42, Athens Tel: +30 210 92.34.594
Fax.: +30 210 92.35.797

The hotel is situated very close to the Acropolis and to Plaka. Many of the city’s attractions are within walking distance from the hotel such as Syntagma Square and the Greek parliament, the new Acropolis Museum the main shopping areas Ermou, Stadiou and Kolonaki. The Acropolis Metro station is approximately 300 meters away. The city double decker tour bus stop is a two minute walk.

It features accommodations with balconies and satellite TVs. There are 79 soundproofed rooms available. The rooms are clean and comfortable with all major amenities. Good full buffet breakfast is offered.

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM BOUTIQUE HOTEL (***), Map 1
48, Syngrou Avenue, 117 42, Athens Tel: +30 210 92.49.050-1
Fax.: +30 210 92.49.052  

The hotel is situated at the foot of the Acropolis hill and it is within walking distance to the Parthenon, the new Acropolis Museum, the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian Arch and the picturesque neighborhood of Plaka. Guests can easily walk to Syntagma Square and to the Ermou, Stadiou and Kolonaki shopping areas. Alternatively, the Fix Metro Station is approximately 200 meters away.

The hotel is nicely designed in a recently renovated Neoclassical building keeping the antique feeling. It is a small sized hotel – 22 rooms divided over three floors - but the rooms are spacious for European standards with comfortable beds. Rooms at the front of the hotel are somewhat noisy since they are facing one of the busiest avenues in Athens. Rooms at the back are quitter. A nice breakfast, value for money, is served with nice warm and cold food and freshly squeezed juices.

Neighbourhood: Syntagma Square (Constitution Square)

HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE (*****), Map 2
Constitution Square, 105 64, Athens Tel: +30 210 33.30.000
Fax.: +30 210 32.28.034

Certainly one of the best luxury hotels in Athens. Utterly superb luxury. Beautifully furnished rooms with great views. Some rooms have balconies facing the Acropolis. State of the art marble bathrooms. This five star  hotel is situated at Syntagma Square close to the House of Parliament. It is also close to exclusive shopping areas, museums and the business district. Plaka, the Ancient Agora and Acropolis are approximately 600 meters away. The Syntagma Metro Station has an entrance at the side of the hotel. The historic GB Corner is recognized as one of the capital’s famous hotspots. The restaurant on the 8^th floor is spectacular and offers a panoramic view of the city. Food is excellent and the breakfast amazing.

Map 2: Hotels near Syntagma Square in Athens. (1) Hotel Grande Bretagne  (2) Hotel King George Palace  (3) Hotel NJV Athens Plaza  (4) Electra Hotel Athens (5) Xenon Lycabettus Hotel.

KING GEORGE PALACE HOTEL (*****), Map 2
3, Vas. Georgiou A' Str., Constitution Square, 105 64, Athens Tel: +30 210 32.22.210
Fax.: +30 210 32.50.504

A luxurius hotel in an excellent location. It is located in Syntagma Square next to the Grande Bretagne hotel and to the Metro line (blue line) that is connected to the E. Venizelos airport. The hotel  rooms are spacious and some of them have balconies overlooking Constitution Square and the House of Parliament. Some rooms have view to the Acropolis. The restaurant on the rooftop is amazing with an excellent view to the Parthenon and superb Greco-French dishes.

Short Histrory of Athens

A Brief Reference to the History of Athens

Athens has a unique place in human history. As the people who pioneer the arts of history, philosophy and theater, who establish the first democracy, and who achieve a degree of perfection in architecture, sculpture and pottery, the Athenians have rightly acquired an almost legendary status. They surface relatively late in the story of Greece. It is not until the late 7^th century that Athens is firmly within the realm of recorded history.

Athens, named after its patron goddess Athena after a competition, according to Greek mythology, with god Poseidon about who will become protector of the city. The myth says that Athena offered to the Athenians an olive tree as she touched the ground of the sacred rock of the Acropolis whilst Poseidon offered a spring with sea water. The people of Athens choose Athena as their protector and so the city was named after the goddess of wisdom. The myth is symbolic indicating the strengths of the city and recognizing  Athens as a city of wisdom and as a sea power.

Early History

Athens is continuously inhabited since the Bronze Age. According to tradition, Athens was governed until 1000 B.C.  by Ionian kings, who had gained suzerainty over all the region called Attica. After the Ionian kings Athens was governed by its aristocrats until Solon began to enact liberal reforms in 594 B.C. Solon modified the harsh laws attributed to Draco and altered the economy and constitution to give power to all the propertied classes, thus establishing a limited democracy. His first legislation dealt with the impoverished peasants. He cancelled their debts and at the same time made it illegal for anyone to be enslaved by a creditor. His economic reforms were largely retained by his successors Pisistratus, Hippias, Hipparchus and Cleisthenes. Cleisthenes, an aristocrat himself,  was the first who tried to organize a democratic city-state. He divided the Athenians in 10 races with ten municipalities each. In each race belong citizens from various areas of Attica and thus the rich/aristocrats ceased to be a noble themselves and a strong class as they mixed with other fellow citizens. Cleisthenes gave all the power at the assembly called Ecclesia of Demos. From that assembly were elected the 10 generals who governed not only the army, but the state itself. The parliament of 400 was replaced by a new parliament with 500 deputies. The members of the new parliament where 50 Athenians from each race, selected annually by draw. With this system all the citizens of Athens were lilely to be some day members of the parliament. The task of the parliament was to prepare the topics to be discussed by the Ecclesia of Demos. Thus was born in Athens, the democracy, the constitution that gives all citizens the right and duty to participate in the governance of the state. Democracy was one of the most significant achievements of the ancient Greeks.

 

Athens Golden Age

The war against Persia, the so called Persian Wars (500-449 B.C.) made Athens the strongest Greek city-state. Even though Athens was much smaller and less powerful than its rival city Sparta at the start of the wars, was more active and effective fighting against Persia. The Athenian heroes Miltiades, Themistocles and Kimon were largely responsible for building the city’s strength. In 490 B.C. the Athenian army defeated the Persian at Marathon. Ten years later, the great Athenian fleet won a major victory over the Persians off the island of Salamis (480 B.C.). The strength at sea enabled Athens to become the leading city in the Delian League, which was created in 478-477 B.C. through the confederation of many city-states. In the following years the Delian League was transformed into an empire headed by Athens.

Soon after, the city arranged peace with Persia in 449 B.C. and with its main rival city Sparta in 445 B.C.

Athens lived its most glorious times during the 5^th century B.C., the so called Athens Golden Age, under the reign of Pericles. During this period the Acropolis was rebuilt in gleaming white marble beginning in 449 B.C. Construction on the Parthenon began in 447 B.C. and was completed nine years later. The large, decorated temple was dedicated to Athena and contained a huge statue of the goddess. The Erechtheum, with its marble female figures –known as the caryatids – supporting the roof, and the Temple of Athena Nike were also built on the Acropolis during the same period.

 Arts, Philosophy and Drama developed to their highest point. New philosophical ideas emerged by brilliant philosophers, like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and many sciences flourished. Drama and literature flourished in the form of the tragedies written by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.

 

Rivalry with Sparta – The long Decline of Athens – Roman Occupation

The golden age of Athens was stopped after Athenians lost the Peloponnesian War in 404 B.C. against the Spartans. The city went into a decline that lasted until the period of Roman control three centuries later. Although the Romans captured Athens and pulled down the Long Walls in 88 B.C., they later built many magnificent buildings. The emperor Hadrian, in particular, completed a huge Temple of Olympian Zeus, erected a large arch and built a library and a gymnasium. Herodes Atticus built the Odeum, a theater that is still in use.

 Athens did not suffer a lot from the Roman occupation since it was a city admired and respected for her culture, her arts, her literature and philosophy. Athens sent out many teachers to Rome and retained a certain glory as a moderately prosperous city of the empire.

From Byzantine to Ottoman Rule

At the end of the Roman period, the city began to decay. Several temples were turned into Christian churches during the Byzantine period and after the city captured by the Crusaders in 1204. The Turks occupied Athens in 1456 and began an almost 400-year rule. They turned the Parthenon into a mosque and occupied other classical buildings. In the 17^th century the Parthenon was severely damaged when explosive powdered stored in exploded. Further damage was done during fighting between the Turks and the Venetians.

Getting to Athens, Greece

Air

Most visitors arrive by air, which is the cheapest and quickest way to get to Athens. Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport) handles the vast majority of flights to Greece.

 Arriving from Europe

Athens is linked to every major city in Europe by either Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines or by the national carrier of each country. Cheap airfares can be found in many European cities such as London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Barcelona.

Arriving from North America

There are no direct flights to Athens from the Western States but there are connecting flights  from many U.S. cities, especially New York. Delta Airlines and Olympic Air have direct flights but there are several connecting flights.  Olympic Airlines has flights from Toronto to Athens via Montreal. There are no direct flights from Vancouver but there are connecting flights via Toronto, Amsterdam, London and Frankfurt on KLM, Air Canada, Lufthansa and British Airways.

Arriving from Australia

There are no anymore direct flights. However Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways all have convenient connections to Athens.

 

The airport

The Athens International Airport is located approximately 27 km (17 miles) east of the city center, near the suburb of Spata. It opened in 2001 as part of the infrastructure improvements in preparation for the Olympic Games of 2004 and is considered to be one of the most efficient and attractive International Airports.

The airport has the following excellent public transit connections to the city:

·       The Metro (Attiko Metro): It goes to the city center (Syntagma Square) for €8. Group tickets are available and are sold with a discount. Metro trains and suburban trains pass from the same platform at the airport. If you are travelling to the city center the Metro trains is the best choice. Journeys from the airport are scheduled every 30 minutes seven days a week. A timetable and all relevant information including metro maps is given by the Athens Metro Operation Company (AMEL)

·      Suburban Railway: It goes to the Athens Central Railway Station (Larissis  Station) for €6 via change to Ano Liosia Station. From there take Line 2 of the subway to Omonia and Syntagma Square stations.

·         Bus: Express busses from and to the airport operate 24 hours a day. It takes approximately 40 min to 1 hr to the city center depending on traffic and it costs €5.00. The following lines are available: X93 (to Kifissos Coach Terminal), X95 (to Syntagma Square, subway Lines 2 and ), X96 (to Piraeus, subway Line 1) and X97 (to Dafni Metro Station). Relevant information about ticket prices is given by Athens Urban Travel Organization (OASA)

INTRODUCING ATHENS

Athens, the capital of Greece, constitutes today a modern Metropolis with singular aesthetic and cultural assets which signify both its ancient and modern history. The Greater Athens Area is a self-contained region of the country, the region of Attica. It is the largest region of the country in terms of population and density, as well as economic activity.

Map of the prefecture of Attica.

 Athens is considered to be one of the world's oldest cities as its recorded history spans around 3400 years. The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, represented by a number of ancient monuments and works of art the most famous of them being the Acropolis and the Parthenon, Thiseio and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

The Parthenon as seen from Areopagitou street

  

The city also has a vast variety of  Roman (Herod Atticus Odeon, Roman Agora), Byzantine and Ottoman monuments revealing its long history into the past.