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Athens. With the reputation and the beauty of a Goddess, the city of Athens is one of the most charming European cities for anybody to visit all year around.
The history of Athens goes about 6000 years back and rightly is considered the historical capital of Europe although she became officially the capital of Greece only in 1834.
Athens covers a very wide area of the Attica prefecture and is surrounded from the mountains of Parnitha, Penteli, Egaleo and Hemittus. Athens together with its suburbs and Piraeus has about 3,5 million citizens.
The Climate of Athens is mild with about 260 days of sun and blue clear sky. The average highest temperature during the summer time is between 25 and 29 Celsius.
Transportation in the lively city of Athens became easy and fast since a few years ago when the metro was constructed. Additionally to the metro there are also other means of public transportation like the train, the suburban train, the tram, the cable bus and the buses.
Taxis (yellow cabs) you will find plenty in the city for faster transportation and not necessarily expensive since Athens taxi fair is more economical in comparison to other European cities.
METRO www.ametro.gr
The METRO has 3 Lines operating from 05:30 in the morning until 24:15 after midnight.
Green Line: Piraeus - Kifissia (North suburb of Athens)
Red Line: Agios Dimitrios - Agios Antonios
Blue Line: Egaleo - Doukissis Plakentias - Airport
SUBURBUN TRAIN www.proastiakos.gr
2 lines:
Urban Zone 1: Magoula - Athens - Piraeus - Koropi
Urban Zone 2: Pallini - Kantza - Koropi - Airport
ÇÓÁÐ - TRAIN
The train, known as "the Electrical" which is the exact translation of the word «Çëåêôñéêüò», is and has been for many years the basic public mean of transportation in the heart of Athens. Hundreds of people use it to move around the city since on its way from Piraeus to Kifissia it passes from the most important and convenient areas of the city. The stations of Monastiraki, Omonia Square and Attica's are connected to the metro.
BUSES - CABLE BUSES - TRAM www.oasa.gr - www.tramsa.gr
Frequent scheduled bus services connect the center of the town with the suburbs, Piraeus and the airport.
The blue buses start from Syntagma & Kaniggos Squares, from Academia's & Panepistimiou streets and from the area of Metaxourghio. Bus stations you will find also in different metro stations.
The green buses connect the center with Piraeus where the port is and the terminal is mainly from Filellinon Street in Syntagma square.
Buses "ÊÔÅË" (KTEL) are the ones who go from Athens to other towns in Greece. The buses from the terminals in Athens center and in "Pedion tou Areos" Park go to Lavrio port, Porto Rafti, Avlaki, Koropi and Magoula.
The bus No 400 makes daily city tours every half an hour in the center (duration 80-90 minutes) with recorded explanations for the sights and monuments. Starts and ends at the Archeological Museum (Patission Street).
Ports: The main port of Athens is Piraeus. There come the boats from Cyclades, Argosaroniko, Crete and Dodecanese. The second port is Rafina from where you have connection to the east Cyclades (Andros, Tinos, Mykonos...), Evia, Chios, Lesvos and sometimes to the islands of Sporades (Skiathos, Skopelos...).
Sights: Athens is one of the cities that have a lot to show proudly. Her historical monuments mixed with the modern life will overwhelm you.
The Acropolis, Propelled, Erechthion, the temple with the Nike statue and of course the Parthenon are trademarks of the city of Athens. The areas of Plaka, Thisseio and Monastiraki you will love for their character and life. The hill of Filopappou, the Adrian Gate, Zappion, Lycabettus, Syntagma square and the National Garden are some of the sights you must visit.
Shopping: The most commercial streets of Athens are also the most central ones. Ermou Street which begins at the bottom of Syntagma square has all kind of shops and continues towards Monastiraki where you find a flea market area with antiques, furniture, statues and all kind of interesting things to buy. After shopping you can enjoy a coffee or lunch in one of the numerous cafes and gourmet restaurants under the ancient ruins of Acropolis. Shopping continues on Voukourestiou and Valaoritou streets you will find all the famous and very expensive brands in clothes and jewelry. More up is Kolonaki one of the most expensive and higher class areas of Athens.
Flavors: The rich, nutritious and strong Greek flavors made Greek cuisine one of worlds favors. Everybody knows tzatziki, souvlaki, mousaka, staffed wine leaves, the Greek salad, the eggplant salad, Mizithra cheese, but also ouzo and raki. Eating mezedes is the way all Greeks eat. Greeks like to go out a lot for lunch or dinner or for a drink. In the center of Athens and especially in the areas of Psiri, Monastiraki and Plaka there are plenty of restaurants from absolute gourmet to street cantinas for quick food.
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