Attica and Athens, Greece

The region of Attica gave its name to the special light that captivated artists; to styles of pottery, sculpture and verse; and to the most cultivated form of ancient Greek. It is a triangular-shaped peninsula, which stretches south including the famous site of Marathon to the coastal region of cape Sounion in the north. The Saronic Gulf islands embraced by the peninsula are also part of Attica region.

Athens, the capital of Greece, has transformed since the 2004 Olympic games. It is probably the only city in Europe where at 2 am on a Saturday the traffic can be busier than it is during the day. Athens steeped in history is a city of passion and philosophers but it is also a modern, humane, accepting city that lets you, above all else, be yourself.

Getting to and around Athens

The new Athens international airport, completed in late 2000, is 27 km northeast of downtown Athens. Athens centre is easily accessible by public transport, taxi or pre-arranged private transfer. There are 6 bus services to various Athens suburbs and the centre, which operate frequently from and to the airport. A short walk via an air bridge from the arrival terminal takes you to the airport train station where you catch the Suburban Railway to Athens. The trip is approximately 30 minutes. Additional information on the airport and transport to Athens can be found on www.aia.gr.

Most hotels are centrally located and the visitor can walk to the most popular highlights of Athens. Taxis within the city are inexpensive but during peak time it may be difficult to find one. Athens’ sparkling new metro system, completed in 2000, is efficient and well organised with stations displaying antiquities found on site during its construction. The latest addition to the city’s transport system is the new tram which commenced its services in July 2004. It operates 2 routes starting from Athens centre and terminating either at the seaside suburbs of Glyfada and or Neon Faliron close to Piraeus port.

Athens Highlights

The visitor should allow at least a minimum of 2-3 days to discover this exciting city. Syntagma Square or Constitution Square is considered the centre of Athens straight opposite the Greek Parliament House, adjacent to the popular National Gardens. The Grand Promenade connecting the main Athens attractions is a network of pedestrian routes commencing at Panathinaikon Stadium and ending at the Kerameikos site near Piraeus street which leads to Piraeus port. Walking is the best way to visit Athens' main attractions including the Acropolis, numerous museums & galleries, the Monastiraki flee market and Lycabetus Hill where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city. Plaka with its many tavernas and bars is popular of an evening and here you can sample the most important ingredients of Greek cuisine; subtle flavours, the zest for good life and outdoors eating.

Those interested in shopping can discover top international boutiques and fashionable Greek shops in Kolonaki Square or by taking a leisurely walk down Ermou Street both just a short distance from Syntagma square.

Piraeus Port

Gateway to the Greek Islands and one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean, Piraeus has been the port of Athens since ancient times. Just 8 km from Athens and easily accessible by metro, central port is where all ferries and cruise ships depart for the Greek islands and the Mediterranean. Zea Marina is a smaller port in Piraeus filled with luxurious yachts restaurants and bars. Microlimano (small port) is a picturesque harbour filled with fish restaurants, cafes and clubs.

Here you can visit the Archaeological museum, the Hellenic Maritime Museum with 2,000 exhibits exploring seafaring history and the Municipal Theatre in the centre with its Municipal Gallery and the Museum of Stage Décor.