I Am Going to Athens Greece -- Need Advice!!

Fellow DUers,

My job is sending me to Athens, Greece for about 5 days. I will, unbelievably, have quite a lot of free time. This will probably be the only opportunity in my life to go there.

I am going to:

Acropolis

National Museum

What else should I do???

Here are some parameters:

1. I can't afford to go island hopping.

2. I am committed to spending my nights in the hotel room paid by my job in Athens -- so, no overnight trips.

3. I am NOT going to rent a car. I am not intimidated easily, but I am not driving in Athens.

So what else should I go to see?

What/where should I eat?

Where to go for nightlife?

What am I not asking that I should be asking?

Thanks so much. I went to California about 6 months ago and many of you gave me great advice and made my trip much better.

but stay away from the waterfront restaurants - they will rip you off big time. They charge for everything ala carte style - say, if you order a fish dinner the waiter will ask what kind of sald you want - they don't tell you that the salad cost $25 - they love to fuck over tourists - Ask your hotel concierge where to eat and ask locals who are at the bar.

Visit the sites such as The Acropolis - It is a steep climb so be ready for it by wearing good walking shoes.

The museum of antiquities is spectacular and will take hours to see.

The Plaka is a good place to shop for things to take home and that will put you next to the Monastiraki Shopping district - You can by anything in these two places - There are small sidewalk cafe's where you can grab a glass of wine and a greek salad and it wont break the bank.

Take a short car drive up the coast - You can visit small towns and have some out of the city sight seeing. I highly urge you to leave the city and see the views of the sea from the road on the way to Marathon. Small towns and roadside shops are a lot more fun to visit than crowded city scapes.

Price gouging is a big problem. Seriously.

Ask for directions to the cable car which will take you to the top of a hill where you will have terrific views.

The streets outside The Plaka are a mess and very dirty and dusty - Athens has been torn up for 15 to 20 years (maybe longer) and they fixed up only the area in central Athens near the stadium for the Olympics - STAY AWAY FROM THE ROMANTIC BULLSHIT RESTAURANTS NEAR THE ACROPOLIS. You will pay a fortune for a rushed and half-assed touristy meal.

Sunscreen and a jacket for cool and even cold evenings.

This is exactly the kind of info I am looking for. I can't wait. Should I be intimidated about driving a car in Athens?

in Athens. I hired a driver because of the craziness.

I drove on all the islands I visited and in the countryside of Greece. The city is bad for driving and I have driven in some crazy places. I mean I have driven in the major cities in Spain and other countries. Athens is a place that just did not seem worth the trauma.

good luck

Have fun.

Just don't get drunk on it. You will wake up with an enormous hangover. If drinking Greek wine, just remember Retsina (resinated wine) is an acquired taste.

especially the Eggplant Parmesan....yummy!! :D

And, if you do have time to make it over to Delphi, it is well worth the added expense!! :hi:

Parma is a city in Italy last I checked. Is there something that I'm missing?

but it is the best eggplant I ever ate in my ENTIRE life!! :9

because you get very detailed info, such as what number bus to take to get where or what the local ripoffs are.

(I've never been to Greece, but this is based on my experience with other countries.)

I second the Plaka http://www.athensguide.com/plaka.html and the Acropolis; they are in the same area.

Cab drivers will take you everywhere and they are not expensive. Be aware, they will pick up other fares going in the same direction.

Also, we found that the Greeks are not as likely to try to take advantage of tourists, like some other countries I won’t mention.

There are cats everywhere you go, at outdoor cafes, so order a little extra and make some feline friends.

Do try the retsina; pine pitch is an antioxidant, so it is good for you!

to watch the changing of the guard silliness.

Epidavros (Epidaurus) if you have the time to take a day trip.

No need to drive in Athens - it would be a nightmare anyway - just take taxis.

I second the Acropolis idea - go early in the morning or in the late afternoon for best light.
The plaka is great - so many nice tavernas and great shopping. The National Archeological Museum is incredible and definitely worth a day.

For a little splurge go up to the rooftop bar at the Grand Bretagne Hotel near the square at sunset for an incredible view of the Parthenon - pricey but worth it.

Athens is very crowded and most of the touristy stuff is in a very compact area. You can see alot in your free time.

Have fun!!

Check out the agora and the Tower of the Winds. The temple of Olympian Zeus is pretty neat. It's a bit corny, but if the Sound and Light show for the Parthenon is on, go. It's very good. Don't do retsina in great quantities - it will hurt you. Do put lemon juice on your fries - Greek lemons are absolutely the best in the world and taste fantastic on fries, meat, etc. Try the honey - honey from Mt. Hymettus is fantastic. The Rick Steves book will give you suggestions for good restaurants that won't cost the earth. And it will give you pointers for other things to do. If you can find a day trip to Delphi or Corinth, and most hotels will be able to help, try to do one. But most of all enjoy.

At least is was in the early 80's. I doubt it's changed much. During the same time period, the Plaka, at the base of the Acropolis was lively. Though during my times passing through, most of the clubs (from traditional Greek music to punk) were turned into chintzy tourist junk shops.