Out & About

More Tourist Spots

Parthenon, they are renovating a new ruin they have found to the side of the Parthenon which will take years to restore and you can see the process start in 2008

Mars Hill, these are the ruins and a fantastic walk on a cool day

Psiri is an area that has so much to offer the intrepid explorer, alternative shops that are aimed at Greeks rather than tourists, frogmen shops and you feel you are entering a different time and cultural zone

Plaka – area beside Anafiotika, the old poor quater, both these areas are so chock a block with old buildings, living Greeks, tavernas, shops, café life, cinema, small local shops and life that just getting your bearings can be tiring and taking the land train is a must

In the area of Plaka is Lysicrates Monument, which has lots of gift shops, original art shops and leather shops

At the end of Plaka is Monastiriki, this is the place I go on Sundays to sit in one of the many cafés across from the ruins and greenery of Mars Hill

Syntagma Square is the main square of Greece, with the Parliament Building (the old Palace), the National Gardens with the walks, zoo and turtles leading to Zapion, a public square with Zapion hall, many events are held here, lots open to the public, you can see a great piece of preserved excavation, under glass, they found it whilst they were testing for the metro line in 2004, Syntagma Square metro line has a museum of all the artefacts found whilst making the metro

Temple of Zeus & Hadrian’s Arch is a lovely walk in the early morning or late evening, it is open to the public and it feels just crazy to stand in the centre of a living metropolis with modern all round, to have some young trees compared to the ancient rock pillars standing beside you

Thesseion has is an urban renewal area now, it has cafés and walks up various roads, pedestrianised to Monastiriki, to the Acropolis, out towards Pieros Street and Psiri and it is the end of Ermou street, the street from Syntagma square, this end has all the second hand shops and some crazy ideas in stone

Apostolou Pavlou and Dionysou Areopagitou is a pedestrian road that leads from the Temple of Zeus all down the side of the Acropolis, this is a lovely walk and so much space that the hawkers move in just to be move off by the police, it is quite a pantomime, ah yes, there is often a shadow puppet show that appears in different place along the road.

There are other areas and many museums, Athens has many ways available for tourist to see these places, walking tours, land trains and city tourist busses, with each of these forms of transport you get a feel of where everything is and can plan your excursions with a feeling of recognition and confidence.

Of course there is the private tour, have a chauffeured driven limousine bring you from the airport and deliver you to your hotel or rented accommodation, then have it drive you round in perfect style showing you all the above mentioned and more, before taking you to your meeting, appointment, place of relaxation or where ever you choose.