Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Athens FAQ

fmax

Recommended Posts

fmax

fmax

Posted
Posted

I put my research together from my last Med Cruise and created a FAQ thread that people could add to. I thought I should create similar threads for my upcoming Greek/Turkey ports so will start here with a list of things I have uncovered on these sites.

 

So hopefully you summer cruisers can add to it on your return from the Greek Isles... tell us what not to miss, the must sees and the don't waste your time sites. Any amazing bargains that are not to be missed or previously undiscovered restaurants.

 

 

Things to do

Acropolis

museum near the Parthenon that is included in your ticket price

Greek and Roman Agoras included in your Acropolis ticket price

Panathenean Stadium, where the opening of the Olympics was held

Changing of the guards at the President’s residence.

Cape Sounion, where the Temple of Poseidon is located.

National Archeological museum.

Plaka area

Syntagma square - change of guards in front of the Parliament building

Original 1899 Olympic stadium

Ancient Corinth and see the Corinth Canal

 

Drivers/Tours/Getting Around - see following link

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=372168&page=3[/url]

 

Idea of Cost (not sure how current this is)

1.Private Tour: 100 euro total + tip

2.Lunch with beer and wine: 40 euro (tip included)

3.Temple of Poseidon: 8 euro total

4.Acropolis and Agoras: 24 euro total

5.Postcards: 5 euro

 

Purchases

soap made with olive oil. Only 1 or 2 euros each!

In the Plaka visit Brettos liquor store & distillery (sample Ouzo and Brandy)

Soap made with lemon and olive oil and/or made with olive oil and honey.

Look for bottles of Feta cheese and Olives in Olive oil.

Jewelry

Ceramics

 

Websites/Message threads

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=314173

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=126154

http://athensguide.com

http://www.greece-athens.com

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=309659

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=328663

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...highlight=info

 

 

Getting Around

Metro: http://www.ametro.gr/akropoli2/start.htm

Athens bus tour: http://www.athensguide.com/sightseeing-bus.htm

Athens map: http://www.chem.uoa.gr/Location/AthensMap/Athensmap.htm

http://www.oasa.gr/greek/transport/P...AIAS1e2005.PDF

 

The train from the port into Athens runs about every 3 minutes

Piraeus metro station - every 20 minutes from 5:00-24:00 cost 0.30,

The train and metro stations are across the street from the port

Buy your ticket at a station kiosk or the automated machine.

Punch your ticket in the orange box as you enter the platform.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tamicourt

tamicourt

Posted
Posted

Thank you very much, this is exactly what I have been searching for, and we are most appreciative of your reasearch and of you putting this on the postings. Happy cruising in Greece and Turkey.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Eileen G

Eileen G

Posted
Posted

We just returned from Athens and did it all on our own. We had about a 30 min. walk from where our ship docked to the metro station. Just stay along the main road beside the water until you come to a elevated walkway with escolaters to take you up and across to the metro station. Our tickets into Athens were 70 for zone one and 80 for other zones. The trains do come frequently.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mountainmare

mountainmare

Posted
Posted

Correct about the train station, very pretty walk and cost is .70 euro.

ATM machine by ferry boats.

Eating... try a real gyro from a place with the meat on a spinning spit!!!! (you'll understand what this means when you get to Athens)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Debbierpof

Debbierpof

Posted
Posted

Not to be missed -- Lycabettus Hill! The view of Athens can't be beat from here (I think it's the highest point in Athens). We had our driver, Paul, take us up (there's also a funicular) and it was spectacular. There's a great restaurant (Orizontes -- great mussaca and peach tea) and the pristine white Chapel of St. George (Ayios Georgios). You could see Piraeus, all of the neighborhoods, the Acropolis, just incredible. Here are a couple of websites I found with pictures of and from Lycabettus Hill.

 

http://www.pbase.com/tomich/image/72860342

 

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Greece/Prefecture_of_Attica/Athens-426812/Things_To_Do-Athens-Lycabettus_Hill-BR-5.html

 

http://www.catalunatics.com/atour/lycp.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cruisingmimi

cruisingmimi

Posted
Posted

Fmax,

 

You are awesome! Thanks so much for starting this thread! I will add info that I think may be helpful to others planning a trip to Athens.

 

I hope that we can get a thread going for Istanbul, etc. I have been trying to gather info for our Nov. cruise on Istanbul and Kusadasi/Ephesus.

 

Thanks again.

 

Mary

Link to comment
Share on other sites
giorgosz

giorgosz

Posted
Posted

It's quite a lot of walking and it's uphill too.

If you don't mind you can walk it, from Plaka to Syntagma and then to Kolonaki.

But i would advise you to take a taxi from Syntagma to Lycabettus Hill Cable Car.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
papafred

papafred

Posted
Posted

I could use some advise on the number of Euros needed for our 12 day cruise. My husband and I will be going on Carnival tours half the time and out on our own the rest of the time. I am trying to itemize the cost of an average lunch, and dinner in euros. Do the restaurants in Rome, Athens, Florence accept credit cards?

 

Thanks, and any input or suggestions are appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Amaranthine33

Amaranthine33

Posted
Posted

 

Idea of Cost (not sure how current this is)

 

1.Private Tour: 100 euro total + tip

2.Lunch with beer and wine: 40 euro (tip included)

3.Temple of Poseidon: 8 euro total

4.Acropolis and Agoras: 24 euro total

5.Postcards: 5 euro

 

You can find postcards for way less than 5 euros, usually around 0.25-0.50 euros.

 

The ticket to enter the Acropolis is also good for the Agora, Tower of the Winds (in the Monistiraki neighborhood), and the Temple of Olympian Zeus (which is right outside the Plaka).

 

If you're going to visit the other three sites then be sure to keep your ticket!

 

Also, if you're looking for good (cheap-ish) food then head to the Kolonaki neighborhood. It has lots of shops (including many high end designer stores) and restaurants and cafes. This area is mostly frequented by locals, so the food is more authentic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 6 months later...
fmax

fmax

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Weather was bad on our cruise in October and we missed Mykonos and headed straight to Athens. This gave us an extra night in athens.

 

We walked to the train station and too the train in. When you come out of the port, follow the road around to the left - probably 1/2 hour walk - and you'll eventually come to a pedestrian bridge over the road, take this over to the station.

 

Trains were clean and system was easy to follow. I'm glad I was able to see Athens at night as it's so much more impressive than during the day. Next day when we went in, again by train, it was raining for the first hour or so but then cleared up and we were able to walk around, stop for lunch, then take the train back.

 

 

Frances

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dakota Traveler

Dakota Traveler

Posted
Posted
Hi Frances,

Good timing on resurrecting this thread ... lots of good info for the upcoming Med cruise season!

 

For those venturing into Athens via Metro, this site is a good help: http://www.europeportreviews.com/Athens3.htm

 

I agree - thanks for this information and that on others ports you resurrected, my DW and I will be cruising to the same ports in mid-May -

 

DT

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
Susan-M

Susan-M

Posted
Posted
we have been quoted 530 E for 11 of us...approx 47E pp... to do about 6hrs of private tour... a few of the usual sites..with admission into acropolis with 3 hours of time on our own to shop...

 

need an opionion...is this a fair rate?

 

Is the 3 hours of shopping time in addition to the 6 hour tour?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Susan-M

Susan-M

Posted
Posted
no it is part of the 6 hours...what do you think are we being ripped off...

 

It doesn't seem overly expensive, but you will be at the Acropolis for well over an hour, and shopping for 3 hours. That leaves approx. 1.5 hours to fit in the other sites which are all pretty easy to walk to....but it depends on where you are staying and whether everyone is up to walking. Also, if it includes admission into the Acropolis that's worth 12E each (which will cover your admission to some other sites) .... are you on your own once there, or does the driver/guide accompany you?

 

11 people is a lot to look after and it may be easier for you to go ahead as planned if they all have different levels of ability with walking.

 

But if you are thinking of doing it on your own, here's a map that will give you an idea of the proximity of the highlights (and likely the sights that the tour driver has told you he will take you to):

- Acropolis

- Ancient and Roman Agoras

- Tower of Winds

- Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Arch

- Plaka

- Syntagma Square (changing of the guards)

- Old Olympic Stadium

- National Gardens

...all are within C2-3 & D2-3 on this map: http://www.chem.uoa.gr/Location/AthensMap/Athensmap.htm

 

I relied on this article for our sightseeing in Athens (and will again when we go in October) http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/greece/athens.htm

Scroll down to "Shopping" where he talks about the sandal shop that I think you are hoping to go to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
daisysmom

daisysmom

Posted
Posted

I am using http://www.athenstaxi.org He charges 250 euros for full day tour buy you pay your own admission to the attractions. He charges by the tour not the person. I don't know if the same rate applies to the mini van that would hold your group as we are going in the Mercedes car. Check the website and email him - he responded very quickly to me and was highly recommended by a few people on cruise critics.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...