Athens Things to Do Tips by johngayton

The National Gardens in the centre of Athens was a welcome oasis of greenery and calm after visiting the Acropolis and definitely merits a casual wander - in fact the best way to walk around is to follow the signs for the cafe which will lead you in a perfect Greek chaotic manner around the maze of pathways by probably the route that a local taxi driver would have taken were vehicles allowed!

The gardens seem to be quite haphazardly arranged and apart from the abundance of lush and exotic flora have hidden gems to be discovered around every other corner - statues, duck ponds, little waterfalls, the aforementioned Capra Aegagrus in gthe little zoo and eventually the cafe for a more than welcome beer or two!

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Directions: Surrounding the Parliament Building, short walk from Syntagma Metro.

The Acropolis of Athens is not merely the archetypal image of the city, nor even of Greece as a country, but of the whole of Western Civilization. The present structures were built in the 5th century BC at the time when ancient Greek culture was at its zenith, when Pericles and others were introducing the principles of democracy to the world. Climbing the hill up to the main sites is a must do for anyone visiting Athens not just for the close up views of the ruins themselves but for the panoramic views of the chaotic city below.

The present day Acropolis is a building site and has been since 1975 when the present restoration project was begun and will continue well into the future but makes for a fascinating half day visit, best done in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the worst of both the crowds and the heat.

At the time of writing (Aug 2006) the entrance fee is 12 euros which covers the various sites including the museum but on winter Sundays and public holidays is free.

More to come hopefully on a travelog on my intro page.

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Directions: City center, nearest Metro - Akropoli
Website: http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21101a/e211aa01.html

Syntagma (Constitution) Square is arguably Athens' most central focus and with its magnificent Metro station is the hub of the city's public transport system with connections to lines 2 and 3 of the Metro and to the bus and tram system. The square itself is an Island in the midst of the Athens traffic and is a popular meeting place for Athenians and visitors alike.

This, like the nearby Monastiraki, is a great place to sit in one of the terraced cafes with a cold beer and just watch the world go by - though beware that a beer will be about 5 euros and a coffee at least 3!

The square is also a free Wi-Fi zone provided by the city municipality.

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Directions: Opposite the Parliament building.