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Athens transportation is plentiful, but most of what you want to see in the city centre can be reached easily by just walking around. When you want to visit the attractions and historic sites out of the city centre, you will need some transport to get you there. Athens has been slowly integrating a metro system over the past few decades, but they have been careful to not disturb the existing historic sites. Luckily, that means you can use the metro lines or buses to get around and often be dropped at an attraction site.

Bus

Buses are available throughout Athens and run every 15 minutes in city centre. You can catch a bus from 5 am – midnight. A single 90-minute ticket costs approximately €1.40 EUR for all buses, trams, and trolleys in the area.

Metro

The metro has maps posted throughout the stations and they are all marked in English translations too. Trains run the same hours as the buses, but show every 4 minutes during peak periods and every 10 minutes during off-peak times. On Friday and Saturday nights, you have Lines 2 and 3 until 2:00 am.

Suburban Train

The suburban rail links to neighbourhoods outside the city centre, including the northern Peloponnese. The airport Kiato line runs at €14 EUR per 90-minute trip and connects to the metro lines at Neratziotissa and Doukissis Plakentias.

Tram

The tram is slow, but offers a more scenic view of the city and coast. The trams run every 40 minutes on the weekends. You can purchase tickets at the vending machine on the platform. The fare for the tram is the same as the bus fare.

Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter Greece for tourism or business purpose under 90 days. For other nationalities, please check the Schengen Visa Info website.

Things to do and places of interest in Athens

Athens is so rich in history that if you were only here for a weekend, you will not have enough time to explore all the attractions and soak up the history. Regardless of how much time you have here, put these attractions at the top of your list:

• You do not have to be a history buff to appreciate the immaculate ruins of Greece. Visit the Parthenon and climb the steps to relive the mystery and mythology of the ancient Greeks.
• Go over to the National Archaeological Museum to see ancient Greek pottery, jewelry, and even the 2,000-year-old computer-like device from Greek history.
• Stroll through the Agora-Athens Central Market where you find fresh fish, produce, and items to take home. The market is located between Athinas Street and Aiolou Street.
• Walk around to see the views and greenery from the top of Mount Lycabettus. The sights are breathtaking and you feel as though you are the king (or queen) of the city.
• The oldest neighbourhood in Athens, known as Plaka, is home to quaint little shops, ruins, and amazing eateries to try.
• At the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, you sit on top of a hill that overlooks the ocean and the Attiki Peninsula.
• The Monastiraki Flea Market is a must-see. Here you find everything from African bootleg movies to jewelry stores and unique finds you can take home.

Tips and tricks for visiting Athens

As with any big city and tourist attraction, you want to stay safe while you explore the wonders of Athens. Keep in mind that the temperatures fluctuate here, especially with the closeness to the water. It is best to bring along light layers so that you can add or decrease as needed to stay comfortable. Do your best to fit in and not look like a tourist. That will decrease the likelihood you run into problems in the city too. Greece is not a liberal city; therefore, it is not a LGBTQ-friendly area. You can, however, find bi-sexual and gay bars in the area just south of the Acropolis. Lastly, be cautious about taxi drivers. While most are honest, there are a few that will try to add on to the meter or even stop running the meter to estimate the fare in their favour.