athens - life changing experience

i suggest bring a greek-english dictionary all the time, map of athens in greek and english letters´. never travel alone outside central athens - stay within the subway, buses and streettrain connections - taxis are unreliable.

if you are staying near omonia (the central station/the very central of athens) some or most of the tourist attractions are walkable 30 mins.-1 hour to the northeast: the national archaeological museum, to the east: the lykabettus and to the southeast: the wonderful facade of the university of athens.

and if you get tired of walking - you can take the subway in omonia (.70 cents one way until acropolis) but you can get out at syntagma (parliament) and watch the changing of the guards - greek style - across is a park and the hotel grand bretagne and a street called ermou (commerce) the main shopping street of athens and way down is an area called monastiraki. from monastiraki, it leads up to the acropolis but in between them - souvenir shops in alleys, small kiosks to freshen up (water and other necessities) youll never miss the acropolis because it is the highest landmark in the area - with temples galore - eg. hephaistos and the old agora and a beautiful view of the lykabettus. after a tiring walk around, you can go to plaka - a renovated area of the old town - lots of bars and cafes that you can sit outside, but from time to time, vendors and small gypsy children will offer you things they sell. it can get really hot on midday, and really annoying with the loud motorbikes of the greek "machos", cars honking here and there, and eventhough the pedestrian lane is on green, cars will still drive through you so pay attention.

beside the archaelogical museum on vas irakleiou street, there are buses every 30 mins. that takes you to every sights in athens for 5 euros i think (i didnt used its too elementary for me)i also suggest that you visit the temple of poseidon - it is one hour drive from athens to sounio (take the coastal route) the bus station is directly in pedion areos park (not far from the national museum) it is somewhere between alexandras and aigyptou street. it is a refreshing getaway from madenning athens.