You all helped focus Denise and me so well on Santorini, I'm going to be obnoxious and ask for your help on Athens.

Denise and I have one day in Athens and the morning before we board on day 2. We have never been there. We are staying at the Hilton and will be there October. How shall we plan our day. We like walking tours and history and would love to get a feel of Athens and see the Acropolis and perhaps the surrounding areas if possible. What is doable? We have a tour guide.

He has quoted us $500 for 7 of us for a full day or $380 for a half day. Thanks for your help (in advance...AGAIN). :nw:

You don't really need a tour guide for this, but one of our favorite things to do is to walk around in the Plaka. Charming and colorful....lots of shops and tavernas. A few hours is more than enough to get a feel for it...and October should be a good month weather wise. ENJOY!!! Bonnie

I totally agree with Bonnie about the Plaka. It's an area that never sleeps and is very fun. Yes, it is touristy, but also filled with locals.

If you can, try to get to the National Museum of Archeology (downtown, not the one on the Acropolis). The Aegean Frescoes from Akrotiri are housed there.

Sedona, I don't know why you would need a tour guide. Take a taxi to the foot of the Acropolis, and walk up the hill to the top, see the Museum, and come back down - there is a restaurant right at the foot of the park where you come out - lovely food, beautiful view. Be sure you go to a roof-top restaurant for dinner in the area - the view of the Acropolis at night is spectacular.

If the Hilton is the hotel RSSC uses, we stayed there last year and ate at their roof top restaurant, and it was nice...pretty view of the Acropolis at night. But then there are those great restaurants and all the activity in the Plaka! Taxi's were on strike when we were there, so that made our decision for us.

I agree about not needing a guide. Just get cabs to the various sights. We only hired a driver (through greecetravel.com because we wanted to go out to the Sounian (sp?) Coast for the scenery and to have a late lunch. He just waited for us at the Acropolis, and did a drive by of other sites.

Thank you ALL!

Sounds like we can do most of this on our own, save some cash & then blow it on a great meal!

Doug

I had one of my favorite meals in the Athens Plaka. I was just out of college taking a couple of months working my way around Europe. I stayed at the youth hostel right in the Plaka. For breakfast, stopped at one of the tavernas and had fried eggs literally poached in Olive oil. Obviously not the most healthy but still a fantastic memory.

Go to Acropolis and the other others around acropolis. Go to the theater, too. Athens has always been one of my favorite cities.

I'm not an accomplished enough stalker to know--did any of our sailing friends get stuck in the Athens black out?

Saved ourselves some more money thanks to LCT!!

I agree - no guide needed in Athens, or in Santorini. In fact we got a taxi in Athens and went out to the coast and he waited for us. We just normally ask for an hourly rate and then you know what it costs to have him wait.

And........most of the tavernas are not only delicious and fun.......but also very inexpensive! :banana: :banana: :banana:

We found a really interesting, trendy district close to Monastiraki, called Psiri. It's centred on a square, Plateia Iroon, and is a maze of little streets. It has many small taverns, and is frequented by Greeks, not tourists. We had a really nice meal (Mezedes again!) in a place whose name I could not make out, and listened to live Bouzouki music. This was the real deal, two great musicians. We were the only non-Greeks in the place, but they welcomed us warmly. Had a great time.

These are modest places, but nice.

Wendy,

This area sounds great! Love when you find the real deal!

Thanks so much!

I have questions about touring Athens via taxi. Do most of the drivers speak English (my Greek is a bit rusty!). Also, are the cabs metered, or must one ask the fare to a given location.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

I would not count on all cab drivers speaking English, but no doubt they will know a few words, like, "how much?" and such. You should get by fine.

But there's something to watch for, and that's that you are being metered at the correct day-time rate, not the night-time rate. There is a number on the meter, on the left I think, a single number "1". If it says "2", it means you are being charged double.

It's a good idea before you get in to get an idea of the driver's estimate of the fare--in my limited experience, they will name a number quite often, and then stick to it. Perhaps others have more experience with how common this is.

I will say a word of warning on the taxis in Athens. Only two times have I had a problem with a taxi driver trying to overcharge. Athens and Bangkok. Both places are supposed to be metered but they can fool with that meter. So I still ASK what will it cost. You probably wont have any trouble, I could have trouble in the States for that matter. Just be aware.

From what I'm reading here, depending on taxis for our Athens tours next spring just may not be the way to go! I know that, in discussing Rome, the names of Claudio's and Bob's Limo Services have come up as a good way to see that city, and we know it's true from experience. Are there any similar services in Athens?

Thanks,
Richard

Richard, look under the topic of private guides, there are several.

I was reading today's (Sunday) NY Times and - Saint's be praised! - the travel section had a rather large article on what to do, see, eat, etc. in this city!

For you who do not get the NY Times, the article should be on their web site:
The New York Times

You will have to register with them, but it is free & I have never gotten any spam as a result.

Doug

Thanks, Doug.

I found this to be really informative.

Doug could you please take this along? Thanks hon

Andi/Doug

We have a guide book we'll be bringing with us, as well, for Greece.

Much cheaper than a Guide. We have one too!

Agree. Athens on our own, for sure.