Athens: What to Know Before You Go

Most visitors give Athens a day and a half before the ferry, and most of them leave thinking they should have stayed longer. The city is messy, loud and hot in summer, but it rewards anyone who slows down.

How the centre is laid out

Nearly everything you'll want sits in a walkable ring around the Acropolis. Syntagma Square, with the Parliament building, is the modern centre and the main metro hub. South-west of it are Plaka, the oldest residential quarter, and Anafiotika, a tiny village of whitewashed houses on the rock's northern slope. West is Monastiraki, with its square and flea market, and beyond it Psyrri and Thissio. On the south side, the pedestrian avenue Dionysiou Areopagitou runs below the Acropolis past the Acropolis Museum to Koukaki. Streets are signed in Greek and Latin letters, which helps.

What to book before you land

The Acropolis. Every ticket is for a timed entry slot, and in summer the early ones go days ahead. Our Acropolis guide explains how the system works. The other ancient sites and museums are rarely sold out, but check their hours on the official sites, because they change with the season.

The heat

July and August regularly bring temperatures near 40°C. During heatwaves the culture ministry closes the Acropolis and other open-air sites for the hottest part of the afternoon, decided day by day. Plan outdoor sights for the morning and the evening, and keep the air-conditioned museums for the middle of the day.

Money and a fee on your bill

Greece uses the euro, and cards work nearly everywhere, though small tavernas and kiosks still like cash. Since January 2025 hotels and short-term rentals add a climate crisis resilience fee per room, per night, higher from April to October. It's often paid at checkout, so don't be surprised by it.

Borders

Greece is in the Schengen area. Visitors from outside the EU now register fingerprints and a photo in the Entry/Exit System on arrival, which can mean queues at the airport. ETIAS, the EU's online travel authorisation, isn't running yet and has no confirmed start date.

Safety and small things

Athens is safe for visitors, but pickpockets are active on metro line 1 between Monastiraki and Piraeus, and on the airport trains. The streets around Omonia are rough after dark. Tap water is drinkable. Plugs are the European two-pin type. And the marble paving on the Acropolis is slippery, which our what to wear guide takes seriously.