Athens Hotels

Athens

Greece is ancient, classical and modern with breathtaking scenery, sparkling seas, beautiful islands and picturesque coastlines. The Gods chose this land as their home and Greece lures travellers from all over the world. Its history, mythology and beauty combine to make it an experience visitors will never forget. Located at the tip of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece is divided into continental Greece and its many islands located in the Ionian Sea on the west coast or in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. The sea is never far away in Greece and has had a profound influence on its history and way of life. Greece is the 12th member of the EU (European Economic and Monetary Union) and is considered the origin of Western civilisation, the birthplace of Democracy and the Olympic games.

Athens is the Capital of Greece, a large modern city that dates back to the dawn of civilisation. The sprawling city is bounded on three sides by mountains with the Acropolis and Lycabettus being the most prominent hills. Visitors must explore the Acropolis with its main attraction of the Parthenon, the Olympic Stadium, Temple of Zeus and the ancient marketplace of the Plaka. Piraeus, the port of Athens, is where visitors can start their exploration of the Greek islands. The most popular Greek islands are Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu and Crete.

Summer is the peak season, especially August when the Greeks are on holiday, and the Islands can be crowded and accommodation can be booked out. Spring and late autumn are the best times to visit Greece as the weather is warm and the accommodation is less expensive.

Winter is the low season, as the weather is cool and occasionally rainy, but an ideal time to save money while enjoying Athens without other tourists. During the winter months of November to March the Islands are deserted, ferry services are limited and many hotels are closed.

Dining

The Plaka area is the most popular with tourists - there are many bars, cafes and restaurants.

Shopping

There are many shopping areas in Athens. The official retail trading hours are M,W,Sa 9am-3pm and T,Th,Fr 9am-2pm and then 5.30-8.30pm every day. The ancient marketplace of the Plaka, a charming historic district located at the base of the Acropolis, is very popular with visitors and has many tourist shops, restaurants, cafes and bars open every day until late at night, even on Sundays. Kolonaki, located at the base of the Lycabettus Hill, is an area of up-market, quality shops and fashionable boutiques with clothing, children’s wear and leather goods. Ermou Street is affordable and specialises in ladies fashions, shoes, gifts, homewares and leather goods. Mitropoleos Street runs from Syntagma Square parallel to Ermou Street and is popular for clothing, jewellery and handicrafts. The Monastiraki Flea Market has great shopping bargains and is open every day with Sunday the busiest and most colourful day of the week.

The Mall at the Neratziotissa Metro Station is the biggest shopping mall in Athens.

Street vendors with their products laid out on the pavement can be seen around the city. The goods are mostly copies of major brands and if the vendors are unlicensed they are in violation of Greek law.