Museums and Galleries
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[[File:20140622-Anthoupoli-62D304_(7872).jpg|thumb|A Line 2 train in Anthoupoli station|300px]]
[[File:20140622-Anthoupoli-62D304_(7872).jpg|thumb|A Line 2 train in Anthoupoli station|300px]]
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The Athens Metro opened in 1869 (Line 1) and in 2000 (Lines 2 & 3) which is currently being extended, is a wonder to behold, and puts many better-known metro systems to shame. Many metro stations resemble museums as they exhibit artifacts found during excavations for the system (i.e. Syntagma). You are not allowed to consume food or drink in the
subway
system. During rush hour, it can become very crowded
and you must leave personal space at the door
. There are three lines:
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The Athens Metro opened in 1869 (Line 1) and in 2000 (Lines 2 & 3) which is currently being extended, is a wonder to behold, and puts many better-known metro systems to shame. Many metro stations resemble museums as they exhibit artifacts found during excavations for the system (i.e. Syntagma). You are not allowed to consume food or drink in the
metro
system. During rush hour, it can become very crowded. There are three lines:
* '''Line 1''' (Green line): '''Piraeus – Kifissia''', connects the port of Piraeus and the northern suburbs of Athens (Kifisia station) via the city centre. Be sure that you keep an eye on your personal stuff when using this line and be prepared for people getting in the train and asking for money.
* '''Line 1''' (Green line): '''Piraeus – Kifissia''', connects the port of Piraeus and the northern suburbs of Athens (Kifisia station) via the city centre. Be sure that you keep an eye on your personal stuff when using this line and be prepared for people getting in the train and asking for money.
* '''Line 2''' (Red line): '''Anthoupoli – Elliniko''' connects western and southern Athens via Athens centre.
* '''Line 2''' (Red line): '''Anthoupoli – Elliniko''' connects western and southern Athens via Athens centre.
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Validate your ticket at the validation machines upon entering the station. Failure to do so will entail a hefty fine if you are caught by ticket inspectors. The standard metro fare is €1.20 (as of October 2015) for trips between all stations except the Airport line, east of Doukissis Plakentias. This allows travel with all means of public transport and unlimited transfers for 70 minutes.
Validate your ticket at the validation machines upon entering the station. Failure to do so will entail a hefty fine if you are caught by ticket inspectors. The standard metro fare is €1.20 (as of October 2015) for trips between all stations except the Airport line, east of Doukissis Plakentias. This allows travel with all means of public transport and unlimited transfers for 70 minutes.
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For €4,50 you can buy a
24-hour ticket for all public transport in Athens, apart from the Airport line. This needs to be validated only once, at the start of the first journey. The standard fare to or from the Airport is €10 (as of February 2016), €14 for a return trip within 48 hours, €14 for a one-way trip for a 2-person group and €20 for a one-way trip for a 3-person group.
+
A
24-hour ticket for all public transport in Athens, apart from the Airport line
, costs €4.50
. This needs to be validated only once, at the start of the first journey. The standard fare to or from the Airport is €10 (as of February 2016), €14 for a return trip within 48 hours, €14 for a one-way trip for a 2-person group and €20 for a one-way trip for a 3-person group.
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Bear in mind that there
are often multiple entrances to the stations and often they go straight to the platform, so remember which entrance is for which. It is open from 05:00 to midnight.
+
There
are often multiple entrances to the stations and often they go straight to the platform, so remember which entrance is for which. It is open from 05:00 to midnight.
===By suburban railway===
===By suburban railway===
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===On foot===
===On foot===
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Athens offers some of the best and worst urban walking in Europe. Several major streets have been recently pedestrianized, and a mostly car-free '''archeological walk''' which starts at Vasilisis Amalias Street, passes in front of the New Acropolis Museum, Acropolis, Herodion Theatre, Thiseio (Apostolou Pavlou Str), Ermou Street and ends at the popular area of Kerameikos (Gkazi) where numerous bars and clubs are located. Pleasant walking can also be had in '''[[Athens/Plaka|Plaka,]]''' especially its upper reaches, and in much of '''[[Athens/Kolonaki|Kolonaki,]]''' and the National Garden can provide a welcome respite from the heat and noise of the city
center
. On the other hand, Athens' horrendous traffic can make crossing the street in many areas a hair-raising proposition, and even walking down many major streets can be an unpleasant experience of noise and pollution. Cars and motorbikes parked blocking the
sidewalks
(illegal but ubiquitous) can also make a stroll difficult. Fortunately, much of the traffic-plagued area of the city can be avoided by judicious use of the new Metro, which goes most places a visitor would want to see or to walk around in.
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Athens offers some of the best and worst urban walking in Europe. Several major streets have been recently pedestrianized, and a mostly car-free '''archeological walk''' which starts at Vasilisis Amalias Street, passes in front of the New Acropolis Museum, Acropolis, Herodion Theatre, Thiseio (Apostolou Pavlou Str), Ermou Street and ends at the popular area of Kerameikos (Gkazi) where numerous bars and clubs are located. Pleasant walking can also be had in '''[[Athens/Plaka|Plaka,]]''' especially its upper reaches, and in much of '''[[Athens/Kolonaki|Kolonaki,]]''' and the National Garden can provide a welcome respite from the heat and noise of the city
centre
. On the other hand, Athens' horrendous traffic can make crossing the street in many areas a hair-raising proposition, and even walking down many major streets can be an unpleasant experience of noise and pollution. Cars and motorbikes parked blocking the
pavements
(illegal but ubiquitous) can also make a stroll difficult. Fortunately, much of the traffic-plagued area of the city can be avoided by judicious use of the new Metro, which goes most places a visitor would want to see or to walk around in.
==Talk==
==Talk==
: ''Please see this [[Greece#Talk|section at the country level]] for a full discussion''
: ''Please see this [[Greece#Talk|section at the country level]] for a full discussion''
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While Greek is the official language in Greece, many Athenians speak English and those in the tourist industry are likely to speak French and German
too
. Almost all signs are written in Greek and English.
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While Greek is the official language in Greece, many Athenians speak English and those in the tourist industry are likely to
also
speak French and German. Almost all signs are written in Greek and English.
==See==
==See==
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{{Mapframe|37.9872|23.7294|zoom=10}}
{{Mapframe|37.9872|23.7294|zoom=10}}
At first glance, Athens seems entirely to be composed of nasty, four- to six-story concrete buildings, lacking character and badly in need of a paint, but if you look beyond that, you will find little gems tucked in among the grey. The areas at the foot of the Acropolis, Anafiotika, Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio are home to many wonderful Neoclassical buildings, trendy and traditional cafes and shops, narrow winding streets, and incredible views of the Acropolis. Little Greek Orthodox churches are tucked in among the concrete, often in the most unexpected places. These are usually beautifully decorated with icons and brass fixtures inside, but make sure you're appropriately dressed (no short sleeves or bare legs is a good rule of thumb, as a mark of respect).
At first glance, Athens seems entirely to be composed of nasty, four- to six-story concrete buildings, lacking character and badly in need of a paint, but if you look beyond that, you will find little gems tucked in among the grey. The areas at the foot of the Acropolis, Anafiotika, Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio are home to many wonderful Neoclassical buildings, trendy and traditional cafes and shops, narrow winding streets, and incredible views of the Acropolis. Little Greek Orthodox churches are tucked in among the concrete, often in the most unexpected places. These are usually beautifully decorated with icons and brass fixtures inside, but make sure you're appropriately dressed (no short sleeves or bare legs is a good rule of thumb, as a mark of respect).
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* For the best views of Athens, head to the top of '''Lycavittos Hill'''. You can either walk from [[Kolonaki]] (the path starts 15 minutes from Evangelismos metro stop, and will take 30 minutes to talk up the winding, but paved and not steep, path) or you can take the funicular railway (€6.5 for a 2 way trip) from the top of Ploutarchou Street in [[Kolonaki]]. Either way, be sure to wear flat shoes, and bring lots of water in the summer
!
From the top you can see the whole city, the port of Piraeus and, on a clear day, the island of Aegina and the Peloponnese. Have a drink at the cafe there, and pay a visit to the chapel of St George.
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* For the best views of Athens, head to the top of '''Lycavittos Hill'''. You can either walk from [[Kolonaki]] (the path starts 15 minutes from Evangelismos metro stop, and will take 30 minutes to talk up the winding, but paved and not steep, path) or you can take the funicular railway (€6.5 for a 2 way trip) from the top of Ploutarchou Street in [[Kolonaki]]. Either way, be sure to wear flat shoes, and bring lots of water in the summer
.
From the top you can see the whole city, the port of Piraeus and, on a clear day, the island of Aegina and the Peloponnese. Have a drink at the cafe there, and pay a visit to the chapel of St George.
* If you're lucky enough to be in Athens for the Easter Weekend, you'll see the spectacular sight of hundreds of people making their candlelit way down the hill on Easter Saturday night as part of the Easter Vigil procession.
* If you're lucky enough to be in Athens for the Easter Weekend, you'll see the spectacular sight of hundreds of people making their candlelit way down the hill on Easter Saturday night as part of the Easter Vigil procession.
* There is a ticket available at relevant sites that give admission to the most popular sites such as the Acropolis and Temple of Olympian Zeus for €12 within four days. If you're a student, almost all admission costs are waived.
* There is a ticket available at relevant sites that give admission to the most popular sites such as the Acropolis and Temple of Olympian Zeus for €12 within four days. If you're a student, almost all admission costs are waived.
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| phone=+30 210 729-0543 | tollfree= | fax=
| phone=+30 210 729-0543 | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
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| content=
Strictly speaking not
in Kolonaki, but just across the street, the National War Museum is the only significant surviving public project of the military dictatorship which ruled Greece 1967 - 1974. The museum's displays are old fashioned and biased towards the more successful periods of Greek military history. The tanks, artillery guns and aircraft on display outside the museum form the most interesting part of its collection, and can be visited for free.
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| content=
Not
in Kolonaki, but just across the street, the National War Museum is the only significant surviving public project of the military dictatorship which ruled Greece 1967 - 1974. The museum's displays are old fashioned and biased towards the more successful periods of Greek military history. The tanks, artillery guns and aircraft on display outside the museum form the most interesting part of its collection, and can be visited for free.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{see
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| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| phone= | tollfree= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
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| content=—
Possessing arguably the best collection of Cycladic art in the world, the Museum of Cycladic Art also holds
the second largest collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world outside Cyprus, after the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Some of the most popular exhibits include the Cycladic figurines, the idols from Early Bronze Age Cyclades, whose style greatly influenced modernist work in the 20th century, and
the amazing
Cypriot pottery and
beautiful
Ancient Greek artifacts, especially the ‘Scenes of Daily Life in Ancient Greece’ display, which is popular with families. They also sell great souvenirs, and lunch is available at the elegant Aethrion Café. If you are lucky,
you
may
bump into
a quirky temporary exhibition too (with no extra entry fee), as they hold not only archaeological, but modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Open late on Thursdays, closed on Tuesdays.
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| content=—
Holds
the second largest collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world outside Cyprus, after the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Some of the most popular exhibits include the Cycladic figurines, the idols from Early Bronze Age Cyclades, whose style greatly influenced modernist work in the 20th century, and Cypriot pottery and Ancient Greek artifacts, especially the ‘Scenes of Daily Life in Ancient Greece’ display, which is popular with families. They also sell great souvenirs, and lunch is available at the elegant Aethrion Café. If you are lucky,
there
may
be
a quirky temporary exhibition too (with no extra entry fee), as they hold not only archaeological, but modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Open late on Thursdays, closed on Tuesdays.
}}
}}
* {{see
* {{see
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| hours=Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 - 14:00, Weekdays by appointment only and for groups of twenty (20) persons or more. | price=Standard entrance fee: 5€, Reduced entrance fee: 3€ (students)
| hours=Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 - 14:00, Weekdays by appointment only and for groups of twenty (20) persons or more. | price=Standard entrance fee: 5€, Reduced entrance fee: 3€ (students)
| lastedit=2015-05-29
| lastedit=2015-05-29
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| content=The Vorres Museum is a diachronic museum of folk and contemporary art in Paiania, East Attica, Greece. Its grounds cover 320,000
m2
(80 acres) including several buildings, gardens and courtyards. Its collection includes over 6000 pieces covering 4000 years of Greek history and art. The museum has been donated by the Vorres family to the Greek state.
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| content=The Vorres Museum is a diachronic museum of folk and contemporary art in Paiania, East Attica, Greece. Its grounds cover 320,000
m<sup>2</sup>
(80 acres) including several buildings, gardens and courtyards. Its collection includes over 6000 pieces covering 4000 years of Greek history and art. The museum has been donated by the Vorres family to the Greek state.
}}
}}
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The visual arts enjoy a big share in the Athenian cultural and everyday life. Next to big institutions such as the '''National Gallery''' and the '''Benaki Museum''', a big number of small private galleries are spread within the city centre and the surrounding areas, hosting the works of contemporary visual and media artists. In recent years a number of bar galleries have sprung up, where you can have a drink or a coffee whilst visiting an exhibition.
The visual arts enjoy a big share in the Athenian cultural and everyday life. Next to big institutions such as the '''National Gallery''' and the '''Benaki Museum''', a big number of small private galleries are spread within the city centre and the surrounding areas, hosting the works of contemporary visual and media artists. In recent years a number of bar galleries have sprung up, where you can have a drink or a coffee whilst visiting an exhibition.
* '''The National Art Gallery''' is located at Michalakopoulou Street, close to '''Evangelismos''' metro station and is one of Greece's main art institutions and features paintings and works of art from some of Greece's and Europe's best from the 19th and 20th centuries. Emphasis is given to popular Greek contemporary artists including Giannis Tsarouchis, Domenikos Theotokopoulos (a.k.a. El Greco), Theodors Vrizakis, Nikolaos Kounelakis, Nikiforos Litras, Konstantinos Parthenis, Maleas, Giannis Moralis and others
* '''The National Art Gallery''' is located at Michalakopoulou Street, close to '''Evangelismos''' metro station and is one of Greece's main art institutions and features paintings and works of art from some of Greece's and Europe's best from the 19th and 20th centuries. Emphasis is given to popular Greek contemporary artists including Giannis Tsarouchis, Domenikos Theotokopoulos (a.k.a. El Greco), Theodors Vrizakis, Nikolaos Kounelakis, Nikiforos Litras, Konstantinos Parthenis, Maleas, Giannis Moralis and others
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* '''The City of Athens Technopolis''', an industrial museum of incomparable architecture
- among the most interesting in the world, has been transformed into a multipurpose cultural space
. The centre has assisted in the upgrading of a historic Athens district
and the creation of yet another positive element in Athens' cultural identity
. Technopolis is located at '''Peiraios Avenue''' & Persefonis Street,
right
next to the Kerameikos metro station (line 3).
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* '''The City of Athens Technopolis''', an industrial museum of incomparable architecture. The centre has assisted in the upgrading of a historic Athens district. Technopolis is located at '''Peiraios Avenue''' & Persefonis Street, next to the Kerameikos metro station (line 3).
===Parks===
===Parks===