Overview in Athens

Overview

Many major sights, as well as hotels, cafés, and restaurants, are within a fairly small central area. It's easy to walk everywhere, though sidewalks are sometimes obstructed by parked cars. Most far-flung sights, such as beaches, are reachable by metro, bus, and tram. Check the Organization for Urban Public Transportation (OASA) Web site for English-language information on how to use public transport to get to sights around the city. OASA also answers questions about routes (usually only in Greek). The office, open weekdays 7:30-3, distributes maps of bus routes with street names in Greek; these are also distributed at the white ticket kiosks at many bus terminals.

The price of public transportation has risen steeply, but it is still less than that in other western European capitals. Riding during rush hours is definitely not recommended. Upon boarding, validate your ticket in the orange canceling machines at the front and back of buses and trolleys and in metro stations. Keep your tickets until you reach your destination, as inspectors occasionally pop up to check that they have been canceled and validated. They are strict about fining offenders, including tourists. You can buy a day pass covering the metro, buses, trolleys, and trams for EUR 3, a weekly pass for EUR 10, or, at the beginning of each month, a monthly pass for EUR 38.