Three days in Athens

Old May 24th, 2015, 05:53 PM
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Three days in Athens

1: Which are the "must see" places
2: Is it easy to get to and from the Airport
3: Are there any Hotels that provide free "shuttles"
4: Are there "easy to get to" hop-on-hop off tour buses or can you recommend a good day touring company
5: Are there "day cruise" or ferries to Ephesus area from Athens.
6: Is there any days of the week that are less crowded at things like the Parthenon?

Coming in a few weeks.....
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Old May 24th, 2015, 06:32 PM
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You have three full days so you have four nights in Athens?
1. The Acropolis, The Acropolis Museum, The Agora below the Acropolis.
The Athens Archeology Museum, The Cycladic Museum, Lycabettus Hill tram to top.
2. Either take metro or taxi, flat rate is 35€.
3. Never heard of any hotels offering a shuttle.
4.there is a hop on hop off bus but disn't use it so can't comment. Wonderful company is Athens Walks www.Athens-walks.com. Highly recommend their Athens Food Tour.
5. Don't mean to sound rude, but have you looked at a map? I think it would take one to two days each way by ferry. Plus you'd have to get off on Samos, a Greek Island, and then take another ferry to Turkey, then get to Ephesus by land. You could fly to Istanbul, then fly to Izmir and yravel by land to Ephesus.
Greece has so many fantastic antiquities. Are you going to the Pelonnesean Peninsula where there are so many? Olympia, Mycenae, Epidavros to name a few...
6. It has always been crowded when I've gone to the Acropolis but once you are up on top, it isn't too bad. It has always been hot when I've gone in September so dress accordingly, but perhaps late May, early June will be better. Wear good shoes for the hike up there.
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Old May 24th, 2015, 07:12 PM
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The hotel that we often stay at in Athens ( AVA) offers prepaid tickets that allow you to skip the line at the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum.

These tickets include a meze tasting experience at a local restaurant in The Plaka.

Maybe your hotel offers the same thing? If not, I'm sure somebody online here has recommendations for a private tour that lets you skip the line, too.

Best tip I can give you is get to The Acropolis first thing in the AM, like 9 AM or earlier if it opens then, but I'm not sure if it does. You'll avoid some of the mega-tours and heat!

No way you can tour Ephesus from Athens for all the reasons described above.
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Old May 24th, 2015, 11:26 PM
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Many of the "must sees" of central Athens are close together in a pedestrianised area, so tour buses aren't necessary. I second HappyTrvlr's recommendation of Athens Walks. Kostas, the owner, is a former Evzone (palace guard), and his tour company has received many accolades. If you are on Facebook, see the page https://www.facebook.com/AthensWalksTours.

Getting from the airport to central Athens couldn't be easier. The metro station is right next to the airport terminal, with trains going to Monastiraki and Syntagma Square stations. Buses to central Athens and Piraeus leave from right outside Arrivals at the terminal, with the X95 bus stopping at Syntagma Square. Should you prefer being dropped off directly at your hotel, the taxi rank is also right outside Arrivals.

Ephesus is really a separate trip to Turkey, or part of a much longer trip through the Greek Islands. There are sights just as amazing in Athens itself, and in the Argolis region of the Peloponnese. Also consider a day trip to Delphi, a beautiful ancient site on a mountainside overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. Day trips can be arranged through any Athens travel agent, or directly through the tour companies http://www.chatours.gr and http://www.keytours.gr/.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 01:42 AM
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Thanks all....and yes I have looked at the map! lol seriously, after Athens we are going to Istanbul. My hubby has the idea he wants a boat trip and so....thought we could maybe "ferry" across the water to Kusadasi and enter Turkey that way...but maybe not... arghhhh the AVA is sold out so any other Hotel suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 01:51 AM
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I guess the choice is between two hours by flight or two days by ferry. I know which I would choose. ;-)
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Old May 26th, 2015, 12:35 PM
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Go to booking.com and enter your dates for Athens. Available hotels will be shown.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 12:58 PM
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Check PLAKA HOTEL. Friends in Athens have relatives who stay there every year.

You could also look at ATHENS GATE, which is only a few blocks away from AVA. Just make sure you ask for a room in the back, since the front of the hotel faces a very busy main street.

If those are unavailable, have not seen these but have heard good things about both HERMES and PALLAS ATHENA GRECOTEL.
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Old May 26th, 2015, 01:17 PM
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Have also a look at the following hotels :

A for Athens ( Monastiraki)

Herodion ( Acropolis)
Hera

Amalia ( Syntagma - opposite National garden)
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Old May 26th, 2015, 08:09 PM
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Are any within walking distance from the train station?
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Old May 26th, 2015, 11:21 PM
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A for Athens is directly at Monastiraki Square, 30 meters away from the metro station, Amalia a few steps away from Syntagma Square and Herodion 5 min away from the Acropolis metro station.

Check their websites for more information, or booking.com
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Old May 27th, 2015, 04:47 AM
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PLAKA Hotel is two blocks from the Monistraki stop.
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Old May 27th, 2015, 08:46 AM
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Book quickly. One time we had to reverse our itinerary as Athens was having a huge conference and no rooms were available.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 06:07 PM
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Thank you all for your responses!

We had a wonderful 3 week trip!!

Our three days in Athens was very interesting/awesome!!

The suggested hotels posted above were indeed already booked solid!!

We decided to stay at the Athens Airport Holiday Inn because it has a free shuttle to and from the airport, and on the morning we were leaving for Istanbul, had an early flight. We took TAXIs and public bus into Athens and back each day. It worked for us, but if we go again, now have a better idea of the lay out of the town, and places we would try staying at.

Interestingly enough, the very day we arrived and took the shuttle to our hotel, we "joined" MANY men-in-suits driving up to the hotel at the same time we were. We found out later these men were the political party that was formerly in power, meeting to discuss the big news about the EU and the financial situation in Greece.

We decided to join a tour group for the first day, thinking we would be able to see the Acropolis and other sites easier. Our tour guide was very nice, but given what we know now, it would have better to just use the Hop-on Hop-off buses to get to the main places and go at our own pace.

We actually met our tour at the Hotel Bretagne that is directly "kitty-corner" from the Parliament building. The staff at that hotel were very friendly and we sort of used their concierge for tips on dining.

Our favorite place to eat was the http://www.psaras-taverna.gr/en/. We sat out on a veranda, had lamp chops grilled with lemon and garlic, fresh cucumber tomato salad, and it was most delish. Hard to get to but we had the concierge call and make reservations, and took a taxi there from the Grand Bretagne.

Thanks again!!!
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