Tourist Attractions in Athens

You can buy the bus Tickets (esitirio in Greek) from Kiosk cost 0, 40 cent (kiosk=periptero in Greek) not from the bus Driver, and regarding the metro ticket you can purchase it from the reception down in the metro or from the machine , and that will cost you 0,80 cent.

The trap about the entrance tickets to the museums and places of interest in Athens city.

Unique Suggestions: The ticket for Acropolis is charged at 12 Euros and includes pass to the other city tourist attractions and historical places . This ticket is valid for one week. It is wise to begin your city sightseeing from here.

But in case you start off with the other attractions and museums , you have to pay off at each place and then buy the ticket to Acropolis which is still charged at 12 Euros.
Happy viewing :)

Note on Metro Safety: Pickpockets work the metro and the train to and from the airport. Keep your wallet and passport in your front pocket with your hand in it on crowded trains and buses. Ladies carry your handbags zipped if possible and close to your chest. People with backpacks are an easy target. If you think you are safe with cargo pants with zipped side pockets, forget it. These guys are so adept that they can cut through any pocket and you won't even know until you put your hand in and find everything gone. They also use confusion as a weapon, for example stumbling into a crowded car or bumping into you.

I was in the train at Kato Patisia ...it was really crowded. Never had I seen such crowd on a train. I was alert. I was holding tide my handbag and even had my shoulder on top and pressing so that nobody can open it. As soon as the train set off, I felt something like a mouse in my bag ..but I was still pressing with my elbow knowing that there was a hand in there. It was dangerous even to call, but I could not move at all. The trip lasted 3 minutes to the next station. Since I was very near the door, I had to get off to let people who wanted to step off leave. I looked behind and there was a huge guy with black glasses looking at me.
The zip of the bag was wide open, I put my hand in but he had not managed to reach the wallet. I was even more alert and I had the bag almost up to my chest after that incident. There were two girls standing next to me but they were so tiny and short that you could not tell that they were working for that guy. I reached home feeling happy that I had my money, I washed my hands and went to take my bag to go to Athens. I was shocked to see my leather bag that I left on the sofa minutes ago, cut with a knive ....luckily my money was there but I had to throw my new bag away. There was a cut of about 20 cms.

Unique Suggestions: If you want to be safe make photo copies of your passport and your driver's license and leave the originals and all but one credit card in your safe in your hotel room when you plan to use the metro or buses or really, anytime you go out in Athens because you never know when you may be in a crowd and that is where these guys work. Hold your money and credit card in your hand in your pocket. If you get pick-pocketed don't expect much help from the police. You will just end up wasting your time. Go straight to your hotel and cancel your credit cards that were stolen. (That's why you should only carry one with you).

Watch out for the beggers in Athens. This was our first run in with a begger and being the gullable tourist we got sucked in and then followed by one.
What ever you do dont give them money... if the truth be known they probably have more money than you and i put together.

This restaurant is quite popular to the visitors. Maybe because it is located in one of the most touristic areas....on Monastiraki square, just in front of the metro and the "ilektrikos" station.
The place is almost always packed inside and outside...It serves kebab, souvlaki etc....

BUT....it is one of the most dirty places around....They once served to me a tzatziki which was exposed to flies for hours (and I was watching it)....It was the last time they saw me there....

Fun Alternatives: "Thanassis" serves almost the same things and it is just next to Bairaktaris. Go there instead.

Restaurant Name: Bairaktaris
This restaurant is quite popular to the visitors. Maybe because it is located in one of the most touristic areas....on Monastiraki square, just in front of the metro and the "ilektrikos" station.
The place is almost always packed inside and outside...It serves kebab, souvlaki etc....

BUT....it is one of the most dirty places around....They once served to me a tzatziki which was exposed to flies for hours (and I was watching it)....It was the last time they saw me there....

Fun Alternatives: "Thanassis" serves almost the same things and it is just next to Bairaktaris. Go there instead.

Don't buy from the salesman at Monasteraki Square. They offer you perfume at low prices. they admit it's stolen; but the stuff is all fake. Simply avoid them by taking your mobile phone pretending you are calling.

WHen you are buying something in the famous shopping areas of Athens like Plaka or Monastiraki, you will be overcharged. The second the store owner hears you speak another language, the price goes up. But it can be negotiated, he would rather sell you something for less than not sell it at all.

Unique Suggestions: Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate!

Fun Alternatives: there isn't really an alternative unfortunately