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    Let's Go Budget Athens: The Student Travel Guide
    Let's Go Budget Athens: The Student Travel Guide
    Let's Go Budget Athens: The Student Travel Guide
    Ebook78 pages3 hours

    Let's Go Budget Athens: The Student Travel Guide

    By Harvard Student Agencies, Inc.

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    About this ebook

    Let's Go Budget Athens is a budget traveler's ticket to getting the most out of a trip to Greecewithout breaking the bank. Whether you want to comb through Acropolis Museum's impressive collection of ancient artifacts, take a day trip to World Heritage Site Delos, party until dawn on Mykonos and the red-sand beaches of the Cyclades, this slim, easy-to-carry guide is packed with dollar-saving information to help you make every penny count. Let's Go Budget Athens also includes neighborhood maps to help you get oriented, plus eight pages' worth of color photos to whet your appetite for sightseeing. From how to get discount tickets for museums, performances, and public transportation to where to find cheap eats and affordable accommodations, Let's Go Budget Athens has got you coveredand it's small enough to fit in your back pocket.

    Let's Go Budget Guides are for travelers who want to spend less but have more fun, students with more time than money, and anyone who appreciates a good deal. Let's Go Budget guides are written by Harvard student researchers. And who better than a starving student to figure out how to stretch a budgetand discover what's free and fun along the way?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLet's Go
    Release dateMar 6, 2012
    ISBN9781612370354
    Let's Go Budget Athens: The Student Travel Guide

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      Book preview

      Let's Go Budget Athens - Harvard Student Agencies, Inc.

      Contents

      Discover Athens

      Planning Your Trip

      Maps

      Accommodations

      Sights

      Food

      Nightlife

      Arts and Culture

      Shopping

      Excursions

      Essentials

      Athens 101

      Beyond Tourism

      Index

      Copyright Page

      Quick Reference

      Discover Athens

      Budget Athens

      EAT LIKE AN OLYMPIAN, PAY LIKE A MORTAL

      FREEBIES

      MORE COMFORTABLE THAN MARBLE

      TOURING ON A SHOESTRING

      What To Do

      NAVIGATING ATHENS’S MUSEUMS

      DO YOU KNOW THE MOUSSAKA MAN?

      PARTY LIKE DIONYSUS

      BEYOND TOURISM

      STUDENT SUPERLATIVES

      Here you are in Athens: the birthplace of democracy, theater, and Western civilization. Athens can’t help but wear its history on its sleeve—it’s hard to go anywhere in the city out of sight of the Acropolis—and millions of tourists flock here every year to visit the iconic Parthenon, Agora, and Dionysus’s Theater. But Athens isn’t all white marble and crumbling columns. If Athens were a person, it would probably have a copy of Plato’s Republic in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other. It’s a living, breathing modern metropolis, home to three million people and enough street-side souvlaki stands to feed all of them. From the narrow, cobblestoned streets of hilly Kolonaki to the hip counter-culture nightlife of Exarhia and the singular sight of the changing of the guard in central Syntagma Sq., Athens awaits your explorations.

      This is also the gateway to the sun-drenched Cyclades, defined by white and blue stucco buildings, notorious nightlife, and fabulous beaches. Mix some hangovers with all your history by heading to Mykonos and Ios, then check in on Santorini’s world-famous sunsets, Naxos’s peaceful mountain villages, and Delos’s ancient sanctuaries. They’re all just a short ferry ride away. Even with all those thousands of years of history, Greece remains dynamic, and there’s always something new to discover in this ancient land.

      Budget Athens

      EAT LIKE AN OLYMPIAN, PAY LIKE A MORTAL

      Eat well without paying well at these five Let’s Go picks.

      HORIATIKO: This Greek bakery chain offers a spread of hearty breads and delicious pastries. At a euro or two per kg, it may be the best bread for your buck in the country.

      O TEMPELIS: Some of the best authentic Greek cuisine in Athens served up at unbeatable prices—they even start off your meal right with a complimentary ouzo shot.

      POSTO CAFE: Stop by in the morning for croissants at the budget traveler’s favorite price: free.

      SYNTAGMA: Athens’s central Syntagma Sq. not only houses Parliament and the hub of the city’s public transportation, but it’s also filled day and (often) night with vendors selling souvlaki and other deliciously greasy street food, perfect for a cheap, convenient meal on your way to and from your hostel.

      CAFE NRG: Build your own crepes to stock up on all the eNeRGy you need to explore Santorini.

      Freebies

      MORE COMFORTABLE THAN MARBLE

      If you know where to look, it’s not hard to find the perfect hostel-away-from-home.

      PAGRATION ATHENS YOUTH HOSTEL: Some of the cheapest beds in Athens, presided over by one of the friendliest old men in the country.

      STUDENTS AND TRAVELLERS INN: This famous hostel in Athens’s Plaka neighborhood offers fastidiously clean rooms, a trellis-roofed courtyard, and a resident parrot.

      ATHENS BACKPACKERS: For those in search of a more social stay in Socrates’s city, Athens’s party hostel is your best bet.

      FRANCESCO’S: Chill out by the pool for some surf and turf at this student traveler’s paradise on the island of Ios.

      YOUTH HOSTEL OIA: A budget hostel that looks like a luxurious villa in the most picturesque town in the islands.

      TOURING ON A SHOESTRING

      Just because Greece’s economy collapsed, doesn’t mean that you will need a bailout after your Greek vacation. Here are five ways to make your euro go further in Athens and the Cyclades:

      FERRIES: To get from Athens to the neighboring Cyclades, you have three options: standard ferry, fast ferry, and plane. Unless you have money to burn or an irrational fear of seasickness, there’s no real reason to fly. The standard ferries are cheaper, and run more frequently, than the fast ferries.

      AVOID THE HIGH SEASON: Tourists and mainlanders alike descend on the islands in the summer high season (July-September). This is when the islands are at their liveliest and their priciest. To save some euro, visit in May, June, or October, when the weather is still nice and the crowds have thinned. Many sights also offer free or reduced admission in the low season.

      FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION: Athens and the islands each have their own character, and each is worth visiting in its own right, but to maximize your time and money, it’s best to limit yourself to a couple. Pick your favorites and save yourself the cost of multiple intra-island ferry rides.

      DELOS: From Mykonos, you can visit this extraordinary island—a World Heritage Site full of ancient temples, sanctuaries, and homes—on a daytrip for only €17.

      CHEAP EATS: Save yourself some money by avoiding the generally over-priced, tourist-packed restaurants on the islands when possible. Head to a market and pick up some packaged yogurt or fresh fruit for breakfast. Greek salads, meanwhile, hover under €7 at even the priciest restaurants.

      What To Do

      NAVIGATING ATHENS’S MUSEUMS

      Athens overflows with museums. Follow our guide to find the ones that are worth your time. At the Acropolis Museum, you can admire the reconstructed reliefs and pediments that once adorned the temples of the Acropolis. Meanwhile, the Museum of Cycladic Art showcases art and artifacts that make the Parthenon look positively young. For more astonishing treasures of Greek antiquity, visit the National Archaeological Museum. And if you need a fix from all that ancient art and culture, head to the Benaki Museum, set in the stately Benaki mansion in Kolanaki.

      DO YOU KNOW THE MOUSSAKA MAN?

      Greek food is almost always cheap, generously portioned, and stuffed with something cheesy or sugary, so it’s virtually impossible to go wrong. But there are some who do it even better than the rest. At Athens’s Paradosiako, you may go into cardiac arrest from a feast of fried cheesy goodness. Let’s Go loves the house specialty moussaka at Mandra, as well as the vegetarian version, served between two slabs of feta. The best Loukoumades—traditional Greek donuts smothered with honey, walnuts, and cinnamon—might be at Ice Grill in Monastiraki. And a trip through the Greek islands will always be brightened by the Greek classic of feta-stuffed meatballs at Manoli’s Garden on Naxos.

      PARTY LIKE DIONYSUS

      Greece is renowned for its wild nightlife, and it isn’t just limited to the islands. Athens holds its own with venues like Venti, featuring a huge indoor tree and retractable glass ceiling. Easy to find and difficult to leave, Passepartout is also an Athens hotspot. Once you do head out of the Cyclades, Oceanmojo in Naxos Town will show you the epitome of Greek island hedonism, with gleaming white surfaces and a sexy, stylish crowd. On Santorini, head to the upscale Koo Club. And on Ios, Greece’s (in)famous nightlife capital, Blue Note is party central.

      BEYOND TOURISM

      Ready to take a break from drinking ouzo and counting columns? Get more involved in Greek culture by studying, working, or volunteering. You could protect sea turtles and their habitats by volunteering with the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece. Or you could restore ancient theaters so they can be actively used in local communities with Concordia Volunteers. If you’re hungry for more, see Beyond Tourism.

      Student Superlatives

      Planning Your Trip

      WHEN TO GO

      NEIGHBORHOODS

      Syntagma

      Plaka

      Monastiraki

      Exarhia

      Kolonaki

      Pagrati

      SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

      Ancient Athens: From Aristotle to the Acropolis

      Cheap Date: A Day in Athens

      Best of Athens and the Cyclades in 10 Days

      Welcome to Athens. Step out of the clean Metro into Syntagma Sq., a bustling white marble plaza that is the center of the city both literally and symbolically. The transportation hub of Athens, crowded Syntagma is also home to bursts of local culture and political activity. From here, walk a few blocks west toward Plaka, where the iconic Acropolis towers over streets teeming with tourist-friendly tavernas and souvenir shops. This picturesque neighborhood is also home to some of the city’s best eats and low-budget lodging. A walk down charming Adrianou brings you to Monastiraki, which boasts vibrant culture and authentic local flavor, with plenty of sandal shops and Byzantine churches. On the other side of Syntagma, Kolonaki sits content in the knowledge that it’s the poshest and priciest sector of Athens. Designer boutiques, stylish cafes, and wide avenues lined with classy museums characterize this area. Exarhia, by contrast, is the domain of Athens’s hip, young students, and teems with cafes and tavernas serving incredible food at budget-friendly prices. Pagrati is farthest from the city center and is filled with residential streets branching off of Imitou, the central road lined with rows of cafes and bars. Together, all these neighborhoods make up a modern metropolis spread out in the shadow of the most historic and beautiful hilltop citadel of the ancient world.

      Icons

      WHEN TO GO

      Tourists flock to Greece between late June and early September. Athenians, meanwhile, escape the heat and crowds by heading to the islands. Of course, foreigners follow, packing the Cyclades with party animals looking for sun, sand, and sin during the summer; August is particularly crazy. Make sure to reserve far in advance if visiting during the high season. If crowds aren’t your cup of ouzo, consider visiting in May, early June, or September, when the throngs thin. The winter months, from October to April, are considered low season. Be warned if traveling at this time of year—many sights open for abbreviated hours, transportation schedules can be spotty, and some accommodations and restaurants close, though you’ll likely be able to find cheap deals on the places that remain open and you’ll have some sights to yourself.

      NEIGHBORHOODS

      Syntagma

      Syntagma is the literal and symbolic center of Athens, hub of the city’s transportation system and home to the Greek Parliament (Syntagma means Constitution). Though it may not be the coolest or hottest neighborhood in Athens, it is one of the most diverse and dynamic, at least during the day. Syntagma is a great place to grab some shade, people-watch, and get a feel for the bustling hive of Athenian life.

      The Best Views in Athens

      The stately, peach-colored Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier mark the foot of the National Garden, a haven for Athens’s nature-lovers. Looking in the opposite direction, the long stretch of Ermou teems with high fashion shops and skateboarding teenagers. Airport-bound buses leave from the right edge of the square, and the entrance to a Metro station is located across from Parliament on Amalias. Georgiou, Filelinon, and Othonos demarcate the other three sides of the square. Step out of the main square and the neighborhood quiets significantly. Streets wind along, cafe tables sit in wait, and shop owners attempt to lure in customers.

      Hotels here (with the exception of John’s Place and a few other hidden budget options) are wicked expensive. The area is not known for its nightlife, and the best places to eat are those that border other neighborhoods (Paradosiako is practically in Plaka and Zonar’s cozies up with Kolonaki). Syntagma is a place to spend a couple of afternoon hours in between eating, sleeping, and partying in Athens’s other neighborhoods.

      Plaka

      Nestled in the middle of the triangle formed by Syntagma Square, Monastiraki Square, and the Acropolis, Plaka is the most touristy area in Athens. But this doesn’t detract at all from the authentic character of the neighborhood. On the contrary, Plaka is one of the prettiest and most charming parts of the city. Narrow cobblestone streets lined with well-kept old buildings give Plaka a distinctly European feel and antique charm. Many streets are pedestrian thoroughfares ideal for shopping and strolling (though, of course, the ubiquitous Athenian motorcycle is allowed passage everywhere). Main roads like Kydathineon and Adrianou are closely packed with cafes, local merchant shops, and tavernas whose owners will try to convince you that they really do serve the best gyro in Greece. Escape them by avoiding the more heavily trafficked areas and heading to the quiet backstreets, where you’ll strike gold at restaurants like Mono and Yiasemi. With low-cost, high-value hostels like Student and Travellers Inn and Athens Backpackers, Plaka is also the best place in Athens to find budget accommodations.

      Monastiraki

      Of all the neighborhoods in Athens, Monastiraki is the best place to get a feel for the city’s authentic culture at its liveliest. Nestled between touristy Plaka, central Syntagma, and edgy Psiri, Monastiraki is a maze of crisscrossing streets overflowing with sandcolored buildings and cobblestone roads. The Metro lets out onto Monastiraki Square, a spacious plaza with lots of seating and boxy modern art sculptures that is a popular hangout for locals and tourists alike. Grab some delicious fresh fruit and grilled corn from the vendors lining the side of the square that feeds into the Flea Market. Fashionable Aiolou is full of shops that are nearly as posh as those in Kolonaki, but much more affordable. Athinas Street, the main thoroughfare, will lead you to the Meat Market, where you can get a taste of local butchery. Scattered throughout Monastiraki

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