| Before you get too excited, read below to find | | | | forget to tour some of the city's unique |
| some great tips about travelling to Athens. If you | | | | museums. Athens has museums to suit all tastes. |
| plan ahead, you'll ensure that your Athens | | | | Whether you enjoy art, culture or a modern |
| vacation is the best it can be!Getting to Athens: | | | | theme, a museum awaits. Below is a list of the |
| Using a Greek Travel AgentYou might be | | | | most popular museums in Athens.National |
| frightened about using a travel agent you're not | | | | Archaeological Museum |
| familiar with - especially from a foreign country. | | | | The Benaki Museum |
| Have no fear, using a reputable Greek travel | | | | The Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient |
| agent is probably the safest and most affordable | | | | Greek Art |
| way to schedule your visit to Athens.There are | | | | Kerameikos Museum |
| several reasons why using a Greek travel agent | | | | Museum of Greek Folk Art |
| can help your travels go more smoothly. One, | | | | Jewish Museum |
| they are very familiar with the Athens area and | | | | National Gallery |
| can direct you to the right hotel, activities and | | | | National Historical Museum |
| travel methods during your stay. A travel agent | | | | Museum of Popular Musical Instruments |
| who is not located in Greece will not always be | | | | Byzantine Museum |
| able to provide the best possible options. Second, | | | | War Museum |
| a Greek travel agent often has access to more | | | | Greek Historical Costume Museum |
| discounted packages for hotels, rental cars, | | | | Theatrical Museum |
| cruises, resort packages, tours, airline tickets, etc. | | | | Frissiras Museum of Contemporary Greek and |
| So, you will probably save money on your overall | | | | European Painting |
| travel expenses by using a Greek travel agent. | | | | Acropolis Museum |
| Third, if you run into problems during your stay, | | | | Athens NightlifeAthens has a nightlife that's |
| get lost or lose something, a travel agent who's | | | | constantly on the move. You'll never grow bored |
| actually located in Athens will be able to assist you | | | | during your trip. In the evenings, you can dine at |
| directly. If your travel agent is located thousands | | | | fine Greek restaurants, enjoy live music, go |
| of miles away, you're pretty much on your | | | | dancing or whatever suits your fancy. There are |
| own!Ferry Schedules and Travel AgentsFerry | | | | theatrical shows and dinner theaters where you |
| schedules are a whole other ball park when it | | | | can enjoy a variety of entertainment. Much of |
| comes to planning your trip. By using a Greek | | | | the activity at night can be found in the Plaka, Psiri |
| travel agent, you'll have access to the most | | | | or Thission areas.Use the information above to |
| up-to-date ferry boat schedules. Ferry boats are | | | | make the most of your visit to Athens. You can |
| used to travel to and from the Greek islands, so | | | | enjoy a great getaway if you plan ahead!Touring |
| you must be able to schedule your ride at the | | | | the Museums of GreeceGreece offers hundreds |
| right times if you plan to visit any islands while in | | | | of museums, whether in the main cities, on the |
| Athens. The problem with ferry schedules is that | | | | islands or in remote villages. There are museums |
| they're are usually released and changed at the | | | | everywhere in Greece, and they each focus on |
| last minute. So, even using the Internet to | | | | different aspects of Greek culture and history. |
| research your own schedules will not always be | | | | Below is a list of museums with a brief description |
| accurate. The last thing you need is to be | | | | of each. Be sure to visit a museum in the area of |
| stranded on some island!Recommended Hotels in | | | | Greece you visit.Museums in Athens, |
| AthensWhen planning your trip to Athens, be sure | | | | GreeceNational Archaeological MuseumThis |
| you understand where your hotel is located, what | | | | museum ranks in the top ten museums in the |
| rating it has and the expense of staying there. | | | | world and offers its collection display in a lovely |
| Many hotels and resorts are available in Athens, | | | | building near Alexandras Avenue. The museum |
| but you want to be sure it will meet your needs. | | | | has a cafe, gift shop and sculpture garden.The |
| The best way to know for sure is to talk with a | | | | Benaki MuseumThis is a multi-floored museum |
| travel agent and explain the type of room and | | | | with every level moving up in history. The bottom |
| price you desire.Great areas to stay in Athens | | | | floor displays the most ancient items.The |
| include Makrianni, Plaka, Thission, Syntagma, | | | | Goulandris Museum of Cycladic and Ancient Greek |
| Koukaki and Monastiraki. These are within walking | | | | ArtThis Athens museum offers a great collection |
| distance of many of the major attractions and | | | | of old Cycladic art. It opens daily except Sundays |
| sights in Athens, so you can avoid driving | | | | and Tuesdays.Kerameikos MuseumThis museum |
| downtown as much as possible. Also these areas | | | | is located at the ancient Athens cemetery at the |
| all border the Acropolis and its surrounding | | | | bottom of Ermou. It's just past the Monastiraki |
| archaeological park. Shops, restaurants, taxis, | | | | Flea Market. The museum has tombstones and |
| ferry ports, buses, etc. are all nearby these areas | | | | pottery.Museum of Greek Folk ArtHere you'll find |
| as well.Below is a list of some great hotels in | | | | wood carvings, embroideries, jewelry and |
| Athens, some being upscale and others being | | | | traditional folk art. There are also fabulous ceramic |
| family-oriented or inexpensive.Avra RafinaThe | | | | collections.Jewish MuseumThe Jewish Museum in |
| Avra Rafina is a great three-star hotel that's | | | | Athens offers a display of artifacts and art from |
| located near the ferries. It's a great place to stay | | | | Jewish communities. You can also learn about the |
| if you want to be away from the city life of | | | | Holocaust here, which makes the visit |
| Athens and take a visit to the islands.Hotel Athens | | | | worthwhile.National GalleryAt the National Gallery |
| PlazaThis is a fine hotel that has a building on | | | | you'll find a terrific collection from Greek painters |
| Syntagma Square as well as one building that sits | | | | and also international artists, which includes some |
| away from the Grande Bretagne. It's elegant and | | | | impressive sculptures.National Historical MuseumIf |
| the price shows it!Armonia Hotel The Armonia | | | | you love learning about the history of war, you |
| Hotel is located out of the center of Athens at a | | | | should definitely visit the National Historical |
| quiet beach location. It's close to the airport with | | | | Museum. Here you'll get to learn about the Greek |
| easy access to cruise ships and ferries. The | | | | War of Independence and see some fabulous |
| rooms are of high quality, and it offers a | | | | artifacts from the war.Museums on the Greek |
| swimming pool.Electra Palace HotelThe Electra | | | | IslandsThere are also some great museums on |
| Palace Hotel is an A-category hotel that has been | | | | the Greek islands. Every island has its own history |
| renovated recently. It has an indoor pool, | | | | and culture. The museums display these |
| comfortable rooms and great views of the | | | | differences. Here are some popular island |
| Acropolis. The location is in the Plaka and only two | | | | museums along with a brief description of |
| blocks from Syntagma Square.Astor HotelThe | | | | each.Archaeological Museum of ChaniaThis |
| Astor Hotel is an A-category hotel that is located | | | | museum is located in the Venetian monastery of |
| only a half a block from Syntagma Square. It | | | | St. Francis and offers many treasures such as |
| offers a delicious breakfast at the restaurant, a | | | | prehistoric artifacts from caves, finds from the |
| roof garden, gift shop and more! A conference | | | | city of Chania, Minoan finds from Chania and coins |
| room is also available for meetings. The rooms | | | | and jewelry from historic times.Archaeological |
| are well-furnished and have central heating, air | | | | Museum of CorfuHere you'll find interesting |
| conditioning, color television and radio. Upper-level | | | | exhibits from the excavations of the ancient |
| rooms have balconies.Athens Cypria HotelThis | | | | town of Corfu, Cassiopi and |
| hotel is located on a small street just a couple of | | | | Thesprotia.Archaeological Museum of ParosThis |
| blocks from Syntagma Square, and near the | | | | museum was founded in 1960 and offers visitors |
| shopping street that welcomes pedestrians - | | | | a chance to see archaic and classical sculptures as |
| Ermou. It's also close to the Plaka and the | | | | well as pottery and sculptures from the Neolithic |
| archaeological sites.The Adams HotelThe Adams | | | | up to the Roman period. Also, there's a Mosaic |
| Hotel is family-owned and operated. It has been | | | | floor that dates back to Roman |
| completely renovated and all rooms now have | | | | days.Archaeological Museum of RhodesThis |
| television, bathrooms, air conditioning and some | | | | Rhodes museum is located in the Medieval building |
| have balconies with a terrace. It's located on a | | | | of the Hospital of the Knights and contains |
| quiet street in the Plaka, and is only a block from | | | | collections of classical and Roman sculptures, |
| Kydatheneon Street. Although not fancy, the | | | | Mosaic floors from the Hellenistic period and |
| renovation helped this hotel tremendously with | | | | more.While in Athens, Greece you will want a cell |
| comfort and appearance!Cecil HotelThis hotel is in | | | | phone for use and with the local GSM service |
| a neo-classical building located in old Athens. It's | | | | you'll be amazed at how much better the service |
| near the Ancient Market and the New City | | | | is in Athens than back home. Virtually everywhere |
| Market. The central pedestrian street is also | | | | in Athens and Greece, yes even islands and |
| nearby. The Lycabettus Hill, the Syntagma, the | | | | mountains, is covered by superb GSM cell phone |
| Acropolis and the Philopappus are all near as | | | | service. With a local service provider all your |
| well.Hotel AttalosThe Hotel Attalos is located near | | | | incoming calls are 100% free and calling the states |
| the Monastiraki Flea Market and Metro Station, | | | | is just $.84 / minute. Or, to be 100% sure, you |
| and only a five-minute walk to the Acropolis and | | | | can rent a satellite phone and as long as you can |
| Plaka. It offers air conditioning for the rooms, | | | | point it to the southern hemisphere you'll get |
| breakfast and a rooftop cafe where you can | | | | service across Europe. Free incoming calls day and |
| view the Parthenon.St. George LycabettusThis is | | | | night from every country on earth and only $1.99 |
| a deluxe hotel that has its own restaurant, bar, | | | | to call any country, always.For more information |
| swimming pool and more. It's located in Kolonaki | | | | on renting/buying these type of phones and |
| and is only a 15-minute walk to Plaka. Rates are | | | | getting this type of super low cost service take a |
| really good if you travel in August.The Hotel | | | | look at or call 800-514-2984 inside the States or |
| HiltonThe Hotel Hilton is a deluxe hotel with four | | | | 925-686-9945 from outside. They ship worldwide |
| restaurants, a health club, shops, in-house movies | | | | and are based in California.Cell phone use |
| and more! There are many great features about | | | | overseas. In 99% of the world the local cellular |
| this hotel, but if you stay here, you'll have a long | | | | service standard is called GSM. We use this in the |
| walk to the Plaka.Hotel Divani AcropolisAnother | | | | states as well. When combined with a SIM CARD |
| hotel in the deluxe category, the Hotel Divani | | | | (which usually goes under the battery of the |
| Acropolis offers a restaurant, great rooms, a roof | | | | phone) the phone is able to communicate and the |
| garden, a pool, air conditioning and heat and | | | | SIM CARD also holds the telephone number and |
| conference facilities. It is only a five-minute walk | | | | memory for pre-paid credit. Rates can be |
| to the Acropolis and the Plaka.The Athens | | | | extremely low using this system. For example in |
| CentralThis is a lovely hotel located in the Plaka | | | | 99% of all SIM CARDS incoming calls are free |
| that has been renovated to a more modern style. | | | | and calls to the states can cost a trifle. Such as, |
| It offers a great view of the Acropolis and city | | | | from the UK to the USA 7 cents/minute, from |
| from the roof garden and many of the rooms. | | | | Israel 22 cents, from Australia 27 cents. Yes, |
| The rooms have air conditioning and television. | | | | USA Dollar cents! There are today even prepaid |
| The hotel has low rates also.Hotel Royal | | | | service providers in the USA offering rates of 10 |
| OlympicThe Hotel Royal Olympic is located only | | | | cents per minute to call anywhere in the US to |
| ten minutes from the Syntagma and the Plaka. It | | | | any type of phone. No contracts, no credit card |
| offers air conditioned rooms with satellite | | | | checks, no bills. Pre-paid always means no |
| television, a restaurant and bar, a garden pool and | | | | minimums no contracts, no obligations. You only |
| more!Athens IntercontinentalThis is another deluxe | | | | pay for the calls made. You'll need an unlocked |
| hotel with in-house movies, a health study, shops, | | | | GSM tri-band or quadband UNLOCKED phone. You |
| a bank, four restaurants, etc. It is located 20 | | | | can buy factory unlocked phones and sim cards |
| minutes from the Plaka if you go on | | | | for more than 170 or the 193 countries on earth |
| foot.Museums in AthensWhile in Athens, don't | | | | from Tel. |