00:00:00:00 - 00:00:03:26
Unknown My Hun and I spent a wonderful
five days in Athens, Greece, 00:00:03:26 - 00:00:05:08 Unknown
We navigated the city. 00:00:05:08 - 00:00:09:20
Unknown saw the amazing sights and learned about
the culture, the food and the people. 00:00:09:20 - 00:00:12:00
Unknown So in this video, I'm going to share with you 00:00:12:00 - 00:00:14:05
Unknown how to plan a trip to Athens, Greece. 00:00:14:05 - 00:00:14:22 Unknown
What you need 00:00:14:22 - 00:00:17:02
Unknown to know before visiting Athens for the first time. 00:00:17:02 - 00:00:23:27
Unknown Hi, everyone. I'm Antoinette and welcome
back to my channel at Frolic & Courage I like to help you plan well,
have fun, and travel the world! 00:00:23:27 - 00:00:28:08
Unknown Today y’all, I'm helping you plan well
for your first trip to Athens, Greece, 00:00:28:08 - 00:00:29:12
Unknown So let's get straight to it. 00:00:29:12 - 00:00:33:13
Unknown Why should you visit Athens, Greece?
And what is the history of Athens? 00:00:33:13 - 00:00:42:12
Unknown Athens, Greece stands as an
irresistible destination for travelers seeking a rich tapestry of
history, culture and scenic beauty. 00:00:42:12 - 00:00:47:06
Unknown It is also the perfect central location
to visit the many famous Greek islands 00:00:47:06 - 00:01:00:01
Unknown Located in the picturesque Attica
region of southeastern Europe, Athens is celebrated as the
cradle of western civilization, offering visitors iconic landmarks like the
Parthenon and the temple of Olympian Zeus. 00:01:00:01 - 00:01:12:00
Unknown What you need to know before visiting Athens
is despite economic challenges, Athens thrives with its vibrant markets. Cozy tavernas,
flourishing artisan scene and delicious cuisine. 00:01:12:00 - 00:01:21:04
Unknown Athens promises a captivating blend of ancient
wonders and modern charm. So while you're there, you'll see antiquities right next to
modern structures. It's really cool 00:01:21:04 - 00:01:26:07
Unknown to plan well for a trip to Athens, Greece, you need to know the city has
multiple ways of saying its name. 00:01:26:07 - 00:01:30:12
Unknown In the US we say Athens, but it's
actually written Athina in Greece. 00:01:30:12 - 00:01:34:29
Unknown as you're navigating the city, addresses might reference the city
of “Athina” instead of “Athens” the 00:01:34:29 - 00:01:36:01
Unknown names are interchangeable. 00:01:36:01 - 00:01:42:06
Unknown city of Athens, Greece derives its
name from the ancient goddess Athena, who was a central figure in Greek mythology. 00:01:42:06 - 00:01:48:10
Unknown According to the legend Athena and Poseidon, the god of the sea, competed
for patronage over the city. 00:01:48:10 - 00:01:54:14
Unknown Athena won the contest by presenting the city with
the olive tree, a symbol of peace and prosperity. 00:01:54:14 - 00:02:01:04
Unknown In honor of Athena's victory.
The city was named Athens, and the olive tree became a symbol
closely associated with the city. 00:02:01:04 - 00:02:03:17
Unknown And olives are definitely
something you need to try 00:02:03:17 - 00:02:04:22
Unknown while you’re visiting Athens. 00:02:04:22 - 00:02:10:04
Unknown Athena was known as the goddess of wisdom,
courage, strategy, warfare and arts and crafts 00:02:10:04 - 00:02:14:13
Unknown and was celebrated for her intelligence,
strength and strategic thinking, 00:02:14:13 - 00:02:16:24
Unknown all qualities that are fitting for the city today. 00:02:16:24 - 00:02:26:07
Unknown Athens follows the Eastern European
time, or EET, which is 7 hours ahead of the east coast of the U.S. and 10 hours
ahead of the West Coast Pacific Time. 00:02:26:07 - 00:02:31:20
Unknown if you're looking at how to plan a trip to Athens, Greece. One thing you need to
know before visiting Athens is 00:02:31:20 - 00:02:32:28 Unknown
how to get there. 00:02:32:28 - 00:02:38:23
Unknown one question you might have is
do I need a visa to visit Athens, Greece as an American citizen? And no, you don't. 00:02:38:23 - 00:02:45:20
Unknown A visa is not required for
U.S. citizens. And typically U.S. citizens can stay in Greece for up to 90 days 00:02:45:20 - 00:02:49:27
Unknown within a 180 day period without
a visa for tourism purposes. 00:02:49:27 - 00:02:52:25
Unknown If you're not from the U.S., definitely
check your country's requirements. 00:02:52:25 - 00:02:53:25 Unknown
In Athens, Greece, 00:02:53:25 - 00:03:10:07
Unknown The major airport is Athens International
Airport, also known as Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH). It is
the primary gateway for international and domestic flights to and from Athens and
where you will likely fly into upon arrival. 00:03:10:07 - 00:03:15:17
Unknown As for train stations, the main one in
Athens is the Larissa station or Stathmos. 00:03:15:17 - 00:03:16:17 Unknown
Larisis. 00:03:16:17 - 00:03:22:07 Unknown
which serves as a hub for both national and international
rail connections. If traveling by land, 00:03:22:07 - 00:03:24:14
Unknown another way you can travel into Athens is by sea 00:03:24:14 - 00:03:25:28 Unknown
The port city of Piraeus, 00:03:25:28 - 00:03:28:13
Unknown which connects Athens to destinations 00:03:28:13 - 00:03:28:28 Unknown
beyond. 00:03:28:28 - 00:03:31:00
Unknown It is also where cruise ships and ferries 00:03:31:00 - 00:03:31:24 Unknown
are located. 00:03:31:24 - 00:03:33:29
Unknown Whether you arrive by air, land or sea, 00:03:33:29 - 00:03:37:19
Unknown Let's talk about the best time to visit Athens 00:03:37:19 - 00:03:39:14
Unknown the weather and what you should pack. 00:03:39:14 - 00:03:43:09
Unknown What is the best time of year to visit
Athens in terms of weather and crowds? 00:03:43:09 - 00:03:48:03
Unknown Athens has a mediterranean climate with
hot and dry summers and mild winters, 00:03:48:03 - 00:03:50:11
Unknown making it the perfect
weather for me when I travel. 00:03:50:11 - 00:03:56:15
Unknown The best time to visit Athens, Greece is between
March and May, and from September to November. 00:03:56:15 - 00:04:00:29
Unknown August is a holiday month, so restaurants
and shops may be closed and it's also hot. 00:04:01:00 - 00:04:02:26
Unknown So try to avoid August if you can. 00:04:02:26 - 00:04:08:15
Unknown The rainy season is November to March, but there are deals to be had if
you travel during those months. 00:04:08:15 - 00:04:19:27
Unknown There are pretty mild temperatures
year round, like a high or low of 56 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, 68/53 in
spring, 90/73 in summer and 74/60 in the fall. 00:04:19:27 - 00:04:23:13
Unknown Athens receives little rain about five
days a month from November to March 00:04:23:13 - 00:04:28:14
Unknown and year round it helps to
pack a light jacket for the evenings and the mornings when it's the chilliest. 00:04:28:14 - 00:04:34:23
Unknown No matter when you visit, always
research the weather during your travel dates and pack the appropriate clothing. 00:04:34:23 - 00:04:40:27
Unknown I pack some sturdy shoes with
a good grip for walking and the terrain changes there, so be mindful of that. 00:04:41:00 - 00:04:42:18
Unknown I also packed a light jacket 00:04:42:18 - 00:04:47:20
Unknown as well as jeans and something nice
for a nicer restaurant that we were going to. Other than that, it's pretty casual. 00:04:47:20 - 00:04:53:12
Unknown I would avoid wearing heels in Athens because
the terrain changes and it's kind of treacherous. 00:04:53:12 - 00:04:56:21
Unknown We traveled in early October
and the temperature was perfect. 00:04:56:21 - 00:04:59:00
Unknown But what months are you
planning your trip to Athens? 00:04:59:00 - 00:05:02:24
Unknown Will it be a cruise or inland adventure?
Let me know in the comments down below. 00:05:02:24 - 00:05:05:22
Unknown We flew into Athens Airport
and stayed during the fall. And 00:05:05:22 - 00:05:07:12 Unknown
it was beautiful 00:05:07:12 - 00:05:11:06
Unknown Now that you know more about Athens, how
to get there, and the best time to visit. 00:05:11:06 - 00:05:14:09
Unknown Let's now talk about currency and money matters. 00:05:14:09 - 00:05:16:21
Unknown If you're going to travel, you got
to have a little money on you, right? 00:05:16:21 - 00:05:21:16
Unknown One thing you might ask yourself is what is the local currency in Greece and
where can I exchange money? 00:05:21:16 - 00:05:23:05
Unknown The currency in Greece is the euro. 00:05:23:05 - 00:05:27:25
Unknown You can exchange money at home for your local
bank, through AAA, or at an ATM at the airport. 00:05:27:25 - 00:05:31:17
Unknown We like to use the ATM at the airport, but
you can also exchange money at local banks 00:05:31:17 - 00:05:34:27
Unknown That's cash, but our credit cards
are widely accepted in Athens? 00:05:34:27 - 00:05:41:14
Unknown Credit cards are widely accepted
in major establishments, and we never had an issue paying
with our credit cards at all. 00:05:41:14 - 00:05:45:20
Unknown Visa, MasterCard, American Express.
It was all accepted, but always check 00:05:45:20 - 00:05:47:01 Unknown
before you buy something. 00:05:47:01 - 00:05:48:16
Unknown If your credit card is accepted. 00:05:48:16 - 00:05:54:08
Unknown And also check your credit
cards to see if your bank will charge a foreign transaction
fee or not and plan accordingly. 00:05:54:08 - 00:06:03:10
Unknown it's a good idea to have some cash on hand for
smaller businesses, taxis and markets. Nothing larger than a 20 euro note because then some
people may not be able to break the change. 00:06:03:10 - 00:06:06:24
Unknown And if asked to convert your credit
card bill from U.S. currency, 00:06:06:24 - 00:06:10:04
Unknown always decline the conversion
because banks charge a higher fee 00:06:10:04 - 00:06:12:04
Unknown to convert it on top of the exchange rate 00:06:12:04 - 00:06:13:09 Unknown
and it's not worth it. 00:06:13:09 - 00:06:15:20
Unknown Always pay in euros - the local currency. 00:06:15:20 - 00:06:25:22
Unknown And what is the cost of traveling
to Athens, especially in terms of accommodation and dining? We found
Athens to be incredibly affordable, especially after visiting
cities like Paris or London. 00:06:25:22 - 00:06:26:29 Unknown
For both my Hun and I, 00:06:27:00 - 00:06:28:29 Unknown
Our meals were around 25 00:06:28:29 - 00:06:36:07
Unknown to €40 per a large hearty meal. And because
we traveled during the fall month of October, 00:06:36:07 - 00:06:39:25
Unknown accommodation prices were less
than the peak summer months. 00:06:39:25 - 00:06:46:15
Unknown Matter of fact, we actually book one of
the best rooms in the hotel we stayed at at a very reasonable price. And we'll talk
about that a little bit later in this video. 00:06:46:15 - 00:06:50:01
Unknown Another piece of critical information you
need to plan well for your trip to Athens 00:06:50:01 - 00:06:51:27
Unknown is learning more about the language. 00:06:52:00 - 00:07:03:11
Unknown The official language of Athens
is Greek. And while many people in the city and tourism industry speak English, learning a few basic Greek phrases can enhance
your experience and interactions with locals 00:07:03:11 - 00:07:05:04
Unknown because it's a sign of respect, you know. 00:07:05:04 - 00:07:11:11
Unknown as you're learning how to plan a trip to Athens, Greece, one question you may have after
learning this piece of information is 00:07:11:11 - 00:07:15:01
Unknown how do I greet and interact with
locals if I don't speak Greek? 00:07:15:01 - 00:07:19:08
Unknown that was actually one of my concerns because I
have never had a conversation in full on Greek 00:07:19:08 - 00:07:20:11 Unknown
ever in my life. 00:07:20:11 - 00:07:24:02
Unknown So I took the time to learn these few
phrases that I'm going to share with you. 00:07:24:02 - 00:07:28:00
Unknown You can greet people with a smile
and say, “Kalimera” or Good morning, 00:07:28:00 - 00:07:32:13
Unknown “Kalinychta,” which is good evening
or “Yasou” which means hello. 00:07:32:13 - 00:07:37:08
Unknown can say “Yammas: as you're cheering your
drink or ”Efcharisto”, which means thank you. 00:07:37:08 - 00:07:40:15
Unknown Those are just a few phrases to
help you speak Greek on your trip. 00:07:40:15 - 00:07:42:13
Unknown Also, note the Greek language uses 00:07:42:13 - 00:07:45:15
Unknown Greek symbols, which are different
from the Latin based language 00:07:45:15 - 00:07:49:03
Unknown characters that use a majority of
the same letters as we do in the US. 00:07:49:03 - 00:07:53:04
Unknown and if you're part of a fraternity or sorority,
you know what I mean by those Greek letters. 00:07:53:04 - 00:07:58:23
Unknown when trying to navigate in
the city to destinations, restaurants, shopping, etc. using a digital map. 00:07:58:23 - 00:08:02:05
Unknown It may take a few seconds to
translate the words to English. 00:08:02:05 - 00:08:06:12
Unknown If it doesn't, a majority of the street
signs have English spelling underneath, 00:08:06:12 - 00:08:10:13
Unknown and even then, if they still don't, then it
helps to recognize the symbols on your map 00:08:10:13 - 00:08:14:23
Unknown versus what you see in the screen
and just match up the shapes and you know you're going in the right direction. 00:08:14:23 - 00:08:16:12 Unknown
to be extra prepared. 00:08:16:12 - 00:08:19:11
Unknown You can download a language
translation app to use in your trip. 00:08:19:11 - 00:08:27:13
Unknown I personally use Google Translate,
which can quickly translate text, voice, and image prompts to English
or any language of your choosing. 00:08:27:13 - 00:08:30:09
Unknown It's free and it works really, really well. 00:08:30:09 - 00:08:34:10
Unknown I also downloaded an offline
version of the map of Athens, 00:08:34:10 - 00:08:41:06
Unknown so that if I'm disconnected or can't
get to wi fi or my service is down, I will always have a way to get around and 00:08:41:06 - 00:08:42:08 Unknown
to communicate. 00:08:42:08 - 00:08:44:21
Unknown just remember, those are extra precautions. 00:08:44:21 - 00:08:54:09
Unknown All of the menus and literature that we read
during our trip had English translations and we had no problems communicating or
reading or navigating around the city. 00:08:54:09 - 00:08:59:19
Unknown So we're talking about how to
plan a trip to Athens, Greece, and what you need to know before visiting Athens. 00:08:59:19 - 00:09:01:11
Unknown let's talk about accommodations as 00:09:01:11 - 00:09:04:28
Unknown One of the questions I had was Where
is the best place to stay in Athens? 00:09:04:28 - 00:09:09:27 Unknown
Well, the most popular and historical neighborhoods of
Athens are located in the city center. 00:09:09:27 - 00:09:13:12
Unknown Monastiraki, Syntagma, Plaka, Acropolis. 00:09:13:12 - 00:09:14:07 Unknown
And Thiseio. 00:09:14:07 - 00:09:19:07
Unknown those neighborhoods are centrally located and are great places to stay for
first time visitors to Athens. 00:09:19:07 - 00:09:21:20
Unknown I recommend staying in any of these neighborhoods. 00:09:21:20 - 00:09:30:14
Unknown I personally stayed at the Editor Hotel,
a boutique property in Monastiraki because it was centrally located within
walking distance to great restaurants 00:09:30:14 - 00:09:31:21 Unknown
near the flea market, 00:09:31:21 - 00:09:40:24
Unknown a 15 to 17 minute walk to the Acropolis and
Museum and less than a five minute walk to the Monastiraki metro and train stations
that will take you to and from the airport 00:09:40:24 - 00:09:42:13
Unknown and connect you all throughout the city. 00:09:42:13 - 00:09:45:18
Unknown You can also book Airbnbs in Greece as
well if you want to stay at a hotel. 00:09:45:23 - 00:09:51:11
Unknown But if you do want to stay in a
hotel, you might ask yourself, what are the best hotels with an Acropolis view? 00:09:51:11 - 00:09:55:13
Unknown To be completely honest, those hotels
tend to be priced at a higher price point. 00:09:55:13 - 00:10:00:20
Unknown And a lot of them offer rooftop dining views
as opposed to views directly from your hotel. 00:10:00:20 - 00:10:01:09 Unknown
But 00:10:01:09 - 00:10:02:08 Unknown
I've got a list for you. 00:10:02:08 - 00:10:04:16
Unknown Check out the Electra Palace. Athens, 00:10:04:16 - 00:10:05:29 Unknown
the Herodian Hotel, 00:10:05:29 - 00:10:08:28
Unknown AthensWas Hotel, and the King George Hotel. 00:10:08:28 - 00:10:13:11
Unknown I'll put links in the description box down below so you can compare prices
and see what the room is like. 00:10:13:11 - 00:10:18:21
Unknown Another important tip if you need to plan well for
your trip to Athens is learning how to get around. 00:10:18:21 - 00:10:30:19
Unknown How do I get from the Athens International
Airport to the city center? There are multiple ways that you can do that. You
can take the metro, the bus or a taxi, and it'll take you about 45 minutes to one
hour. It's pretty simple and pretty easy. 00:10:30:19 - 00:10:33:20
Unknown And once you're there, what is the
best way to get around the city? 00:10:33:20 - 00:10:42:14
Unknown Is it public transportation? Do you
take a taxi? Do you walk? And honestly, Athens has an extensive public transportation
system, including the Metro busses and trams. 00:10:42:14 - 00:10:46:08
Unknown You can buy a single ticket or a multiday
transportation pass for convenience. 00:10:46:08 - 00:10:49:09
Unknown But honestly, walking is one
of the best ways to get around. 00:10:49:09 - 00:10:57:09
Unknown Does Athens, Greece have an Uber or
Lyft? And Athens has Uber and Lyft? And it's not your typical Uber
experience. You want to download 00:10:57:09 - 00:11:01:24
Unknown the Free Now app because taxis are a great
way to get around Athens on a budget. 00:11:01:24 - 00:11:08:10
Unknown because this topic is so important, I did an entire video dedicated to
how to get around Athens on a budget. 00:11:08:10 - 00:11:16:04
Unknown which goes over the transportation
tickets and passes, costs, maps, and the best ways to get around with
detailed step by step instructions. 00:11:16:04 - 00:11:17:02 Unknown
So definitely 00:11:17:02 - 00:11:21:12
Unknown check that out in my head to plan a trip to
Athens playlist at the end of this video. 00:11:21:12 - 00:11:31:27
Unknown Now let's talk about activities and attractions.
What are the must visit historical sites and landmarks in Athens, like the Acropolis and the
Parthenon? What can I see when I'm in Athens? 00:11:31:27 - 00:11:39:01
Unknown Athens is rich in history and boasts iconic
sites like the Acropolis and the Parthenon, the ancient Agora, the Erechtheion. 00:11:39:01 - 00:11:45:16
Unknown plan, your visits and consider
getting a combined ticket, which gives you access to multiple
sites over a certain number of days. 00:11:45:16 - 00:11:54:10
Unknown I dedicated an entire video to the Acropolis
talking about tickets, prices, how to get reduced price or even free admission, and whether
or not the Acropolis Museum is worth it. 00:11:54:10 - 00:11:58:05
Unknown Don't forget to check that out in my planning a trip to Athens playlist.
You don't want to miss it. 00:11:58:05 - 00:11:59:17 Unknown
In addition, the National 00:11:59:17 - 00:12:04:02
Unknown Archeological Museum showcases a vast
collection of ancient Greek artifacts, 00:12:04:02 - 00:12:04:09 Unknown
while the 00:12:04:09 - 00:12:05:24 Unknown
Temple of Olympian Zeus 00:12:05:24 - 00:12:11:07
Unknown in the Panathenaic Stadium offer further
insights into Athens, illustrious past. 00:12:11:07 - 00:12:14:14
Unknown you may also want to know is
Athens, Greece, near a beach? 00:12:14:14 - 00:12:16:28
Unknown yes, the Athens Riviera is accessible by tram. 00:12:16:28 - 00:12:20:22
Unknown are there any other DAY TRIP options
from Athens that are worth considering? 00:12:20:22 - 00:12:22:04 Unknown
Absolutely! 00:12:22:04 - 00:12:28:14
Unknown there are trips you can take by land or sea and consider taking day trips from
Athens to nearby destinations. 00:12:28:14 - 00:12:37:12
Unknown There are ships on land you can take
to the Athens Riviera, to Delphi, to Thessaloniki or Thessalonians, if you're
familiar with the Bible and Cape Sounion. 00:12:37:12 - 00:12:40:06
Unknown Most notably, you can take day
trips to the Greek islands. 00:12:40:12 - 00:12:42:04
Unknown So consider a day trip to one of the 00:12:42:04 - 00:12:44:08 Unknown
over 6,000 Greek islands 00:12:44:08 - 00:12:54:11
Unknown just an hour or two boat ride from Athens.
You can check out a Visit Greece page to explore what each island has to offer and
visit Greece that are back slash islands. 00:12:54:11 - 00:12:55:27
Unknown Some notable islands to look 00:12:55:27 - 00:13:00:00
Unknown into are the islands of
Crete, Naxos, Hydra, Aegina. 00:13:00:04 - 00:13:07:17
Unknown And we visited Agistri, Aegina, and swam outside of Moni in one day trip. And if you want
to check that out, Check out my best 00:13:07:17 - 00:13:09:19
Unknown day in Athens, Greece vlog. 00:13:09:19 - 00:13:17:04
Unknown continuing with how to plan a trip to Athens, Greece. What you need to know before visiting
Athens is the food and drink are amazing 00:13:17:04 - 00:13:23:11
Unknown you're planning your trip to
Athens, you may ask yourself what is the typical tipping etiquette
for restaurants and other services? 00:13:23:11 - 00:13:26:02
Unknown Well, tipping is appreciated, but not obligatory, 00:13:26:02 - 00:13:31:00
Unknown leaving a 1 to €3 tip in restaurants and
for good service is a common practice. 00:13:31:00 - 00:13:32:22
Unknown If you feel that it's necessary 00:13:32:22 - 00:13:34:29
Unknown is the tap water is safe to drink in Athens. 00:13:34:29 - 00:13:46:24
Unknown And yes, the tap water in Athens is generally
safe to drink, but bottled water is readily available if you prefer, and for visiting
the islands. I hear that bottled water is the way to go, but that's not so much So
in Athens you can drink the tap water. 00:13:46:24 - 00:13:50:24
Unknown And what are some recommended authentic
Greek dishes? And where can I find them? 00:13:50:24 - 00:14:01:04
Unknown For the local cuisine, you definitely want to
try traditional Greek dishes like moussaka, souvlaki, gyros, and Greek salad (Horiatiki).
Don't forget to also enjoy the local olives. 00:14:01:04 - 00:14:06:26
Unknown there are actually a lot of recommended dishes to
try. So much so that I created an entire video. 00:14:06:26 - 00:14:07:24 Unknown
Dedicated 00:14:07:24 - 00:14:09:06 Unknown
to the best foods to try. 00:14:09:07 - 00:14:13:20
Unknown Where to find them and other helpful restaurant
recommendations like the tipping culture. 00:14:13:20 - 00:14:14:11 Unknown
It's called How 00:14:14:11 - 00:14:17:11
Unknown I found some of the best food in
Athens, Greece, and the link is from the 00:14:17:11 - 00:14:21:02
Unknown description box below and in the
planning a trip to Athens playlist. 00:14:21:02 - 00:14:31:20
Unknown I'll also link my blog in the description
box below so you can read through all this information that I'm giving you so you
don't have to frantically write it down or take notes unless you want to have
my blog link there for ease of access. 00:14:31:20 - 00:14:47:22
Unknown What you also need to know about planning a trip
to Athens is there is a lot of seating outdoors in the alley that is totally normal. Since the
weather is nice, people like to enjoy meals outside if possible. So finding restaurant
seats in the alleyway is a common experience 00:14:47:22 - 00:14:56:05
Unknown so are multilevel businesses. So if you
go to a restaurant, you can possibly sit on the third floor of the establishment, on the
second floor or on the street or ground floor. 00:14:56:05 - 00:15:02:00
Unknown Don't be surprised if your GPS takes you to a
restaurant that's actually kind of underground. 00:15:02:00 - 00:15:05:06
Unknown The entrance is below street
level, almost like a basement. 00:15:05:06 - 00:15:12:01
Unknown It might look sketchy, but it's
completely legit. And the same goes for shops. Watch your step so
you don't fall down those stairs. 00:15:12:01 - 00:15:14:17
Unknown speaking of safety, is Athens safe for tourists? 00:15:14:17 - 00:15:22:14
Unknown Athens is generally safe for
tourists, but like any major city, be cautious of pickpocketing and keep an eye
on your belongings. Pack light, pack tight, 00:15:22:14 - 00:15:27:01
Unknown and mind your bags. Especially in crowded areas
like the metro stations and train stations. 00:15:27:01 - 00:15:32:04
Unknown And the same with health precautions. There really are none. You don't need any
vaccinations to go visit Greece. 00:15:32:04 - 00:15:36:02 Unknown
Now that you're equipped with essential information for
planning your trip to Athens, Greece, 00:15:36:02 - 00:15:43:25
Unknown Let's explore Sample one three and
five date itineraries. To answer the burning question How many
days in Athens are sufficient? 00:15:43:25 - 00:15:45:19
Unknown How long should I stay in Athens? 00:15:45:19 - 00:15:51:19
Unknown Honestly, spending three days is
enough to see the major attractions, taste the local cuisine and enjoy the sights. 00:15:51:19 - 00:15:54:20
Unknown Most cruises only stop for
one day are really 8 hours 00:15:54:20 - 00:15:56:25
Unknown and we personally stayed for five days. 00:15:56:25 - 00:16:00:20
Unknown But here's what I would do if I
only had one, three or five days. 00:16:00:20 - 00:16:04:12
Unknown For a one day itinerary, this is
perfect for cruisers. In the morning, 00:16:04:12 - 00:16:12:22
Unknown Grab a breakfast, grab a Greek coffee, and
immediately head to the Acropolis for about a two hour visit, followed by the Acropolis
Museum, which is another two hour visit. 00:16:12:22 - 00:16:18:21
Unknown In the afternoon, you can casually
stroll through the beautiful, picturesque Plaka neighborhood
and visit the flea market. 00:16:18:21 - 00:16:19:22 Unknown
In Monastiraki. 00:16:19:22 - 00:16:24:02
Unknown Grab a gyro or souvlaki platter
for a hearty lunch or dinner. 00:16:24:02 - 00:16:28:02
Unknown If you have three days to spend in
Athens, here is my three day itinerary. 00:16:28:02 - 00:16:32:02
Unknown on day one, do the exact same things I
recommended for the one day itinerary. 00:16:32:02 - 00:16:34:14
Unknown But on day two, add additional historic sites 00:16:34:14 - 00:16:39:20
Unknown like the Temple of Zeus, the Ancient Agora, Hadrian's Library and the
National Archeological Museum. 00:16:39:20 - 00:16:40:18 Unknown
On day three, 00:16:40:18 - 00:16:50:15
Unknown get a hands on food experience going
to food tours, take a cooking class, visit a michelin starred dining restaurant on
the water and land, eat all the food you can. 00:16:50:15 - 00:16:51:14 Unknown
You can also visit 00:16:51:14 - 00:16:54:29
Unknown Parliament for the changing of the
guards and visit the National Garden, 00:16:54:29 - 00:16:57:03
Unknown or even take a Greek dance lesson. 00:16:57:03 - 00:16:58:22 Unknown
For a five day itinerary, 00:16:58:22 - 00:17:02:10
Unknown you have more time to dig into the
city and even take multiple day trips. 00:17:02:10 - 00:17:07:04 Unknown
For the first three days, do exactly what I recommended
for the one day and three day itinerary, 00:17:07:04 - 00:17:08:25
Unknown and on day four, take a day trip, 00:17:08:25 - 00:17:13:24
Unknown go to Agistri, Aegina, Meteora,
Poros Hydra, Cyprus, Crete, Naxos. 00:17:13:24 - 00:17:17:11
Unknown The monastery of Delphi. Get out
and see the surrounding areas 00:17:17:11 - 00:17:21:15
Unknown on day five you can hike Mt. Lycabettus
which has amazing views of the city. 00:17:21:15 - 00:17:28:09
Unknown And you can watch a performance
at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, which is an outdoor amphitheater
located on the Acropolis. 00:17:28:09 - 00:17:32:14
Unknown End your night with a rooftop meal
or a cocktail at the AthensWas Hotel. 00:17:32:14 - 00:17:35:09
Unknown If you're wondering, how else
can I plan for my trip to Athens? 00:17:35:09 - 00:17:36:22
Unknown let me share some bonus tips. 00:17:36:22 - 00:17:40:26
Unknown Are there any cultural norms or etiquette I
should be aware of as a visitor in Athens? 00:17:40:26 - 00:17:45:17
Unknown yeah, there is a couple of things generally, except food when offered by
a host, when you're visiting 00:17:45:17 - 00:17:49:16
Unknown if you have any health concerns, alert
them. The Greek people are very hospitable. 00:17:49:16 - 00:18:01:29
Unknown And is there any specific dress codes to
follow when visiting religious sites or upscale restaurants? And yes, generally
dress on the conservative side and cover your knees and shoulders and any
exposed parts for the religious sites. 00:18:01:29 - 00:18:11:15
Unknown most of the dress code in Athens is casual and
there's a lot of people who wear blacks and grays. So if you want to blend in, definitely wear
darker colors, but generally wear what you'd like. 00:18:11:15 - 00:18:21:20
Unknown make sure you wear comfortable clothing
that you can walk around all day. And if you're going during the warmer months,
the summer is hot. Wear your sunblock, bring your shades and maybe even a
hat and definitely some hair ties. 00:18:21:20 - 00:18:26:18
Unknown Okay. So are there any other tips that’ll
help you plan well for your trip to Athens? 00:18:26:18 - 00:18:28:09
Unknown Absolutely. Absolutely. And 00:18:28:09 - 00:18:34:12
Unknown based on my experience, look,
before you cross the street, because the drivers may not
stop driving is a little wild. 00:18:34:12 - 00:18:37:00
Unknown and also look before you flush toilet paper. 00:18:37:03 - 00:18:37:12 Unknown
Yeah, 00:18:37:12 - 00:18:45:19
Unknown because plumbing is not the
best and it is an ancient city, after all. So you may see saying
do not flush the toilet paper. 00:18:45:19 - 00:18:53:27
Unknown if you see the sign that says don't
flush, and you decide to flush, you can run the embarrassing risk of being
mortified while standing over a clogged toilet. 00:18:54:05 - 00:18:59:04
Unknown So if you see a sign, follow it and throw the
toilet paper in the waste bin after you use it. 00:18:59:04 - 00:19:07:01
Unknown Hotels may not require this,
and they didn't at our hotel, but restaurants and other establishments
might just look for the signs and follow them. 00:19:07:01 - 00:19:14:07
Unknown There's also graffiti everywhere,
and as our tour guide told us, just because there's graffiti around
doesn't mean that it's a bad neighborhood. 00:19:14:07 - 00:19:19:23
Unknown the city was named after Athena, which is a goddess of arts and crafts.
So there is a lot of artistic people 00:19:19:23 - 00:19:23:06
Unknown in Athens and one of the ways they choose
to express themselves is through graffiti. 00:19:23:06 - 00:19:25:07
Unknown See it, note it, and keep it moving. 00:19:25:07 - 00:19:37:25
Unknown Another thing you need to know to
plan well for your trip to Greece is that there are a lot of cats, a lot of
stray, random cats that you will encounter, whether you're eating in an alleyway outside or
just walking the streets. There are a lot of cats 00:19:37:25 - 00:19:45:05
Unknown they're pretty harmless. They won't bite you,
but they may come up to you kind of begging for food with their little cat eyes. And it's up
to you whether or not you want to feed them. 00:19:45:05 - 00:19:47:29
Unknown Also, to help you plan well
for your trip is to pack light. 00:19:47:29 - 00:19:53:29
Unknown The streets are not made for luggage and the traffic is pretty bad. So be
prepared to carry your items. 00:19:53:29 - 00:20:01:22
Unknown You will also see different types of flooring like marble to concrete to stone,
and it can be really slippery. 00:20:01:22 - 00:20:05:23
Unknown If you're at the flea market In
Monastiraki you may be able to haggle with 00:20:05:23 - 00:20:06:16 Unknown
Some vendors 00:20:06:16 - 00:20:10:23
Unknown don't haggle at, you know, the
mall. That's not the place! 00:20:10:23 - 00:20:16:11
Unknown But you might be able to get
a little bit of a discount at the Monastiraki flea market. So definitely try. 00:20:16:11 - 00:20:17:11 Unknown
Don't forget to use 00:20:17:11 - 00:20:20:27
Unknown cash at the flea markets and don't touch the items 00:20:20:27 - 00:20:23:02
Unknown You can look, but don't touch.
The vendors will show them to you. 00:20:23:02 - 00:20:27:00
Unknown Don't just grab stuff and start,
you know doing whatever with it. 00:20:27:00 - 00:20:38:00
Unknown Smoking is actually really common in Greece.
So as you're walking through the cities, don't be surprised if puffs of smoke come at you, you know, just either wear a mask or just keep
it moving, keep walking. The smoke will go away. 00:20:38:00 - 00:20:41:00
Unknown Also, watch your step. There is marble everywhere. 00:20:41:00 - 00:20:45:12
Unknown And we learned from another
tour guide that marble is actually cheaper than any other building material. 00:20:45:12 - 00:20:49:03
Unknown So you'll just walk the streets and
you'll see gorgeous marble floors. 00:20:49:03 - 00:20:56:19
Unknown in the United States, marble is seen as like
a luxury and a high end product. And it's just so funny to see it on the floor
with people just walking all over it. 00:20:56:19 - 00:20:58:16
Unknown I mean, it's durable, it's beautiful. 00:20:58:16 - 00:21:04:10
Unknown But don't be surprised if you see a lot of marble on the streets. And that's
also why I do not recommend 00:21:04:10 - 00:21:08:15
Unknown wearing any shoes that don't have
a grip to it, because once it rains 00:21:08:15 - 00:21:15:04
Unknown or if it's dewey the morning,
you will slip and fall. So wear those shoes with good grip and
admire the marble on the floor. 00:21:15:04 - 00:21:21:08
Unknown If you found this video helpful, please
give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel and share it with a friend 00:21:21:08 - 00:21:28:29
Unknown If you're looking for food recommendations,
tips on visiting the Acropolis or went to see what it's actually like visiting Athens for
the first time and getting around a budget, 00:21:28:29 - 00:21:32:07
Unknown check out my planning a trip to
Athens playlist after this video 00:21:32:07 - 00:21:35:05
Unknown If you're excited for your trip and have
any questions, let me know in the comments 00:21:35:05 - 00:21:39:09
Unknown down below. And if you've been to Athens,
share your experience in the comments. 00:21:39:11 - 00:21:43:25
Unknown Thank you so much for watching and
I'll catch you in the next video by.
