Athens essentials
The practical answers a first Athens trip actually needs — getting in from the airport, getting around the city, site tickets, when to go, money, and staying safe.
Three easy options from Athens International Airport (ATH) to the centre: Metro Line 3 (the blue line) straight to Syntagma in about 40 minutes, the 24-hour X95 express bus to Syntagma, or a fixed-fare taxi. Pick the metro unless you land overnight or have heavy bags.
The historic core is walkable, and one cheap integrated ticket covers the metro, buses, trolleys and tram. A 90-minute ticket is about €1.20 (mid-2026), a 24-hour pass about €4.10, and contactless tap-to-pay now works on the readers. Most first-trip days need almost no transport at all.
The Acropolis now uses strict timed-entry tickets with a daily visitor cap, so book online in advance on the official site — in peak summer slots sell out days ahead. A full adult ticket is about €30 (mid-2026); other central sites have their own separate tickets. Go at opening or late afternoon to dodge crowds and heat.
Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are the sweet spot: warm, walkable days and open sites without peak crowds. July and August are hot and busy — still doable if you start early and rest at midday. Winter is mild, quiet and cheap, with shorter site hours.
Greece uses the euro, and cards (including contactless and phones) are accepted almost everywhere — but carry some cash for small tavernas, kiosks, markets and tips. Tipping is modest and optional: rounding up or a few euros is normal. Athens is mid-priced for a European capital, and the centre is walkable, which keeps daily costs down.
Athens is a generally safe big city for visitors — violent crime is rare. The real risks are everyday ones: pickpocketing on the busy metro and in crowded squares, and the occasional taxi overcharge. A little street sense and using licensed taxis or an app handles almost everything.