Advantages: Fun, fascinating and altogether fabulous
Disadvantages: Chaotic and confusing for the first time visitor

...The first thing I should say is that I never visited Athens purely as a tourist. I lived in Greece for three years, and spent the first two in Halkida, on an island called Evia, about an hour and a half north of Athens (well worth a day out for seafood lunch, the beach and the bars but that is another review). We didn't go to Athens often, and when we did the first stop was usually Marks and Spencers to stock up our small English community on tights and underwear! After two years I moved to Piraeus and set about discovering the capital in all its glory. Now I'm not going to spend this review talking about the Acropolis, or Plaka, or taxis, or pollution, or any of the other things that are discussed in many of the other fine reviews on this site. Those places are very interesting to visit - the Acropolis is a must for the first time... Read review

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Advantages: Vibrant, cheap excellent public transport. Famous historic sites. Eating out
Disadvantages: Not as 'Greek' as it used to be. Poor air quality. The drivers!

...I'd been to Athens before, but not since 1973 so I was fully expecting a lot of changes, and to a greater extent I was right. For example, I was probably amongst the last tourists to be allowed full access to wander all over the famous Parthenon on the Acropolis hill. Since then it has been fenced off and variously concealed behind one piece of scaffolding or another, and is rumoured to stay that way for decades. I remember that summer of '73 with some trepidation - it was damned hot to be in a city and the traffic was truly awful, with blue fumes from two-stroke 'pop-pops' everywhere. Since then, cars have got a lot cleaner, but regrettably more numerous. Of course, going there in the October half-term holiday helps with the air-quality too! WHERE IS IT? It's the capital of Greece and lies in the province... Read review

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Advantages: clean,efficient,quick check-in
Disadvantages: access time

...The new airport brings greek aviation into the 21st century. Due to the traffic situation in athens travel time to the airport should be assesed by the day and time of day. The airport can be reached by the new motorway if you are in north or west of athens and by a back road ( now being converted into a motorway)if you are in the south or east of the city. Other than by private cars and coaches, the airport can be reached by taxi or bus. Taxi costs in greece are low and the cost to the airport will average at about 20-25Euro from athens center, should the taxi cost too much more than this you should note the taxi number ( displayed in the taxi) and ask for an official reciept.At the airport you should then take the reciept and number of the taxi to the police office at the airport where it will be dealt with to your advantage... Read review

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Advantages: Everything - Great food, people, sites, views and transport
Disadvantages: No cheaper than England

...I've recently completed an Ancient History degree and as part of this course we had to spend a fortnight in a foreign country researching an aspect of our course. Immediately, me and a few friends chose Greece, hoping for a great experience. Our focus was Greek mythology in the built environment (ie-how myth was shown on buildings). The two weeks spent here saw us travelling across the country on a hectic schedule, absorbing the culture and spending time walking around the numerous well-preserved ruins Our itinerary saw us visiting Athens, Corinth, Olympia, Delphi, Tiryns, Mycenae and Eleusis. This review concerns Greece in general however, so I will not focus much on specifics. One of the first things you notice about Greece is how beautiful it is. Olympia and Delphi in particular had lush green landscapes and heart... Read review

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Advantages: Quite a nice island, close to Athens, good temple, pistachios
Disadvantages: Touristy and overall nothing particularly special

...**** NOTE: this review concerns only Aegina and not the other Saronic Gulf islands and would be of more interest to day trippers than resort-dwellers**** Aegina is one of the islands of the Saronic Gulf and possibly the one island which is closest to Athens (apart from rather industrial/military Salamis). It takes only about an hour from Piraeus to get here (half of the time if taking a hydrofoil) and thus it's a prime weekend and holiday spot for Athenians, as well as being a package tour destination. We have visited Aegina on a Sunday which is perhaps not the best day to choose, though it was mitigated by the fact that it was only May. We didn't come from Athens but from Methana (on the other side of the gulf), on an almost empty morning ferry, accompanied only by a few families dressed in their Sunday best, obviously going... Read review

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