Athens Travel Guide

City Facts

Location

Attica, Greece.

Time Zone

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two- or three-pin plugs are standard.

Language

In addition to Greek, people employed in the tourist trade generally speak some English, French or German and it is relatively easy to get by in Athens without attempting to say anything more complicated than moussaka or retsina. However, anyone who wishes to elevate him- or herself above the humble tourísta should attempt to learn at least a few basic phrases in Greek. The language itself deserves this mark of respect; not only is it beautiful, but it is also one of the foundation stones of almost all other European languages. Moreover, getting around the city is much easier once the Greek alphabet has been mastered. In the twentieth century, Greek suffered from a bitter struggle between Dhimotikí (popular Greek) and Katharévoussa (cleansed Greek). The latter was introduced by the first rulers of independent Greece, who sought to recreate the purity of their classical past by reinstating long-defunct vocabulary and grammar. Dhimotikí, the form of the language that had naturally evolved over Greece’s long history was repressed and Katharévoussa became the official language of government, business and the professions. In recent years, however, Dhimotikí has reasserted itself as the national language and is used in all forms of life with the exceptions of the church and the legal profession. Phrases Yes - Néh No - ÓhiHello - GiásouGoodbye - Andío sasPlease - ParakalóThank you - EfharistóMy name is … - Meh léne … How are you? - Ti kánis / ti kánete?I’m very well - Kalá ímehI feel ill - Ímeh arostosHow much does it cost? - Póso káni?Do you speak English? - Miláte anglika? I don’t understand - Dhen katalavénoCheers - GiamasWhere is …? - Pou ine …?Entrance - IssodosExit - ExodosOpen - AniktóClosed - KlistóToilets - ToualétesDoctor - IatrósHotel - KsenodhohíoRestaurant - Estiatorio/ tavernaBeer - BiraWine - KrasiMenu - KataloghosToday - Símera Tomorrow - ÁvrioMonday - DeftéraTuesday - TrítiWednesday - TetártiThursday - PémptiFriday - ParaskebíSaturday - SábatoSunday - KiriakíOne - Éna Two - Dhío Three - Trís/tria Four - Téseres /tésera Five - Pénde Six - Éksi Seven - Eftá Eight - Okhtó Nine - Enyá Ten - Dhéka Twenty - Íkosi Thirty - Triánda Forty - Saránda Fifty - Penínda Sixty - Eksínda Seventy - Evdhomínda Eighty - Ogdhónda Ninety - Enenínda One Hundred - Ekató One Thousand - Hílies

Cost of Living

Special Events

Apokries (Carnival)
February-March (depending on when Easter falls)
Festivities and celebrations.
Pláka, Moschato and throughout the city

Independence Day
March
Military parades celebrating the anniversary of the end of Ottoman occupation.
Syntagma Square and throughout the city

Easter
March-April
The Greek Orthodox faith's most important celebration sees candlelit processions, solemn masses and firework displays.
Churches throughout the city

Rally Acropolis
June
Car rally held on rough, rocky mountain roads around Athens.
Acropolis
Website: www.acropolisrally.gr

Athens Festival
June-September
International musicians, actors and dancers give open-air evening performances.
Herod Atticus Theater and Lykavittós Theater in the city center, and the Epidaurus Amphitheater
Website: www.greekfestival.gr

Rockwave Festival
June
A three-day, open-air rock festival.
Athens coast
Website: www.rockwavefestival.gr

Óchi Day (Patriotic Day)
October
Military parades celebrating Greece's decisive ‘Ohi' (‘No') to Mussolini during WWII.
Syntagma Square and throughout the city

Athens Marathon
November
Competitors run the original 42km (26-mile) marathon route, dating back to 490BC.
From Marathon on the coast to the Panathenaic Stadium in central Athens
Website: www.athensclassicmarathon.gr