I can't find any separate thread for Greece, so I am posting my Athens trip report here too:
We flew in to Athens from Prague. There were clear signs from the airport going to the metro stop that goes in the city center. Bought the tickets which cost EUR 14 for two pax (8 EUR for 1). Don't forget to validate your ticket in the yellow terminals (same with Prague).
Accommodation: Athens Backpackers. Located beside the Acropolis. I wouldn't recommend this if you will be staying for more than 2 nights in Athens. We stayed here for 3 nights, then another night before flying out to Barcelona. Despite good reviews in Tripadvisor, I didn't find it worthy of praise. Their A/C was leaking the entire time and they still didn't fix it after our 3 nights in Santorini (we were unlucky to be assigned in the same room). Breakfast was decent. Staff service was so-so. This costs EUR 20-21/night.
Restaurants: Our hostel recommended this nice resto in the not-so-touristy street beside the Acropolis. Parang Athens carinderia sya - they serve authentic Greek food and their most expensive dish is nasa 10 EUR na. The name is in Greek. It is recommended in Rick Steve's guidebook. Sarap ng food! Walang awa sa Feta cheese ang mga dishes. The yogurt is simply amazing as well.
Most Greek restaurants give you a complimentary bread basket after you order. The bread is cold ha. In some places daw, you can ask them to heat it. But we didn't because we didn't want to be "difficult" customers. They charge you around 1-2 euros for that.
A warning though, they take time preparing your food. Wag kakain ng sobrang gutom na gutom na - or just eat the bread muna while they prepare your food. Hindi sila yung nagkakandarapa na takbo sa kusina para gawin yung order. This is the scenario kapag family owned and managed yung resto. Easy-breezy pace lang. Leisurely. Quite refreshing compared to what we have here na parang ambilis ng pace.
Funny thing, some restos have this "crisis menu" options. Kwento nga nung waitress-owner ng isa, they were fortunate enough to have a resto in these times.
Itinerary:Day 1 - arrival in Athens. Rest. Explore area around Acropolis. Buy snacks. Dinner around the area.
Day 2 - joined the walking tour offered by the hostel for EUR 6 - 10am to almost 2pm. The tour took us around the Acropolis area, walked in Syntagma Square, the area in Monastiraki, and the Roman Agora and Greek Agora, then back to Acropolis. I highly recommend getting a tour guide (or having a book handy if that is your thing) so that you'll understand about the place. Else, the complex will just be a series of pretty rocks nice for picture taking.
After the tour, we rested a bit. At 4PM - we entered the Acropolis complex. Not a long line in getting the ticket in the south wing entrance. Entrance cost EUR 12 which is valid for all the other sites covered for four days. We were fortunate that there were not a lot of people then. I think most tour group go inside the complex in the morning. Bring a water bottle, slap on some sunscreen and bring an umbrella. Asians lang nag nag-papayong under the sun but so what!?!?! Maineeet talaga eh. We also noticed that Asians dress a bit better and we are the ones addicted to pictures. Kaya siguro I find the walking tours a bit fast kasi I care about pics, whereas the others, don't take pics at all! Or they just take one pic and that's it.
Day 3 - Temple of Zeus. Parliament. Roman Agora and Greek Agora (they are different ha). These are only open up to 3pm so be sure to visit them before their closing time. Flea market. More food trip. Shopping around Syntagma.
Day 4 (after Santorini) - New Acropolis Museum. Flight to Barcelona.
Tips:The hostel and restaurants constantly warned us about the pickpockets. Be alert with your bags especially sa metro. They said the Bulgarians and Romanians are the pickpockets, but I can't really distinguish them from others. I commute here everyday using the MRT so I have some street smarts in me kahit papano.
Wear some comfy shoes in the Acropolis complex - something with good traction. I used "nice sneakers" (Merell-type shoes) in there. If you insist on wearing boots, then I hope you have a good grip on those boots. Else, kawawa kayo.
Acropolis, Monastriaki and Sytagma square are within walking distance of each other, but it can be quite a walk. You can walk going there then just take the metro going back if pagod na kayo.
