Day 01 : ATHENS
Upon arrival at Athens, make your own way to the Hotel of your choice. Check-in at the Hotel. Day free at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 02 : ATHENS
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast enjoy Grand City Tour of Athens. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 03 : ATHENS
Day free for at leisure for shopping & other independent activities. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 04 : ATHENS
In the afternoon check out and proceed for your onward journey.
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Athens Attractions

Acropolis
The Acropolis stands sentinel over Athens. The city was once a showcase of colossal buildings, lavishly coloured and gilded, and of gargantuan statues, some of bronze, others of marble plated with gold and encrusted with precious stones. Now in ruins, the cool grandeur of the bare marble is still breathtaking.

Ancient Agora
The Agora (market) was the focal point of administrative, commercial, political and social activity back in the old days. All roads led to this bustling and crowded place, where Socrates could be heard expounding his philosophy and, later, where St Paul disputed daily in an attempt to win converts to Christianity.

A good place to begin an exploration of the site is in the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, originally built between 159 and 138BC; its expensive shops were a popular stamping ground for moneyed Athenians.

In the vicinity is the Agora Museum, where there's a model of the Agora upstairs along with a collection of finds from the site. The Temple of Hephaestus, on the western edge of the Agora, dates from 449BC and is the best-preserved Doric temple in Greece.

To the northeast of the temple are the foundations of the Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios, one of the places where Socrates spoke to the masses.

Near the southern entrance of the market is the Church of the Holy Apostles which was built in the early 11th century to commemorate St Paul and his teachings. Have a look at the Byzantine frescoes inside.

Benaki Museum
It's the oldest museum in Greece and ranks among its best. More than 20,000 items are on display chronologically over four levels, beginning with prehistory to the formation of the modern Greek state. It has an excellent Byzantine collection and a gallery focusing on the development of Hellenism during foreign domination. The spectrum of Greek cultural history is covered, including Karaghiozi shadow puppets, a stunning array of costumes, jewellery, textiles, and paintings, including early works by El Greco.

National Archaeological Museum
Despite all the pilfering by foreign archaeologists in the 19th century, this museum still has the world's best collection of Greek antiquities. The dated premises, complete with faded handwritten labels and guidebooks that have remained unchanged for years, has been closed and should open, clean and comprehensively upgraded, in time for the 2004 Olympics.

Straight ahead from the entrance foyer is the museum's tour de force, the Hall of Mycenaean Antiquities, which is filled with gleaming gold. The star attraction is the Mask of Agamemnon.

National Gardens
The delightfully shady National Gardens, featuring subtropical trees, winding paths and ornamental ponds with waterfowl, are a nice refuge from the heat of the summer months. Besides the exhibits of the Botanical Museum, there's also a cafe which makes a pleasant spot for a break.

Roman Agora & Tower of the Winds
Under Roman rule, Athens' civic centre was moved to the Roman Agora, the partly excavated site of which features a 1st-century, 68-seat public latrine. Though little more than a heap of rubble to the average eye, the site does hold an interesting nugget or two.

The Keramikos
The Keramikos was the city's cemetery from the 12th century BC to Roman times. It was discovered in 1861 during the construction of Pireos (the street that leads to Piraeus). Remains still stand of the city wall, which was built by Themistocles in 479 BC and rebuilt by Konon in 394 BC. The wall is broken by the foundations of the Sacred Gate, through which pilgrims from Eleusis entered the city during the annual Eleusian procession, and the Dipylon Gate, which was the city's main entrance.

Theatre of Dionysos
The enormous dimensions of the Theatre of Dionysos give testament to the importance of theatre in the life of the Athenian city-state. The first theatre on this site was a timber affair erected in the 6th century BC, where goatskin-clad performers sang and danced during the annual festival in Dionysus' honour.

During the golden age of the 5th century BC, dramas by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Aristophanes were commissioned for the Festival of Great Dionysia.

The theatre, on the Acropolis' southeastern slope, was reconstructed in stone and marble by Lycurgus between 342 and 326BC. The auditorium could seat 17,000; of an original 64 tiers of seats, about 20 tiers still survive. The 2nd-century reliefs at the rear of the stage depict the exploits of Dionysos. The two hefty, hunched-up selini were worshippers of the mythical Selinos - he of the oversized phallus - who charged up mountains in lecherous pursuit of nymphs. He mentored Dionysos with whatever energy he had left over.

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Athens Travel Tips

When to Visit - Arts and Events

Atthens has much to offer cuturally. Musical, dance and theatrical performances are held, during the summer, at the huge open-air marble theatre at the foot of the Acropolis. The productions of classical Greek plays are particularly spectacular. These plays are the focal point of Athens' cultural scene.

Athens Dining

In the summer Greek food abounds with sun-kissed olives, seasonal salads and succulent fresh fruit. Winter brings with it the new delicacies of Greek desserts such a Kataifi, a concoction of nuts, wheat and honey.

Tavernas, dotted along the narrow, winding streets at the foot of the Acropolis, serve fresh fish and roasted meat while traditional Greek music plays in the background. For those wanting a change from spicy Greek food, there are also many restaurants offering cuisine from all over the world.

Athens Tipping Advice

Service charge is 15 percent in Greece and is usually incorporated in bills. However, it is customary to leave a tip of up to 10 percent for waiters, and a further tip for busboys, who work for tips alone. Others, such as porters, should be tipped in proportion to the level of services rendered. Tip doormen and concierges between 500 and 1000 drachma.

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TOUR COST :

HOTEL Rate ( Per person on TWIN sharing basis )
Athens Center ( 2*+) EUR 140.00
Titania (3*) EUR 193.00
Divani Palaces Acropolis (4*) EUR 271.00
Holiday Inn Athens (5*) EUR 265.00

PRICE INCLUDES:
1) 03 Nights accommodation at the Hotel of your choice.
2) Daily Breakfast.
3) Half-day City Tour of Athens.
4) All applicable taxes.

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Have a great trip! This itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and DOES NOT form part of a contract between the client and AirCruise.

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