august-2011

*PRICES QUOTED ARE FOR A RETURN TICKET IN B.LIGHT ECONOMY FROM OR TO BRUSSELS, ALL TAXES AND FEES INCLUDED, IF BOOKED ON BRUSSELSAIRLINES.COM. TICKETS ARE NOT CHANGEABLE, NOR REFUNDABLE. PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
GREECE Population 10,760,136 Currency Euro GDP
ATHENS
† €20,910 Dialling code +30
Airport code ATH Flight frequency Twice daily Average temp (Aug) 27°C
Athens continues to
host its Greek Festival
2011 in August, with art
exhibitions and theatrical
performances among the
many cultural events on
off er. There’s an extra
leisurely vibe to the city
this month as many
Athenians take their
holidays, making it an
ideal time to visit. Carole
French is our city guide
MONÁSTIRAKI
Revolving around the picturesque
Plateía Monastirakíou, this buzzy
city centre district is full of ancient
treasures to explore.
SLEEP Pella Inn (104 Ermou, tel. 210
321 2229, pellainn.gr, rooms from €60)
is a modern, welcoming and convenient
place to stay, right in the heart of ancient
Athens. The hotel’s roof terrace provides
great views of the city and Acropolis
and is a welcome shady refuge during
the hottest hours of the day.
EAT To Kouti (23 Adrianou, tel. 210 321
3229), meaning ‘the box’, is a fashionable
restaurant in a period building that’s
decorated in vibrant colours. A good
place to dine on Greek dishes in the
lively company of locals.
CULTURE Look out for the little
honey-stone Kapnikarea church (off
Ermou Street), which stands confidently
as the crowds go about their business.
It’s one of the finest examples of
Byzantine architecture in the city.
SHOP Off Plateía Monastirakíou are
the lanes Areos and Pandrósou, which
are full of tiny shops selling local
pottery, hand-threaded jewellery
and embroidered tablecloths.
TIP You’ll find all your basic needs –
internet access, ATMs, pharmacies,
cafés and fashion shops – along Ermou
Street, the main thoroughfare that runs
through the district.
74 Brussels Airlines b.there! magazine August 2011
INFO
Athens International
Airport, Elfthérios
Venizélos, is
located about
33km from the city
centre, at Spáta.
Bus Airport
buses to Plateía
Syntágmatos
(Syntagma Square)
leave at 10-minute
intervals. The
journey time is
around 50 minutes,
costing €3.20.
Metro You can
catch metro and
light railway
trains to Plateía
Syntágmatos,
which take about
35 minutes and
cost €6.
Taxi A taxi for the
same journey costs
around €25, taking
30 minutes.
Tourist offi ce
An offi ce can be
found at 26
Amalias (tel. 210
331 0392, gnto.gr).
The Archaeological Museum
has been preserving ancient
Greek art for over 100 years
KYPSELI
This leafy district to the north of
Athens is known for its art deco
architecture, the city’s largest park
(Pedion tou Areos) and fabulous
shopping along Fokionos Negri.
SLEEP Hotel Exis (1 Spartis, tel. 210
866 2111, exishotel.gr, rooms from €50)
is a beautifully renovated Athenian
mansion that exudes a feeling of
elegance. Request a room with a Jacuzzi
to relax in after a hard day’s sightseeing.
EAT Arhontospito (14 Spartis, tel. 210
867 6122) offers an entire evening of
entertainment. Sample the mezédhes
– dozens of little dishes featuring
everything from dips to kleftiko (lamb)
– then enjoy some live Greek music.
CULTURE The National Archaeological
Museum (44 Patissíon, tel. 210 821
7724, namuseum.gr) is the country’s
largest museum and one of the most
important in the world; amongst its
treasures is an amazing collection
of Greek antiquities dating from
prehistoric times.
SHOP Head for Fokionos Negri on a
Tuesday morning for Kypseli’s famous
farmer’s market, stretching all the way
down to Patissíon, or on a Saturday,
when the theme is organic produce.
LATER The Karabani Club (corner of
Zakynthou) is reached by a short stroll
along the pedestrianised Fokionos Negri
until you reach the Ancient Agora. It
hosts great live rembetíka music, the
Greek equivalent of blues .
TIP The Archaeological Museum has
two cafés, inside and out, serving an
imaginative selection of salads and
light lunches.
THÍSSIO
Lying in the shadow of the
Acropolis and yet away from the
touristy bustle of Pláka, Thíssio has
an upmarket feel with jazz clubs,
art galleries and a café society.
SLEEP Jason Inn (12 Asomaton, tel. 210
325 1106, douros-hotels.com, rooms
from €75) is centrally located, with
pleasant rooms and a roof terrace that
looks out over the city and the Acropolis.
EAT Kuzina (9 Adrianou, tel. 210 324
0133) is where to dine on fine Greek
dishes and wine – its cellar is legendary.
Chill on the Tarazza roof terrace bar
before stepping inside to admire the
works on display in its art gallery.
CULTURE A stay in Thíssio gives you
the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll
along Dionysíou Areopagitou and visit
the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus,
one of the venues hosting performances
as part of the annual Greek Festival
(greekfestival.gr).
LATER The Loop (3 Plateía Asomaton)
is a ‘freestyle’ bar, dance and live-music
venue that attracts the trendy set.
If you love hip-hop, electro or jazz, be
sure to seek it out.
TIP The Temple of Hephaestus can
be found in Thíssio – it’s one of the
best-preserved ancient temples in
Greece, and well worth visiting.
€139 *
FROM JUST
RETURN,
TAXES INCLUDED
Fly to Athens from just
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*PRICES QUOTED ARE FOR A RETURN TICKET IN B.LIGHT ECONOMY FROM OR TO BRUSSELS, ALL TAXES AND FEES INCLUDED, IF BOOKED ON BRUSSELSAIRLINES.COM. TICKETS ARE NOT CHANGEABLE, NOR REFUNDABLE. PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE