Guidebook Updates for Greece

For books printed before June 2020, the following may apply:

• The "Athens & the Peloponnese" map on the foldout map included in Rick Steves Greece and in Rick Steves Pocket Athens has the incorrect scale; it should read "40 Kilometers / 25 Miles."
• For information on Greece's archaeological sites and museums, a better website than what's printed in the books is http://odysseus.culture.gr/index_en.html.

• The Acropolis is now open 8:00–20:00 in summer, Sept until 19:00, Oct until 18:00, Nov–March until 17:00 (last entry times will almost certainly be earlier than official closing times).
• Timed-entry tickets may soon be required for the Acropolis (a trial of the online system has been taking place since September 2023). Since a timed entry is still required for those with a combo-ticket, it's smart to buy the combo-ticket online and make a timed-entry reservation at the same time (combo-tickets purchased at other participating sights may not allow you to skip the line at the Acropolis). Go to HHTicket.gr to reserve. Currently, time slots are available at the top of each hour for a one-hour window (though there may not be a limit on how long you can stay once you enter). Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your reserved time.
• State-run Hellenic Heritage sights and museums, including the Acropolis, are free on the first and third Sunday of the month during off-season (Nov–March).
• To see the changing of the guard in front of the Parliament building (Sundays at 11:00), it's smart to arrive 30 minutes early, at 10:30.
• The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is closed for renovations through summer 2025.
• The tourist police have a line in English and other languages, 1571, for emergencies and help with other issues, such directions and disputes with locals (answered 7:00–22:00, sometimes 24 hours). For emergencies you can also call 122 (24 hours, typically English-speaking operators). There's a tourist police visitor-help office east of the Central Market in Psyrri (7:30–22:00, Dragatsaniou 4, +30 210 322 2230).
• The Museum of Modern Greek Culture is now closed on Tuesdays.
• The AthensTourTaxi has two new phone numbers: +30 211 214 0683 and mobile +30 693 229 5395.
• Blend hotel has closed.
• The Sgourda dishware company in the Central Market has closed.
• Ancient Greek Sandals shop (at Kolokotroni 1) has closed.
• Oineas restaurant has closed.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may also apply:

• Metro line 3/blue (running from the airport through central Athens to the cruise port of Piraeus and beyond) has been completed.
• The National Archaeological Museum now opens a half-hour later on Tuesdays, and opens/closes a half-hour earlier on most days in the winter (Wed–Mon 8:00–20:00, Nov–March 8:30–15:30; Tue 13:00–20:00 year-round)
• The National Gallery has reopened after a major renovation.
• The Museum of Greek Popular Instruments has been renamed the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may also apply:

• Melissinos Art sandal shop has moved to Tzireon 16, two blocks down Athanasiou Diakou from the Akropoli metro station in Makrigianni.
• In Athens, Uber operates as UberTaxi. You'll still book your ride through the app, but a taxi will pick you up. Rates to and from the airport are fixed, so Uber won't save you money on this route (but may still be useful for the convenience and familiarity).
• Gazi College Eatery has closed.
• Tylixto Greek Wrap restaurant is now Ermina's Grill House.
• Hotel Grande Bretagne's Roof Garden Restaurant has a new website: www.gbroofgarden.gr.
• The Zillers email is [email protected].
• Museum of Greek Popular Instruments, previously free, is now €3. It also has new opening hours: Wed–Mon 8:30–16:00.
• The Library of Hadrian is now open daily 8:00–20:00 (shorter hours off-season).
• The Roman Forum is now open daily 8:00–20:00.
• The Benaki Museum of Greek History and Culture is no longer open until 24:00 on Saturdays (it's still open Thu until 24:00).
• As many museums have throughout Greece, a few Athens museums are now closed Tuesdays instead of Monday: the Byzantine and Christian Museum, Benaki Museum of Greek History and Culture, and the Museum of Greek Popular Instruments.
• CHAT Tours has a new website: www.chat-tours.com.
• The tourist police have moved to east of the Central Market in Psyrri (Dragatsaniou 4, +30 210 322 2230).
• George's Taxi has a new email: [email protected].
• Olympic Traveller taxis is now Tune in Tours and has new contact info: +30 210 653 7209, mobile +30 697 320 1213, [email protected]. Tune in Tours have also taken over the tour company Greek Travelling.
• The Sunshine Express tourist train is now only for private tours.
• The main tourist information office near the Acropolis now stays open later all week (Mon–Fri 8:00–21:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00). Their new email is [email protected].
• All Metro lines except Line 1 start running at 5:30 (Line 1 starts at 5:00).
• When using the Metro, it's now required that riders scan their ticket at the turnstile each time they start and end a journey. For buses, scan your ticket as you board.
• Athens' transit system is gradually transitioning from single-use paper tickets to multiride "passes" and a smart card system that's reusable and rechargeable. The new multiride passes are available as paper tickets with 2, 5, or 11 rides (appears as "10+1" on ticket machines). They offer a slight per-ride discount and do not expire, but cannot be shared between people.
• The two "back-door" exits from the Agora, at the South Gate and to the Apostolou Pavlou pedestrian street, are closed. Visitors to the Agora can only enter and exit at the main entrance on Adrianou street.
• The Theater of Dionysus can only be visited from within the Acropolis site. Admission is included with Acropolis ticket.
• A second entrance — on the south side of the Acropolis — is now open across the street from the Acropolis Museum. It is often less crowded than the west entrance.
• The Acropolis ticket now covers just the Acropolis and sights on the north and south slopes, including the Theater of Dionysus.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may apply:

• Spalieri's Dhomatia has a new email: [email protected].
• Metoxi express boats no longer run between Hydra and Metochi; Freedom Boats absorbed them and are offering more runs.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may apply:

• The museum near the Pyrgos Dirou Caves has closed.
• Taverna Perivolos has closed.
• Studio Sirenes (also previously Gorgones Studios) is now Marina Studios & Gorgones Rooms (Les Sirenes), and they have new contact info. Marina: mobile +30 698 572 7177; Gorgones: mobile +30 693 233 4855, www.gorgonesrooms.gr.
• Hotel Anniska and Hotel Liakoto have a new email: [email protected].

For books printed before June 2020, the following may apply:

• Hotel Pramataris has a new email: [email protected].
• The Mystras site has new hours: Mon–Sat 8:00–20:00, mid-Sept–Oct until 19:30, Nov–March until 15:00; Sun 8:00–20:00 year-round.
• The archaeological museum has new hours: Wed–Mon 8:30–16:00, closed Tue.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may apply:

• The Delos Archaeological Museum is under renovation and may be closed during your visit.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may also apply:

• Local guide Antonis Pothitos's new email is [email protected].
• The Mykonos Folklore Museum is now closed Sunday year-round.
• The Mykonos Archaeological Museum has new hours: daily 9:00–18:00, Thu–Sat until 21:00, closed Tue, shorter hours Nov–March.
• Restaurant Madoupas has closed.
• Hellenic Seaways no longer runs ferries between Mykonos and Santorini. SeaJets still runs.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may apply:

• The Peloponnese Folklore Foundation Museum has been renamed the Papantoniou Museum of Peloponnese Folklore (or some variety thereof, depending on whom you ask).

For books printed before June 2020, the following may also apply:

• Agnanti Restaurant has closed.
• Chroma Design Hotel is now Aethra Boutique Rooms. Their new contact info is +30 27520 25253, aethra.gr.
• Hotel Leto Nuevo has a new email address: [email protected].
• The Nafplio Archaeological Museum has new hours: generally Wed–Mon 8:30–16:00, closed Tuesday.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may apply:

• The Museum of the History of Excavations at the Sanctuary of Olympia has closed.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may apply:

• The Folklore Museum has closed indefinitely.

For books printed before June 2020, the following may also apply:

• Lolita's Gelato is now closed Sunday.
• Kyprida Restaurant no longer has live music on Saturday nights in summer (only Wednesday nights).
• Chelidonia Traditional Villas in Oia has a new email: [email protected].
• Akrotiri is now closed Monday off-season. Its new hours are April–Oct daily 8:00–20:00, Nov–March Tue-Sun 8:00–15:00.
• The Museum of Prehistoric Thira has new hours: daily 8:30–16:00, Nov–March until 15:00.
• Ancient Thira has new hours: Wed–Mon 8:00–16:00, closed Tuesday, shorter hours off-season.
• Between Athens and Santorini, the fast boat is no longer Hellenic Seaways (which no longer runs this route) but Minoan Lines.