Kalimera! You have arrived in Athens, and you are immediately enveloped in the rich history of this ancient civilization. While ancient cities were not built with accessibility in mind, Athens manages to combine the historic with the modern, allowing visitors of all abilities the trip of a lifetime.
Getting there and getting around
The accessible metro system makes it easy to get around Athens in a wheelchair and to get to/from the airport
Flying into Athens International Airport, travellers with reduced mobility should pre-book assistance via their airline. If this cannot be done during the booking stage, give them plenty of notice for your specific requirements. Depending on the time you land, you can spend time at the onsite museum. It features 172 archaeological artefacts for your perusal.
TIP: The airport museum is open every day from 6am – 11pm.
If you want to get started straight away, you can take a taxi, bus or the metro. Depending on where your hotel is located, taking a taxi may be the easiest option. Athens is a hilly city with many cobblestoned areas. However, unlike other old cities, Athens has a very good and accessible metro system. You can take the metro from the airport straight to the city centre, and it’s a cheaper option. Taking a bus would be the cheapest, but involves more hassle.
When booking accommodation, you should choose somewhere close to the main sights you want to see. This will lessen travel time, and help avoid or minimise any potential issues, especially for wheelchair users. Getting around Athens in a wheelchair takes a bit of planning, but the metro has lifts/elevators to the platform at nearly all stations.
TIP: Spend time inside the metro — there are many exposed excavation sights to see.
Accommodation
Hotel Hera is well located at the bottom of the Acropolis Hill and has a rooftop accessible via a lift
Hera Hotel is close to a tourist spot and station. This boutique hotel is well located at the bottom of the Acropolis Hill, close to the Acropolis Museum. They have rooms and junior suites that offer uninterrupted views of the Acropolis. Before you set out, be sure to enjoy the buffet breakfast in their conservatory, located on the ground floor. This domed space lets in plenty of light to start your day off right. It is perfect for travellers looking to stay in Athens in style, but not break the bank. Rates start from €150 per night.
If you’re travelling on a budget, you should check out Athens Backpackers & Studios. This award winning hostel is close to the Acropolis, and has a lift available for guests. The staff are friendly and there is a sports bar that serves food and drinks. The bar is equipped with large screens, so you can catch up on your favourite teams.
TIP: Both hotel and hostel have rooftop bars overlooking the Acropolis, but only the hotel’s rooftop is wheelchair accessible.
Sights and shopping
The Acropolis has wheelchair access, but go early morning or late night to avoid the crowds and the scorching sun
Your first stop should be the Acropolis. This UNESCO World Heritage Site lives up to, and exceeds the hype. The Parthenon, a former temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, is the most recognisable part. Though constructed in 432 BC, the iconic landmark remains mostly intact. The Acropolis has a wheelchair accessible entrance, which may be reached via an elevator/lift. You can get to the elevator after taking a wheelchair stair climber, which has a platform to load your chair securely. You should take a taxi to the entrance in order to avoid the hill.
Check that the elevator is working on the day you want to visit. If it is too windy or rainy, the elevator may be closed. Getting to the top is only half the journey, as Acropolis is uneven and has large rocks and stones that may move. But fear not, many of the artefacts of the Acropolis have been moved to the museum, so you won’t miss out on anything. Just soak up the history and mythology and take some cool photos.
For the history buffs, pay a visit to the Acropolis Museum. It has an extensive collection of ruins housed in expansive galleries. A thoroughly modern museum, it has all the mod cons for visitors of all abilities. You escape the heat, and find out more about the Acropolis and Athens through the ages. Disabled guests are entitled to a free ticket for them and one guest. This is available to EU and non-EU visitors. Be sure to bring valid identification, but a wheelchair should be enough.
TIP: Go to the Acropolis early in the morning or late in the evening, so you can avoid the heat of the afternoon sun. Visitors are welcome from 8am – 8pm.
Monastiraki Square with a view of the Acropolis in the background
After you have taken in your fill of all things Acropolis, go to the nearby station, and head towards Monastiraki. This neighbourhood is famous for its flea markets and bargain shopping. This is undoubtedly the best kind of shopping. The area is flat, so you can buy souvenirs to your heart’s content. Monastiraki Square is a major tourist attraction, head further down the rows of shops to escape the hustle and bustle. There are plenty of small restaurants serving gyros or other quick meals, should you feel peckish.
Once you have finished browsing, visit nearby Ancient Agora. This is where the real fun begins. Unlike Acropolis, it is less crowded and there are more artefacts to see. Between the reconstructed Stoa of Attalus, and The Temple of Hephaestus, you will gain new found mythological knowledge. There are ruins and gravel all over the grounds of Agora, but according to Sage Traveling you can still see 70% of the sights by wheelchair. Depending on your interest in mythology, you could easily spend a day here.
TIP: There’s a museum within the Stoa of Attalus that is accessible via a ramp. There is also an accessible bathroom.
Eating and drinking
Time to cool down? Head to Le Greche for some delicious gelato © Le Greche
After being left awestruck by the Acropolis and the magnificent views from the top, it’s time for some food. Going back down the hill, you should stay in the local area and have a feast in God’s Restaurant. No, you did not read that wrong. The food is delicious, not that you would expect anything less. Situated less than a minute away from the Acropoli metro stop, this memorably named restaurant and its friendly staff will usher you in with pleasant chatter and promises of watermelon. They have a good selection of food, and their seafood spaghetti is heavenly. Sorry.
TIP: The restaurant has outdoor seating, and the seats may be moved to accommodate your wheelchair.
If the heat has left you wanting something a little cooler, then you should get some gelato at Le Greche. Located in the neighbourhood of Syntagma, this ice cream shop stocks many different flavours of very high quality. Just be careful that you don’t have too many and spoil your appetite for dinner! Not that anybody could blame you, as this is the best place for ice cream in Athens.
TIP: Enjoy your cone in nearby Syntagma Square, right next to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Going out
Psiri is an excellent choice of neigbourhood, if you’re looking to dance the night away
Full on food and high on history, you may want to indulge in the nightlife on offer in Athens. The best areas for the sunset hours depend on preferences. Plaka is a well-known neighbourhood for bars, restaurants and shopping. This is perfect for those that don’t want to party until sunrise. It gives you a chance to really soak in the atmosphere on a warm evening.
If you’re looking for somewhere to party the night away, the districts of Gazi and Psiri are the places for you. These neighbourhoods transform overnight from a former gas works depot and leatherworks hub, to the best nightlife hotspots in Athens. Unlike Plaka, you are more likely to meet and party with young locals than other tourists. Gazi and Psiri are close by Monastiraki, so you don’t need the metro. Both areas are packed with bars and clubs, so you will be spoilt for choice. Spending time in here will give you an authentic, Greek night out.
One such place is the A for Athens Cocktail Bar. This rooftop bar gives you magnificent views of Monastiraki, and of course, the Acropolis. While ouzo may be the national drink of Greece, the bartenders are able to whip up delectable cocktails. If there is space available, you should sit by the windows and feel the city buzzing below. This bar is also great during the day for people watching in the Square and surrounding areas. After a few drinks, you may choose to check out other bars close by and continue the party.
TIP: The cocktail bar is on top of the A for Athens hotel, so would also be a good place to stay.
Tours
Water temperatures are a pleasant 24 degrees all year round at Lake Vouliagmeni © ChristinaT
While the city of Athens is an amazing place to stay, day or night, sometimes you just need to get away from the busy atmosphere and take it easy. Greece is known for its beautiful islands with gorgeous white sands and perfectly blue waters. But you need not travel that far to find your own little oasis. Just 20 kilometres south of Athens is the seaside town of Vouliagmeni. You can get here by car, or public transit using the metro and buses. This town has an abundance of great beaches that have different priced fees for entrance, from free to €15. The beaches that charge are usually better, but you need not go to the most expensive one for a great time. Astir Beach is one of the better known and more popular beaches.
TIP: While in Vouliagmeni, make sure to visit Lake Vouliagmeni – a rare, geological formation with water temperatures at 24 degrees Celsius all year round.
Booking a trip is almost as fun as the holiday itself, but sometimes it can get a little stressful. Especially if you are a wheelchair user, have to plan far in advance, and make plenty of arrangements. Sage Traveling are the European disabled travel experts, and they have various accessible tours available to book. They also offer transportation directly from the airport or port to your hotel, allowing you the freedom to make the most of your time in Athens.
