Columbus Cruise Review - Piraeus (Athens)

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Time Zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Currency: Euro (€) = 100 cents or Dr341.

Language: Greek.

Nearest airport: Athens International Airport.

Hotels: The Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel is just 10 minutes from the port at Piraeus, whilst the Armonia Hotel is on the coast, approximately 30 minutes from the port. The Athenaeum Inter-Continental Athens and the Esperia Palace Hotel are both located in the centre of Athens.

Sightseeing: The Greek capital, Athens, offers visitors a whole host of attractions. It is dominated by the flat-topped hill of the Acropolis, which is the site of the 2400-year-old Parthenon, one of the most famous classical monuments in the world, and also the Theatre of Dionysus, the Doric Temple of Hephaistos, the Hadrian’s Arch, and the waterclock (Tower of the Winds). On the far side of the Acropolis is the restored Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a superb theatre in which the open-air performances of the International Athens Festival are held from June to September. The ruins of the civic, political and commercial centre of the Ancient Agora can be visited, as can the reconstructed Hellenistic Stoa of Attalos, which houses the Agora Museum. Most artefacts are displayed in the National Archaeological Museum on Patission Street. The centre of Athens has many modern shops, restaurants, international-class hotels and nightclubs. The old quarter of the town, Plaka, which spreads around the Acropolis, is picturesque with its famed flea market, small tavernas, craft shops and narrow winding alleys.

Shopping: Athens is the centre for luxury goods and local handicrafts. The flea markets in Monastiraki and Plaka, below the Acropolis, are crowded in high season and special purchases include lace, jewellery, pottery and leather goods. Metalwork, knitwear, furs, rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits are also good buys.

Eating Out: Dishes like dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), moussaka (aubergine casserole with minced lamb, cinnamon, red wine and olive oil) and kebabs can be found everywhere. Taramosalata and a variety of seafood dishes, especially squid (kalamari) or octopus, are excellent. Greek menus typically include a selection of meze (appetisers), such as keftedes (hot spicy meatballs) or tzatziki. Salads are excellent and often made with the local feta cheese, tomato, cucumber and fresh olive oil. One of the best-known Greek drinks is retsina wine. Local spirits include ouzo, an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added – it is very similar to the French pastis.