Guidebook Updates for Greece

• Tickets for state-run archaeological sites and museums are best bought on the official Hellenic Heritage e-ticket site, which saves time over buying them in-person, and money over buying them from third-party vendors. Each time slot lasts an hour, and you must enter during that window (with a 15-minute grace period on both ends), but once inside you can stay as long as you like. Off-season (Nov–March), these state-run sights are free on the first and third Sunday of the month.
• The phone number for the US embassy in Athens is now +30 21072 12951.
• The Canadian government's website for travel and tourism in Greece (including embassy information) is now at www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/greece-grece.

• Tickets for state-run sights, including the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Forum, Library of Hadrian, National Archaeological Museum, and the Temple of Zeus (Olympieion), are best bought on the official Hellenic Heritage e-ticket site, which saves time over buying them in-person, and money over buying them from third-party vendors. Each time slot lasts an hour, and you must enter during that window (with a 15-minute grace period on both ends), but once inside you can stay as long as you like. Off-season (Nov–March), these state-run sights are free on the first and third Sunday of the month.
• The Acropolis is now open 8:00–20:00 in summer, Sept until 19:00, Oct until 18:00, Nov–March until 17:00. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your reserved time. There is no longer a combo-ticket for the Acropolis.
• 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.
• 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 Athens & Epidavros Festival has a new phone number for info — +30 21092 82900 — along with an additional phone number for tickets: +30 21180 08181.
• The AthensTourTaxi has two new phone numbers: +30 211 214 0683 and mobile +30 693 229 5395.
• Cine Paris has a new phone number: +30 21180 52996.
• The Zillers hotel has a new phone number: +30 21032 22277.
• Athens 4 hotel has a new phone number: +30 21032 24524.
• Aneton restaurant has a new phone number: +30 21080 66700.
• Taverna Thanasis has a new phone number: +30 21032 44705.
• Blend hotel has closed.
• The Sgourda dishware company in the Central Market has closed.
• The 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:

• 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 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.
• The Benaki Museum of Greek History and Culture is no longer open until 24:00 on Saturdays (it's still open Thursdays until 24:00).
• The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments (formerly the Museum of Greek Popular Instruments), previously free, is now €3. It also has new opening hours: Wed–Mon 8:30–16:00, closed Tuesdays.
• A few other Athens museums are now closed Tuesdays instead of Mondays: the Byzantine and Christian Museum, Benaki Museum of Greek History and Culture, and the Museum of Greek Popular Instruments.
• 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.
• Uber operates as UberTaxi in Athens. 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).
• George's Taxi has a new email address: [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 address 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 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.
• Melissinos Art sandal shop has moved to Tzireon 16, two blocks down Athanasiou Diakou from the Akropoli metro station in Makrigianni.
• Gazi College Eatery has closed.
• Tylixto Greek Wrap restaurant is now Ermina's Grill House.

• The hours for the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Archaeological Museum, though they can fluctuate, are now typically April–Aug daily 8:00–20:00 except Tue 10:00–17:00. Starting in September, the site closes 30 minutes earlier every 15 days, while the museum stays open until 20:00. In winter (generally Nov–March), both are open daily at least 8:30–15:30 — but some parts of the site may be closed off.
• Tholos Hotel has a new email address: [email protected].

• The shuttle boat to Vlychos or Mandraki beaches now departs from the monastery clock tower.
• The water taxi has a new phone number: +30 69861 02291
• Cotommatae Hotel has a new phone number: +30 22980 53873
• Taverna Gitoniko and the tavernas on Miaouli Street have closed.

• Kastro Taverna in Kardamyli has closed.
• Harilas Restaurant in Kardamyli is now Ormos Restaurant and is under different ownership (but contact info remains the same). 

• Voltes Mezedopolio restaurant has closed indefinitely.

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.

• Bus service between Nafplio and Mycenae, and between Nafplio and Epidavros now only runs on summer weekdays, and just once a day (generally at 9:30, returning to Nafplio at midday), making a same-day trip from Nafplio to both Mycenae and Epidavros no longer possible by transit. (Always confirm bus schedules locally.)

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 May 2023, the following may apply:

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

• In Fira, the White Door Theater is now known as the Greek Wedding Show.
• Hotel Aethrio is now called Aethrio Sunset Village.
• Kamares Apartments has a new phone number: +30 22860 28110.
• Pelican Travel agency is no longer in operation.
• Along the Fira Walk, Diporto (selling local products and wine) has closed.
• Palia Kameni Cocktail Bar is now PK Cocktail Bar.

For books printed before May 2023, the following may also 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.
• 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.