Guidebook Updates for Greece

• Sights run by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (that is, most major ancient sites) are now online at hh.gr.
• Hellenic Heritage's "digital guide" app offers audio tours for major sites in Athens (including the Acropolis and Agora), Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae, Thira, and Delos, among others.

For books printed before November 2025, the following may also apply:

• 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.

• Athens' public transit now uses a convenient tap-to-pay ticketing system. Passengers who don't have their own credit card or device can buy paper tickets at machines, staffed ticket windows (at some Metro stations), and some newsstands.
• The tourist information office near the Acropolis Museum has closed, leaving the city with no useful tourism office. An outfit called This is Athens, with offices on Syntagma Square and at the airport, provides maps, but otherwise offers no helpful advice.
• The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art is closed for renovations that are expected to be underway until late 2029, though some of its collection may go on display well before the project is completed.
• Athens Walking Tours has been renamed "The Original Athens Walking Tours" and now offers a discount for Rick Steves readers (enter promo code "RICKSTEVES10" when booking online).
• For the first time in decades, the west side of the Acropolis is no longer covered by scaffolding.

For books printed before November 2025, the following may also apply:

• 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 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 January 2026, the following may apply:

• The Achilleion Palace is closed for renovation; the gardens remain open for visitors.

For books printed before November 2025, the following may apply:

• 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].

For books printed before November 2025, the following may apply:

• 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.

For books printed before November 2025, the following may apply:

• 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). 

For books printed before November 2025, the following may apply:

• Voltes Mezedopolio restaurant has closed indefinitely.

For books printed before November 2025, the following may apply:

• 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 November 2025, the following may apply:

• The White Door Theater in Fira 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.
• Diporto (selling local products and wine, mentioned in the book's Fira Walk) has closed.
• Palia Kameni Cocktail Bar is now PK Cocktail Bar.