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All the main monuments are concentrated in the city centre, which focuses on busy Plateia Syntagma and can easily be negotiated on foot. From here, you can use the hilltops of the Acropolis and Lykavittos Hill as orientation points.

There are three tram lines connecting the city centre and the coast: TI runs from Syntagma to Neo Faliro; T2 from Neo Faliro to Glyfada; and T3 from Glyfada to Syntagma.

The bus network is extensive. Blue buses run daily 5am–12:30am (there is a limited night service); although cheap, they are often rather overcrowded, especially during rush hour. Tickets, which can be bought from most street kiosks (periptera ), should be validated in an orange machine upon boarding. You can also buy monthly passes covering the entire urban network: buses, trolleybuses and the metro.

The network has been through a process of expansion and there are 25 routes covered by yellow trolleybuses. Use the same tickets as for blue buses, and validate them upon boarding.

Running from 5:30am to midnight, the metro is currently undergoing expansion. Line 1 runs north-south between the suburb of Kifissia and Piraeus. Line 2 runs from Sepolia to Dafni, stopping close to the Acropolis en-route, while Line 3 runs from Plateia Syntagma to Eleftherios Venizelos airport.

It’s not worth hiring a car while in Athens, though you may want one for exploring the regions beyond the city. Regulations vary from company to company, but you should be over 21 years old and hold a valid driving licence (see Driving Licences)

Parking in central Athens is a nightmare. The most central (but often very crowded) car park is at Plateia Klafthmonos. Failing that, if your hotel doesn’t have parking space, you’re probably better off using the out-of-town car park at the new Olympic Stadium in Irini, and taking the metro.

Athens’ taxis are bright yellow, plentiful and cheap. They can be ordered by phone for a small surcharge, or waved down in the street. En-route, it’s quite normal for a driver to pick up extra passengers who are heading in your direction. Fares are higher between midnight and 5am, and you also pay extra for luggage and trips to the airport.

A speedy and fun way to zip around is by moped. If you have a valid driving licence, you can rent one from Rent Moto in Koukaki.

One of the best places for watching the sunset over Athens is the summit of Lykavittos Hill (see Syntagma and Kolonaki - Lykavittos Hill). If you don’t feel up to the hike, take the funicular from Aristippou. It runs every 20 minutes from 9am to 3am.