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Welcome to ATHENS an extra service of European City Guide / ECG
Information about ATHENS
Redolent with mythology, smeared with grime, Athens is an affable city enlivened by outdoor cafes, pedestrian streets, parks, gardens and urban eccentrics.
The city may look like a concrete jungle, but beyond this off-putting veneer is a kind of dilapidated charm. Athens is a curious blend of east and west; its raucous street vendors and colourful markets are reminiscent of Turkish bazaars, while crumbling neoclassical mansions hark back to the city's brief heyday as the 'Paris of the Mediterranean'.
The city is bounded on three sides by Mt Parnitha, Mt Pendeli and Mt Hymettos. Within Athens there are no less than eight hills, of which the Acropolis and Lykavittos are the most prominent. The hills provide a peaceful respite from the clamour of the city, and offer stunning views to the glistening waters of the Saronic Gulf, the city's boundary on the south side.
Just about everything of interest to the traveller is within a small area surrounding Plateia Syntagmatos (Syntagma Square). This area is bounded by the districts of Plaka to the south, Monastiraki to the west, Kolonaki to the east and Omonia to the north.
Plateia Syntagmatos is dominated by the old Royal Palace and is the beating heart of the business district, with luxury hotels, banks and airline offices. Plaka, nestled below the Acropolis, is the old Turkish quarter and virtually all that existed when Athens was declared the capital of independent Greece. Though Plaka is packed with tourists in high season, it's also one of the prettiest and most atmospheric areas of the city. Monastiraki is the market district and a fascinating part of town to wander. Psiri, nearby, is brimming with stylish cafes and bars and makes a great place to stop for a spot of lunch. Kolonaki, a classy residential area tucked in under Lykavittos Hill, is full of trendy boutiques, art galleries and cafes. Omonia, a grimy zone known for its pickpockets and prostitutes, is an important transport hub, especially for buses.
Available Trades in ATHENS
ADVERTISING, MARKETING, COMMUNICATION AGRICULTURE, FLORICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, PISCICULT ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE & SUPPLIERS ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS, SURVEYORS ART, HANDICRAFT, ANTIQUES ARTISTIC & LITERARY ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANISATIONS AUDIO-VIDEO, SUPPLIES & SERVICES AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES AVIATION, NAVIGATION BAKERIES & CONFECTIONERS BANKING & FINANCING, INSURANCE BARS, RESTAURANTS, CATERING, CAFES, CLUBS & DISCOS CHEMICALS & PHARMACEUTICALS CHURCHES & RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES CIVIC CENTRES, LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES CONSTRUCTION & MATERIAL COSMETICS, BODY CARE, HAIRDRESSING EDUCATION, SCHOOLS & ACADEMIC TRAINING ELECTRONICS, ELECTROTECHNICS ENERGY, ELECTRICITY, GAS & WATER, HOUSEHOLD APPLIA ENTERTAINMENT, CINEMAS, THEATRES, RADIO & TV CHANN ENVIRONMENT & RECYCLING ESOTERICISM FOOD, BEVERAGES, NEWSAGENT FURNITURE - MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS GAMING & COMPUTER GAMES GLASS & GLASSWORKS - PRODUCTS GOVERNMENT OFFICES, POLITICAL PARTIES HOTELS, LODGINGS & CAMPING HOUSE & GARDEN, SUPPLIES & SERVICES INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS, SUPPLIERS & SERVICES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS JEWELLERS, WATCHMAKERS, OPTICIANS LEGAL SERVICES LIVESTOCK, PETS, VETERINARIANS, EQUIPMENT & SERVIC MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING, ACCOUNTING SERVICES MECHANICS, HYDRAULICS, PNEUMATICS MEDICINE, AUXILIARY MEDICINE & MEDICAL EQUIPMENT METAL & STEEL INDUSTRY MULTIMEDIA MUSEUMS, ART GALLERIES, AUCTION ROOMS MUSIC & SOUND RECORDING OFFICE SUPPLIES, OFFICE SERVICES, COPY CENTRES PETROCHEMICAL, RUBBER, PLASTIC PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC ART & DESIGN PUBLIC TRANSPORT, TAXIS, AMBULANCES, CHAUFFEURS PUBLISHING, PRINTING, PAPER INDUSTRY REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL HOMES & CARE SERVICES SALES & SERVICES SCIENCE, INVESTIGATION, RESEARCH SERVICES & AGENCIES SETS & SCENERY, EVENT STAGING, PRODUCTIONS SPORTS, LEISURE & HEALTH TECHNOLOGY & TECHNICAL SERVICES TEXTILES, LEATHER, FURS - CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES, EQUIPMENT TOURISM & TRAVEL, ATTRACTIONS, PARKS & GARDENS TRADE & BUSINESS, IMPORT-EXPORT, MAIL ORDER TRADE FAIRS & CONFERENCES TRANSPORT, STORAGE, PACKAGING VEHICLES, MOTORCYCLES, CYCLES - SALES & SERVICES WOOD, COAL, MINERALS
General Information Capital: Athens Area: 131,990 km2 Population: 11,257,285 (January 1, 2009). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are used IDD: +30 Emergency number: 100 Timezone: GMT +2 Hrs (+3 Hrs MAR-OCT)
Government Government: Parliamentary Republic
Religion Religion: 98% Greek Orthodox, other religious denominations.
Health Health: The following vaccinations are recommended: Tetanus.
Currency Currency: Euro (EUR) 1.00 = 100 Cents
Exchange Rate Exchange Rate: All 100.00 USD = 66.8534 EUR GBP = 110.480
CHF = 66.1543
Alcohol Limit Alcohol Limit: 0,5 ‰
Speed Limit Speed Limit: Cities: 50 km/h , Outside cities: 110 km/h , Motorways: 120 km/h
Traffic Traffic: Traffic drives on the right .The minimum age for driving is 18.
Driving License Driving License: A national driving licence is acceptable for EU nationals. Nationals of non-EU countries may need an International Driving Permit and should contact ELPA.
National Holidays National holidays: Jan 1 Jan 6 Mar 25 May 1 Aug 15 Oct 28 Dec 25 Dec 26
Climate Climate: Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Temperatures Temperatures: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec A 9 10 11 15 20 25 28 27 24 19 15 11 P 62 37 37 23 23 14 6 7 15 51 56 71 S 4 5 6 8 9 11 12 12 9 7 5 4 A=Aver. Daily Temp. (°C)
Mobile Network Mobile Network: GSM 900 / 1800 & 3G 2100
GPS GPS: 38 00 N, 23 43 E
Shopping Hours Shopping Hours: Mon, Wed, Sat: 8.00-14.00 Tue, Thu, Fri: 8.00-14.00 17.30-20.30
