nick_arch

The news portray a picture that has not a lot to do with reality.

Unfortunately a lot of the pressure and false information comes out from Greek sources too. . . both sides, this of "yes" and "no" do press us to vote for one side or the other.

So, media supporting side of "yes" publish all day long things like "we are sinking", "we collapse" and media supporting side of "no" publish all day long "all good" and "vote for no" etc.

So. . . i guess we are caught somewhere in the middle. . .

What matters is how things really are. And right now. . . despite the big problems for local people not familiar with web banking and online transactions ( elder people do have a problem ) there are no other reported problems, regarding food, medicines, fuel. . . and we are somewhat astonished from what we read in both international and local press.

The huge problem right now is the bank holiday which i deeply wish will end next week, even if capital controls stay in place. Keeping the physical banks closed makes no sense for a number of reasons that are far more practical than all this financial analyses. Keep an 85 years old man out in the sun waiting to make a withdrawal for half an hour? or get him in an airconditioned space to wait sitting?

So, we do have practical issues and are definitely different than all the doom and gloom media portray about food shortages ( lol ), fuel shortages ( lol ). Practical issues right now have to do with money circulation, making transactions, lack of POS machines. . . things that with some clever thinking could vastly improve conditions for locals.

Is any of these impacting travellers? I seriously doubt, except the "bring some more cash" precaution / advise which i 'd consider very sound. Even this though does not affect travellers coming in from cruise ships, imho, which is the main interest of this specific forum.

So, yes, we do have some problems, things are not pink tinted, these issues have nothing to do with food, safety or fuel supply though. They have to do with big problems on every day transactions and spending a lot of time to inform people, get them to know online-banking which is working fine and adjust to the limited liquidity.

Yesterday for example, i spent two hours helping a friend to set up web banking with one of the major banks to pay his rent, make online transfers to pay his power bill blah blah blah. I had to tackle all his fears ( "i wanna see the real money", "i don't like online banking" ) to finally set up the online account. Two hours to set up an online banking account in his home pc while the procedure took 10 minutes only in a physlcal bank to get all the equipment and documents.

These issues have nothing to do with "yes" or "no" or political reality, something that is not of interest of this forum and something that anyway is pretty hard to solve and will need time. Still, even skipping this huge thing, we desperately need reforms, we desperately need young people to act as if it's 2015 and not 1965 and to see where things go from here instead of sinking in one oz of water thinking it's a whole ocean.

Back to the issue: credit cards work fine, web banking fine, atm's fine ( although queues of 5 - 12 people in central spots ), food always fine, fuel fine, airports fine, seaports fine.

Next week will be a week of intense political thinking for the EU. A referendum result either in favor of "yes" or "no" will produce another landslide of press articles. . .

What future holds for Greece? I have absolutely no idea.

What future holds for travelllers to Greece? Again i have absolutely no idea but right now things are cool, sun is bright, cafeterias despite the articles are full, restaurants are full and supermarkets are full too. With both locals and travellers. . .

A lot of exaggeration i am afraid :(

I also posted similar material in a thread here in CC and in TA.

No issues at all with fuel, supermarkets and so on. No issues with credit cards too. They are accepted anywhere they were accepted before.

Just got back from supermarket. Despite the hillarious photos in many news sites, i saw no missing products.

Pressure to the system is quite big and supermarkets work as if it's a day before Christmas, but it seems to be working all right. For example, supermarkets are full and people are shopping.

One funny detail. The woman in the cashier told me that people are bying most of all. . . what?

Beers, wines and spirits. . . Doh. . . someone would expect us to purchase in total panic flour and sugar as some news sites implies. . . and we raze the beer and wine department :-)

So. . . yes. . . we may run out of beer. . . That would be a national disaster indeed.

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Many atm's have queues of 5 - 6 people. Nothing that i 'd call abnormal, still request for cash is big and this is where a flaw of Greek economy is coming up. Due to lack of widespread credit card use people are using cash. Many friends of mine, intheir 30's, 40's don't even use web banking.

Result is that they have to visit multiple atm's to get cash, just to deposit in in another account for rent for example. . . when they 'd be able to do it from their living room in less than 2 minutes. The 60 euros per day limitation also would work even better if it was a 420 euros per week thing. Many people will anyway have to use these funds. . . but making them to go multiple times at an atm just adds pressure to the system.

So

For locals some problems, mainly have to do with logistics and how to circulate money. It directly affects those unfamiliar with web banking and so on.

For travellers no issues.

No issues with fuel or supermarkets.

Atm's have some queues but nothing i 'd call abnormal. I see similar queues in most European cities.

-------------------------

A huge problem observed is evolving in relation with journalists. . . A lot of exaggeration and sensationalism from all sides, even Greek channels. Now, we are receiving extreme pressure from all sides to vote "yes" or "no". . . news stations just play the same and same thing. . . "supermarkets will empty", "civil disobedience will erupt" and walking in Plaka in Athens yesterday night with friends we were thinking if we are playing in a movie.

Real conditions is what matters and what many news channels transmit is not the real conditions.

I had friends calliong me from Crete. . . that's just 4o minutes on the plane. . . totally panicked if i need food. . . and that's the same country. . . i imagine misinformation is quite bigger abroad. . .

Please post political related comments hesitantly :-) Everyone has an intense point of view on these matters and i can find many right points and many wrong points in each side. Let's keep it off any political comments and keep the information flowing for travellers.

I am sure huge majority of the travellers are deeply concerned, nevertheless, at the moment, political reality in Greece is a matter of ours, the locals, to solve.

Update from Athens:

I also posted this in Trip Advisor - Greece forum:

"No issues at all with fuel, supermarkets and so on.

Just got back from supermarket. Despite the hillarious photos in many news sites, i saw no missing products.

Pressure to the system is quite big and supermarkets work as if it's a day before Christmas, but it seems to be working all right. For example, supermarkets are full and people are shopping.

One funny detail. The woman in the cashier told me that people are bying most of all. . . what?

Beers, wines and spirits. . . Doh. . . someone would expect us to purchase in total panic flour and sugar as some news sites imply . . and we raze the beer and wine department :-)

----------------------------------

Many atm's have queues of 5 - 6 people. Nothing that i 'd call abnormal, still request for cash is big and this is where a flaw of Greek economy is coming up. Due to lack of widespread credit card use people are using cash. Many friends of mine, intheir 30's, 40's don't even use web banking.

Result is that they have to visit multiple atm's to get cash, just to deposit in in another account for rent for example. . . when they 'd be able to do it from their living room in less than 2 minutes. The 60 euros per day limitation also would work even better if it was a 420 euros per week thing. Many people will anyway have to use these funds. . . but making them to go multiple times at an atm just adds pressure to the system.

So

For locals some problems, mainly have to do with logistics and how to circulate money. It directly affects those unfamiliar with web banking and so on.

For travellers no issues.

No issues with fuel or supermarkets.

Atm's have some queues but nothing i 'd call abnormal. I see similar queues in most European cities.

I echo the advise to limit use of atm's and keep the cash flowing for locals. Atm's do work properly and with no limits for travellers, since it's always a good idea to bring cash from aroad or use your credit card or debit card asn an electronic mean of payment wherever possible.

"If Greeks are limited to $67. a day, while foreigners are not limited, what do you think will happen if people need money? look for the foreigners and take it!"

lol

it's a bit distasteful to say so. . .

Greek of American origin here. Double citizenship. On 67$ a day. It's plenty for here. Besides, credit cards and web banking works fine.

Don't be rude please and don't assume anyone can be a thief for some euros or dollars. . . especially the Greeks.

Hey Zedjp3 :) my comment is not necesarilly done having your post in mind.

I just want to counteract the advise given in many places "get as much cash as you want". It is a widely provided advise.

Things are pretty relative and this advise is so generic that fails to match with every traveller's needs.

It's different to reavel alone, different to travel in a group.

It's different to travel with a cruise ship, different to travel 10 days in rural mountainous Greece.

So, everyone has to take in mind specific of his trips and plan accordingly.

"Take all that you'd think you would need" is a good advise.

Perhaps "take all that you'd think you would need to cover unexpected expenses during your stay and all that you 'd think you can handle" is a better expression, but we both agree. . . well. . people have to show some common sense.

Remember that right now there are no problems in atm service.

Situation changes from day to day though, so checking some news, taking in real dimensions of the issue and plan accordingly is a wise thing to do.

Greece did not pay yesterday an 1.9bn installment to IMF. Although international networks played this as a "default", CNN even had a reverse clock counting till 1am local time. . . things are pretty normal today here. It is a very hot, very humid day, people are going to their jobs, resturants and cafeterias are full. I could write pages about this technical default, but i 'll just keep it to on-ground conditions and refrain from any political analysis or fiancial analysis. In such a mess all are to be blamed and everyopinion has a right side to say. But what matters here is to stick to on-ground conditions.

I am sure all travellers and readers have a personal point of view on the matter, are deeply interested about the ramifications, i 'll just try to keep it simple and stick to what i can contribute by writing about local conditions.

SITUATION FOR LOCALS:

Problem of the day: Banks opened first day today, after only two days being closed but for very limited transactions. They specifically serve elder pensionners that have no debit card to use to withdraw money from atm's. Elder pensionners are allowed to request a withdraw from a physical cashier but also are issued on the spot a debit card to use in atm's.

Queues formed in some residential areas branches were really big this morning, exclusively from elder people. They were anxious indeed. What a shame. . . Things were not that well organised. . . they could be better organised, perhaps with an announcement about specific alphabet letters being served day by day. Still, i 'd expect things to go smoother day by day. Again: this is not a widespread problem. I leave in a residential / business area, near the tourist center of Athens. Quiet and no problems.

On the other hand, a huge problem was solved. . our locally issued credit cards work again abroad. Access to locally issued credit cards was blocked by the Greek authorities three days now for transactions in foreign countries or sites. . . so Greeks can again access their credit cards. Phew. . .

SITUATION FOR TRAVELLERS

Things are normal in tourist areas. I had a quick walk during commute in Monastiraki and Acropolis Museum area. It was quiet, no signs of problems, no queues at the bank there. Again it's the residential areas where people have no access to electronic banking either because theY are older or because they lack the proper education.

Atm's work fine, credit cards work fine again. Remember this is a country where credit card use is not widespread years now. Many places a cruise ship traveller will visit will be accepting them, still smaller establishments will not be accepting them and this was the case before too. The deeper you venture in rural areas the rarer credit card machines.

So, cash is needed, just take sensibly expected amounts and not all your bank account along. . . I guess we all understand that common sense is needed.

WORRY OF THE DAY:

What would worry me today? The heat only and to remember to take my sunglasses. After some days of cloudy weathers it's full sunshine today and very hot. . . Fiscal problems are temporary, skin problems not. So: sunglasses, sunhat, comfy shooes and alot of sunblock to get a nice tan slowly.

A lot of misinformation or exaggeration around in news networks i am afraid :(

nick_arch here, mainly TA contributor, rarely checking things here. I have created the thread referred above ( thank you :) )

As i have reposted:

- Atm's stopped working indeed for 12 - 18 hours during last weekend. The problem was in many cases poor re-supply rate because of extremely high demand on cash withdrawals. The problem was not that much felt in tourist areas, still it was intense for that time in residential suburban areas.

- During this interval credit cards were normally accepted where they are, online web banking was operative while debit cards could also be used as cash to pay.

- Atm's function has been back to normal gradually from the day before yesterday Monday, June 29th morning when atm's were filled up again with cash.

- Atm's now work fine with no queues and with no limit for internationally issued cards. A daily limit has been imposed though for debit cards issued locally, so as locals we can withdraw only up to 60 euros a day while we can use debit cards elctronically with no issues.

- Legel tender here in Greece is the Euro. I doubt many businesses will accept US. I am almost sure any supermarket, especially in Athens for example, would decline a payment in USD. Tourism related on the islands may be accepting USD payments when you don't have any euros, doing the conversion for you, still i doubt this is a common practice.

Although the advise given is to carry as much cash as possible. . . well. . i 'd be a little hesitant to do so.

Realoty for a cruise ship traveller is different than a simple traveller. You have all the access you need in euros ( although admiteddly in poor exchange rates ) in the cruise ship or in other ports of call. Atm's ARE functioning and give cash.

Carrying around a lot of cash anywhere in the world is not a good idea in my opinion. It creates challenges and safety issues. You don't need an external factor to lose money. . . i have managed to lose a lot of moeny by myself by leaving a pouch full with my cash in an airport's restrooms some years ago. . . poof, it was gone when i returned. And then it's pickpocketing which can be a huge issue in ports of call in Spain and Italy, also in Greece although in lower rates.

Judging from the circumstances, i 'd say that carrying some cash is a good idea but carrying an awfully lot of cash is not a good idea, especially when debit cards work, credit cards work and in this forum we are talking about cruise ship passengers that anyway return to their ship for meals and night over.

So, plz, do use common sense and focus on the real analogies of the circumstances.

Greece has terrible fiscal issues, desperately needs reforms and many many many other changes. This is one thing and imagining people will be fighting in front of an atm is another thing. Even during the 12 - 24 hours atm's were out of order or queues of 10 - 50 people formed, people behaved and were calm. Worried but calm.

And if you were in a tourist area in Athens. like Plaka, or Syndagma or a resort on an island or the mainland, you would not realise there is an issue going on.

Which is already mostly solved anyway.

Will this be the same in the future?

Situation in Greece is volatile. . . but it has extremely rarely impacted tourists.

For now, i 'd keep an eye on real on-ground conditions ( it's pretty calm right now ) and carry *some* cash to cover unexpected expenses, still i would avoid carrying a fortune of euros around, either because it's not a wise option anywhere in the world, or because atm's function almost properly in Greece right now.

Thanks for reading. . . wishing the best to all. . . 'll try to keep an eye here, although load of questions is hugely bigger in Trip Advisor where most of my free time is focused on.

Best trips to all. . . njoy!

As for our spirit, no we are not angry.

I 'd guess we are worried.

That's a different thing and considering the volatility of our lives, well. . .i 'd consider it a very logical and human reaction.

Other than that, i doubt someone would notice we have fiscal issues in the tourism areas in Athens, or the islands, except if someone watches the news.

Tourists stranded in Greece? lol, nope.

- Atm's stopped working indeed for 12 - 18 hours during last weekend. The problem was in many cases poor re-supply rate because of extremely high demend on cash withdrawals. The problem was not that much felt in tourist areas, still it was intense for that time in residential suburban areas.

- During this interval credit cards were normally accepted where they are, online web banking was operative while debit cards could also be used as cash to pay.

- Atm's function has been back to normal gradually from the day before yesterday Monday, June 29th morning when atm's were filled up again with cash.

- Atm's now work fine with no queues and with no limit for internationally issued cards. A daily limit has been imposed though for debit cards issued locally, so as locals we can withdraw only up to 60 euros a day while we can use debit cards elctronically with no issues.

- Legel tender here in Greece is the Euro. I doubt many businesses will accept US. I am almost sure any supermarket, especially in Athens for example, would decline a payment in USD. Tourism related on the islands may be accepting USD payments when you don't have any euros, doing the conversion for you, still i doubt this is a common practice.

- as for the refugee issue. . . well. . . the Daily Fail article is greatly exaggerated. There is no refugee crisis in Athens or the islands although we do have an increased influx of immigrants or asylum seekers mainly in four islands in Greece and at least two locations in Italy and Spain. The numbers in Greece are appx. 20 - 40 arrivals per island per day during summer months.

We have created an extremely extensive thread and multiple other threads in Trip Advisor - Greece forums where you will be able to find local updates from local contributors and travellers. Still. . . don't be sure what you read in the news is not exaggerated.

Nick from Athens

nick_arch in TA,

not tourism related :)

I'd easily spend 3 - 4 days.

The main sites can be covered in a full day.

Then it's at least a great museum like the new Acropolis Museum or the National Arch. Museum and another dozen of world class museums, like the Benaki Museum, the Byzantine and Christian Museum with a huge icons collections among else. . . the list goes on.

And shopping, food, Lucabettus Hill.

It's a big sprawling city, has its good sides, it's busy sides.

Spend more if you are interested in history and ancient sites. I think three - four full days are a nice amount of days to check the city, except if you venture out to the mainland, Nafplion or Corinthos or Delphi Oracle site, or go to one of the nearby islands, these need another day too per place.

Coming from the West i 'd also use a full day just getting lazy at the start of the trip. I usually feel wrecked when travelling from West to East.

I have updated the Google map, including some basic hotels.

Hotels can also be found using the search button.

A Google map also here: Athens Inner Ring Google Map That's by me :-)

ATHENS INNER RING MAP: A link is included in the Athens Airport page.

Link:Athens Inner Ring map

Orthdox Easter date in 2015 is indeed April 12th 2015.

On Easter Sunday all sites and museums are closed.

Around Easter, the usual case for museums and sites is that Friday they open around 11am - midday, while on Saturday, Monday, they open on limited hours, most of the cases it will be 8am - 3pm.

I am referring to:

Fri April 10th 2015,

Sa April 11th 2015,

Mo April 13th 2015.

Tommorow, 12th May 2014, a new Express bus line commences operation.

Bus number is X80 and it connects Piraues cruise ship terminals with Acropolis Museum ( Acropolis ), and Athens center ( Syndagma Sq. ).

Ticket costs 4 euros ( that's the 24hrs ticket. It is valid for all metro, bus, tram in the center, including the X80 line / not valid on airport metro or airport bus ). You can also use the "tourist ticket" in this line ( costs 20 euros, includes unlimited hop on hop off for 3 days, for any mean in the center + airport trips ).

Bus operates from 7am till 9.30pm, every 30 minutes. Starts where 040 bus starts from and follows, roughly speaking, the same drive path but does stops only at start and end of the trip, which means ride is pretty faster than all other buses.

Acropolis is a hill in the middle of Athens.

The main gate is towards the SW.

There is no direct way to go up the hill. So, practically we walk around the hill, on a spiral walk to reach the gate.

There is nothing right in front of the Acropolis main gate. Except trees.

All around you have the city and forest. All central hotels are more or less in the same distance, meaning that on a straight line it's the same. But from some areas it's a closer walk, since they are closer the side of the entrance.

Imagine this as a doughnut with a coin somewhere in. Some pieces are closer to the side where the coin is. Right in the middles it's the Hill. You have to walk around though.

Thission, Acropolis Museum areas are closer to the entrance.

Monastiraki, Plaka, Syndagma are at the opposite side of the Hill.

That's not a very big deal, cause we are talking about 10 minutes walking time added. Still, the areas of Thission and Acropolis Museum are in the closest distance to the gates.

Here: Athens areas Google Map and here: Ascend to Acropolis

My opinion is that Thission is better.

Walk from there is a little longer ( talking about 4 - 5 minutes ) but definitely less strenyous.

At the same time, going from Monastiraki to the Acropolis the shortest way involves a walk through Agora site, which opens at the same time with the Acropolis or a walk through Plaka which is a rather steep incline and steps combo.

The options ( Thission, Monastiraki, Monastiraki through Agora ) are shown in this map: Link to Google maps

I have also included the walk from Akropoli station which is also a good option if you are already in the city. Coming from Piraeus i 'd probably pick Thission, which means the shortest metro ride.

Athens Gate Hotel has a very good roof top and a very good location, near to Acropolis Museum and nearer walking distance to the sites.

If someone is planning to use a taxi from the airport and to the port, then it is a very good choice. Not a 5* but a very good 4*, maybe 4 1/2*. I 'd get it for someone having a quick night over, trying to squeeze some sites in too + the views from the roof top are truly memorable. A very central Red line metro station is near too, so public transportation options are good too.

I am also confused with this one. Can someone please give some more information?

I mean, if someone is docking at 6am, what time will he / she be able to arrange a tour, or get a but to the metro etc?

I mean, if someone is docking at 6am, is it doable to be in front of the Acropolis gates at 8am and opening time?

I know that it takes appx. 25 minutes to reach the metro station, another 25 on the metro, another 20 - 25 walking to reach the gates if you do it on public transportation, so we are talking about 65 - 75 minutes to reach the gates, or maybe 35 if you do it on a taxi; but what time someone should count as a start time for this for a 6am docking time?

What i understand is that on a 6am docking time, someone would be on the dock at around 06.30am - 06.45am, which means an arrival at Acropolis around 8am is doable if using public transportation. And doing it on a taxi will mean you also have time to grab a sandwich before grabbing the first tickets at 07.45am :-) Is this correct?

WINTER OPENING HOURS:

From November 1st till March 31st:

Mo: Closed

Tu: 9am - 5pm

We: 9am - 5pm

Th: 9am - 5pm

Fr: 9am - 10pm

Sa: 9am - 8pm

Su: 9am - 8pm

----------------------------------

OPENING HOURS EXCEPTIONS

Museum is closed on:

Jan 1st

Easter Sunday, Easter Monday

May 1st

Dec 25th and Dec 26th.

---------------------------------

ADMISSION

General admission: 5 euros.

Discounts, free days and all relative info, here: http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/content/hours-ticketing

I wish Santa brings me a permanent edit button to fix my grammar mistakes. Anyway. . .

"- You need at least 60 - 90 minutes to visit the site properly. So, please, plan accordingly."

EU: European Union

EFTA: EU + Norway, Liechthenstein, Switzerland, Iceland.

ISIC: International student identity card

ICOM / ICOMOS: International Council on Monuments and Sites

Acropolis opening hours from April 1st 2014 till the end of high season will be:

- Every day 8am - 8pm.

( ***except days around Easter and four other dates, different opening times apply - plz. read at the end of the post*** ).

That's the first time for years that the site opens till 8pm so early in the season. Tourism numbers are definitely on the rise.

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WHEN TO VISIT

If you are already in the city, please do plan your visit accordingly:

- Best time to visit is first thing, early in the morning, at 07.40am to get first tickets. Waiting time is appx. 5 - 6 minutes so early in the morning. Gates open at 8am.

- Biggest crowds arrive sometime between 09.30am and midday. It gets crowded than and queues form. Waiting time may exceed 30 - 45 minutes easily.

- Next best choice to visit is after 3pm. For June, July, August make it *after 5pm - 6pm* when the heat is less.

- Last admission 30 minutes before closing time.

- You need at least 60 - 90 minutes to visit the site properly. So, please, pan accordingly.

------------------------------

ADMISSION - DISCOUNTS

- Normal admission is 12 euros.

- Your Acropolis ticket is a combo ticket and includes visits to other sites too: Ancient Agora, Agora Museum, Kerameikos, Kerameikos Museum, Temple of Zeus, Theater of Dionussus and Southern slope, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library.

- Kids under 18 enter for free, proper ID needed,

- Seniors ( o.65 ) from EU and EFTA are offered a 50% discount, proper ID needed,

- Disabled visitors enter for free,

- People accompanying disabled visitors that have vision related issues or kinetic issues enter for free,

- Students from EU universities enter for free, student card and ISIC needed,

- Students from non EU or EFTA universities are offered a 50% discount, student card and ISIC needed,

- ICOM, ICOMOS members enter for free, ICOM / ICOMOS card needed,

- You can purchase the Acropolis ticket either on Acropolis site main ticket booth or at any of the included sites ticket booth.

- Acropolis Museum is a separate venue, down the hill and needs a separate ticket. Normal admission for Acropolis Museum is just 5 euros.

--------------------------------

Easter opening times:

Fr Apr 18th 2014: midday - 5pm

Sa Apr 19th 2014: 8pm - 3pm

Su Apr 20th 2014: closed

Mo Apr 21st 2014: closed

Tu Apr 22nd 2014: back to normal opening hours, 8 - 8.

---------------------------------

Other exceptions:

May 1st 2014: closed

June 9th 2014: 8am - 3pm

August 15th 2014: 8am - 3pm

October 31st: 8am - 3pm.

Hey concertfan :) I would advise both of you to go straight to the Acropolis as early as you can. We didn't arrive there until about 10:15 a.m. or so and the line was about an hour long.

I want to echo the advise about Acropolis.

Acropolis site does not get huge queues, except the couple of hours between perhaps 09.15am and 11.30am when cruise ship visitors arrive by thousands. For these two hours it is crowded up there. Visiting as early as possible may give you some time ahead the large groups arriving on coaches. So, basically what we are talking about is trying to beat your fellow co-passengers.

This is a constant problem in summer months: cruise ships arrive more or less at the same time, so coach tours arrive at the same time too. As far as i know no cruise ships stay longer than let's say 8pm which would probably give time to passengers visit the site in the afternoon, splitting the crowds. Acropolis site is such a different and majestic experience when you visit it early in the morning: quiet and you practically share the site with a few visitors. By 9.30am ish it is getting really crowded.

So, where the problem is:

Ticket line gets big. Entry line in the main gates is also a problem, since people have to queue there too. So, you have to wait to get a ticket ( big groups skip that i guess ), you also have to wait to get in.

Q. I am spending the night in Athens and have morning time to visit Acropolis site:

A. Go up there first thing in the morning, planning to be in front of the ticket booth at 07.40 - 07.45am, being the first person to queue. It is an early start but it will give you time ahead the large groups arriving later. You 'll enjoy the monument with less people and less heat. If you can be there so early in the morning use main Gates, main ticket booth. If you even want to skip the ticket line, only way to do it is to purchase your ticket at one of the included sites prior day and keeping the Acropolis segment to use it next morning, going directly to the gate. An easy spot to do so is Theater of Dionussus ticket booth, across the pedestrian street of Acropolis Museum.

Q. Is there a way to bypass the lines?

A. Only way to really bypass it is to be up there at 07.40am to get the first tickets, when the lines are short. A small queue forms in front of the ticket booth but, srsly, nothing too long. By 8am gates open and those on first tickets enjoy the monument for themselves.

Q. What if i cannot be up there at 07.40am?

A. If you arrive at later time when other cruise ship passengers have already arrived ( talking about the coach tours ), then you can partially bypass both the ticket line and the line on the main gate, by purchasing your ticket and using an Acropolis gate at some other point. Best point to do so is the ticket booth at Theater of Dionussus site ( included in your Acropolis ticket, adjacent to Acropolis ) just opossite Acropolis Museum. Lines form there too but not that huge. Purchase your ticket and proceed through the site towards the Acropolis. It is a shorter and steepEr way, will need at least average physical condition since some steps are there at the last part of the ascemd, but gets you to a side entrance, bypassing the main gate and the crowds waiting to get in. You 'll skip 30 minutes of waiting this way :-) It's not foulproof, since some groups nowadays use this entrance too, still the bulk of cruise ship visitors go straight to the main entrance.

Map with main access and access through Dionussus Theater: Link

Again:

If you have the luxury of time to be there at 07.40am do so!

If you arrive later, consider the possibility of entering through Dionussus Theater site instead.

Between the two i 'd probably pick Aegina, not Poros.

Aegina is much closer to Piraeus and more to see.

Reach Aegina: Since you are a bit in a hurry, take one of the faster dolphins. Line is operated by flying dolphins and catamarans ( faster, more expensive, around 35' ), and normal ferries ( slower, less expensive, nearly half the price, around 65', i like this more since they are more quiet, relaxing and, well. . .the lazy way to do it , but, hey, you are a bit in a hurry )

What to do: I 'd pick one of the taxi drivers at Aegina port, arranging them to take me to Afaia Temple. That's an Athena Classical Temple, shown here: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/7864130.jpg and in the site you also get a small museum. Taxi will wait you for let's say 30 minutes, then it 'll take you to Ag. Nektarios Monastery and then they 'll take you to some beach near the town. This usually works around 40 euros for a vehicle, so if it's 4 people will be only 10 euros per person. Beaches have some facilities like cafeteriasor small snack places with seating areas, so you can swim and then have a snack. Then you 'll call another taxi to get you back, usually costs around 8 euros for the ride. So, total taxi expense is around 12 euros per person if it's 4 people.

Returning at Aegina Town, spend some time walking at the port, shop the local souvenirs ( pistacchios ), go wild a bit on some pastry shop ( local delicacies are great and offer millions of calories ) and then go back to get the dolphin or ferry back to Piraeus.

Walk from cruise ship docks to where Aegina ferries leave from is appx. 25 - 30 minutes on a brisk walk. Departures to Aegina are often, i 'd say 8 - 12 per day in September, allow ample time to return and be back at cruise ship. I 'd focus on getting a flying dolphin back, ***at least*** 2 hours before the time i 'd have to back on the cruise ship. I am overanxious, so i 'dmake it 3 hours, but i assume most Greeks are more relaxed than me.

So, for a 12 hours stay, you get around 6 hours on the island which is not that bad and will allow you to do all in the list.

Both are good options. Not Acropolis side entrance side, but, anyway, you have to walk a bit to reach Acropolis entrance from any point in the city.

Both have simply equipped rooftop areas to relax and enjoy the views to Acropolis Rock so this is a big + for me, even if you spend up there 20 - 30 minutes relaxing at the end of the day.

One is 10 minutes walking dstance from each other; Central is a bit more close to Syndagma Sq., Hotel Plaka is close to Monastiraki Sq.

I 'd tend to book Hotel Plaka ( this is not a personal suggestion but an evaluation of each location and amenities ) since it has slightly bigger rooms and is closer to Monastiraki Sq. offering very short walking distance to lots of food shops, cafeterias and so on. Central Hotel is also close to this point, perhaps 10 minutes walking distance downhill, so srsly, not a huge difference.

Both are good. I 'd tend to consider them good 3 1/2* or 4* hotels, clean and in good locations. Nothing extremely spectacular, or glitzy but srsly, clean, good friendly service and good locations. I don't think you 'll have time for more than a quick freshen up and a good nightsleep; most people try to spend all the time around exploring and this is what most people lack when they visit Athens: ample time to absorb a bit more from this city:)

Is this a quick overnight or will you have some time to see a bit more? Acropolis visit? Arriving jetlagged? One way or another, keep it simple, get a taxi to from the hotel. Both are facing car streets and can be acessed by car.

Very very little :-) Visitor myself too on this splendid island.

Athens-fan here :)