Once one of the most important cities of the ancient world, Athens is obviously still a huge draw for those of us with a passion for history. From the Acropolis itself to the Temple of Hephaestus, there are plenty of incredible historical sites to keep you busy.
But the modern city of Athens is also about a lot more than just the ruins of the past. Great food, wonderful museums and galleries (many of which are accessible) and friendly people make this a great getaway. Here is Quingo Scooters’ pick of some of the best accessible things to do in the Greek capital.
Enjoy an authentic taste of Greece
One of the great joys of visiting Greece is sampling the wonderful food. As you would expect there are literally thousands of places to eat in Athens – not just Greek food but also from all around the Mediterranean.
But we were particularly impressed with a small Greek restaurant called A Little Taste of Home which had a wide range of truly delicious dishes. There is a mouth-watering choice, but our pick has to be the caramelised Talagani goat’s cheese from the Peloponnese. Gorgeous.
Take in the views from the Acropolis
The Acropolis is Athens’ most famous landmark, and a must for any visitor. One of the best things about it is the fantastic view from the top. It is a great way to get a lie of the land here.
Getting up there is fairly straightforward. We’d recommend taking a taxi up the hill and then using the lift on the north west side of the hill. There are lots of cobblestones in the area but try to get your taxi to drop you off by the green entrance gate and you will avoid the worst of them.
Surprisingly there are no guided tours once you’re up there, but the going is fairly level, leaving you free to explore.
Take in some contemporary art
If all the magnificence of the ancient Athenian ruins gets a bit too much, then some world class art might be in order. Times have been tough recently for Greece’s art scene given the country’s economic woes. But the Museum of Cycladic Art has a vibrant collection of both modern art and exhibitions of antiquities.
Its collection of ancient art from the Cyclades islands to the south of Athens is unparalleled, while it has recently had exhibitions from modern masters like Picasso too. There is access via a wheelchair ramp into the main building and lifts to the exhibition floors.
Stroll among the ruins in the National Parks
Even the parks and gardens in Athens have ancient ruins to enjoy. Athens sometimes has a reputation as a busy, traffic-clogged city, but it does actually have some beautiful gardens and open spaces too.
The National Park is one. It’s centrally located and dotted with fascinating remains from the Classical and Roman periods. It is easy to access and the terrain is level for those of us using a mobility scooter or a wheelchair. If you’re travelling with kids there’s even a shady playground for them to let off a bit of steam.
Did you know?
We all know that Athens was the birthplace of democracy. But as the Greek capital it has also been home to monarchical, capitalist, communist and socialist governments too over the years!
Getting to Athens
There are regular flights to Athens from the London airports as well as Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol. Athens International Airport offers an assistance service to travellers with mobility needs. There is a link to an online guide on the airport website here but unfortunately it doesn’t currently seem to be working. Our advice is to call ahead to arrange the service you need. Give the airport team a call on (+30) 210 35 30 000)
Getting to the city centre is also relatively straightforward. There are trains on Metro Line 3 into the city, which leave every half an hour. The metro in Athens is actually excellent in terms of accessibility and you’ll find that the vast majority of stations have lifts to the platforms. It’s a cheap and easy way to get around this great city.
If you’d like more information on getting around in Athens, take a look the city’s main transport page here.
Travelling with scooters
The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
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All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847