The best of ancient Athens is conveniently packed into one square “Golden Mile” at the center of the city. Almost every site you visit is within walking distance.

As you can see on the map, the Acropolis and Agora are next door neighbors … Syntagma Square is a few hundred yards away … interesting spots like the Kerameikos and the Temple of Olympian Zeus are easily reached on foot. Restaurant areas like the Plaka and Monastiraki are literally just down the street.

Still, Athens is a big city. Busy streets, unfamiliar neighborhoods, and strange street names written in a strange alphabet! But don’t worry. A few simple tricks will help you walk fearlessly through this bustling and overcrowded city.

First, as in any large city, stay aware of your surroundings. Be alert to the people around you, the time of day, the kind of neighborhood you’re in, and the traffic whizzing by. Watch for easy-to-recognize landmarks. Don’t be oblivious.  A constant “awareness” is your best defense against getting lost or being taken advantage of.

Remember this: the Acropolis is your friend. It peeks out between buildings and hovers above you wherever you are in downtown Athens. A little time studying the “faces” of the Acropolis (being able to tell which is its north or west sides, for instance) will help you orient yourself no matter how confused or turned around you get.

There are a few major streets in downtown Athens you should know. Ermou Street defines the north boundary for the Golden Mile and runs east/west. The new and lovely pedestrian Promenade (Athens’ outdoor museum) will let you walk the western and southern edges of the Acropolis in safety and comfort. And Amalias Street, though busy and noisy, will always lead you back to  Syntagma Square.

The blue-hatched streets on the map to the left represent “pedestrianized” roads. As you can see at a glance, a significant portion of downtown streets have been dedicated to foot traffic. You’ll still see cars and lorries meandering these roads, but they look lonely and out of place.

Your hotel will have a free and detailed map of Athens to help you navigate the city. Get one and then start walking!