Athens in the Palm of your Hand

The three smartphone apps that you should never leave home for Athens without.

Like all new destinations, Athens may seem overwhelming if you’ve just landed. Don’t panic though. App developers are striving to help you feel less like an alien and more like a local by making it easier to navigate the city.

All you need is a smartphone. Here are three apps ‒ used by locals and foreigners alike and available for both iPhone and Android ‒ that are essential tools for getting around.

The first thing you’ll need is a map. If you don’t fancy being the easy-to-spot tourist struggling with a gigantic foldout map on some street corner, make sure you download the app Spotted by Locals before you leave home. Their Athens city guide is offered as an in-app purchase and contains a handy map of the city that you can use offline, plus countless tips provided by handpicked locals. You can buy it for € 3.99/$ 3.99, which will also entitle you to up-to-date tips “for life”.

After you land in Athens, whether you opt for the bus or metro, you don’t need to stand in line for tickets. You can purchase them in advance by downloading the free Greek app TFA Tickets. After the simple sign up procedure, just enter your card details to buy your tickets and activate one before you board the metro or bus. If an inspector approaches you, just pull up the app and show them your electronic ticket, which indicates both the activation and expiry time. Note that bus and metro tickets to and from the airport are a little bit more expensive, so make sure you select the correct one if using the app.

If you are staying in the center, you will probably do most of your exploring on foot. If you need a taxi, though, don’t be discouraged by the reputation of the local taxi drivers. Taxibeat is a free Greek app that locates your position and allows you to choose an available driver from among those who are in the vicinity. Drivers have profiles and get votes and comments from customers, so they make a habit of being polite, keeping their cab clean and treating the public fairly. If they speak English, and most of the Taxibeat drivers do, they’ll mention it in their profile. If you see many stars next to a profile picture, it means the driver has been approved by others and that you’re in good hands.