Signs in English?

[NoWhiners]

Hi All

 

I know this will sound dumb but I have been studying a bunch of maps of Athens and I am starting to worry we won't be able to tell where we are if there are no signs in English. can anyone share their experience with this? We will be taking the metro from the airport to just east of Syntagma Square (2-3 stops before it) and also to the Acropolis/other sights. I have been making notes on Greek spellings but have seen several different spellings for the same streets. On a related note, is English spoken enough in Athens that we can ask someone for help and have a chance of understanding?

 

Thanks for any help--it's all Greek to me right now!!:)

ML

[cruisemom42]

No worries. The metro stops have signs in both Greek and English. In the historic center, most signs are also in English letters. I walked around on my own in Athens for 3 days and did not have any problems navigating with my map and directions.

 

....and yes, many people in the areas you'll be in will speak some English.

 

 

Here's a photo showing one of the Metro maps. As you'll see the English is underneath and in smaller letters:

 

http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/athens_metro_map_by_kaymari.jpg

 

 

....and an example of what the Metro sign looks like:

 

http://www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.com/a-ath/syntagma/07-metro-sign-syn2-lg.jpg

 

 

 

.....and an example of the signs pointing to major tourist attractions:

 

http://intmstat.com/blog/2008/04/acropolis.jpg

[Hlitner]

Good questions. In the Metro you will find English signs everywhere. Outside of the Metro, especially in the central part of Athens, you will find English signs just about everywhere. If you were to drive a car out into the countryside (we have done this quite a few times) there are actually some places where there are no signs in English...but this only happens when you get well away from the metropolitan Athens area. You will also find that English is very widely spoken, especially in the parts of Athens popular with tourists. And by the way, you will find that just about every restaurant has English menus.

 

Hank

[NoWhiners]

No worries. The metro stops have signs in both Greek and English. In the historic center, most signs are also in English letters. I walked around on my own in Athens for 3 days and did not have any problems navigating with my map and directions.

 

....and yes, many people in the areas you'll be in will speak some English.

 

 

Here's a photo showing one of the Metro maps. As you'll see the English is underneath and in smaller letters:

 

http://www.eurocheapo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/athens_metro_map_by_kaymari.jpg

 

 

....and an example of what the Metro sign looks like:

 

http://www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.com/a-ath/syntagma/07-metro-sign-syn2-lg.jpg

 

 

 

.....and an example of the signs pointing to major tourist attractions:

 

http://intmstat.com/blog/2008/04/acropolis.jpg

 

cruisemom

 

Thanks for the info and the pix!! I feel so much better about this now. We like the adventure of new exotic places but sometimes you just need to know where the heck you are! also, I have my GPS but was thinking of getting a map too--where did you get yours?

 

ML

 

Good questions. In the Metro you will find English signs everywhere. Outside of the Metro, especially in the central part of Athens, you will find English signs just about everywhere. If you were to drive a car out into the countryside (we have done this quite a few times) there are actually some places where there are no signs in English...but this only happens when you get well away from the metropolitan Athens area. You will also find that English is very widely spoken, especially in the parts of Athens popular with tourists. And by the way, you will find that just about every restaurant has English menus.

 

Hank

 

Hank

 

Thank you too. And I was wondering about menus--figured we would just point at stuff that looked good and hope for the best! We may do a trip outside the city as our post-cruise day, but would hire a taxi/tour company to do that.

 

a weight has been lifted off my shoulders--thanks!

ML

[cruisemom42]

cruisemom

 

Thanks for the info and the pix!! I feel so much better about this now. We like the adventure of new exotic places but sometimes you just need to know where the heck you are! also, I have my GPS but was thinking of getting a map too--where did you get yours?

 

ML

 

 

 

 

I like these Knopf Mapguide maps:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Knopf-MapGuide-Athens-Mapguides/dp/0375710906/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1371685116&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Knopf+mapguide+Athens

 

They are basically a small book with several maps that unfold to give you a really close up look at the various areas of Athens. I like them better than one big map that you have to keep folding/unfolding (plus it has some basic info about each area, like some restaurant ideas, etc.)

 

If you're just wanting a basic map of the historic area to complement your GPS, almost every hotel has them and they are pretty decent.

[maryann ns]

By studying the English versions of such things as subway signs, I quickly figured out how to transcribe other words. However, we never needed to and we were four nights in Greece.

 

I was a bit worried about China but we did just fine there too, including pointing at photos on menus.

[Keith1010]

You will be fine. You can read the signs and many people speak english.

 

Keith

[NoWhiners]

I like these Knopf Mapguide maps:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Knopf-MapGuide-Athens-Mapguides/dp/0375710906/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1371685116&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Knopf+mapguide+Athens

 

They are basically a small book with several maps that unfold to give you a really close up look at the various areas of Athens. I like them better than one big map that you have to keep folding/unfolding (plus it has some basic info about each area, like some restaurant ideas, etc.)

 

If you're just wanting a basic map of the historic area to complement your GPS, almost every hotel has them and they are pretty decent.

 

Thanks cruisemom. I think I will get the Knopf mapguides for my hubby--he loves maps! And I hate folding/unfolding the big ones too (plus, you identify yourself as tourist even more than usual). i'll check out hotel maps too.

 

ML

[NoWhiners]

By studying the English versions of such things as subway signs, I quickly figured out how to transcribe other words. However, we never needed to and we were four nights in Greece.

 

I was a bit worried about China but we did just fine there too, including pointing at photos on menus.

 

 

Thanks Mary Ann, nice to hear. I know what you mean about China! We went back in 1998 and got around OK.

 

 

You will be fine. You can read the signs and many people speak english.

 

Keith

 

Thanks Keith--nice that a lot of people are in agreement, makes me feel a lot more confident.

 

ML