Rick Steves' Pocket Athens

by Rick Steves

Rick Steves' Pocket guidebooks truly are a “tour guide in your pocket.” Each colorful, compact 280-page book includes Rick's advice for prioritizing your time, whether you're spending 1 or 7 days in a city. Everything a busy traveler needs is easy to a neighborhood overview, city walks and tours, sights, handy food and accommodations charts, an appendix packed with information on trip planning and practicalities, and a fold-out city map.

Rick Steves' Pocket Athens includes the following walks and
Athens City Walk
Acropolis Tour
Ancient Agora Tour
Acropolis Museum Tour
National Archaeological Museum Tour

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 12, 2012

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Douglas Domer]

Rick is always a "go to" writer as we prepare to travel. Very informative and well organized. We will be taking this reference as we tour.

[Sarah]

This book is going to be really handy on an upcoming trip. First, practically speaking, the size and weight of this pocket guide ensures that it won't be an issue to travel around with it in my day bag. I like the layout of the guide so things will be easy to find without having to bookmark a bunch of pages. Lot's of tips with easy directions on how to get places and do things more efficiently and easily.

[James Guerra]

Excellent, small guidebook. Has a number of good recommendations and maps, especially for a shorter trip like the one I'm preparing for.

[Angie]

Very in-depth coverage of what to see and avoid when visiting Athens. We used the walking map to great effect for our recent visit. The pocket size is perfect to take along for reference. Highly recommended.

[Rachel]

I love Rick Steves' books - they are so very helpful, informative, with a bit of humor thrown in to boot. A huge help for our recent trip to Athens. The pull out map in the back was invaluable!

[Marie Summers]

Leaving Monday. Feel well prepared.

[Deanna]

Everything I needed to know for an upcoming trip including the famous Rick Steves walking tours and noteworthy sites for a short time in the city

[Andrea]

Used for my trip to Athens, 4th edition (2024). Useful ideas, but could have used more unique experiences thrown in as well.

[Susan]

great overview of Athens. Particularly strong on descriptions of the art work, which I appreciate

[Lisa Case]

It’s Rick Steves, so of course it’s a fabulous guidebook !
I highlighted and used so many post-its!

[Edward Moser]

As a tour guide myself (https://www.facebook.com/LafayetteSqu...), I've met and like Rick Steves, and have enjoyed a number of his other books. I find him to be a bit reductionist & predictable, however. Yet in this case, where I had but two days to explore Athens, his book supplied the perfect roadmap for the highlights of the place. Just right.