know before you go: Athens, Greece

No matter where you are heading in Greece, Athens will probably be where you take your first step off the plane and it has too much to offer to run away to the islands without planning a few days to explore the capital. From its archeological wonders and history to its food and cute neighborhoods, you will need, at the very least, two days to visit Athens, but it could easily be more. Keep reading for my best tips on visiting the city.

where to stay

Athens is actually pretty cheap, even in the height of summer, considering the price of accommodation elsewhere in Greece. We easily found small appartments for rent for about 100 CAD (in 2023) that were walking distance from the Acropolis. Of course, there are luxury accommodations as well, and the neighborhood of Plaka is more expensive, but a 10-minute walk from the main touristic areas, you'll find plenty of places to stay if you are looking for budget options. Since most of the attractions are located in the same general area, it is worth staying there, even if you find a cheaper accommodation farther out of the city center. You will end up spending what you are saving on your commute anyway, so it isn't worth it. Make sure you are a walkable distance from the Acropolis and your visit will be super easy.

what to do

Acropolis: Of course you have to visit the Acropolis! You can buy the tickets at the booth, but you can also purchase them online so you can go straight to the line to enter the site. It is one of the busiest attraction in the world, so expect big crowds and arrive armed with an important reserve of patience if you are visiting in high season. I do recommend visiting early, especially in the summer months. Not only is it less crowded if you arrive right as it opens, but the temperature in Athens in the summer can also get very high and, while visiting in the heat is less comfortable, this advice is mostly because they can close the Acropolis if it gets too hot, to prevent multiple cases of heat stroke.

I recommend bringing cold water and sunscreen, also wearing comfortable shoes. I remember seeing ladies in heals having trouble navigating the uneven grounds and, I don't know about you, but twisting my ankle on vacation is not my idea of a good time. Be aware that you do have to climb stairs made out of rocks that are as old as the Acropolis and not always the same height and not exactly level. You do have to walk around on uneveen rocks while discovering the different buildings. I'm not saying you need hiking shoes, I was fine with sandals, but go with what you need to be comfortable and safe.

Acropolis Museum: The Acropolis Museum is such a must in my opinion. Not only does it contain the real monuments as the ruins of the temples on the Acropolis are mostly replicas, but it also explains the full history of Athens, how it was build and why they chose this location. You can also see the statues from up close since they were installed at eye level instead of on the roof of the temples. 

The visit is really interesting and there are multiple levels so I would plan at least 2 hours to have time to enjoy it properly. The ticket also gives you access to the ruins of old Athens located underneat the museum which was also fun to see.

Plaka: The neighborhood of Plaka, which is right next to the Acropolis, is the pretty and touristic part of Athens and is worth discovering. Yes there are plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants and it's not exactly authentic, but the streets and houses are so beautiful. There are flowers and trees everywhere and you sometimes stumble upon ruins. There are cats walking around freely and the atmosphere is calm yet festive. It's just a nice place to get lost in and to aimlessly walk around. If you do want souvenirs, it's also one of the cheepest places as the prices are way higher on the islands.

Dinner with a view: While staying in Athens, you have to eat on a terrasse with a view on the Acropolis at least once. The prices are reasonable, the restaurants are all really cute, the food is great and the view is just magical. I can't recommend it enough!

how to get around

Public transportation in Athens was so easy and convenient, I think renting a car or even taking cabs would have been a waste of time and money. From the airport, the train took us directly to the city center for 8 euros. After that, we took the subway to the train station and ferry terminal, but with AirBnbs being so cheap in the city center, there is no reason to look for a place further away and we were a 5-10 minute walk to the Acropolis and almost every other attraction.

what you need to know

Like I said previously, the heat and the crowds in the summer are quite intense. If you can visit in the spring or the fall, it would probably be better. Otherwise, I found Athens to be a very simple city to visit. Finding directions and using public transportation was easy, the attractions didn't require any advance booking or complicated instructions to follow. We were able to communicate in English or French easily everywhere we went. Honestly, one of the easiest places I have visited in a while. I also found myself feeling really safe in Athens. We had to walk around and take the subway at night a few times and I didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

While Athens was definitely not our main reason to visit Greece, I found I really enjoyed my time in this city. Did I convince you to add a few days in Athens to your Greek itinerary?

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