Athens, Greece - a complete travel guide

ATHENS - TOP PLACES TO VISIT AND ACTIVITIES - FULL GUIDE

Before visiting Athens I heard and read many opinions, some suggesting that it is a city not worth considering, others on the contrary, that it is not to be missed. So, opinions are divided, so the only way to find out if it is worth putting on the list is simply by visiting it. Each person has their own expectations and desires when it comes to traveling, so I will not tell you my opinion, I will just give you all the information you need to organize a vacation in the capital of Greece.

In this article you will find useful information about accommodation, public transportation, places to visit, beaches, day trips and much more.

HOW DO YOU GET TO ATHENS?

The easiest way to get to Athens is by plane. Low-cost airlines such as Wizzair operate direct flights from Bucharest. To find the best price options, you can do simulations with flexible dates on sites such as Skyscanner.

From the airport to the city center, there are several transportation options:

• bus X95, which goes to Syntagma station. Tickets are purchased at the ticket office near the terminal. This is the most convenient transport option in terms of price;

• the metro, which has a station opposite the terminal and is the fastest transport option to the city;

• private transfer, details here;

• taxi, which is, as you can probably imagine, the most expensive method of transportation;

• rental car, which can be picked up right from the airport;

WHERE ARE YOU ACCOMMODATING IN ATHENS?

Among the options available on Booking, Trip Advisor and Agoda, the ones that caught my attention are:

• Green Suites Boutique Hotel - is a hotel located outside the city, but quite close to the metro station, so it can be considered, even if you don't have a car. It is equipped with private parking, outdoor pool, bar and spa area;

• International Atene Hotel - centrally located accommodation unit, which has standard double or twin rooms and is equipped with a bar, restaurant and 24-hour reception;

• Acropolis Stay - centrally located accommodation unit, which has suites or family rooms;

• The Athens Gate Hotel - centrally located accommodation unit, which has suites or family rooms. It is equipped with parking and accepts pets.

PLACES TO VISIT IN ATHENS:

The Acropolis of Athens is certainly the most famous tourist attraction in the city, if not in all of Greece. It is actually a complex of ancient monuments. To learn more about the history of the place, you can opt for a guided tour.

To visit the location, it should be borne in mind that, in general, it is very crowded, and the area is absolutely not shaded at all. Especially during the summer, do not forget the sun hat, SPF cream and drinking water. Also, access with luggage or backpacks is not allowed inside the complex. There is a special place for them. Another recommendation would be to purchase online tickets to avoid standing in line.

Plaka District is one of the most touristy neighborhoods in Athens. It is located at the foot of the hill that hosts the Acropolis, and its narrow streets are full of terraces and souvenir shops.

The Anafiotika area, part of Plaka, is the oldest inhabited area of ​​Athens and, I would add, in total contrast to the rest, the most authentic.

Lycabettus Hill is one of the highest points from which to admire the city. Here you can visit a small church, or have a meal at one of the restaurants. It can also be the ideal place to admire the sunset.

You can reach the top of the hill either by climbing the winding alleys or by taking the funicular. The ticket for the funicular costs 13 euros round trip/person and runs until 3 am.

The National Garden is the greenest park in the city. Although the name might make you think of a botanical garden, in reality it is just a green area, ideal for relaxing or taking a walk. Admission is free.

The Ancient Agora is the archaeological site of one of the largest open-air gathering places in antiquity. The entrance ticket price includes a visit to the Agora Museum. The price is €20/person.

Filopappou Hill is home to a park located next to the archaeological site of the Acropolis. It is the ideal place for walks and admiring the sunset. It is not as high and imposing as Lycabettus, but it is much easier to climb, and the views over the city are not to be desired.

Little Kook - is a street with colorful cafes and shops, decorated with elements that take you to fairy-tale lands.

The beaches of Athens should not be overlooked either, if you come here in the hot season and want to relax. Of all the beaches that are in the city, or near it, I will mention only three. In my point of view, they are the only ones worth considering:

• Glyfada Beach it is the closest to the city, so you can use public transport to get to it. The area is, in fact, a complex of beaches, both equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, and free, for sitting on a towel;

• Kavouri Beach is the most beautiful beach in Athens, in my opinion. To get here, you can either use a combination of public transport and walking, or purchase a hop on - hop off bus ticket;

• Vouliagnemi Beach is a beach located on the edge of a lake. Here, unlike the other two beaches presented above, there is an entrance fee. The price in 2025 is €17 during the week and €19 on weekends;

The easiest way to see all the beaches above is by Hop on - hop off bus. There are a total of 3 different routes that this type of bus travels, and tickets can be purchased for a single route or for all 3. There are also 3 companies that operate such routes, and the ticket is only valid for the company you purchased it from. The coastal route is, by the way, the only one I recommend, considering that public transport is not well developed in this area.

DAY TRIPS FROM ATHENS

• Aegina Island is about an hour away by ferry and can be considered a day trip, departing from the Port of Piraeus. The most important tourist attractions here are Aegina Town, the Church of Saint Nectarios, the Village of Perdika and Marathonas Beach.

• Hydra Island is another day trip option from Piraeus Port. It is quite small and vehicles are completely prohibited, so there is not even the possibility of renting bicycles, unless the resort/hotel provides this option.

• Corinth Canal - is located about an hour away by car. It can also be visited as part of an organized tour departing from Athens.

• Boat tour to 3 locations: Agistri, Nisis Metopi and Aegina. Details and reservations here.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING ATHENS:

• the public transport in the city is very well developed. You can purchase travel tickets, which are valid for 24 hours, 48 ​​hours, or 5 days. These tickets can be used on all public transport (bus, tram, metro) and can be purchased from ticket sales counters in metro stations;

• unlike the islands, in Athens card payments are accepted in most places, including restaurants and cafes;

• to visit the most important tourist attractions in the city, one or two days are enough. In the summer season we can add two or three days for the beaches;

• Athens is not the safest capital in Europe, so it is recommended that you pay attention to personal safety and property;

• if you are looking for a location where you can dine and at the same time enjoy the view, besides the restaurants on Lycabettus Hill, you can consider MS Roof Garden, Attic Urban Rooftop, or A for Athens;

• the city is full of cafes, at every turn in the tourist areas;

• at the X95 bus stop (the one that connects to the airport) there is a locker where you can leave your luggage. Obviously, there are many others in the city, but this is one of the most advantageous in terms of location;

• if you rent a car or come with your own car, do not leave luggage or objects in plain sight, which may attract the attention of thieves. Car theft is a very common practice in this city;

  
  
  
  

CONCLUSIONS ABOUT ATHENS

Athens is a city worth visiting for its atmosphere, historical sites, culture and easy connections to the Saronic Gulf. One of the things it doesn't excel at is architecture, so don't expect any impressive buildings. In fact, between us, even Bucharest is better in this regard. So, setting the right expectations and getting informed beforehand are the elements that can make a visit to Athens one of the most beautiful experiences.

Read also about other locations in Greece: Zakynthos Island, Thassos Island, or Meteora.

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