Athens travel information – everything you need to know

One summer, somehow, I found myself going back to Greece. After my first experience visiting Athens, I wanted to plan everything better the second time. Thus, I am sharing my Athens travel information, which is everything you need to know when planning a trip to Greece’s history-packed capital.

If you prefer holidaying on a Greek island, make sure you read my comprehensive comparison between Crete and Santorini.

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Table of Contents

  1. Athens travel information
    1. How to get to the center of Athens from the airport?
    2. What is the best area to stay in Athens?
    3. When is the best time to visit Athens?
    4. What else should you pay attention to?
    5. What to eat in Greece?

Athens travel information

How to get to the center of Athens from the airport?

When it comes to travel in Athens, particularly from the airport to the city, there are plenty of ways to get around, depending on how deep your pocket is or how comfortable you want your trip to be.

  • Taxi ride. As you would imagine, this would be the most comfortable way of getting around, but also the most expensive ( around 50 EUR one way). But if you have a lot of luggage and want to reach your hotel directly, I guess paying the price is worth it. Be aware that there was no Uber in Athens during my visit.
  • Bus. As soon as you exit the airport, you will see a bus stop; from here, you can buy the one-way ticket ( 6 EUR) and take the X95 bus, which will take you straight to Syntagma Square. You can also pay by card, but be sure to mention that in advance (Greek people are Mediterranean and tend to be a bit impatient).
  • Metro. The fastest way to the city is by metro. The ticket costs 10 EUR one way, and I found it to be the most desirable means of transportation.

What is the best area to stay in Athens?

I must admit that the first time, we stayed at 2 different hotels relatively close to the center, the Novotel Athens being the best. The first one was in a rather creepy area, from which we had to walk through a somewhat deserted part of the town.

But still within walking distance of the main tourist attractions.

Thus, please be careful when choosing the area where you will book your accommodation, and please avoid the Omonia Square area.  

The 2nd time around, we stayed in one of the posh areas of Athens, Kolonaki.

You will find some lovely apartments only 5 minutes’ walk from Syntagma Square. Located on the hills near Lycabettus, surrounded by all the posh fashion stores, they are a walking distance from Syntagma Square.

If you don’t want to stay in an apartment and prefer a hotel, choose one near the Akropolis or Novotel AthensWhat could be better than waking up in the middle of the pure Athenian atmosphere?

If you plan to spend your honeymoon or a special occasion in Athens, it is worth knowing that you will have plenty of luxury hotels to choose from (you can even find one of the most expensive hotels in the world).

Of course, there are always options for those with limited budgets, a hostel for solo travelers to Athens is always a good idea.

Booking.com

When is the best time to visit Athens?

For me, Summer is too much because it tends to get really hot, thus I would highly encourage you to plan a trip to Greece and to Athens in particular during Spring or Autumn.

March to May and September to November would be the best months to visit the city without worrying about the hot sun or strong wind.

What else should you pay attention to?

You will notice that in the metro, every now and then, an announcement related to pickpocketers is played. Thus, you should be careful with your belongings when riding public transportation.

Also, another area they target is the central area, where all the shops are, and you will likely have your wallet on hand (Plaka in particular).

Also, at restaurants in the city center, don’t leave your phone unattended on the table and place your bags where you can see them. At least that’s what we were told to do by a local friend.

Know that in front of the Akropolis there is only one small shop with huge prices, where even so, they never had water when we wanted and we ended up paying 9 EUR for 2 ice teas. So if you plan to climb the hill and don’t want to spend a fortune on something to drink, buy it from town.

The best view over the city and the Akropolis is from the Areopagus rock which is very slippery so watch your step when climbing it and taking pictures.

Athens travel information

What to eat in Greece?

Greece is the perfect place for foodies! I know because with every visit I came back home carrying at least 2 extra kilos and I regret nothing since everything is so delicious.

Just expect huge portions and a lot of different dishes to be served at each meal.

Athens travel information

But what should you try?

  • Start your day with a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with fruit and honey
  • Get a starter with fava beans, tzatziki, fried feta with sesame seeds and honey, dolmas
  • Don’t miss the Greek Salad with delicious feta cheese and Kalamata olives
  • Where else to try the seafood and fish than in Greece?
  • Gyros, Souvlaki, Mousaka and that mouth-watering bread with small olives, herbs, and olive oil they bring as a starter

Now that you are armed with all the important Athens travel information, I hope you are already planning you trip to the Cradle of Democracy.

Athens travel information
Athens Greece vacation tips, things you must know when you travel Greece

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