Travel Guide
Athens, Greece
If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Athens, Greece, then look no further. I spent about a week in this city in April 2022, and despite what many people had told me about Athens (it’s dirty, not that interesting, the islands are so much better etc.), it was actually one of my favourite cities. Think beautiful old buildings, rich history, delicious food and coffee, and of course the Acropolis of Athens (Acrópolis de Atenas) — plus the Acropolis Museum (which was a highlight of mine). Let’s be honest, not many people have the luxury to spend 4+ weeks in a single city as a tourist, which is why I’ve only included my very TOP favourites for you; the best of the best (in my opinion).
Here’s my tips on where to go, what to see/do and the best places to eat/drink in this ancient and beautiful European city. For your convenience, I’ve created a link below to a Google Map file which includes my absolute favourite places to go in Athens. Let me know what you think and happy traveling friends!
Quick Travel Facts:
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In Athens, the primary currency is Euros (€).
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The primary language in Athens is Greek, however many locals accommodate for tourists and can speak English as well.
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I visited Athens in late April, 2022. The season is before the peak touristy season (usually Jun/Jul/Aug) and while the weather isn’t super hot, it’s still very sunny and nice.
Where to eat + drink:
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This breakfast menu lasts until 5pm!! Cool courtyard and indoor area. Relaxed vibe and great food/drinks. Get the eggs + bacon 🤤
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If you like a quirky, relaxed vibe, with a slightly rough edge, then this bar is for you. Not only is the owner super friendly, you can sit alfresco and watch as people pass in the streets. The cocktails are great, but be warned, you might also receive a “thank you” drink after your drinks — no complaints here!
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If you haven’t tried Greece’s famous yiros (aka gyros) then you’re in for a treat! They also do delicious vegan yiros/gyros (get the mushroom one). Small bench to sit outside so best to get it takeaway or sit there on the bench.
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Nice food for lunch/dinner, however just be warned, you might receive slow service (this of course changes). Get the beetroot salad with orange, as well as the potatoes. 🤤 There’s also a great gelato place nearby (Bon Bon Fait Maison Athens) so make sure you save yourself for a sweet treat!
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Vegan gelato!! Yes it exists. They also have a selection of pastries, sweets and macarons. The store is beautiful and worth a visit just to look at the delicious sweets.
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Craving something different? This place does a range of tapas and Mexican food in a nice atmosphere as well as range of cocktails/tequila based drinks.
Best cafes:
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In my opinion, this place has the best specialty coffee in Athens. A little further out of the centre, but well worth the visit. They also do amazing focaccia sandwiches.
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Great coffee, however only standing room. Best to get takeaway coffee. Also ask for the pea milk (Sproud).
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Nice coffee as well as pastries. Quite centrally located as well.
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I haven’t personally been here yet but it’s on my list of places to go! If you do go, I’d love to hear what you think.
Top things to see + do:
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This is a very cool museum and the park around it is also very nice. Check the opening hours before you go because Greek hours are inconsistent. You'll need a ticket to enter but you can often buy it there.
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Really nice walking up to a viewpoint where you can see the city. Lots of tourists at the top and actually a few restaurants on the hill. But we just went to the top for the sunset and walked back home.
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I highly recommend visiting the museum before you see the Acropolis. The museum itself is beautiful even without the art! There's also a cafe at the top.
Then, if you’d like to see the Acropolis in person, you can walk across to see it (although you can still see it from the museum). It’s pretty cool to see, but also a little overrated and lots of tourists. Prepare yourself for lots of steps so wear comfy shoes.
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Beautiful gardens for a picnic, to read your book or just to wander around. They also have turtles in the middle (Terrapin Pond). It's free to enter as well.
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Ready for something superrr touristy? This is a really weird, kitsch fairytale-inspired arcade/street. This cafe offers sweet and savoury crêpes and other treats amid whimsical decor.
We went at nighttime and it's all lit up with neon lights, but you can go during the day. We didn't sit/eat there but just walked past the arcade to see what it was all about.
Notes + Traveller’s Tips
If this is your first time visiting Athens or Greece, you may want to hear my traveller tips for you. There are a couple things that truly stood out for me which I felt really differed from other European cities I have visited. I hope they help and maybe even save you a couple of headaches. Again, these are just some of the things I noticed/experienced — they’re definitely not intended to be an over-generalisation of the country/city/the people or their culture.
Toilet tips - If you go to a fast-food chain (e.g. KFC), don’t expect to just walk in a quickly use their loo. These places require you to purchase food, and then use a special code on the receipt to access the toilets. Public toilets often aren’t free, so make sure you have 1 Euro laying around. Also, you might see signs at certain establishments telling you to put your toilet paper in the bin next to the toilet — not in the toilet. Yes, you read that correctly.
Games are no fun - Okay, this one I found slightly strange, but playing cards in cafes or restaurants is (usually) not allowed. We were kindly asked multiple times, at different establishments to cease playing card games. I tried to Google why this is and I think it has something to do with gambling laws and the bar/restaurant’s licensing. If this is your thing, just ask the owners first if it’s okay, because some owner’s were totally cool about it, while others were definitely not.
Sneakers are life - Marbled, beautifully ancient uneven paths have stray cats around every corner, and unfortunately these beautiful paths are often spotted with animal faeces (so make sure you don’t roll your suitcase through it like I did). Also, don’t expect your white sneakers to leave without a spot on them because you’ll definitely want to be wearing sneakers, and they WILL be getting dirty.
Service is paramount - Something I noticed about Athens is the wonderful Greek hospitality — it’s not unusual to receive a complementary shot of Ouzo or drink after your meal. It’s also very common to be given a glass of (free) tap water with your meal. For Europe, “free water” can be hard to come by in restaurants so I found this especially nice. It’s also common to pay for your food/meal after you’ve eaten it (rather than before) and be prepared to be given your receipt whether you like it or not!
Check the holidays - If your plan on visiting Greece or Athens, make sure you check when their national holidays are. For example, March 25 is Greek Independence Day and August 15 is “The Dormition of the Mother of God”.
Food for all - Something I did not expect when I first visited Athens, was the fact that there are a surprising amount of vegan, vegetarian and lactose-free food options. I had wrongly assumed I would be eating meat-filled gyros and souvlaki all week long, but this wasn’t the case.
