From the iconic Acropolis to the lively street markets and the mouthwatering Greek cuisine, Athens truly has something for everyone. It is a city of contrasts; an ancient city that has been around for millennia, which is simultaneously a modern metropolitan that caters to all sorts of travellers. Athens might seem quite grungy and chaotic from first impressions, but I quickly grew to love it within a few short days, and I hope you will too! In this post, I’ll share my personal tips and insights to help you plan a fantastic visit to the Greek capital.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something following a link on this page, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Without much further ado, here are my travel tips for Athens:

• Choose restaurants wisely: I did some restaurant research before visiting Athens, but also like to stroll around neighbourhoods and see what looks popular and lively. I always consult Google reviews before going inside and didn’t eat anywhere with less than 4* (and I didn’t have one dud meal!). As a general rule, I avoid places with menus written in five languages, or with pushy waiters standing outside trying to lure customers inside. In my experience, amazing restaurants don’t have to persuade people to visit them! 
• Stay in (or near) the Plaka neighbourhood: The Plaka neighbourhood is one of the oldest in Athens, built around the slopes of Acropolis Hill. Staying in this part of the city means you’re a short walk away from most of the city’s must-see attractions, along with its cute cafes, inviting tavernas, cobbled steps, rooftop terraces and shaded squares. Sure, you might have to dodge a tourist trap restaurant or two but the atmosphere here is really charming. 
• Experience Athens’ nightlife: If you’re looking for a fun night out in Athens, look no further than Psirri, the city’s bohemian, shabby chic neighbourhood. During the day, the cobblestone streets are lined with souvenir shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants serving up traditional Greek food. When the sun goes down, it transforms into a lively area full of bars and nightclubs.
• Consider getting the Athens combo ticket: If you’re visiting Athens between April and October and plan to do lots of sightseeing, the Athens City pass is a great way to explore the main attractions, skip the lines and save money. Priced at €30 for adults (concessions available), this package is valid for five consecutive days, granting access to multiple historical landmarks, including the Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Hadrian’s Library, Lykeion Archaeological Site, and Roman Agora of Athens. There are LOTS of websites advertising different city passes (most of them very overpriced) but here is the official site. If you’re there between November and March, most of the sights are discounted by 50% so you may not save money with the Athens City pass. 
• Discover the best angles of Acropolis: Although you should definitely visit the Acropolis to gaze up at the majestic temples like the Parthenon, the best views are actually from above, not below. Visit Mount Lycabettus, the highest point in Athens, by taking the funicular in the Kolonaki neighbourhood to the top (I chose to walk back down but you could take the funicular both ways – €8 one-way or €10 return). At the top you’ll find a small church, a restaurant and an open-air viewing platform. Craving more panoramic views? You can also admire the Acropolis from the top of Philoppapou and Pnyx hills.
• English is widely spoken: While many Athenians speak really good English, learning a few Greek phrases goes a long way. I made a conscious effort to greet people with simple phrases like “yia sas” (hello) and “kalimera” (good morning), and saying “efharisto” (thank you), which seemed to be appreciated by the locals. Restaurant menus will almost always have an English translation, and if not you can use the Google Translate app to know what you’re ordering! Throughout my fortnight in Athens, I didn’t have any problems communicating in English and everyone I spoke to was incredibly helpful and approachable. I had heard about Greek hospitality and friendliness before and it’s no exaggaration!
• Use the excellent public transport system: Don’t waste your money on expensive taxi journeys; Athens’ metro is very cheap, convenient and reliable, connecting you to all the major sites. Visit this website to check out the different tickets available, including single 90-minute journeys to unlimited travel spread across one, three or five consecutive days. The city also has an overground train line and an extensive network of buses and trams. Athens International Airport is 33 km (21 miles) – or a 45-minute metro ride – from the city centre, whereas the port of Piraeus is 10km (6 miles) from the city centre and can be easily reached by train, metro or tram.
• Keep an eye on your valuables: As with any big city, thieves can take advantage of unsuspecting tourists, especially on crowded public transport. Keep your valuables out of their hands by wearing your backpack or handbag in front of your body. A cross-body bag with a zip or lock is the most secure option, and don’t carry anything in your back pockets. When dining outside in restaurants, avoid leaving your phones and cameras on the table so they can’t be snatched by a passerby.
• Do a day trip: There are many day trips from Athens which can be easily added to your Greece itinerary, whether you decide to rent a car, hire a private driver or join an organised tour. Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon is around an hour’s drive from Athens, whereas the archeological site of Delphi is 3 hours each way. The Peloponnese coastline offers rugged, dramatic views, and history buffs will enjoy visiting Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplion (the first capital city of Greece), all which are within two hours’ drive of Athens. You can also reach some small islands from Athens port Piraeus, including Hydra, Poros, Agistri, Spetses and Aegina.
• Respect the dress code in churches or monasteries: Make sure you dress modestly and respectfully when visiting Athens’ religious sites. Men should wear trousers or shorts below the knee, and women should make sure their chests, shoulders and knees are covered. 
• Explore Athens on foot: The city’s public transport network makes it easy to get from A to B, but the historic centre of Athens is also very compact and walkable. You can walk from one side of the city centre to the other in around twenty minutes. Athens has a lot of cobblestone streets and uphill walks (especially in the beautifully photogenic Anafiotika neighbourhood) so comfortable footwear is a must. Strolling through Athens is a great way to see and experience the hustle and bustle of daily life, especially in the early morning when the market vendors and shopkeepers start preparing for the day ahead.
• Carry some cash with you: Nowadays, you can pay by card almost anywhere in Athens (even for something as cheap as a €2 coffee). However it’s a good idea to keep some cash with you as market vendors and taxi drivers will only accept cash (unless you pay for the taxi ride via the FreeNow app).
• Try Traditional Greek Food: You are probably familiar with moussaka, tzatziki, souvlaki and gyros but there’s a wealth of other delicious Greek dishes to enjoy, in traditional tavernas to casual street food eateries. I loved having Spanakopita (a savoury pie made from spinach, feta and filo pastry) for breakfast, sampling Kolokithokeftede (fried zucchini balls), scooping up Melitzanosalata (an aubergine dip serve cold) with chunks of freshly baked bread, and tasting Prawn Saganaki (prawns in a tomato and feta sauce) for the first time. Greek food is diverse and delicious and trying local dishes is a huge part of the cultural experience.
• Tipping is entirely optional in Athens: There’s no tipping norm in Athens; you can tip as much or as little as you want, or choose not to leave a tip. I dined out often and didn’t experience any pressure to tip from the restaurant staff. Tips are appreciated but there’s no expectation. Want to leave a tip but not sure how much? You could leave 10% of the total bill or round up the bill by adding a couple of euros (for example, taking a €18 bill to €20).
• Expect late dinner times: Athenians like to eat late, so locals often don’t sit down to eat until 9pm or later. As a result, restaurants and bars stay open until well after midnight. You can still find plenty of restaurants open from 6pm, but it’ll be mostly tourists dining there before 9. 
• Be careful with taxi drivers: The most reliable way to use taxis in Athens is via FreeNow (same concept as Uber). If you hail a taxi on the street, make sure to ask how much the ride will cost, and check that the metre is running. If you’re travelling at night, it’s normal for taxi drivers to double their fares. 
• Anticipate strikes in advance: Athenian bus and train drivers go on strike quite often, so it could happen during your visit. Make sure you’ve downloaded the FreeNow app in case you need to order a taxi, ask the staff at your hotel if they know of any upcoming strikes and download the Moovit app (which warns you ahead of time of any scheduled strikes) so you can plan accordingly. 
• Don’t flush toilet paper: Pay attention to the “please do not throw paper in the toilet” signs plastered over (almost) every toilet in the city. It’s a serious request: Athens is an ancient city, and the plumbing system is seriously out-of-date. Most hotels have bathrooms with modern plumbing so you can flush toilet paper, but most restaurants, bars and cafes will have signs telling you to dispose of it in the nearby bin.
• It’s a safe solo travel destination: I was nervous about visiting Athens alone as I haven’t travelled extensively by myself, but I felt really safe and comfortable there. There were people out and about on the streets from the early morning until late at night. I researched which neighbourhoods to avoid staying in and visiting at night (locals suggest staying away from Omonoia, Victoria, and Attica metro stations), and kept an eye on my belongings as I do in any big city.
• Be aware of Sunday closures: If you visit Athens on a Sunday, you might notice things are a little sleepier than on other days. Supermarkets, clothing shops, grocery stores and markets close on Sundays. You may find one or two convenience stores which remain open but they usually have higher prices. It’s a better idea to buy whatever you need on Saturday to last you until Monday, or dine out on Sunday. Luckily restaurants, cafes, tavernas and souvenir shops remain open on Sundays. 
• You can drink the tap water: The water in Athens is perfectly safe to drink and of high quality. Bring a reusable water bottle with you so you can stay hydrated without needing to purchase plastic bottles. I didn’t see any public water fountains around the city, but you can ask for tap water or to refill your water bottle in restaurants. It’s worth noting that if you visit one of the islands near Athens, you should drink bottled water as the water tanks on the islands are used for bathing and doing laundry, not for drinking. 
• Use an eSIM to stay connected: If you’re a European Union resident, you’ll be able to use your mobile data in Greece at no additional cost. However, if you’re visiting from outside the EU, eSIMs are the best option for low-cost internet access. I’ve used Airalo before; Airalo has different packages and prices depending on how long you’ll be there, you can install the eSIM on your mobile phone before you arrive and it means you don’t have to waste time buying and activating a physical SIM card.
• Know what to expect, weather-wise: The best time of year to visit Athens is the spring and autumn, as the summer can be very warm and sunny (30°C+ every day). Athens has high humidity thanks to its coastline, so keep this in mind when packing and look for accommodation with air conditioning. If your only option is to visit during the summer, try to do your sightseeing at the start of the day, when the attractions open, then visit air-conditioned museums in the afternoons when the sun is most intense. Avoid coming to Athens around August 15th, Greece’s biggest national holiday. During this time, lots of locals leave the city and many bars and restaurants in Athens close during this time. Whatever time of year you’re there, stay well-hydrated while on the go, and make sure to carry a sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen with you.
• Read up on Greek mythology: I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology and have read many books about the legendary gods, goddesses and heroes. Before visiting Athens, I suggest reading Stephen Fry’s ‘Greek Myths’ trilogy which can give much more meaning and context to the city’s landmarks and monuments. I also listened to Rick Steves’ excellent (free!) audio guides when visiting the Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum. He also has a city walk which includes the most significant places in the city centre, as well as an interesting overview of Greek history and culture. The guides and books really enriched the experience for me; without them, a lot of the details and references displayed around the city would have been lost on me.
• Try Greek coffee: Known as Ellinikos Kafes, it’s a strong, rich coffee simpler to Turkish coffee. Embrace the Athenian way of coffee drinking; order the ‘freddo’ (‘cold’ in Italian) versions of espresso and cappuccino. Don’t feel like you have to slam down your coffee and leave; Greek people prefer to sip and savour their coffee.
• Explore the arty side of Athens: I’m a huge fan of street art and Athens did not disappoint; you can find beautiful murals across the city. If you want to learn more about the political, economic and social messages behind the artwork – and the artists who created them – take a guided tour like Experience the Street Art Scene with an Artist Guide or Guided Urban Street-Art Tour.
• Make plans but stay flexible: If you’re only in Athens for a few days, it’s a good idea to book your tickets on time and decide which attractions you don’t want to miss. At the same time, it’s a good idea to stay flexible in Athens. Some days I was always on the go, sightseeing for hours, and other days I was content to sit and watch the world go by with no fixed agenda. You might want to swap your plans and days around depending on the weather, your mood, and how many shots of ouzo you drank the night before!

I hope these tips have been helpful with planning your holiday to Athens. My final piece of advice is – don’t rush it. As tempting as it is to race around Athens before jumping on a ferry or a flight to one of Greece’s stunning islands, Athens deserves more than a day or two of your time. There’s so much to see and do, and it is also a great city for people-watching, relaxing and soaking it all in. If you have any other questions, please leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow