The Greek capital has been attracting millions of visitors for centuries and it’s easy to see why. With incredibly well-preserved ancient ruins, delicious food, great weather and easy access to the beautiful Greek islands, Athens has so much to offer. One of the most attractive qualities of Athens is the price; it is a very affordable travel destination, especially compared to other European capital cities. In this post, I will share my low-cost travel hacks, tips and tricks to help you enjoy your time in Athens without blowing your budget.

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Visit during the Shoulder Season

When you visit Athens can have a major impact on how much you spend on accommodation and activities. The best time to visit is during the winter months or shoulder seasons (April to May and September to October). These months offer pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and more affordable accommodation prices compared to the peak summer months. Visiting during this time also helps to save on excursions; tour prices are often reduced in the off-season and are less likely to sell out. For day trips outside of Athens, I suggest looking at group tours (rather than hiring a private driver) or checking if you can reach your desired destination via public transport or car-sharing apps. 

Search for Affordable Accommodation

Accommodation is usually the priciest part of any holiday, but fortunately Athens has plenty of wallet-friendly options including low-priced hotels, Airbnbs, hostels and guesthouses. You can weigh up if you’d like to stay in the city centre within walking distance of all the sights (so you don’t need to pay for public transport) or find cheaper accommodation outside of the heart of the city and use the metro and buses to get around. Most neighbourhoods are perfectly safe to stay in, such as Plaka, Koukaki and Pangrati, but locals suggest staying away from Omonoia, Victoria, and Attica metro stations. I’ve stayed in two Airbnbs in Athens, taking advantage of being able to shop at markets and supermarkets, and cook some meals in my accommodation.

Use Public Transportation

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to taxis, take advantage of Athens’ inexpensive, reliable and efficient metro system. The bargains start the moment you arrive in Athens. The international airport is 33 kilometres from the centre, making it a short but pricey cab ride (approximately €40). Instead, walk past the line of taxi drivers waiting for passengers and find the train station or bus stop. You can buy a €9 ticket on the underground metro (Line 3) or a €6 ticket by bus (X-95) to the city centre (the bus drops you at Syntagma station). 

You will be able to reach almost anywhere you need to go in Athens via public transport and a single 90-minute journey only costs €1.20. There are also different deals available such as unlimited travel for 24 hours’, or spread across three or five consecutive days. You can read about the different ticket options here. The city also has an extensive bus system, overground train line and trams, which costs the same as the metro and uses the same tickets.

Another benefit to using public transport is some free sightseeing! Athens’ metro system was built in the early 1990s and the construction workers found a lot of artefacts buried under the city. Engineers worked with archaeologists to create a modern metro while preserving the objects of historic value, which are now displayed around various train stations such as Monastiraki, Akropoli and Syntagma.

Explore On Foot

Although public transport is very affordable in Athens, you may not need to use it often! The city centre is very compact with many of the main attractions within walking distance of each other. In fact it only takes around twenty minutes to walk from one side of the city centre to the other. If you are going to use taxis, be aware that most of them only accept cash (unless you use the FreeNow app) and drivers increase their rates at night or during peak hours. 

When it comes to exploring the city centre, I recommend starting with the charming Plaka and Anafiotika neighbourhoods. Plaka is one of the oldest parts of the city; a maze of tiny cobblestone streets full of boutiques, art galleries, souvenir shops and traditional restaurants. Nearby you’ll find the dreamy Anafiotika neighbourhood, clinging to the side of the Acropolis hill. It is full of whitewashed cottages that will make you think you’ve been whisked away to a Greek island.

Make The Most of Discounted Tickets and Free Entry Days

Athens is an absolute dream for lovers of art, history and architecture, and admission prices to museums are quite moderate compared to most European cities. If you visit between November and March, you’ll find that most museums and historical sites cost half the usual price so there are many bargains to be found. You can visit the iconic Acropolis for a measly €10 over the winter months or the spectacular Acropolis Museum (€5) and National Archaeological Museum (€6). Students and people over 65 years old can benefit from discounts or free admission all year round; remember to bring photo ID or your student card to show at the ticket office. 

In addition to the half-price entrance fees, on the first Sunday of each month from November until March, all government-run archaeological sites and museums offer free entry. The Acropolis has some additional free days, including 6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri), 18 April (International Monuments Day), 18 May (International Museums Day) and 28 October (a national holiday).

Even if you’re in Athens from April to October, I encourage you to visit the Acropolis site and museum anyway. The Acropolis is – without a doubt – the main attraction in the city and the reason why millions of people come here every year. There’s so much to see here that the entrance price (€20 for a full-price adult ticket / €10 off-season) is more than worth it. You can easily spend two or three hours examining the Parthenon, the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, while listening to the free audio guide by Rick Steves. The Acropolis Museum costs €10 to enter (€5 off-season) and is full of the treasures unearthed at the archaeological site. It’s one of the best museums I have visited, and has an excellent free audio guide that you can play through your phone (don’t forget your headphones for both the Acropolis or Acropolis Museum). 

Some of Athens’ other museums are free to enter, depending on the day of the week or the month. The Benaki Museum (free entry every Thursday from 6pm until midnight) has a fantastic collection of Greek costumes, paintings, jewellery, crockery and religious art dating from the neolithic to the 20th century. The National Historical Museum is free to enter on the second Sunday of the month (from November to February) and has a series of permanent and temporary exhibitions, mostly focused on the Greek War of Independence. 

Enjoy Athens’ Free Attractions

Athens has a fantastic range of free attractions, including open-air archaeological sites, churches, parks, concerts and workshops. There are several hilltops you can walk up for panoramic views of the city but the best views can be found at Mount Lycabettus. Rising 300m above the city, you can hike up Mount Lycabettus (there’s a well-maintained wooden trail winding up the hill) or take the funicular in the Kolonaki neighbourhood to the top (€8 one-way or €10 return – I took the funicular up and walked back down). It’s a particularly popular spot to admire Athens’ gorgeous sunsets!

One of the most popular free attractions is watching the Change of the Guards in front of the Parliament building on top of Syntagma Square. Every hour on the hour, you can watch the Evzones (Presidential Guards) performing a carefully choreographed ritual. If you’re there on a Sunday, aim to arrive around 10.30am to find a spot to watch the 11am ceremony. The Sunday Changing of the Guards is quite the spectacle; the guards dressed in traditional attire, performing graceful, careful manoeuvres and goose-stepping in time to live music from the brass band.

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, retreat to the National Garden next to the Parliament building. It’s a beautiful park full of plants and flowers (and some parrots flying from tree to tree); the perfect spot to recharge and rest. I also enjoyed visiting the First Cemetery of Athens which is a really calm, peaceful place. A lot of famous Greek people are buried here, including actress and politician Melina Mercouri, archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, and former prime minister Andreas Papandreou. You can wander past the various tombstones and mausoleums, which are surrounded by orange trees which fill the air with their sweet, citrus scent.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre offers a wide range of free events including outdoor movie screenings, exhibitions, and classes in yoga, tai chi, Pilates or aerobics. You can find all the free and ticketed events here. Another popular cultural landmark is the Technopolis, which often has free concerts and workshops throughout the week and weekend. You can check out the events line-up here.

Take Advantage of Free Audio Guides and Walking Tours

I am a huge fan of Rick Steves’ free audio guides; he has excellent guides for 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. If you’d rather have a live guide, there are tours for every interest, including free walking tours. Although advertised as ‘free’, they work on a tip-based system so you can pay what you can afford. Popular tour companies in Athens include Free Tour, Guru Talk and Athens Free Walking Tour. For something more unusual, you could book a History of Rebellion Walking Tour or Street Art Walking Tour by passionate local guides.

Eat & Drink Where Locals Go

Greek food is one of the world’s most popular cuisines and Athens is overflowing with cheap and healthy restaurants which cater to all tastes and preferences. One of the best ways to save money in Athens is to eat like a local at traditional tavernas or small family-owned restaurants. Avoid restaurants purely geared towards tourists; you can usually spot them quite easily due to their close proximity to major historic sites, large menus translated into 4+ languages, or staff members hovering by the entrance trying to lure customers inside. If you choose carefully and check reviews beforehand, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the prices. Most of my dinners cost between €20-30; my most expensive dinner in Athens was €40 for two starters, a main course and half a litre of wine!

Affordable street food is synonymous with Athens; look for freshly-baked spanakopita (spinach and feta filo pastry pie), warm, flaky tiropita (cheese pie), koulouri (sesame-covered bread ring), souvlaki (marinated meat grilled on a skewer), and gyros (meat grilled on a vertical rotisserie, served in pita bread with chips and tzatziki). You should expect to pay a couple of euros for sweet or savoury goodies from the bakeries, and €3-5 for souvlaki and gyros. 

Coffee and juice are also really good value for money; it’s not hard to find a cappuccino or a glass of freshly squeezed orange or pomegranate juice for €2. If you’re looking for something stronger, there are plenty of bars and clubs in Athens but you might be surprised at the prices. It’s much cheaper to get a local beer – like Mamos, Greece’s most historic beer – or order the house wine, rather than cocktails or spirits. To avoid draining your wallet, you may need to skip the gorgeous rooftop cocktail lounges and instead seek out lively hostel bars or local haunts in the popular Psirri, Gazi, and Monastiraki neighbourhoods. You can also pick up an alcoholic beverage from a kiosk (periptero) and enjoy a drink outside in one of Athens’ buzzing squares, soaking up the atmosphere while admiring the view of the Acropolis.

Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

The water in Athens is perfectly clean and safe to drink. Bring a reusable water bottle with you so you can stay hydrated without needing to purchase bottled water. Water is also free in the majority of Athens restaurants; if you ask the staff, they will give you a free jug of cold water or refill your water bottle for you.

Find Bargains by Browsing Markets

Shopping may not be a high priority if you’re on a tight budget, but if you are looking for a memento from your time in Athens, there are lots of stalls at Monastiraki Flea Market, selling all sorts, including fridge magnets, souvenirs, jewellery, bags, shoes, T-shirts and Greek goddess-style dresses. I also suggest visiting Varvakios Central Market to buy dried herbs and spices, (like thyme, oregano and souvlaki mix), olives, nuts, oil and different flavours of honey.

Save Money on Data with an E-SIM

If you want budget-friendly internet while exploring Athens, I’d definitely suggest grabbing an Airalo E-SIM. They’re super affordable, reliable, easy to set up (even if you’re not techy), and work in over 200 countries. They’ve got flexible data plans for 7, 15, or 30 days, which is perfect whether you’re staying in Greece for a week or a while.

I hope this blog post has shown you that you don’t need to spend a fortune in Athens to have a fantastic time. Despite its popularity, it remains one of Europe’s most affordable capital cities.

While you’re planning your trip to Athens, check out my other blog posts: Ultimate Athens Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors, 4-Day Athens Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors and – for my fellow foodies – What to Eat in Athens: 20 Must-Try Greek Dishes You’ll Love.

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow