To give you a little insight, I have here on my travel blog 10 interesting facts about Athens and some travel tips summarized for you:
1. Street Art and Graffiti in Athens
In general, I like graffiti if it’s done nicely and isn’t really sprayed on. There are tons of beautiful and not-so-beautiful works of art in Athens. Between all the graffiti there are also graffiti that have been created by artists. You’ll find some all over town. It seems that no street and no building is spared. Rum spraying has always been a way for people to let their emotions run free. At night in the small alleys, however, the colorful graffiti can sometimes be really intimidating.
2. Rooftop bars
No matter what city I’m in, a visit to a rooftop bar is part of it for me. I love the atmosphere of sitting somewhere upstairs in a cozy bar and enjoying the space. It was no different in Athens. In the Thea Terrace Bar you have an incredibly beautiful view of the Acropolis. Most rooftop bars are a bit hidden and you don’t recognize the entrance immediately, so here mine Top 3 rooftop bars in Athens:
3. Greek Food
Gyros with tzatziki is not the only thing that Greece has to offer. The food there is an absolute dream and very varied. My tip: order a lot Appetizers to share and taste the Greek cuisine. Above all, go into the small alleys and try them there taverns out of. Most of them have been family-owned for years and you can tell that from the food – insanely delicious!
4. The (incredible) Acropolis
I’m a real cultural philistine. When it comes to culture and history, I rarely remember anything. I have problems especially with dates, but one thing I have noticed: It took the ancient Greeks 9 years to create this imposing and incredible Acropolis to build. While modern Greeks have been trying to restore it for over 20 years now. They will probably need another 20 years and many millions of euros before they are finished! That’s awesome. By the way, the name comes from: Acro= highest point, Polis= city
The structure itself is definitely impressive and the view over the whole city is worth it. My recommendation: Buy the tickets in advance – this way you save yourself long queues at the ticket office. Personally, I wouldn’t visit the Acropolis a second time, because the Greek vibe is completely lost with all the tourist crowds. To be honest, I was even glad when we made it back down. You should not have claustrophobia when going up and down.
5. Taxis – The cheap means of transport?
That really surprised me. Taxis are incredibly cheap in Athens. In fact, I think it’s hardly worth using the metro, since you pay a maximum of 10€ for a 30-40 minute ride. If there are four of you – like us – it’s hardly cheaper to take the metro and you’ll be driven directly from door to door. In general, you can also explore a lot on foot in Athens.
6. Perfect for any budget
Athens is perfect for any budget. It doesn’t matter whether your holiday budget is full or you want to save a little. Here you will be happy. There are very chic and slightly more expensive restaurants, which are definitely worth a visit. But if the budget is not that big, I would recommend you the local taverns to visit, there you get an incredible amount for little money.
7. AirBnb and overnight stay
Where is the best place to stay in Athens? Recommended are accommodations near the center (Syntagma place) or at metro stations, to be able to get around the city quickly on foot or by public transport. But as mentioned above, I find taxi more convenient and faster.
We decided against a hotel and for one airbnb decided. The best decision, because our accommodation was fantastic and perfect for 4 people. So it’s worth comparing the prices and maybe doing without a hotel.
8. Beaches
Although Athens is relatively close to the sea, there are not that many city beaches and if you want to take a trip to the water, you should allow around 30-50 minutes for the journey, depending on where you start from. Especially in the hot summer months it is worth escaping the city for a day and enjoying a little cooling off. The beaches of are particularly popular Vouliagmeni, Vari, Saronida and Porto Rafti.
9. Beach Club
On the first day we wanted to relax and unwind a little before we plunged into sightseeing the next day. We had informed ourselves in advance and are then in beach club landed: Akanthus Summer Club. A very nice beach club. Contrary to what you might think, Athens has some great beach clubs. It’s the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
10th story
Cultural philistine or not, now there are a few more historical ones Information about Athens:
- The population the city of Athens amounts to about 5 million people and is the hub for politics and tourism.
- The emergence of Athens is up to 3000 years before Christ back dated. Greece’s capital is thus one of the oldest cities in the world.
- Greek for beginners:
Thanks – efcharistó (ευχαριστώ)
Yes – nai (ναι)
No – óchi (όχι, nod your head)
Hello / Hello – kalí méra (καλή μέρα)
Bye / Goodbye – antiío (αντίο)
The trip to Athens was worth it and we had a wonderful 5 days there. In general, I would probably not visit Athens a second time. Somehow I just imagined more Greek feeling. By the way, we were on site in May and the travel time was perfectly chosen. Have you already been to Athens or are you planning to fly there?
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