An after-work stroll through the narrow streets in Anafiotika, enjoying a freddo cappuccino in the sun, ending the evening with a cold Mythos beer and a Greek salad and tzatziki in the cozy neighborhood of Plaka… Athens is much more than the Acropolis. In addition to a collection of historical treasures, the city has many hip neighborhoods, cool bars, restaurants and cafes, cultural centers, and shopping opportunities to offer. Athens has a vibe you have to experience. All of this makes Athens a great place for a short trip, vacation, or a workation in Greece.
I worked remotely from Athens for two weeks – and had plenty of time to explore all corners of the city! Let’s go!
Accommodation in Athens - The agony of choice
As in any big city, you have a huge choice of different types of accommodation. From Airbnbs to hotels, and hostels – it all depends on how long you’re staying and what you want or need for your stay in Athens. I stayed at Selina Theatrou, a hostel with a coworking space. The hostel is just a 7-minute walk from the famous Monastiraki Square and 3 minutes from the Central Market – the location is great! There are different room categories, from standard double rooms to deluxe rooms and dorms.
The Selina in Athens has a very big and super equipped kitchen, a cinema, a small library, a wellness room offering yoga classes, many corners to chill and a coworking space. At Selina’s, you really don’t have to worry about anything. The highlight is definitely the roof terrace, where you can also find the restaurant/bar “The Rooftop Athens”. Breakfast is always served here in the morning, during the day you can order different dishes, and every evening there are events or parties. From this rooftop, you can enjoy an incredible view of Athens and of course the Acropolis. The advantage of staying in a hostel in Athens is of course that you will quickly find like-minded people to hang out with.
Internet and coworking facilities in Athens
The internet connection in Athens is great! However, not all Airbnbs or accommodations have fiber optic internet. If you depend on it, ask beforehand and have a screenshot of a speed test sent to you, that’s what I usually do.
If you can’t or don’t want to work from your accommodation, there are many coworking spaces in Athens. I was super happy with the coworking space at Selina Theatrou, here you can get a table for 10 euros per day.
There are other coworking spaces, for example, “Impact Hub” or “The Cube” to name a few. Of course, Athens also has numerous cafes and bars that are great for working as well (and enjoying a freddo cappuccino :P). You choose – it all depends on what kind of environment you want to work in.
How to meet other travelers, expats or digital nomads
Are you traveling alone or looking to connect with other people with your travel partner? There are plenty of ways to connect with like-minded people in Athens. You can check places like Couchsurfing, Facebook groups, Meetup.com – or in your coworking space or accommodation. At Selina’s, they have a WhatsApp Group for everyone staying there – this makes it super easy to connect.
Getting around Athens - How you get from A to B
Although the city is really huge, everything can be explored pretty well on foot. All sights in Athens can be easily reached on foot. Of course, this is the best way to see and feel the city – and all the different neighborhoods.
However, there are buses, a metro, and a tram that will take you to different parts of the city. It’s very easy to use: you only need one ticket for all means of transportation. Ticket prices are also relatively low, e.g. a single trip costs 1.20 euros (valid for 90 minutes). From the airport to the city center it takes about 40 minutes and the trip costs 9 euros. A cab costs about 50 euros – but depending on when you arrive, it can also be very expensive, because there is a lot of traffic in the city, especially during rush hour.
Athens restaurant tips
Foodies are in the right place in Athens! There is everything here – from small local taverns and cafes to hipster cafes and fancy restaurants with Michelin-star chefs. Here are my recommendations:
- Restaurant Oinomageireio Epirus in the central market of Athens. You’ll rarely find tourists here – a real place for locals! Perfect for a hearty lunch. You can look at the counter to see what’s available and try your way through.
- If you want to try the best loukoumades (donuts) and bougatsa (Greek pudding in puff pastry) – head to Krinos Café! This café has been around since 1923. Treat yourself to a typical Greek coffee for the full experience!
- Galiántra is not a restaurant as you imagine it – much cooler than that! In a small square, you’ll find a street food cart, a few tables, and seating. Decorated with colorful flags and other small details, this place is simply something different. Here you can enjoy delicious street food.
- Try traditional pies at Harry’s Kitchen. Watch out – this store is easy to miss. The baker Harry and his wife bake fresh pies every day – for maaaany years. These pies are filled with love – and all sorts of other delicacies, like spinach and cheese, sausage, apple and cinnamon, potatoes, vegetables, etc. A pie costs 2.50 euros and is the perfect snack…
5 Things you should experience in Athens
Visiting the Acropolis is of course a MUST for every stay in Athens, so I’d rather tell you a few insider tips for Athens – so you can discover Athens away from the tourist crowds.
1. Enjoy an incredible view of the Acropolis from Philopappos Hill
Τhis hill is located southwest of the Acropolis and is still an insider tip because the way up there is not very obvious. You need about 15 minutes to climb the 147 m high hill and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Acropolis. We were there during the golden hour and sunset – breathtaking!
2. Explore the different neighborhoods!
Each neighborhood has a charm and special features. My favorites are Exarchia, Plaka & Anafiotika, Keramikos & Metaxourgeio, and Psirri.
3. Shop like a local at the central market
At 7 am, the central market in Athens opens. It is located between Omonia and Monastiraki Square. In this market, you’ll find a huge selection of local products in several halls: Spices, fish, meat, fruit, dried fruit etc. The great thing: there are hardly any tourist stalls, because mainly locals go shopping here. Especially if you are in Athens for a longer time (e.g. for a workation), it is worthwhile for a week’s shopping 😉 You can also find local stores in the streets around the Athens Central Market.
4. Take a food tour in Athens
Greek food remains one of my favorites. Of course, you can taste your way through different dishes by trying out different restaurants and shops – I decided to do a food tour with Greeking.me, our guide Tatialena rocked the tour, there is no other way to say it. From Koulouri (bread rings sprinkled with sesame seeds) to dumplings, cheese, Greek yogurt, wine, raki, bougatsa (sweet pie), loukoumades (donuts), and a biiiig unch with stuffed vine leaves, moussaka etc. What I really liked about the tour was – besides the delicious food – the fact that we also learned a lot about Greek history and got some more tips for Athens. My recommendation: in no case breakfast before!!!
5. Learn about street art in Athens - Away from the tourist crowds!
Athens is full of street art. While walking through the famous areas like Psyrri, Plaka, etc, you’ll see many bigger and smaller pieces of art. Even more fantastic is understanding the message behind all the artwork. I did a street art tour with Alternative Athens. My guide Nikos took me through some “not so famous” neighborhoods of the city and told me a lot about all the artists, artworks, politics, and also Athens in general. Super exciting. I recommend doing such a tour at the beginning of your stay in Athens, so you have enough time to use the tips afterward and you’ll walk through the city with a better view of street art 😉
Athens, a metropolis for a short trip in Greece or a workation … or as a (longer or shorter) stop on your trip as a digital nomad. This vibrant metropolis should definitely be on your bucket list. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or message me on Instagram. For more impressions, feel free to check out my story highlights on my Instagram channel “Travelbuddyanna”.
Yassu!
In summary
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The Athenian way of living with its welcoming culture
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Great restaurant scene
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Many trendy neighbourhoods
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Incredible street art
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Perfect destination for digital nomads
