Have you ever considered Athens as your next digital nomad destination? I have to admit, the idea had never crossed my mind before Work from Greece invited me. But I’m eternally grateful they did – I have now found my new favorite European city, and a second home.
Athens is an urban, lively and welcoming city, filled with history, pulse, tradition and vibe – all at the same time. When walking in this city you can, within half an hour, pass ancient monuments near the Acropolis, yearn for the latest fashion on Ermou Street, order a coffee at one of the trendy coworking cafés in Psirri and admire the street art in Keramikos.
We are all aware of Greece as a popular summer holiday destination. But Athens really does have it all covered for a modern, fun and interesting way of living – all year round.
Continue reading for my tips on how to best spend your days as a digital nomad in Athens – and how the city swept me off my feet in just two weeks.
The Athenian culture
What amazed me the most about the city was the lively atmosphere, with people cherishing every moment around the city streets, day and night. The authenticity of the locals – and their loud, expressive and kind way of communicating – welcomed me warmheartedly.
Everywhere I went, I was greeted with a smile – or an interesting story about the history of the area, the food, the street art or the architecture. Since Athens is around 3,400 years old, it’s no wonder there are so many stories to tell.
This Greek way of welcoming their visitors made me feel at home within just a couple of days – a quality I truly value when I choose a place to stay.
Where to live in Athens
Athens is an enormous city that can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. However, the most popular things to do in Athens are all located within walking distance to each other.
If you want to get the real Athenian vibe, be close to historical monuments and the best restaurants and bars in Athens, these are all great areas to stay in:
- Psirri
- Keramikos & Gazi
- Plaka
- Thiseio
As a digital nomad, there are a few things besides location to consider when you choose your accommodation. You need a proper kitchen, good wi-fi, a desk and preferably an area to socialize and meet other digital nomads.
To me, the solution that matches all my requirements is staying at a coliving space. In Athens, I stayed at Selina – Theatrou Athens, and this accommodation had everything I needed. A well-sized room with a desk, proper wi-fi, shared workspaces, a kitchen, a gym (with yoga classes!) and a rooftop with a view of the Acropolis.
Another great option is to rent an Airbnb. Just make sure to read the reviews, especially regarding wi-fi.
Coworking spaces in Athens
As a digital nomad, having a proper place to work is key to success. The most convenient solution, as I mentioned, is to stay at a coliving / coworking space like Selina. Then you have everything you need under the same roof.
What’s great about Athens though, is that even if you don’t have the luxury to have a coworking space in your building, there are lots of other options for you.
Work from a coworking cafe
Rent a desk at a coworking space
Things to do in Athens
Athens has so many secret gems to be discovered. Here I list some of my favorite things to do in Athens.
Discover Athens’ history
Since so many of Athens’ historical monuments are located close to each other, you can easily discover the city’s cultural and historical heart by foot. Just walking around is like visiting an open-air museum.
The Acropolis is one of the most important ancient Greek monuments. Even though you spot the Acropolis from large parts of the city, you can’t leave Athens without paying it a close visit.
The entrance ticket to Acropolis is €20, but if you want to discover more of Athens’ ancient monuments, I recommend that you buy the ticket package for €30. With this ticket you get access to not only the Acropolis but also the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Roman Forum of Athens, Hadrian’s Library and much more.
Take in the atmosphere in Athens’ trendy neighbourhoods
The Acropolis in all its glory, but what struck me the most about Athens was its modern side, with trendy neighbourhoods like Psirri, Keramikos, Gazi and Koukaki. In these areas, you can enjoy an endless variety of new age meze tavernas, bohemian bars, crafts & design studios and lively rooftops.
Explore the never-ending food scene of Athens
I think we can all agree on this: The Greek food is a reason alone to spend time in Athens, and the restaurant scene is never-ending. Not even Athenians have time to explore the wide selection of restaurants in this city.
Some of my favorite restaurants:
Take a food tour
Speaking of food: One of the best experiences I had in Athens was a food tour with Be A Greek. During a four-hour tour, a private guide showed me around Athens and made me try incredible local dishes like loukoumades, souvlaki and traditional Greek coffee from the best Athenian restaurants.
Take a food tour BOOK NOW
Experience Athens’ nightlife
One thing is sure: Athenians know how to party! You can’t visit Athens without getting a taste of its famous nightlife. For the ultimate experience of Athens’ vibrant nightlife, I suggest you go to the area around Kolokotroni St, as well as Psirri, Keramikos or Gazi.
Some bars you can’t miss:
Admire the view from a rooftop bar
Athenians are the masters of rooftop bars, all of them offering a breathtaking view of the Acropolis. The best time to visit a rooftop bar would be for a sunset drink.
Some of Athens’ best rooftop bars:
Take a street art tour
Athens’ street art culture is extremely vibrant and covers all kinds of urban artistic creations. It started during the socio-economic crisis in the early 2010’s, when street art became a way for Athenians to express themselves. When you start looking, street art is everywhere, from small graffiti art to huge murals made on commission by the city itself.
I can highly recommend taking a street art tour while in Athens. Even if you’re not into art per se, a street art tour is a great way to get to know the city’s modern history!
I took a street art tour with Awesome Athens Experiences and the lovely guide Kalliopi, who not only guided me through the street art of Athens – but also gave me a thorough guide to her favorite neighborhoods, favorite restaurants and hidden gems.
Take a street art tour BOOK NOW
Hike to Lycabettus Hill
One thing I didn’t know before I went to Athens was that there are so many hills, easily accessible by a hike, from where you get an impressive view of the city, the Acropolis and the sea. Lycabettus Hill is Athens’ highest peak, offering the most impressive view. I went there to admire the sunset, which was truly breathtaking.
To get to Lycabettus Hill you can take the metro to Syntagma. From there it’s a 20-30 minute walk to the peak.
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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So many things to do and see
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Perfect destination for digital nomads
