Pelion – How to get there?

Pelion is located 4 hours north of Athens and 2 hours south of Thessaloniki. The mountain range belongs to the Greek region of Thessaly, and the largest city is Volos. You can reach Volos by train, car, bus or plane. Volos also has its own airport, but this is only used in summer and only a few flights are available (mainly to/from Israel and England).

• Getting to Pelion from Thessaloniki: The airport in Thessaloniki is very well connected. From the airport, you go to the train station and from there you can reach Volos by bus or train in about 3 hours. It costs about 20 euros. From Volos you can rent a car or take a cab to your accommodation.
• Getting to Pelion from Athens: From Athens you can take the bus to Volos, it takes about 4-5 hours. By train it takes about the same time. You have to change trains in Larissa and from there you have to take another train for about an hour to Volos. The train tickets cost about 30 euros.

You can easily book bus and train tickets online at Hellenic Train.

Accommodation

In Pelion, you have the possibility to stay in cute little mountain villages or by the beach in Airbnbs, hotels or hostels. We stayed in the beautiful hotel Selina Centavrus. The hotel is located in the beautiful village of Makrinitsa (more on that later) and has 20 rooms and a dorm. Like all Selinas, the whole property as well as the rooms are super tastefully and stylishly decorated. We had an incredible view over Volos from our room and the beds were super comfortable. We felt at home for two weeks in this beautiful place in the mountains.

They also have a cozy sitting area with games, books, a projector, and a small kitchen. One of my highlights was definitely the incredible breakfast, which we got served every morning in the sun on the beautiful terrace. You could choose between 10 different dishes – everything was always prepared with so much love! And while sipping your freddo cappuccino, you could enjoy the breathtaking view over Pelion, the gulf and Volos. The Selina Centavrus also has a wellness area, at the very top. Perfect to start your (work) day with a workout or some yoga. The staff was great, super sweet and helpful! We will definitely be back 😉

Remote working from Volos or Pelion – How is the internet?

The internet in Volos is good, at about 50 Mbps on average. Downtown you can also find some coworking spaces, e.g. Open Office Volos. The internet in Pelion, or at our place in Makrinitsa … was not the best 😉 That’s simply due to the very old line from Volos. The general wifi in our hotel had a speed ca. 5 Mbps, but there was an external router with about 15 Mbps. We mostly used the hotspots from our cell phones. We definitely recommend buying a local SIM card from Cosmote – this will give you the best reception and the most stable connection. On WorkfromGreece, you can also find a lot of information about remote working from Greece. Also, there are some Meetups for Digital Nomads happening in Volos every now and then – just check on Facebook and you’ll find the details about the upcoming events.

Five things you should definitely do on the Pelion peninsula

1. Train ride with the Pelion train “Moutzouris”

This ride with the steam locomotive was definitely one of my highlights – a great experience. Nowadays, the Pelion train runs between the villags of Ano Lechonia and Milies. The train’s only stop is at Ano Gatzea station, from where it travels to Milies. It takes about 90 minutes in total to complete the 15km line. During the ride, you will almost continuously have a spectacular view over the bay of Pagasitikos, gorges, magnificent old bridges, tunnels…. The Pelion Train departs only on weekends, at 10 am from Ano Lechonia and at 3 pm from Milies. Tickets for the round trip are 18 euros. You can book them online beforehand here or buy them at the train station in Volos.

2. Horseback riding

Pelion offers a great landscape for horseback riding! There are some horse farms, so we chose Ifom Greece – a family-run farm located close to Kala Nera. There we went for a ride for two hours. Our ride went through olive plantations, and forests, to the beach where we enjoyed the golden hour (did I mention that this is my favorite time of the day?! :P) . I haven’t ridden in years – highly recommend it, there is something very calming about it … and I mean, look at these pictures… 😉

3. Exploring Pelion’s mountain villages

There are so many cute little mountain villages to explore in Pelion. The most beautiful one, in my opinion, is Makrinitsa, where we lived. The square of the village is huge,  where you can visit two ancient plane trees, sip a frappe and take in relaxing vibes of the village. In the bakery, which is located directly on the square, you get the best pies. But you have to be early – when it’s empty, it’s empty and the bakery closes. We really enjoyed drinking a coffee or beer in the Art Café – comfortable sofas and a great view. Regarding food in Makrinitsa, I can highly recommend the Peliades Restaurant. From here, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset and then treat yourself to some really good local food. I can only recommend pasta with lamb and capers.

Milies (the place where you arrive with the Pelion train) is also definitely worth a visit. Here, you also have a big marketplace with a unique church. In the museum, you can learn a lot about the history of Milies. It is also worth visiting the library – there you can admire ancient books.

We had lunch in “The Salkimi” restaurant, which was one of the best meals we had in Pelion. Be sure to order the stuffed zucchini flowers and the zucchini puff – WOW! After a delicious lunch you can have a coffee at the café «’Αννα να ένα Μήλο» (Anna, here is an an apple) where you will definitely be busy looking at all the old signs on the walls. A great place to stay in Milies is this Airbnb – an old family house with a huge living room with a fireplace, a big balcony with amazing views, a garden, and two bedrooms. The owner Eva grew up in Milies and is super sweet and helpful.

4. Explore beaches on the peninsula

Not only mountains but also beaches – and beautiful ones! We were there in October, but it was definitely still warm enough to go swimming. You have a choice of beaches on the Pagasitikos Gulf or the Aegean Sea.

Fakistra beach is unique but be careful… the road is very bad. In case of oncoming traffic, you should keep calm. In summer, the beach is supposed to be very crowded, so I would not recommend it. For the way down, I would recommend proper shoes and not flip-flops.

Mylopotamos beach – a dream! You can park at the top of the road and walk down the small path. At the bottom you’ll find a small beach bar. When the sun is gone, you can just go to the beach to the right of Milopotamos, there you have about 1-2 hours longer sun.

For all Mamma Mia fans – did you know that a scene from the famous movie was filmed in Pelion? It was filmed at Damouchari beach! We were unfortunately not there – but have heard only the best about it.

Another beach worth visiting is Kala Nera, which is located on the southwestern side of the Pelion and offers a unique view of the bay. The promenade invites you to stroll, and invites you to enjoy a beautiful sunset. Best with a cold Mythos beer and a portion of tzatziki – Yamas!

5. Go on some adventurous hikes

Pelion offers over 120 different hiking routes in different levels. The hikes are well-marked. We did a day hike with Giorgos, whose company Cycle and Hike offered different hiking and mountain biking tours. We did a hike from Makrinitsa to Statiages via Portaria back to Makrinitsa, which takes about 2 hours.

I can also recommend the Centaur’s (Kentavros) Path. Pelion is considered the home of the centaurs – half-man, half-horse. The Centaur’s Path starts at the entrance of Portaria village, about 20 minutes from Volos. From there, you walk for about 20 minutes along a small stream over a few bridges up the mountain. You can either go back through the village or walk back down the same way. For me, this place had something magical and very calming. Especially in summer, it is a bit cooler there. Walk through the forest with your eyes open – maybe a centaur will cross your way 😉

Extra tip: Don’t leave Pelion without drinking tsipouro! 😛

Tsipouro is a traditional grape-distilled spirit from Greece – with or without anise. Drinking tsipouro is a gastronomic and cultural tradition of the city of Volos. It is more than just a visit to a tsipouro restaurant or much more than just a way to eat a lot for little money. Tsipouro drinking in Volos is a social event that plays an important role in the lives of the locals. In a typical tsipouradiko, there is no menu – you eat what comes to the table! A small plate with meze… small snacks, mostly fish, but also meat or vegetables – whatever is there. Is comparable to the tapas from Spain. With each tsipouro, a new plate with different meze is served.

Good to know:  the more you drink, the “better” the food becomes. In the end, you only pay for the tsipouro, the food is free 😉 Most of the time you pay about 15-20 euros per person. The best places for tsipouro are: Mezen, Flokos, or Παραδοσακό Ουζερί. If you like trying different things, I highly recommend it – I loved it! My recommendation: go with a small group, so you can try more Meze … and drinking the tsipouro becomes more fun 😉

The best season to go (and work remotely from) to Pelion

… ALWAYS! 😉 This area really has something to offer in every season. In summer there are a lot of tourists from Israel and England and the beaches in Pelion can get very crowded. That’s why I would recommend spring or fall for a vacation in Pelion! Especially in autumn, when the leaves shine in all those beautiful red, yellow, and orange tones, the apples, plums, and chestnuts are ripe, the area has a special flair. We were there in October and had only two days of bad weather in two weeks. Sun was shining, it was about 20 degrees and the water was still warm enough for swimming.

So – is Pelion already on your bucket list? I’ve been flashed by the area & I will definitely come back. On my

Instagram channel Travelbuddyanna you can get more impressions of Pelion, in my Story Highlight I have saved all the important info. Jassu!  

In summary

• Mountainous villages
• Stunning beaches
• Activities in nature for everyone
• Local delicacies & drinks
• Perfect destination for digital nomads

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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!

 

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Paros is one of those places that, immediately when you arrive, you feel at home. I have to admit, I never considered a Greek island to be more than a family holiday destination – but after spending two weeks in Paros, I realized it’s the ultimate digital nomad destination! Continue reading for a guide on the best things to do in Paros as a digital nomad, including what to see and do, where to stay and eat, how to get there and how to get around.

In recent years, Paros has grown in popularity. An island tucked away in the Cyclades, equally beautiful as its neighbours Santorini or Mykonos, only less crowded. Paros has the iconic white houses with blue doors, winds perfect for water sports and some of the best beaches in Greece. Who wouldn’t want to live and work in that environment?!

Where to live in Paros

Paros has a few towns all worth a visit. Where I recommend you stay during your Paros workaction depends on what you are interested in doing. For a more lively experience, I suggest Naoussa, one of the biggest towns on the island. If you prefer a calmer experience, I suggest the mountain villages Lefkes or Marpissa. If you are more into water sports, I suggest you stay in the southern part of Paros, for example Pounda Bay. 

 

Paros is not a very big island. If you rent a vehicle you can easily get around and get the full Paros experience, wherever you choose to stay.

Choose a coliving / coworking space for a seamless experience

As a digital nomad, you need to take more things into account besides location when you choose your accommodation. To me, it’s important with a proper kitchen, good wi-fi, a desk and preferably an area to socialize and meet other digital nomads.

That said, I can highly recommend Selina Paros – a colive/cowork space where digital nomads have everything they need under the same roof. Selina Paros offers well-sized rooms with desks, proper wi-fi, shared workspaces, a kitchen, a gym (with yoga classes!), a restaurant and bar, a pool and a private beach.

Transportation

How to get to Paros

You can get to Paros either by air or by sea. From Athens, you can catch a flight and be in Paros in 45 minutes. Aegean Airlines is the largest Greek airline and is a great option when booking flights both domestically and internationally.

For shorter trips, I usually prefer to stay on the ground (a great way to reduce your climate footprint!) which is why the ferry route with Blue Star Ferries was the better option for me. The ferry route from Athens to Piraeus took 4 hours, and I spent them working and sipping coffee from the cafe.

How to get around in Paros

As I mentioned above, Paros is not a very big island, but to get around you need a vehicle. You can rent a car, a scooter or an ATV. Which you should choose depends on how long you’re planning to stay in Paros, and whether you’re planning to explore or just relax.

Things to do in Paros

Vilage-hopping

My absolute favorite activity in Paros was renting a car and driving around, visiting all the enchanting villages. I’m not even exaggerating when I say that I think Paros is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

These are some of the villages you simply can’t miss while in Paros:

• Naoussa
• Lefkes
• Marpissa
• Prodromos
• Parikia
• Piso Livadi

Read more: Escaping to the villages of Paros

Try kitesurfing

Paros is huge on water sports! From June to September, the winds are perfect, which attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers from all over the world. If you are a surfer, or you want to try, there’s no better place to do so than Paros.

During my time in Paros, I had a two-hour kitesurfing trial with Paros Kite, which I can highly recommend! I had never tried windsurfing or kitesurfing before, but the guys at Paros Kite took good care of me.

Visit Antiparos

Next to Paros lies its little brother Antiparos, a beautiful island mostly known to be the summer getaway for celebrities like Tom Hanks. The boat from Pounta to Antiparos only takes 10 minutes, and costs €1.5 – €2, depending on the season. 

Antiparos has beautiful beaches, a coastline filled with coves, a main village equally enchanting as Lefkes or Marpissa and a lively nighttime atmosphere.

My favorite experience in Antiparos was eating dinner at the fairytale-like restaurant Taverna Klimataria. Here you can enjoy delicious Greek food under a bright pink bougainvillea pergola.

Visit Naoussa harbour

The postcard-perfect Naoussa harbour deserves its own time to shine. With wooden boats docked close together, iconic white houses with blue doors and bougainvillea climbing up the walls, narrow cobbled laneways, and octopus drying in the sun… it doesn’t get more Greek than this. 

Besides being the most picturesque spot in Paros, Naoussa harbour is also home to some of the island’s best restaurants. In the evening, strings of lights are lit and the whole harbour looks like a fairytale.

Tips: Not far from Naoussa harbour lies Come Back bar, a great place for brunch, lunch or a sunset drink.

Beach-hopping

Paros is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. The most iconic beach in Paros is Kolymbithres beach, with its smooth granite rock formations and crystal-clear, shallow water.

Other beaches well worth a visit are:

• Santa Maria
• Mikri Santa Maria
• Kalogeros (popular for its clay mud that is supposed to make your skin smooth)
• Faragas

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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

• Minu Athens
• This is Loco
• KoukArt

Rent a desk at a coworking space

• Selina coworking
• Impact Hub
• Seed Athens

Impact hub

Seed Athens

Selina athens 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.

The Acropolis in Athens

The Athenian landmark and best-known temple of the ancient world, built in the middle of the 5th century BC

The Erechtheion. A temple dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon

View of Temple of Hephaestus from Ancient Agora

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:

• Tavern Klimataria
• Avli Psiri
• L’œuf Du Coq
• Mozzart Pizza
• Karamanlidika
• Anefani
• ERGON House

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:

• The Clumsies
• Drupes Spritzeria
• six d.o.g.s
• Cinque Wine Bar
• To Lokali

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:

• Anglais
• A for Athens
• Retiré at the ERGON House
• Ciel

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. 

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