Like most tourist meccas, Athens offers plenty of opportunities to pay top dollar for things that won't necessarily enhance your trip. Here are some smart ways to enjoy Athens on a budget.
When to Visit:
Summer in Athens is hot and dry, with temperatures averaging in the 90s. Rates are at their highest, as the city can become clogged with visitors or those en route to the Greek islands. Some people prefer to visit in the fall and spring seasons, when temperatures and prices are more moderate. Even the winter weather is mild and pleasant, with average temps in the low 50s. Find flights to Athens
Getting Around:
The recent creation of car-free pedestrian zones on landmarked streets in the historic center has fashioned a scenic "Archaeological Park," and made sightseeing on foot a pleasure. Otherwise, you can get around on the Athens Metro; it's fast and economical (a day pass costs less than $4 USD). Taxis are cheap and plentiful; buses and trolleys are cheap as well, but can be slow going in the heavy traffic.
Where to Stay:
Two important things to keep in mind about finding accommodations in Athens are location and early booking. If you're traveling in the summer high season, book your top hotel choice well in advance. Select accommodations in close proximity to the city center -- a warren of streets and neighborhoods rimming the Acropolis, where most of the attractions, food and shopping can be found.
Hotel rates are at their highest in July, August and during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Prices drop precipitously in the low season.
Where to Eat:
Greek cuisine is delicious and hearty; this is, after all, the cradle of the highly touted heart-healthy "Mediterranean diet," with its emphasis on fish, fresh vegetables and lots of olive oil. You can eat very well in Athens, and not spend a fortune, by dining in tavernas, casual, often family-run establishments serving traditional Greek cuisine and copious mezedes (small plates or hors d'oeuvres). Of course, if all you eat is baklava, the sticky-sweet phyllo-dough dessert, or loukoumades, a fried-dough pastry drenched in sugar or honey, your heart-healthy diet may run off the rails.
Athens, an Open-Air Museum:
The heart and soul of ancient Greece, Athens is a living monument to ancient history, a place where rich archaeological sites are just steps away from Internet cafes and the other amenities of modern life. The city grew out from and around the rocky hill known as the Acropolis, the highest peak in the city; it represented the pinnacle of power for the Greek civilization that ruled in the 5th century B.C. Today, the Acropolis is Athens' most popular attraction, as much for its views of the city and beyond as for its splendid ruins of ancient Greece -- including the Parthenon, an iconic temple dedicated to the Olympian gods. Visit on Sunday, when admission is free (but don't expect to have the place to yourself. Go as early as possible to beat the crowds).
Other Athens Attractions:
The National Archaeological Museum is the country's largest museum and a world-class treasure trove of ancient Greek art and artifacts. European Union students are admitted for free.
Two Greek temples worth visiting: The Temple of Olympian Zeus, in its heyday an enormous structure that now is an impressive ruin with 56-foot columns; and the Temple of Poseidon, in ancient days visible to sailors cruising into Athens' port (Lord Byron carved his name into one of the 15 remaining columns).
More Athens Tips:
- Head underground to a subway museum. Mere subway fare gives you access to exhibitions of artifacts found during the city's subway excavations. More than 50,000 archaeological finds were uncovered, thanks to the excavations performed during the construction of the Athens Metro system. It's a painstakingly delicate process that continues today.
- Take home a Greek statue. Not the authentically old stuff, of course. Don't expect to fly home with a bag full of Greek antiquities; it's illegal to take anything out of the country that's more than 100 years old. You can, however, buy the next best thing: museum copies of classic Greek art, sold at places such as the National Archaeological Museum.
- Do drink the water. Toast with tap water: Experts say that Athens has some of the most drinkable water of any urban area in Europe.
- Shop and stroll. The development of pedestrian zones in downtown Athens not only has done wonders to reduce the inner-city traffic and pollution, but also has given shops and street vendors new life. Pedestrians can leisurely stroll and shop in car-free areas that have the vibrancy of street bazaars.
