Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy. It is a thriving metropolis and a dream destination for anyone even slightly interested in Greek mythology.
“Ancient architecture paired with modern art makes this city a dream destination"
What to Budget
Athens is easily accessible, and most of the tourist attractions can be accessed via public transit or walking. Estimates below are based on a one week stay and do not include the cost of the flight.
Low: $1,000 - Hostel/guest houses start at $25 per person per night - these may not be centrally located. Food in Athens can be extremely affordable, less than $10 per person per meal. Public transit is also accessible and affordable, and many attractions can be reached by foot if you are staying in the city center.
Medium: $2,000 - Hotel or Airbnb that is centrally located. You can dine at local restaurants for about $20 per couple (including house wine!). Generally, the closer you are to the Acropolis, the more expensive the restaurants. Public transit and taxi rides.
High: $3,000 - 5-star hotel, white tablecloth restaurants, private car hire or rental car.
How to Get There
There are several U.S. cities (ATL, BOS, ORD, IAD, PHL, JFK, EWR) that offer direct flights to Athens Greece (ATH). We booked two roundtrip tickets from Birmingham, Alabama to Athens, Greece in August for $1,105.30 USD ($552.50 USD each). If you are also interested in seeing some Greek islands (Mykonos, Santorini, etc), there are local low cost carriers that offer very affordable flights for island hoping, I'm talking less than $50 USD roundtrip base fare! Please note that with each addition (seat selection, baggage, snacks) the price does go up substantially.
Where to Stay
Athens has a host of Airbnb and hotel options, many with high end finishing's - Please note the lighted glass bathtub!
If you are interested in renting a car while in Athens, be cautious that many Airbnb's in the city center do NOT have dedicated parking. Hotels often charge nightly parking rates.
Athens is broken into 7 districts, each offering their own unique experience. For sight seeing, the most popular areas are Plaka, Syntagma, Monastiraki, Acropolis & Thissio.
Things to Do
In addition to visiting the Acropolis and other historical sites, there is more to Athens than just architecture. Noctua Microbrewery is a great local brewery based in Athens.
Final Thoughts
We visited in the summer, if you are not accustomed to heat, pick a cooler month for your trip, because Athens does get very hot in the summer months. I would definitely return to Athens, the food was amazing and I loved learning about the historical significance of the city.
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