Athens & Attica

Athens is a sprawling city with over 3.7 million inhabitants in the greater area, but the tourist center is surprisingly compact. Almost everything you want to see lies between the Acropolis and Omonia Square — and everything is within walking distance.

• Plaka: The oldest district of Athens, directly below the Acropolis. Labyrinthine alleys with neoclassical houses, bougainvillea on every corner, souvenir shops, and tourist restaurants. Charming despite the tourist crowds — especially in the evenings when the Acropolis is illuminated above the rooftops. Staying here is central but comes at a premium.
• Anafiotika: A tiny village in the middle of Athens! The whitewashed houses with blue doors on the north slope of the Acropolis were built in the 19th century by workers from Anafi (Cycladic island) who came to Athens to build the royal palace — and simply brought their island architecture with them. Breathtakingly photogenic, almost surreal.
• Monastiraki: The heart of tourist Athens. The flea market (daily, largest on Sunday), the view from Plateia Monastirakiou to the Acropolis, vintage shops, street food, and the foundation for a perfect Athenian day. Loud, colorful, full of energy.
• Psyrri: Directly north of Monastiraki. Former artisan district, now Athens' trendiest nightlife district. Street art on every wall, hip bars in former workshops, live music venues, and ouzeries. Quiet during the day, the district explodes after 10 PM.
• Kolonaki: The chic district at the foot of Lykabettus Hill. Designer boutiques, elegant cafes, the Benaki Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art. Here, the Athenian upper class drinks their Freddo Espresso. Expensive but stylish.
• Exarchia: The anarchistic, alternative, intellectual heart of Athens. Graffiti as an art form, squatted houses, the best and cheapest ouzeries in the city, independent bookstores, vinyl record stores. Since the military dictatorship, the center of resistance. It can get wild at night — but the atmosphere is unique. Don't show up with expensive jewelry.
• Koukaki: The secret favorite of many Athens connoisseurs. Directly south of the Acropolis, quiet, with excellent restaurants and cafes, but without the tourist surcharge of the Plaka. Many Airbnbs and boutique hotels. Perfect base.
• Gazi: Around the former gas factory Technopolis: Athens' club district. Gay scene, techno clubs, industrial charm. Quiet during the week, the epicenter of Athenian nightlife on weekends.
• Pangrati: East of the National Gardens, behind the Panathenaic Stadium. A real Athenian residential district without notable sights — but with the best local restaurants and the feeling of no longer being a tourist. The First Cemetery of Athens (Primo Nekrotafio) is a green, quiet sculpture park.
• Kifissia: Wealthy suburb in the north, accessible by metro (line 1, terminus). Villas in lush gardens, old plane trees, boutiques, and cafes. In summer, 3-4°C cooler than the city center. Perfect for a half-day trip when the heat becomes unbearable.

The Parthenon (447-432 BC) is the most perfect building humanity has ever created — at least according to architectural historians. Built under Pericles by architects Iktinos and Kallikrates, dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin). The building is full of optical tricks: The columns are slightly inclined inward, the base is slightly curved, the corner columns are a bit thicker — all so that the building appears perfectly straight to the human eye. Without these corrections, it would visually sag.

Inside once stood the 12-meter-high statue of Athena by Phidias — made of gold and ivory, adorned with gemstones. Long gone, but reconstructions show it must have been breathtaking. The Parthenon friezes (metopes and the 160-meter-long Ionic frieze) depicted mythological scenes — much of which is now in the British Museum in London as the "Elgin Marbles," a perpetual point of contention between Greece and the United Kingdom.

The Parthenon has a wild history: It was a Greek temple, an early Christian church, a Byzantine cathedral, a mosque under the Ottomans — and in 1687, it exploded when a Venetian cannonball hit the Ottoman powder magazine inside. Since then, it has been a ruin. The ongoing restoration (since the 1970s) aims to carefully correct the damage of the centuries.

The Erechtheion (421-406 BC) is the temple everyone wants to photograph — because of the six Caryatids, those majestic female figures that support the roof of the porch instead of columns. What you see are replicas: Five originals stand in the Acropolis Museum (breathtaking!), the sixth was taken to London by Lord Elgin in 1801.

Architecturally, the Erechtheion is a special case: It stands on uneven ground (almost 3 meters difference in height!) and combines several cult sites in one building. Here, Athena Polias was worshipped, here was the sacred olive tree that Athena gave to the city, here the spring that Poseidon struck with his trident. The Athenians believed that the trident mark of Poseidon was still visible in the rock — and indeed, there are still holes in the floor of the temple.

The sacred olive tree next to the temple (a successor of the original) is one of the most emotional places on the Acropolis: It reminds us that Athena gifted the Athenians the olive tree and thus won the contest with Poseidon — and the city was named after her.

The Propylaea (437-432 BC) are the monumental gateway to the Acropolis — and in antiquity, they were almost as impressive as the Parthenon itself. Five passages, Doric and Ionic columns, white Pentelic marble. The north wing housed the Pinakotheke — the world's first known art gallery.

To the right of the Propylaea stands on a small bastion the Temple of Athena Nike (Athena the Bringer of Victory), a delicate Ionic temple (around 420 BC). From here, the Athenians supposedly watched the Battle of Salamis. The frieze reliefs depict the Persian Wars and a famous "Nike adjusting her sandal" (original in the Acropolis Museum). The small temple was dismantled by the Ottomans to make room for cannons — and meticulously reassembled in the 19th century.

The Acropolis Museum (2009, architect: Bernard Tschumi) is one of the best museums in the world — and that's no exaggeration. The building alone is spectacular: a modern glass and concrete cube hovering on stilts over an archaeological excavation site (visible through the glass floor!). The light changes with the time of day, bathing the ancient marble sculptures in ever-new moods.

The ground floor displays finds from the slopes of the Acropolis: vases, sculptures, everyday objects. The archaic korai (female statues, 6th century BC) with their enigmatic smiles and preserved traces of color are breathtaking. On the first floor stand the five original caryatids from the Erechtheion — with an empty space for the sixth, which is in London. A silent, dignified indictment.

The top floor is the highlight: A hall, exactly the size of the Parthenon, where the preserved Parthenon friezes and metopes are displayed in their original arrangement — exactly as they hung on the building. The missing parts (in London) are marked by bright plaster casts. Through the glass walls, you can see directly to the Parthenon on the hill — the message is unmistakable: These artworks belong here.

If the Acropolis was the religious center, the Agora was the heart of public life. Here, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle discussed. Here, Cleisthenes invented democracy. Here, trade, judgment, politics, and philosophy took place. The Agora is less spectacular than the Acropolis, but historically just as significant.

The absolute highlight is the Temple of Hephaestus (Theseion, 449 BC) — the best-preserved Greek temple in the world. While the Parthenon is a ruin, the Temple of Hephaestus stands almost completely: roof, columns, pediment — all still there. The reason: It was early converted into a Christian church and thus preserved. From the north side, you have the perfect view with the Acropolis in the background — THE photo motif of Athens.

Also on the site: the Stoa of Attalos, a completely reconstructed Hellenistic colonnade (reconstructed in the 1950s with American money), now the Agora Museum with finds from daily life: pottery shards with inscribed names (ostraka — hence our word "ostracism," meaning banishment by vote), dice, coins, tools.

The Roman Agora (1st century BC) was the marketplace of the Roman period — less atmospheric than the ancient Agora, but with a real gem: the Tower of the Winds (Horologion of Andronikos, around 50 BC). This octagonal marble tower is an ancient marvel: simultaneously a sundial, water clock, weather vane, and wind indicator. Each of the eight sides features a relief depiction of the respective wind god. It is the best-preserved building in Roman Athens.

The rest of the Roman Agora is less spectacular — the Gate of Athena Archegetis (68 BC), financed by Julius Caesar and Augustus, and the ruins of merchant stalls and a public latrine. But the Tower of the Winds alone justifies the visit.

Imagine: 104 Corinthian columns, each 17 meters high, each made from a single block of marble. This is what the Temple of Olympian Zeus looked like in its heyday — the largest temple in Greece, begun in the 6th century BC, completed only under Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD (over 600 years of construction!). Today, 15 columns still stand upright, a 16th has been lying on the ground since a storm in 1852 — a dramatic photo motif.

Inside once stood a colossal gold and ivory statue of Zeus, meant to imitate the statue in Olympia. Next to it, with fine self-confidence, a statue of Hadrian himself in the same size. The Romans had a sense of humor.

Right next to the temple stands the Arch of Hadrian (132 AD), a triumphal arch-like gate marking the boundary between the "old" Athens of Theseus and the "new" Athens of Hadrian. The inscriptions on both sides proudly proclaim this. It is freely accessible and one of the most photographed monuments in Athens.

The Kerameikos is Athens' most fascinating cemetery and one of the city's most underrated ancient sites. Here, in the old potters' quarter (hence our word "ceramics"), burials took place from the Bronze Age to the Roman period. The preserved grave stelae along the "Street of the Tombs" depict poignant farewell scenes: a woman reaching out to her deceased daughter; a warrior bidding farewell to his dog; a couple sharing a final handshake.

The site is also historically significant: Here ran the Dipylon Gate, Athens' mightiest city gate, and the Sacred Gate, through which the procession to the Eleusinian Mysteries passed. A small but excellent museum displays grave finds, ceramics, and the oldest known Greek inscription (Dipylon Vase, ca. 740 BC).

The Kerameikos is a quiet, green place — turtles live among the tombstones, herbs grow wild. A perfect contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Panathenaic Stadium (also Kallimarmaro, "the beautiful marble") is the only stadium in the world completely made of white marble — and it is breathtaking. Here, the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896. The horseshoe shape dates back to the ancient original (330 BC), built for the Panathenaic Games. It could accommodate up to 50,000 spectators in antiquity.

Today, the stadium is used for special occasions: It is the finish line of the Athens Marathon (November) and is used for concerts and ceremonies. You can climb through the spectator stands on your own, stand on the winner's podium, and feel like an Olympic hero. In the tunnel under the stands, a small exhibition shows the history of the Olympic Games with torches, posters, and medals from all previous games.

The Areopagus (Ares Hill) is a bare limestone rock northwest of the Acropolis — and the place with the best free view of the illuminated Acropolis at night. In antiquity, the council of elders (Areopagus), the highest court of Athens, met here. The Apostle Paul is also said to have given his famous speech to the Athenians here (Acts 17) — a bronze plaque commemorates it.

Every evening, hundreds of people sit on the smooth rock, drink wine, play guitar, and watch as the sun sets behind Salamis and the Acropolis is bathed in golden light. It is one of the most magical places in Athens — and completely free. Caution: The ascent over the smooth marble rock is short but tricky. Sturdy footwear!

The National Archaeological Museum of Athens (Ethniko Archaiologiko Mouseio) is one of the most important archaeological museums in the world — and anyone with even the slightest interest in ancient history will spend hours here. The collection includes over 11,000 exhibited objects from 7,000 years of Greek history: from Neolithic idols to Mycenaean gold to Roman portraits.

The highlights are legendary:

• Mask of Agamemnon (Room 4): The golden death mask from Mycenae (ca. 1550 BC) discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1876, who triumphantly telegraphed: "I have gazed upon the face of Agamemnon." (Spoiler: It was someone else, the mask is older than the Trojan War. Still breathtaking.)
• Jockey of Artemision (Room 21): The life-size bronze statue of a jockey on his galloping horse, salvaged from a shipwreck. The tension in the muscles, the boy's expression — bronze art at its absolute peak.
• Zeus/Poseidon of Artemision (Room 15): The famous 2.10-meter bronze statue of a god in the moment of throwing — Zeus with the lightning bolt or Poseidon with the trident? Scholars have been debating for decades. Either way: perfect anatomy, perfect dynamics.
• Antikythera Mechanism (Room 38): The world's oldest known analog computer (ca. 100 BC), a corroded gear mechanism that could calculate the positions of the sun, moon, and planets. The technology was so advanced that something comparable was not built again until the 14th century.
• Cycladic Idols (Room 6): The minimalist white marble figures from the Cyclades (3rd millennium BC) — faces without features, bodies reduced to geometric shapes. They look like works by Brancusi or Modigliani and have profoundly influenced modern art.
• Frescoes from Thera (Room 48): The 3,600-year-old wall paintings from Akrotiri (Santorini) depict an amazingly vibrant Minoan world: boxing children, monkeys climbing rocks, lilies and swallows in spring, a fleet parade. Colors like painted yesterday.

Plan at least 3 hours, better half a day. The museum is located in the Exarchia district — combine the visit with a stroll through the alternative district and an affordable lunch in one of the surrounding taverns.

The Benaki Museum is Athens' universal museum — and a perfect place to traverse the entire Greek history in an afternoon. The collection of art patron Antonis Benakis includes everything from the Stone Age to the 20th century: prehistoric goldsmithing, Byzantine icons, Foustanellas (the traditional pleated skirts of the Evzones), Ottoman silk fabrics, paintings of the Greek War of Independence, and El Greco works.

The building itself — an elegant neoclassical villa at the foot of the Kolonaki district — is worth seeing. The rooftop cafe offers one of the best views over Athens to the Acropolis and Lykabettus. On Thursdays, admission is free and the museum is open until midnight — one of the best free evenings in Athens.

The Museum of Cycladic Art houses one of the world's most important collections of Cycladic art — those enigmatic white marble figures (3200-2000 BC) that, with their reduced formal language, seem like precursors of modern sculpture. Picasso and Modigliani were obsessed with them.

The centerpiece is the Nicholas P. Goulandris Collection with over 350 objects: from tiny 10-cm figures to the almost life-size female figure (1.40 m). Particularly fascinating: No one knows exactly what the figures were for. Grave goods? Depictions of gods? Fertility symbols? The flat, faceless forms keep their secret.

On the ground floor and upper floors: Greek and Cypriot art from the Bronze Age to antiquity. Regularly outstanding special exhibitions of contemporary art in dialogue with antiquity.

Greece was Byzantine for over 1,000 years — and anyone who ignores this part of history only understands half the country. The Byzantine Museum in a 19th-century Florentine villa displays over 25,000 objects from the early Christian, Byzantine, and post-Byzantine periods: icons of incredible beauty, mosaics, church furnishings, manuscripts, and jewelry.

Highlights: the early Christian mosaics, the icon collection (including works from the 13th-16th centuries, among the oldest in Greece), and the reconstructed Byzantine basilica in the basement. The museum is ignored by most tourists — a mistake for anyone interested in art and religious history.

Plaka is Athens' oldest continuously inhabited district — people have lived here for 3,000 years. The labyrinth of narrow alleys below the Acropolis is full of neoclassical houses (19th century), ancient ruins (which can be seen while sipping coffee), Byzantine churches, and bougainvillea in every imaginable shade of pink and purple.

Yes, Plaka is touristy. Adrianou Street is a chain of souvenir shops and mediocre restaurants with pushy waiters. But off the main street, Plaka is enchanting: hidden staircases, sleepy squares (Plateia Filomoussou Etairias is a dream), tiny chapels, and everywhere the view upwards to the Acropolis.

The jewel of Plaka is Anafiotika — a tiny district of barely 45 whitewashed houses with blue doors and shutters, directly on the northern slope of the Acropolis. It looks like a Cycladic village in the middle of the city — and that's exactly what it is: In the 19th century, King Otto brought craftsmen from the Cycladic island of Anafi to build his palace. The workers built their home architecture on the Acropolis slope in a single night (according to the old custom: a house built in one night cannot be demolished). Today, only a few families remain, but the alleys, the cats, the blooming balconies, and the silence in the midst of the big city make Anafiotika a magical place.

Monastiraki is Athens' loud, colorful, bustling belly. The Plateia Monastirakiou (Monastiraki Square) is the hub: metro station, the small Pantanassa Church (10th century), the Tzistarakis Mosque (now a ceramics museum), the entrance to the flea market — and above it all towers the Acropolis. Here, Athens pulses the loudest.

The Monastiraki Flea Market stretches along Ifestou and Adrianou streets: vintage clothing, vinyl records, copper works, antique furniture, fake designer handbags, and genuine Greek kitsch. On Sundays, the market explodes into the surrounding alleys — then half of Athens sells its stuff. Haggling is a must.

From the corner of Adrianou/Areos, you have the most iconic view of Athens: The Acropolis over the rooftops of Monastiraki, in the foreground the Hadrian's Library and the Tzistarakis Mosque. Especially at sunset, a sight that leaves even seasoned travelers speechless.

Street food in Monastiraki: Souvlaki (at Kostas in Plateia Agias Irinis — the best in town, only at lunchtime!), Loukoumades (Greek honey donuts at Lukumades on Aiolou), Koulouri (sesame rings at every corner, 0.50€).

Psyrri (also spelled Psirri) is Athens at its coolest. The former artisan and warehouse district north of Monastiraki has developed into the creative heartbeat of the city in the 2000s. The mix of street art, live music, bars in former workshops, and the spirit of rebellion is reminiscent of Berlin-Friedrichshain 15 years ago — only with better weather.

During the day, Psyrri is relatively quiet: Artisans still work in some workshops (leatherworkers, shoemakers, metalworkers), and you can wander through the alleys and admire the street art, which is an art form of its own here. The works are political, provocative, artistic — from small paste-ups to house-high murals. Pittaki Street, completely decorated with colorful recycled lamps, is a selfie hotspot.

From 10 PM, Psyrri transforms: Bars (Noel, Baba au Rum, Six D.O.G.S.), live music (Rebetiko, Rock, Jazz), ouzeries with live bouzouki, restaurants on rooftops. Plateia Iroon is the center — here, Greeks and expats sit with ouzo, tsipouro, and meze until the early hours. Psyrri is the Athens that Athenians wanted to keep to themselves.

Exarchia is the district that makes Athens newcomers nervous — and that Athens connoisseurs love. Since the uprising against the military junta in 1973 (when tanks of the dictatorship rolled into the Polytechnic and killed students), Exarchia has been the center of Greek resistance, anarchy, and intellectual life. Demonstrations are regularly held here, tear gas grenades and Molotov cocktails fly on every November 17 (anniversary of the uprising), and banners hang on squatted houses.

Sound threatening? It mostly isn't. In everyday life, Exarchia is a lively, warm university district with the best and cheapest ouzeries in Athens, independent bookstores, record stores, small galleries, and a cafe culture that is more intellectual than in Kolonaki — and costs a tenth.

The best ouzeries in Athens can be found around Plateia Exarchion and in the surrounding alleys: Ama Lachei (Kallidromiou 69 — live music, meze to die for), Ouzeri Lesvos (legendary seafood meze), Barbagiannis (no menu, only what the host brings). A tsipouro costs 3-5€ with free meze — this is the real Athens.

The street Kallidromiou is a highlight in itself: On Saturdays, the Laiki Agora (farmers' market) takes place here, the most colorful and loudest weekly market in Athens. In between: vintage shops, vegan restaurants, anarchist bookstores, and the feeling that people live here who are truly passionate about something.

Athens is a paradise for bargain hunters. A souvlaki pita for 3-3.50€ is a complete meal: rolled flatbread, grilled pork or chicken, fries (!), tomatoes, onions, tzatziki. Two of those and a beer for under 10€ — that's a dinner.

Street Food

• Kostas (Plateia Agias Irinis 2): The tiny stall with a lunchtime queue that stretches around the corner. Only souvlaki, only pork, only perfect. Since 1950. Open only at lunchtime (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.), when the queue is gone, so is the meat. 3€ per pita. Cash only.
• O Thanasis (Mitropoleos 69, Monastiraki): Legendary kebab pitas (minced meat skewers) since 1964. Huge portions, the meat comes from the charcoal grill. Touristy, yes — but still good. Pita 4€, plate 8-10€.
• Bairaktaris (Plateia Monastirakiou 2): Since 1879 (!) on Monastiraki Square. Souvlaki and gyros with a view of the Acropolis. The quality varies (sometimes touristically negligent), but the place has history.
• Koulouri: At every street corner, vendors sell the sesame ring — Greece's answer to the pretzel. 0.50-0.80€, perfect as breakfast with a Greek coffee.
• Lukumades (Aiolou 21, Monastiraki): Small, fried dough balls, drizzled with honey and cinnamon — or with chocolate, pistachios, ice cream. The Greek version of the donut, only better. From 3€.

Taverns under 15€

• To Kafeneio (Epicharmou 1, Plaka): Hidden in a Plaka side alley, no English menu, grandma cooks. Moussaka, pastitsio, gemista (stuffed tomatoes) — all under 10€. This is how Greece really eats.
• Diporto (Sokratous 9, Central Market): A cellar hole without a sign, without a menu, without a website. You go down a staircase and sit among market traders. There's whatever is available: fish, beans, bread, house wine from the barrel (retsina!). Legendary. Only at lunchtime, cash only.
• Ama Lachei (Kallidromiou 69, Exarchia): Live music (Rebetiko!) + unbelievably good meze + tsipouro (grape brandy) for little money. Reserve on Friday and Saturday! Meze from 5€, tsipouro 4€ with free meze.

Athens mid-range offers an excellent value for money. For 25-45€ per person (including wine), you get food that would cost twice as much in Berlin or Munich.

• Scholarhio (Tripodon 14, Plaka): One of the best Meze-Ouzeries in Athens, housed in a charming neoclassical building. The meze are creative and fresh: grilled octopus with fava, zucchini keftedes, saganaki with honey. Reserve a table on the terrace with a view of the Acropolis. Meze 6-14€, main courses 12-18€.
• Cafe Avissinia (Plateia Avissinia 7, Monastiraki): Perched above the flea market, with a terrace that makes you fall in love with Athens instantly. Live bouzouki on weekends, waiters dance — and the food (lamb, meze, salads) is excellent. Open only Fri-Sun! Main courses 14-20€.
• Klimataria (Plateia Theatrou 2, Psyrri): Since 1927, one of the oldest taverns in Athens. Wooden barrels on the walls, retsina from the barrel, live music on weekends. Grilled lamb, stifado (stew), homemade pasta. The atmosphere is priceless. Main courses 12-18€.
• Mavro Provato (Arrianou 31, Pangrati): "The Black Sheep" — a modern tavern in Pangrati serving traditional Greek recipes with fresh ingredients and a creative twist. No tourists in sight. Meze 7-12€, main courses 14-22€.
• Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani (Sokratous 1, Central Market): A delicatessen-meze restaurant at the Varvakios Market. The meze are based on pastourma (air-dried beef), sujuk, and other specialties of the Anatolian Greeks. Unique in Athens. Meze 6-14€.
• Seychelles (Kerameikou 49, Metaxourgeio): Hipster brunch and creative Greek cuisine in an industrial-chic setting. Perfect for a late breakfast or early lunch. Brunch 12-18€.

Athens' gastronomic scene has made a remarkable leap in quality in recent years. The new generation of Greek chefs combines traditional ingredients and techniques with international finesse — and at prices that are a bargain compared to Paris, London, or Copenhagen.

• Spondi (Pyrronos 5, Pangrati): Athens' only restaurant with 2 Michelin stars. French-Greek cuisine at the highest level: scallops with verjuice, lamb with truffle, desserts like works of art. The courtyard with jasmine and candles is one of the most romantic places in Athens. Tasting menu from 120€, a la carte 80-120€ per person.
• Varoulko Seaside (Akti Koumoundourou 52, Piraeus): Chef Lefteris Lazarou was the first Greek with a Michelin star (since 2002, currently 1★). Fish and seafood in perfection, right at the Mikrolimano harbor. Grilled octopus, langoustines, creative fish dishes. Main courses 30-50€.
• CTC (Syngrou Avenue 44, Koukaki): "Creative Thane's Cooking" by Chef Thanos Feskos. Innovative Greek cuisine with Asian influences. The tasting menu (65€, 7 courses) is a journey through the Greek regions with surprises. Reservation required.
• Nolan (Voulis 31-33, Syntagma): Greek-Japanese fusion cuisine that sounds like a gimmick but turns out to be brilliant. Sashimi with Greek olive oil, gyoza with feta, ramen with lamb broth. 1 Michelin star. Tasting menu 75€.

A drink on a rooftop terrace with a view of the illuminated Acropolis is one of the essential Athens experiences. The following places are touristy, yes — but the view is real, and some things simply must be done.

• A for Athens (Miaouli 2, Monastiraki): The most famous rooftop bar in Athens — directly on Monastiraki Square with a frontal view of the Acropolis and Agora. Cafe by day, bar with DJs by night. Cocktails 12-16€. Arrive an hour before sunset to secure a spot.
• 360 Degrees (Ifestou 2, Monastiraki): Right next to A for Athens, similar view, a bit more relaxed. Good cocktails, small meze menu. Less Instagrammable, but cozier. Cocktails 10-14€.
• Couleur Locale (Normanou 3, Monastiraki): Hidden entrance in a side alley, elevator to the 3rd floor — and then this view. Sunny terrace by day, cocktails with DJ music and Acropolis panorama by night. Less known than A for Athens, but more atmospheric. Cocktails 10-14€.
• GB Roof Garden (Hotel Grande Bretagne, Syntagma): The most elegant rooftop in Athens. The view from the roof of the Grande Bretagne encompasses the Acropolis, Parliament, Lycabettus, and the National Garden. Cocktails from 18€, dinner from 50€ per person. Dress code: smart casual.
• Thea Terrace (Dionysiou Areopagitou 19, Koukaki): Less known, but possibly with the best view: The Acropolis seems within reach. Good restaurant with Greek cuisine and international influences. Reservation recommended. Main courses 16-28€.

Greek street food is among the best and most affordable in the world. An overview of the main classics:

• Souvlaki: Small skewers with grilled meat (pork, chicken, rarely lamb). Either as a skewer (kalamaki) or in a pita roll with tomatoes, onions, fries, and tzatziki. THE Greek fast food. 2.50-3.50€ per pita.
• Gyros: Meat (pork or chicken) from the rotisserie, served in pita. The difference from souvlaki: Gyros is cut from the large meat cone, souvlaki are individual pieces on a skewer. Gyros pita: 3-4€.
• Loukoumades: Fried dough balls with honey and cinnamon (or chocolate, Nutella, pistachios — the modern variant). Hot and fresh, they are a dream. From 3€ per portion.
• Koulouri: Sesame rings, Greece's answer to the pretzel. Available at every kiosk (periptero) and from street vendors. Perfect breakfast for 0.50-0.80€.
• Bougatsa: Puff pastry pie filled with vanilla cream (sweet) or cheese/minced meat (savory). Originating from Thessaloniki, but available everywhere in Athens. From 3€.
• Tyropita / Spanakopita: Puff pastry pockets with feta (tyropita) or spinach-feta (spanakopita). In every bakery (fournos) for 2-3€. The standard breakfast of many Athenians.
• Greek Coffee: Heated in a briki (small copper pot) on sand, unfiltered, with grounds. Order "metrio" (medium sweet), "gliko" (sweet), or "sketo" (without sugar). In every kafenio from 1.50€. Do not stir!
• Freddo Espresso / Freddo Cappuccino: The national drink of modern Greece: espresso shaken with ice, ice-cold, frothy. Indispensable in summer. 2.50-4€ everywhere.

• The Clumsies (Praxitelous 30, Syntagma): Regularly listed among the World's 50 Best Bars — and rightly so. The cocktails are masterpieces: creative compositions with Greek ingredients (mastic, tsipouro, Greek herbs). The bar over two floors has a relaxed living room atmosphere. Cocktails 12-16€. Reservation recommended, especially Fri/Sat.
• Noel (Kolokotroni 59b, Syntagma): A hidden bar-restaurant in a neoclassical mansion. Christmas decorations all year round (hence the name), opulent vintage furniture, excellent cocktails, and an atmosphere like in Baz Luhrmann's Gatsby. Cocktails 12-15€.
• Baba au Rum (Klitiou 6, Psyrri): Rum bar with over 200 rum varieties and cocktails treated like sanctuaries by rum enthusiasts. Also among the World's 50 Best. Small, intimate atmosphere. Cocktails 12-14€.
• Six D.O.G.S. (Avramiotou 6-8, Monastiraki): Multi-functional cultural space: bar, concert venue, gallery, and garden. The enchanted courtyard with old trees and fairy lights is Athens' coziest open-air meeting point. Live music, DJ sets, film evenings. Beer 5€, cocktails 9-12€.
• Tiki Athens (Falirou 15, Koukaki): Kitschy tiki bar with bamboo decor, volcano cocktails, and a menu full of cheerfully exaggerated rum creations. Perfect if you've had enough of cool hipster bars and just want fun. Cocktails 10-14€.
• Heteroclito (Fokionos 2, Syntagma): Stunning wine bar with exclusively Greek wines — over 300 labels. The sommeliers know every single winemaker personally. Perfect place to discover the world of Greek wines. Glass from 5€, flights from 12€.

• Gazaki (Voutadon 32, Gazi): The classic in Gazi: rooftop terrace with a view of the illuminated Technopolis, changing DJs, Greek and international music. Especially magical in summer. Free entry or 5-10€ (including a drink).
• Bios (Pireos 84, Gazi): Cultural center and rooftop bar in a former industrial building. Cinema, concerts, DJ sets, art exhibitions — and a rooftop terrace with Acropolis view. The intellectual nightlife of Athens. Cocktails 8-12€.
• Fuzz Club (Mavromateon 22, Exarchia): The best live music venue in Athens for indie, rock, punk, and electronic music. Small, intimate stage, international and Greek acts. Entry 5-20€ depending on the act.
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC): In summer, open-air concerts (often free!) in the park of the spectacular Renzo Piano building. Classical, jazz, world music. Program at snfcc.org. Access: Tram to Syntagma/Fix.
• Bouzoukia (various locations on Syngrou Avenue): Anyone seeking the real Greek nightlife goes to a Bouzoukia — a live music club with Greek pop (Laiko/Skyladiko). Loud, kitschy, emotional, expensive (bottle service from 100€). Here, Greeks break plates (flower pots, to be precise) and shout "Opa!" Athenians love it or hate it — but it's 100% authentic.

• Athens Backpackers (Makri 12, Koukaki): The best hostel in Athens — and one of the best in Europe. Perfect location between the Acropolis Museum and Plaka, a rooftop terrace with Acropolis view (at hostel prices!), clean rooms, well organized. Dormitory from 20€, double room from 65€. The bar on the roof is worth a visit even for non-guests.
• City Circus (Sarri 16, Psyrri): Design hostel in a beautifully renovated neoclassical building. Hip cafe on the ground floor, creatively designed rooms, right in the nightlife district. Dormitory from 18€, double room from 55€. Breakfast included.
• AthenStyle (Agias Theklas 10, Monastiraki): Central location, rooftop bar with Acropolis view, colorful rooms, international atmosphere. A bit louder (it's Monastiraki, after all), but unbeatable for the location. Dormitory from 16€, double room from 50€.
• Pella Inn (Karolou 104, Omonia): Only for the hardcore: right on Omonia Square (not the nicest corner), but absurdly cheap. Spartan rooms, functional, clean enough. From 15€ per night in a shared room. The advantage: You save money for souvlaki and museums.

• Plaka Hotel (Kapnikareas 7, Plaka): Family-run hotel in Plaka with one of the best rooftop terraces in Athens: The Acropolis seems to float right in front of the breakfast table. Rooms are clean and tidy, though not huge. Double rooms from 90-130€ including breakfast. Book well in advance!
• A for Athens (Miaouli 2, Monastiraki): Yes, the famous rooftop bar is also a hotel — and the concept works. Modern rooms with industrial chic, some with Acropolis views, and the bar is right above you. Double rooms from 100-160€. Downside: The bar music can be disturbing on weekends.
• Herodion Hotel (Rovertou Galli 4, Koukaki): Elegant 4-star hotel at the foot of the Acropolis, directly on the pedestrian street Dionysiou Areopagitou. Rooftop pool (!), excellent breakfast, quiet despite central location. Double rooms from 120-180€. One of the best value-for-money hotels in the city.
• Perianth Hotel (Lykavittou 5, Kolonaki): Design hotel in Kolonaki with rooftop pool and Art Deco decor. Stylish without being ostentatious, with a restaurant that also attracts locals. Double rooms from 140-200€.
• COCO-MAT Athens BC (Falirou 5, Koukaki): Greek furniture brand COCO-MAT has built a hotel here with their famous natural mattresses (coconut fiber, seaweed, cactus silk). You sleep like on clouds. Rooftop with pool and — of course — Acropolis view. Double rooms from 130-190€.

• Hotel Grande Bretagne (Vasileos Georgiou A1, Syntagma): The most legendary hotel in Greece — a destination for kings, presidents, and movie stars since 1874. Right on Syntagma Square, overlooking the Parliament and the Acropolis. The rooftop restaurant and bar are among the best viewpoints in the city. Spa, indoor pool, butler service. Double rooms from 300-600€. If you want to feel like Greek nobility once in your life: here.
• King George (Vasileos Georgiou A2, Syntagma): The sister hotel of the Grande Bretagne, a touch more modern and intimate. The Tudor Hall Suite on the top floor has a private terrace with a 360-degree view — realistically priceless. But even the standard double rooms (from 250-450€) are exquisite. The Tudor Hall Restaurant (7th floor) offers one of the best fine dining evenings in Athens.
• Electra Palace (Navarchou Nikodimou 18-20, Plaka): 5-star hotel in the heart of Plaka with a rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis. The pool terrace at night, with the illuminated Acropolis just a few hundred meters away, is one of the most romantic places in Athens. Neoclassical architecture, elegant rooms. Double rooms from 200-350€.
• Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery (Pireos 18-20, Psyrri): Design hotel of the Sofitel group in a converted industrial building. Minimalist-modern, with a rooftop bar that fits the nightlife district of Psyrri. For those who want luxury without plush. Double rooms from 180-300€.

The Athenian metro system is the best means of transportation: modern (opened in 2000 for the 2004 Olympic Games), clean, punctual, and affordable.

Metro Lines

• Line 1 (Green, Kifissia-Piraeus): The oldest line (1869!), connects the north (Kifissia) with Piraeus (ferries). Stops: Monastiraki, Thissio, Omonia, Victoria (National Museum).
• Line 2 (Red, Anthoupoli-Elliniko): Runs through the city center. Important stops: Syntagma, Akropoli (Acropolis Museum!), Larissa (main station).
• Line 3 (Blue, Nikaia-Airport): Connects the center with the airport (end station). Important stops: Syntagma, Evangelismos (Benaki), Monastiraki.

Tickets & Prices

• Single ride: 1.20€ (valid for 90 minutes, unlimited transfers)
• Day ticket: 4.10€ (24 hours)
• 5-day ticket: 8.20€ (perfect for a stay in Athens!)
• Airport metro: 9€ one way (group of 2: 16€, group of 3: 22€)
• 3-day tourist ticket (incl. airport): 20€

Tickets can be purchased at machines (English available) or at the counter. Anonymous chip card (Ath.ena Card) for 2€ + credit is worthwhile from 3 days.

Tram

The tram connects the center (Syntagma) with the coast (Glyfada, Voula). Useful for beach visits, otherwise irrelevant. Same tickets as metro.

Bus

The bus network is extensive but confusing for tourists (Greek signage, irregular times). Useful: Bus X95 (Syntagma-Airport, 24/7, 6€) and Bus 040 (Syntagma-Piraeus). Google Maps reliably shows bus connections.

The Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) is located 33 km east of the center. There are four ways to get to the center:

Metro (Recommendation)

Line 3 (blue) runs directly from the airport to Syntagma (40 minutes) and Monastiraki (45 minutes). Departures every 30 minutes, 6:30 am-11:30 pm. 9€ one way (Group of 2: 16€, Group of 3: 22€). Convenient, reliable, no traffic jams. Best transfer for most travelers.

Bus X95

Runs 24 hours, even at night when the metro is not operating. Syntagma Square in about 60-90 minutes (depending on traffic). 6€. Departures every 15-30 minutes. Downside: Can get stuck in traffic (2+ hours possible in the morning and evening).

Taxi

Fixed price 40€ to the center (daytime), 55€ at night (0-5 am). Duration: 40-90 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis are always available at the airport exit. Insist on the fixed price — it is preset on the taximeter (Tariff 1 or 2). Also bookable in advance via the apps Beat (Greece's Uber equivalent) or Uber.

Probus / Shuttle

Various providers (Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi) offer private transfers from 40-55€ (pre-booked, driver waits with a name sign). Comfortable, but not cheaper than a taxi.

Athens is an excellent starting point for day trips — from ancient sites to islands and spectacular coasts. Here are the best options:

★★★ Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon

70 km southeast of Athens, at the southern tip of the Attica Peninsula, stands the Temple of Poseidon (444 BC) on a 60-meter-high rocky cape above the sea. The sunset here — the sun sinking between the Doric columns into the Aegean Sea — is one of the most famous in Greece. Lord Byron carved his name into one of the columns (please don't imitate). Access: KTEL bus from Pedion tou Areos (2 hours, 7€) or rental car (1 hour along the coastal road — spectacular!). Admission: 10€.

★★★ Delphi

The "navel of the world" of antiquity — the most famous oracle of the ancient world, nestled in a breathtaking mountain landscape at the foot of Mount Parnassus. The ruins (Temple of Apollo, theater, stadium, treasuries) and the outstanding museum justify the trip. 180 km northwest, KTEL bus from Terminal B (3 hours, 17€ one way) or organized tour (from 55€). Admission: 12€ (including museum). Ideally as a day trip with a very early start (7 am) or better: plan an overnight stay in Delphi.

★★ Aegina Island

The nearest Saronic island — only 40 minutes by fast ferry from Piraeus. Highlight: the Doric Temple of Aphaia (500 BC), one of the best-preserved in Greece, with views over the island to the sea. Also: pistachios (Aegina's specialty), fish restaurants at the harbor, beaches. Perfect half-day trip. Ferry: 15€ one way (fast ferry). Tip: Go during the week, the island is crowded with Athenians on weekends.

★★ Hydra Island

The car-free island of artists — no cars, no motorcycles, only donkeys and boats. The port of Hydra, surrounded by elegant stone houses (18th century), is one of the most photogenic places in Greece. Leonard Cohen lived here in the 1960s. Ideal for a day of swimming, hiking, and sitting in taverns. Fast ferry from Piraeus: 90 minutes, from 30€ one way. A day trip is doable, but an overnight stay is nicer.

★★ Marathon & Ramnous

42 km northeast of Athens: the battlefield of Marathon (490 BC), where 10,000 Athenians defeated 25,000 Persians. The burial mound (Tymbos) of the fallen Athenians still stands. Can be combined with the Archaeological Museum of Marathon and the remote fortress of Ramnous (ancient sanctuary of Nemesis). Only feasible with a rental car. Admission Marathon: 6€.

★ Eleusis (Elefsina)

23 km west: The site of the Eleusinian Mysteries, the most secret religious rites of antiquity. Today amidst an industrial city, making the visit surreal — ancient ruins between cement factories and tankers. The museum is small, but the history is fascinating: Those initiated into the mysteries were forbidden to speak about them under penalty of death. We still don't know exactly what happened there. Elefsina was the European Capital of Culture in 2023 and has significantly spruced up since then. KTEL bus from Pedion tou Areos (45 minutes, 2€). Admission: 8€.