This is usually the starting point for most travelers, when coming into Greece. Athens is the capital of Greece and millions travel from all over the globe to partake in the city with the most glorious history in the world! Plus it’s the gateway to some of the most beautiful islands in Greece – Santorini, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Corfu, just to name a few!
Greece has over 200 inhabited islands, so how does one plan a trip to Greece? Where do you start? When is the best time to go?
If you’ve asked yourself these questions, then I am here to assist! But before we get into the trip planning, let’s get familiar with a few things regarding Greece first!
Check out the Greece International Travel Info page for visa info, passport validity & more!
The best times to visit Athens – the best weather is from: May – October (July & August will be the hottest months). The best weather for swimming/beaches: June – September. The best time to visit to save money: March, April, May & October. The best hotel rates will be found in December, January & February.
Pic of Zakynthos for attention!
It will definitely be more expensive to visit the Greek isles in the Summer months due to high tourism!
While planning my 1st trip to Greece, I decided to do everything on my own (which required TONS of research )! But no need for you to get discouraged! I am going to try to give you as much useful advice to make your trip planning as painless as possible!
Tip: Be sure to check out ‘The Flight Deal‘ & ‘Secret Flying‘ for great deals on flights to Greece*.
If you plan on island hopping in Greece, then you will need to book inter-island flights from one of these airlines –
Sky Express | Olympic Air | Aegean Airlines
Taking the ferry around Greece is the less expensive way to island hop, but it will require much more travel time. Piraeus is the main port in Athens and the largest port in Greece. Piraeus is about a 30 minute drive from Athens airport. Here are a few of the ferry companies -
Where To Stay!
For our 1st visit to Athens, we decided to stay near the Acropolis for an easy commute. While researching places to stay, I found tons of hostels/hotels/apartments within walking distance of the Acropolis at price ranges that’ll fit all different kinds of budgets –
★★ star: Athens Studios || Adams Hotel || Acropolis View Hotel
★★★ star: Acropolis Hill || Acropolis Select Hotel || Hotel Thissio
★★★★ star: Herodion Hotel || Ava Boutique Hotel Athens || Acropolis Museum Boutique Hotel
★★★★★ star: Royal Olympic || Divani Palace Acropolis || Wyndham Grand Athens
On this trip to Greece, my family joined in so we needed a place to sleep all of us comfortably. There were 4 of us total (3 adults & 1 pre-teen). We opted to stay at Acropolis Luxury Apartments which I found on Booking.com!
We rented the ‘Superior Apartment’ which comes with 2-bedrooms, a sleeper sofa, & 2-full baths! Absolutely perfect for the 4 of us! The space was extremely clean, comfortable & in a decent area.
One of my favorite things about this spot was the upstairs area. For whatever reason I fell in love with the stairs LOL!
Inside the ‘Superior Apartment’:
The apartment is equipped with the basics – small fridge, a stove top, microwave, AND a bottle of WINE! Yaaaaaas! Ultimately, we chose this place because of it’s location. It is about a 10-minute walk to the Acropolis.
A. L. A is also very convenient to the traditional neighborhoods of Thisio, Plaka & Monastiraki! Supermarkets, restaurants & shopping are nearby as well!
In need of transportation to & from the airport? The hotel concierge can arrange it for you for a fee (Bueno was our driver and he was AWESOME)!
Where To Eat!
Navigating Athens can most definitely cause you to work up an appetite! Let’s grab a bite to eat & something to sip on –
☀️ Senso Cafe – this cafe is located in the heart of Thissio and serves Italian, American & Greek cuisines. And let me add that the Greek crepe comes highly recommended! The omelette is delicious as well!
☀️ Chocolat Royal Thisio – trendy rooftop restaurant with an AH-MAZING view of the Acropolis (especially in the evening)! We stopped by here for a late lunch and enjoyed the Mojitos and some delicious sandwiches!
☀️ Yard Restaurant – if you’ve got the munchies for some great pizza, then this place is it! And if pizza is not your thing, their full menu of delicious Greek dishes will draw you in! The souvlaki? DELICIOUS!
☀️ Dinner in the Sky | Athens – this is one unique dining experience! Enjoy dinner suspended above Athens with incredible views of the illuminated Acropolis!
** Just an FYI for travelers who may not know – smoking is allowed in several restaurants in Athens. To be honest, smoking is allowed all over Athens. If you’re sensitive to smoke, I would suggest bringing a cloth mask with you **
Things to do in Athens!
☀️ Visit the Ruins – While in Athens, a trip to the ruins is a must! For just €10 euros, you can explore the spectacular, ancient remains of –
The Acropolis | The Parthenon | Odeon of Herod the Atticus
You have the option of exploring the ruins on your own, but if you are interested in the guided tours, then head over to Viator or Athens Walking Tours for more info!
Do you love the adventure of climbing & hiking? Yes? Then take a trek up Lycabettus Hill! At 277 m./908 ft., you will reach the highest point of Athens! Take a minute to soak up the beauty below you!
The best time to visit the ruins will be in the early morning (opens at 8 A.M.). It will start to get crowded throughout the day!
☀️ Explore outside of the ruins –
[Plaka] One of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens. It’s where ancient architecture meets beautiful natural greenery and amazing dining spots!
[Thiseio] Take a stroll through this neighborhood in the evening to catch the striking views of an illuminated Acropolis! Do some shopping from the local vendors. Or take in a glass of wine at one of the cafés!
[Monastiraki] This is one of the liveliest sites in Athens! Check out Pandrossou Street! You’ll find a lot of people shopping from vendors selling all kinds of goods! Picking up souvenirs/cool items to take back home should definitely be on your list while visiting here! We found sooooo much cheap jewelry that came in handy for our “Santorini photo shoots” LOL!
☀️ Go dancing….on a Monday night….in the streets! – Yep! You read that right! Grab a partner and join in on “Milonga Dromou“! This is a street milonga (dance party) where everyone does the tango, in a fun atmosphere, enjoying a nice night!
Getting there: Head towards Thiseio Metro Station — take Ermou Street — after the entrance to Kerameikos archaeological site, you should start to hear the music!
Happy travels to Athens, Greece!
