Athens, Greece: All You Need to Know Before You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor
What is Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best?
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travelers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Learn more
Athens
Athens
Hotels
All Athens HotelsAthens Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in AthensBy Hotel Type
By Hotel Class
By Hotel Brand
Popular Amenities
Popular Neighborhoods
Popular Athens Categories
Near Landmarks
Near Train Stations
Near Airports
Near Colleges
Popular Hotel Categories
Things to DoRestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental CarsTripadvisor PlusMore

Plan Your Trip to Athens: Best of Athens Tourism

About Athens
In Athens you get the best of both worlds: a modern city with old-world charm and the natural beauty of Greece just beyond. Once the center of ancient civilization, Athens has so much history to discover—from ruins to still-intact treasures. You can’t skip the top hits: the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Parthenon are musts (and worth battling the crowds). Once you’ve crossed those off your bucket list, though, you can really get into the heart of the city—with its neverending hum of activity from the local no-frills tavernas to hip new restaurants and bars, all set against old stone buildings and cobblestoned streets. If you need to get away from it all, take a drive down the coastline or check into a beachside resort. There’s so much to do in Athens, and we’ve got the best recs down below.

Travel Advice

Essential Athens

How to do Athens in 2 days

All the historic stops plus sleek art galleries and a cool food scene
Read on

Explore Athens by interest

All about ancient Greece

Museums, ruins, archaeological sites, and more

Mezze and more

Where to find the best authentic Greek food

Just beyond Athens

Day trips and tours to take nearby

For a drink or two

Cocktail bars around the city

Make it a museum day

From ancient art to modern galleries

Athens Travel Guide

Travelers' pro tips or experiencing Athens

nick_arch

I would suggest going early in the morning to the Acropolis then walking down the hill to the Agora/Thission and exploring there, there are trees there so you can have some shade and a little rest on a bench if you need to!

Nick E

Locals do not expect foreigners to know any Greek but attempts to say just a few words will endear you to them.

Christos Tz.

Stay downtown, there are many options in the suburbs or just out of the main city center but I would advise that you stay within the greater Syntagma - Kolonaki - Ilissia area.

Nick E

Admire the extensive ancient ruins and check out a couple of museums, whilst also feeling the fast pulse of a modern city that is so much more than the concrete jungle it is often made out to be.

Anna P

Athens is easy to explore, easy to get around and with a variety of attractions. It is recommended for everyone - family, friends, solo it does not matter.

on_the_go_98765

Athens is absolutely, positively amazing; there is so much to see and experience from ancient ruins to day-to-day activities of the citizens. Going on foot is the very best way to take it all in; walk whenever you can.

What is the best way to get there?

flying

The city of Athens is serviced by Athens International Airport.

ferry

There are three ports in the Athens area; Piraeus, Rafina, and Lavira. As the largest port in Greece, the majority of ferries drop anchor at Piraeus.

Do I need a visa?

If you’re visiting from overseas, see if you need a visa using the following website.

When is the best time to visit?

Athens summers are scorching, with average daily highs around 95 F (35 C) and lows of 76 F (25 C) that can hinder outdoor exploration, so visit from March through May or September through November to experience the milder temperatures — think highs of 76 F (24 C) and lows around 61 F (16 C) and almost-guaranteed sunshine.

During the peak summer months of July and August, lots of local business owners flee to coastal towns, which means that a fraction of local businesses are open.

For more information on Athens’ weather and when to go, check out some tips here.

Get around

bus

Athens has a comprehensive bus system that connects the majority of major landmarks; bus line X80 connects top attractions with the Piraeus Port.

metro

In order to avoid the city’s infamous traffic, get around Athens using the metro. The system consists of three lines that are interlinked with bus, tram, and suburban rail routes.

tram

Athens’ tram network connects central Athens with the suburbs of Voula and Faliro, both of which are located on the coast.

On the ground

What is the timezone?

Eastern European Standard Time (GMT+2)

What are the voltage/plug types?

The standard voltage in Athens is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz. Power sockets and plug types are C and F. For plug types, you can reference the international guide: here.

What is the local currency?

Euro (EUR)

Are ATMs readily accessible?

Yes

Are credit cards widely accepted?

Yes

Is it easy to find a bank?

Yes

How much do I tip?

Tipping is not expected in Athens, though restaurant bills usually include a service charge and taxi drivers greatly appreciate a tip.

Are there local customs I should know?

Drinking

The federal legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 18 years old.

Clothing

Always wear respectful clothing when visiting religious sites. Men should avoid walking around without a shirt on regardless of how hot it is.

Haggling

The majority of the souvenir shops and markets in Athens have fixed prices, so bargaining should not generally be attempted.

Frequently Asked Questions about Athens

We recommend staying at one of the most popular hotels in Athens, which include:


Athens is known for some of its popular attractions, which include:


If you're a more budget-conscious traveler, then you may want to consider traveling to Athens between December and February, when hotel prices are generally the lowest. Peak hotel prices generally start between June and August.

© 2024 Tripadvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.