Since making Athens my home, there has been quite a phenomenon among my friends where they started behaving like I’m some sort of expert on Athens—a title I find both amusing and slightly misdirected. For reasons beyond my grasp, they're under the impression that I have answers: best spots to visit, dine, or stay.
Here's the deal, though: I'm what you'd call a domestic creature. I’m essentially a homebody, a self-proclaimed housecat who prefers the comfort of home to the bustling streets of a city teeming with historical sites and tourist attractions.
I couldn't tell you the best hotel any more than I could navigate the intricacies of Greek history.
My culinary adventures barely extend beyond the warm embrace of my kitchen, save for the occasional dive into the local street food scene for a gyro (yes, it's pronounced "yee-roh") or souvlaki (that's skewered meat, folks), stuffed into a pita and loaded with 'all the works.'
My New York stint? Half a lifetime there, and I never so much as waved at the Statue of Liberty. So museums, ancient ruins, those quintessential Athenian sights? Eh, maybe I went once and that was enough.
Despite the irony and after shaking off my initial bewilderment of my friends turning to me for inside info on Athens, I've come to embrace this role.
A clear disclaimer: I'm not a guidebook, but I've found that I do, in fact, have some insights that might serve you well during your stay in Athens.
I've sifted through the barrage of queries that flood my inbox and picked out the 7 most-asked questions and answered them.
Here's the lowdown, straight from a local's perspective:
Airport Transportation: How do I get to and from the airport?
Taxi Services: How much are taxi rides and will I get hustled?
Public Transportation: How does public transport work?
The Food Situation: Where Should I Eat?
Accommodations: Where Should I Stay?
Need a Doctor?: Which hospitals are on duty?
Hot Water Situation & Flushing Restrictions: Why don’t I have hot water? Why can’t I throw toilet paper in the toilet?
1. Airport Transportation: How do I get to and from the airport?
You have four ways to get to and from the airport:
1. Airport Express Buses
There are four buses serve different parts of Athens, offering direct access to the airport:
The Aiport Express Bus is only to pick up and drop off passengers going to and from the airport. Although it is on the same line as regular buses, it only for passengers heading or leaving for the airport.
It is not used like an intercity bus and the ticket price costs more than your regular public transportation ticket.
The Airport Express Buses will cost you €5.50 per person each way. You will scan your ticket inside the bus. You’ll find the scanners at each doorway once you step in.
Although this has only happened to me once, keep your ticket accessible because sometimes there is a “conductor” checking that passengers paid for a ticket and are not grabbing a free ride.
From the airport, you can purchase your ticket from the ticket booth or the ticket machines; this is also where you can purchase your metro ticket if you plan to take the metro to leave the airport.
On the way back to the airport, you may purchase the ticket directly from the driver, but note that this holds up the bus.
You can purchase an airport ticket at any metro station.
You’ll find the ticket booth and machines outside the airport arrivals. Once you step outside of Athens Airport arrivals, hook a right and keep walking until you see the ticket booth stand. This is also where you’ll find the timetable for your bus and the bus pick-up point.
The buses generally run every 30 minutes.
Personally, I like the bus. You're above ground and can look out the window. Bear in mind that if you’re visiting during peak summer season, expect the buses to be packed, you’ll be standing or sitting on your suitcase, and with so many people packed in like sardines do not expect to feel the AC.
Just so you know, the drivers are driving those buses like they really need to get you somewhere.
As my cousin famously commented, “Why is the driver driving the bus like he stole it?”
2. Athens Airport Metro
The metro fare is €10 per person for a one-way ticket. Opting for a round-trip ticket to and from the airport will cost €18. Athens boasts three main metro lines.
Depending on where you are staying in the city, you’ll jump on the appropriate line at connecting stops. (e.g. Syntagma for the red line. Monastiraki for the green line.)
Metro Line 1 (Green: Kifisia-Piraeus)
Metro Line 2 (Red: Anthoupoli - Helliniko)
Metro Line 3 (Blue: Dimotiko Theatro - Doukissis Plakentias/Airport)
The line connecting Athens airport to the city is the blue line.
If you're accustomed to navigating the NYC metro, you'll find Athens' metro lines exceptionally simple and straightforward to use.
Note: Metro does not run after midnight-ish...
3. Taxi
I’m not a huge fan of jumping in a taxi at the airport for a couple of reasons.
First, there's often a lengthy wait in line, especially during the summer months.
Second, not all taxis are created equal. I might end up in a pristine Mercedes driven by a courteous non-smoker, or....
I might get some night owl, chimney-smoking jerk who doesn't clean the interior, and has non-functional seatbelts plus I have to manually roll down my window because he doesn’t want to have the AC on while he smokes a cigarette. (this happened to me twice - it could have just been my luck.)
The taxi will run you about ~60 euros before midnight, plus an airport surcharge of around €5—an extra fee for trips to or from the airport.
Note: After 12 am until 5 am, taxi rates increase.
If you’re willing to pay for a taxi ride, you might as well step it up and pay for a car service.
4. Car Service
I have a go-to car service that I've been very loyal to ever since the owner, a young man who used to drive his own taxi, happened to give a few of us girls a lift back to our hotel after a rare night out.
It was late, and I was scheduled to leave Athens early that morning, so I asked him if he'd be willing to take me to the airport in just a few hours, and he kindly agreed.
Since then, he's been my driver, so to speak, whenever I rolled into Athens, and when I finally moved here, he was my first call to pick me up from the airport, along with my two dogs.
During the ride to what would be my new home, he shared his plans of upgrading from his taxi to a luxury black vehicle and his ambitions to expand his fleet, hire additional drivers, and establish his own car service business. Fast forward five years, and he's done just that.
Now, I use his company every time I have a friend or a family member flying into town. All his drivers are punctual, courteous, and impeccably dressed, and the luxury vehicles or Mercedes vans are always spotless and polished.
There's a sense of quiet luxury about the experience. And yes, they park in a private zone at the airport that's not accessible to 'regular' drivers.
They'll be waiting for you inside the airport, holding up a sign with your name on it, making you feel important. It's a splurge I'm more than happy to make.
Check out Transfer for You
I’m a fan of this guy because he took the opportunity that came with having a taxi, created a vision, and executed a plan to build this car service. It’s admirable.
I'm neither affiliated with nor sponsored by his company. I just want to shout out a fellow entrepreneur.
2. Taxi Services: How much are taxi rides and will I get hustled?
Stop jumping in random taxis. First of all, you most likely look like a tourist. With your strawlike hat, baseball cap, vacation shirts that scream "I'm going to Hawaii," parachute shorts, and the infamous socks with sandals combination (I just threw up in my mouth), motherf*cker, you're practically wearing a sign that says 'easy mark'.
So, unless you enjoy playing the "naive tourist" role a bit too much, skip the hustle and keep things straightforward with your rides.
Download this app: FreeNow
What’s great about this app is that it displays the price range for my ride upfront, so there are no surprises when I hop into the taxi.
I also like that there doesn’t have to be any type of exchange. I prefer not to pay with cash. I have the app connected to my credit card, the transaction goes through seamlessly while I'm jumping out of the taxi at my destination. There's no hold up.
From a safety perspective, especially as a woman, I also like that I can see who is picking me up (name and picture of the driver), including the license plate of the taxi, and the car make and model.
Of course, I screenshot my ride and send it to a friend. Call me paranoid.
Worth noting again: After 12 am until 5 am, taxi rates increase.
3. Public Transportation: How Does Public Transport Work?
Listen, I’m always sizing things up against NY prices, and let me tell you, public transportation in Athens is a bargain by comparison.
You’re paying just €1.20 for a single ride. But check this – you've got options like an unlimited rides deal for five days, or score a batch of 10 rides and get an extra one thrown in for about €12.
You buy your ticket at any metro station, and that’s your all-access pass for buses, trolley-buses, trams, and metro lines 1, 2, and 3.
What’s really cool is that with your single-ride ticket, you can hop on and off as many trains, buses, trams, or trolleys as you like within a 90-minute window, and it still counts as just one ride.
Worth noting again: Metro does not run after midnight-ish...
4. The Food Situation: Where Should I Eat?
Honestly, if you find yourself in a touristy area and if you're American, everything is going to taste phenomenal compared to what you're used to eating in the states - that's the real truth from an American perspective. I’m not trying to be harsh, but it's the shameless truth.
Finding Great Food
There are plenty of spots to enjoy authentic Greek cuisine. Taverns are a dime a dozen in the center, but these are my top two places where I always bring my visitors and I consider them must-visit spots.
This traditional tavern is conveniently located near the Acropolis. It’s just a charming 15-minute stroll through the pathway of the ancient flea market.
At first glance, it’s quite unassuming. You wouldn’t even realize it’s a tavern unless you walk by and follow the enticing aroma of meat grilling. You can dine inside the tavern, but when they open their garden area across from the tavern, opt for dining outdoors.
Yes, I order a variety of dishes, but these are my standard, go-to choices:
1 kilo of lamb chops
An order of hand-cut french fries
Xoriatiki (village) salad
Side of tzatziki
Definitely, a classic Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola: The taste is incredible, and you will notice the difference because they use cane sugar in their Coke recipe in Europe, as opposed to the high-fructose corn syrup in the US. The European recipe is closer to the original Coke formula. It's a known fact that some of the artificial ingredients in American Coke are banned in Europe. Even junk food tastes better with less "junk".
Dude, this place is literally the definition of a hole-in-the-wall. It’s a narrow kitchen, with one cashier and two, maybe three guys manning the grill. There is seating out front of its doorway, but most of the time, you'll find yourself standing and eating.
If you don’t know about it, you’re not going to notice it unless you’re in Agia Irini’s Square and you see a long line of people and wonder what they’re waiting for.
Here’s what I recommend ordering. Make sure you order more than you think you’ll eat because you’re not going to want to wait in that line again:
Mpifteki pita with everything (beef patty)
Pork souvlaki in pita with everything
Order of fries - they’re hand-cut, not that frozen crap.
Also, order a Coca-Cola here. You have to. It’s just so satisfying.
Note: If you’re visiting in August or during Greek Easter, don’t expect these places to be open and if they are, they might not be operating at convenient hours because during Greek Easter the entire country pretty much shuts down and August, especially the week of August 15th, is like our second Easter.
5. Accommodations: Where Should I Stay?
“Where should I stay?” strikes me as quite the amusing question. Let's be real – I’m a local. I have my own apartment. Picking out which Airbnb or hotel suits you isn't exactly in my usual routine.
It all boils down to your plans. Are sightseeing adventures on your agenda, or are you more about catching rays on the beach all day?
For such inquiries, there's a goldmine of insights available from both newcomers and regulars to the area – TripAdvisor. Seriously, it's a treasure trove of information.
I'm happy to offer a hotel suggestion based on a visit to a friend who stayed there with his wife during their trip to Athens. Though I haven't personally stayed overnight, the location is superb, the hotel lobby is both clean and charming, and the rooms? Spacious and contemporary.
Let me introduce you to the Athens Gate Hotel. It’s conveniently situated near the Acropolis, right in the pulse of the city center, surrounded by picturesque walkways, historic sites, and a delightful selection of dining options.
Not to mention, a metro station's right there by the hotel, and you can easily walk to thriving scenes like Syntagma, Plaka, and Monastiraki.
A useful tip to remember:
If you’re not planning on renting a car, make sure your stay is near public transport, as well as amenities like a pharmacy, a supermarket, or a kiosk, especially if you’re aiming for a beachside spot rather than the city center.
Looking for some visual inspiration?
For top-notch recommendations on dining and accommodations in Athens, I always direct people to this specific Instagram profile: ATHENS TRAVEL
6. Need a doctor?: Which hospitals are on duty?
Hopefully, you won't need a doctor during your visit, but it's best to be prepared just in case:
If you're faced with an emergency, you'll need to check online to see which hospital nearest to you has an emergency room in service.
Public hospital emergency rooms operate on a rotating schedule; they aren't all open every day. It's important to know which hospitals are on duty. See which hospitals are on duty.
For non-emergencies, my go-to resource for finding a health practitioner closest to me is DoctorAnytime.
On this platform, you can book an appointment online, review their services, see price lists—and relax, prices aren't as steep as in the US.
You can read full bios detailing where they studied and browse reviews. Some doctors even offer the option of making house calls.
Pop in the neighborhood you're staying in, specify the type of doctor you need, and you can sift through the options as easily as shopping on Amazon.
Before we move on, just to make sure you’re completely covered, here are:
The Emergency numbers in Greece
FIRST AID NATIONAL CENTER (Ambulances): 166.
SOS DOCTORS: 1016.
POLICE: 100.
TOURIST POLICE: 1571, +30 2103222230.
EUROPEAN EMERGENCY NUMBER: 112.
POISONING PHONE CENTER: +30 210 77 93 777.
FIRE AUTHORITY: 199.
PET HOSPITAL: +30 210 6038023- 24 -28 (Attica Region)
7. Hot Water Situation & Flushing Restrictions: Why don't I have hot water? Why can't I flush toilet paper down the toilet?
Flushing Restrictions: Why can't I throw toilet paper in the toilet?
I get this question a lot once people arrive in Greece. Why can't I throw or flush toilet paper in the toilet? We were told it was a criminal offense. They are really strict about it here and you’ll find signs in the bathrooms, in hotels and Airbnbs.
Why?
You can't flush toilet paper in Greece because the sewage pipes are much narrower than elsewhere in the world (2 inches in diameter vs. 4 inches in the U.S.!), and toilet paper can cause them to clog.
Water pressure in older buildings doesn't have that powerhouse American force akin to a waterfall. The buildings are old, the pipes are older, and it will block the pipes.
Unless you want to deal with a toilet being backed up and overflowing with sh*t, or even worse, having the sewage of the building backed up, don't be a d*ck—throw the toilet paper in the garbage.
Hot Water Situation (Thermosimfono): Why don’t I have hot water?
You can’t just turn on the hot water—unless you’re at a hotel. If you're staying at an Airbnb, expect to flick a switch for the hot water to heat up.
Some places have a system that turns off when it hits a certain temperature or after it's been on for a specific duration; others require you to manually turn it off.
And don't leave it on while you're showering. It uses up more energy because new, cold water coming into the tank will mix with the hot water, affecting the temperature. Turn it on, then turn it off before you start using it.
Look for the switch on the electric board, usually marked with a Greek theta “Θ” or "TH," or written out as “Θερμοσυμφωνο”—or for those who prefer English, “Thermosifono.”
What happens if you forget and leave it on?
Newer tanks have a safety mechanism and won't overheat once the water reaches a set temperature.
But older tanks? Remember being a kid and being told that if you turned on the cabin light in the car at night, you'd get pulled over? Well, in Greece, we were told that if you left the thermosimfono on, you’d blow up the house.
Luckily, in reality, forgetting to flip off the switch won't end in disaster—at least, it hasn't yet from what I've heard, and the time I accidentally left mine on overnight, my electric bill was the only thing that suffered. The house was still intact.
Final Thoughts
And that's the wrap on our little Q&A adventure of the top seven questions that keep popping up in my inbox about Athens—straight-up, no chaser.
This isn't your glossy travel brochure or an all-you-need-to-know guide; it's just me, spilling what I know in response to the barrage of inquiries that hit me from friends, family, and that random person who finds out I'm the unofficial Athens info booth.
Remember, I'm just scratching the surface here based on what folks keep asking. The internet's your oyster for the deep dive, so don’t shy away from doing a bit of legwork on your own.
And if you do end up here and reach out because you genuinely want to hang out then cool, I'm down to go for freddos. Rest assured, I've got your back—especially if you find yourself in a tricky situation far from home.
But, just a heads up: if your visit leans more towards a convenient info session or a free stay, don't be too shocked if I serve you some classic New York honesty.
Until then, safe travels and may your adventures be as enriching as they are entertaining.
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