Athens is the oldest city in Europe, the birthplace of Classical Greece, and therefore of Western civilization. Athens is the city of gods, goddesses, history’s greatest philosophers and world-famous archeological sites. Today, greater Athens is by far the economic, political and cultural centre of modern Greece, with nearly half of the country’s population. It’s one of Europe’s liveliest cities, with vibrant restaurants, bars, cafes and and sun-soaked beaches.

Accommodation in Athens

Athens has a wide range of accommodation options, from luxurious and designer boutique hotels, to small pensions and hostels. You will also find a great variety of Airbnbs for all pockets and taste. Hotel prices in Athens are in average less expensive than the rest of Europe.

This city is a paradise for budget travellers, as it offers a huge selection of hotel deals, hostels and airbnbs. There are many budget hotels near the city centre, which are close to all tourist attractions and are accessible by foot. Buses and taxis are generally cheap, thus staying away from the city centre will not be a problem.

Book your stay in Athens using the map below or visit booking.com

Shopping in Athens

Athens is one of the best fashion and shopping destination in Europe, with international brands, luxury products, designer shops and many original boutiques. The best shopping street in Athens is Ermou Street, found beside Syntagma Square, with all the classic brands such as H&M and similar department stores. Kolonaki with the small streets, including Skoufa, Anagnostopoulou and the pedestrianized Tsakaloff, is the upscale, hip, and artistic shopping area, with many art galleries, hip clothing boutiques and antique stores.

Souvenir shops are available everywhere where tourists go, selling museum reproductions, embroideries, handmade sandals and local products. The Flea Market of Athens starts next to the Monastiraki station, lined with second-hand and surplus shops of every description.

There are relatively few shopping malls in the city. The Mall Athens next to Neratziotissa station in Maroussi, is the biggest shopping mall, with a large variety of shops, cafés, restaurants and one of the most hi-tech cinemas in the city. Another shopping mall in Maroussi is the Golden Hall, at Kifissias avenue, offering shops with luxury brands, luxury cafés, bars, and restaurants. McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Athens is the biggest discount village of Athens, in a beautiful setting with cafes, restaurants and more than 100 boutiques, ranging from iconic fashion brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Guess and Hugo Boss to athletic labels, like Nike and Adidas, and high-street favourites, like Diesel.

Best Beaches in Athens

Although Athens is mostly famous for its sightseeing, you will be surprised by the beauty of its beaches. The beaches feature crystal clear waters and sand-fringed shorelines, that are easily accessible from the city centre. Greater Athens features the longest coastline of any European capital, with Athens’ beaches consistently awarded Blue Flag status for their high standards in water quality and cleanliness.

Most of the beaches offer amenities such as toilets, changing rooms and sun-beds, but there are also beaches, which are part of a hotel or a club, that provide excellent facilities, including bars or restaurants and beach activities.

Below are some of the best beaches in Athens:Sandy, Organised – Get Directions

Asteras Beach
Sandy, Organised – Get Directions

Astir Beach
Sandy, Beach Club – Get Directions

Αkti Vouliagmenis Beach
Sandy, Organised – Get Directions

Kavouri Beach
Sandy, Organised – Get Directions

Where to eat in Athens

Athens has a huge variety of all types of restaurants, from cheap eats to fine dining. There are few things the Greeks are more famous for than their food, and Athens is considered one of the best places to find authentic Greek food.

Tourists, as they wander from point to point, will want to stop and refresh themselves with some delicious Greek cuisine. For many, the food itself is one of the main reasons for coming to Athens.

Visit some of the top restaurants in Athens from the list below:

Nightlife in Athens

Athens boasts a vibrant nightlife and the Athenians like to party almost every night of the week. Bars usually close around three or four in the morning (most of them are open during the day for coffee and snacks), while nightclubs tend to close around six or seven in the morning. Hip areas include Gazi, Psirri, Metaxourgio, Exarcheia, Monastiraki, Theseion and Kolonaki.

Athens offers something for everybody, from hotel bars with views of the Acropolis and sophisticated wine bars to underground night clubs with hypnotic lights, loud music and low ceilings. Every street corner seems to have a lively neighbourhood bar.

Many of Athens hottest clubs and bars are in Psirri and Gazi. Most of the mainstream bars, clubs and Greek nightclubs (featuring live Greek pop singers) are trademarked by their industrial design, as many of them are housed in remodelled and once abandoned factories. Gazi is one of the trendiest areas of Athens nightlife and you can get there by metro line 3 at Kerameikos station.

If you want to enter the stylish, trendy clubs, avoid flip-flops, sport shoes, or other casual garments, and go well dressed like in other European big cities, as some clubs have selection at the entrance.

Plaka and Monastiraki are two ancient, historic and all-time classic Athenian neighbourhoods, popular with visitors. They do not have many big dance clubs and bars, but offer lively, traditional places, to enjoy Greek music year-round, and several rock and jazz clubs.

If you want to really experience how the Athenians party, you must visit one of the many bouzouki clubs, where the booze flows freely, smoking is permitted, the service is top notch and live music blasts from the speakers. Not to mention that everybody is dancing either on the dance floor, or on the chairs, or even on the tables. It would be the most exotic thing you have seen in Athens. Most of bouzouki clubs can be found at Syggrou Avenue and at the industrial strips of Iera Odos and Pireos Street in Gazi, and if you decide to go, ask the locals for the hottest bouzouki clubs.

In the summer months, the action moves to Poseidon Avenue and the coastal towns of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. Kolonaki is a staple dining and entertainment destination, catering to the city’s urban working professionals, who enjoy an after work cocktail at many of its bars, open and busy until after midnight, even on weekdays. The clubs here are also very chic.

Exarchia is where to go for smaller more bohemian style haunts, that cater to artists and college students. At the foot of Strefi Hill is where you will find most of the bars and clubs, many of which play rock music, an alternative option of Athens nightlife.

Check some of the most popular Nightclubs in Athens below:

Getting around Athens

Traveling to Athens

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