Who doesn’t know about the Acropolis of Athens from television or school lessons? We usually prefer nature to the city and rarely take city trips. But for some historically important cities, we love to make exceptions. Also read about our experiences from Rome. But this is about our three-week trip through Greece. We booked a flight from Munich to Athens and visited the Greek capital right at the beginning of the trip. From the port of Athens – Piraeus – there are excellent and reliable connections by ferry to the islands of the Cyclades, which we then used for our island hopping on the Cyclades. The ferry is one of the most important means of transport in the country for Greece – as an island state. Athens is the starting point for ferry traffic to the islands of the Cyclades such as Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Tinos, Milos, and many more.
Arrival to Athens
From other countries, you will most likely travel to Athens by plane. The flight to Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport in Athens takes a little more or less than two hours, when arriving from middle Europe. The Athens airport is located east of the city, so from there you can either take a taxi to the city (about 25 €), the bus, Uber or the metro. The trip by car to the center takes about 45 minutes. The metro to the center costs 9€ and takes about 45 minutes.
Of course, you can also reach Athens by car via the Balkans or by car ferry from Italy. We have not yet had any experience with this.
Accommodation In Athens
We chose a hotel in the center of Athens – close to the famous Acropolis. For this we have chosen the district Psyrri.
Psyrri is considered the nightlife district of Athens with many bars, taverns and restaurants. Psyrri is located quite centrally and is within walking distance of Monastiraki Square at the foot of Acropolis. That’s were the pedestrian zone with many great shops and cafes, restaurants and bars starts.
We had the best time at Ivis4 Boutique Hotel* – an accommodation, we highly recommend.
Food in Athens
As everywhere else, the restaurants in Athens near the major sights are significantly more expensive than off the beaten track. In order to compare the restaurant prices at a glance, we have invented the Tsatsiki index for us here. In the menus, Tsatsiki is always on the first page among the appetizers or cold appetizers and can therefore be found quickly and every Greek tavern has Tsatsiki in its menu. So we were able to quickly find out whether the restaurant is priced in our desired range. Of course, the portion sizes also vary, but the Tsatsiki index is only an indication and does not claim to be perfect. So far, the Tsatsiki index has never let us down. We had price ranges from €2.80 to €7.00.
Especially on weekends you should better book a table in advance in Athen´s restaurants, because it gets really crowded.
In restaurants with a view, it is also common that guests coming for dinner are seated first row view while guests only taking a drink are seated second row. Legit.
Food tour in Athens
The best way to explore Athens culinarily before taking the ferry to one of the Cycladic islands is definitely a food tour with Athenian Tours* [affiliate].
Our guide Tassos introduced us to the traditional food of the capital in a tour from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. After meeting at the Syntagma metro station, we set off on an informative and above all fun tour with Tassos, who first took us to an artisan bakery where we could taste various traditional pastries with sweet or savoury fillings. I (Dominik) preferred the savoury version with spinach and cheese and Kathrin the one with sweet cream.
Next, we got extremely tasty sesame rings – koulorades – at a street sale.
Afterwards, Tassos introduced us to the Greek coffee culture. We got strong mocha in a small copper carafe heated in hot sand.
For lunch, we had Greek specialties from the Attica region such as ham, salami, cheese, dried fruit, homemade chutney and tsipouro schnapps in the backyard of a gourmet shop. So far, every single stop has convinced us that Greece has a lot to offer in culinary terms.
For dessert we had fresh sweet fruits from the market. Afterwards we strolled through the fish and meat market and enjoyed the hustle and bustle before we got the chance to taste different types of olives and were very surprised by the variety of tastes.
But the best was yet to come: At the spice market we had the most amazing caramelized peanuts with sesame and roasted pistachios.
At the end of the day, we enjoyed souvlaki in pita and Loukoumades. Bellies full and satisfied, we had to take a small nap in the hotel afterwards. Tassos was a great guide who showed us much more than just Greek food. We learned about the history of Athens and got a few insider tips on how to get the best deals on the markets.
Akropolis Tour in Athens
We did a second tour with Athenian Tours – the big Acropolis tour* with Alexia. This tour also takes about four hours and is super informative and exciting.
It is simply unbelievable, what the Greeks achieved here in Athens more than two millennia ago. You really feel transported to this time when Alexia speaks about history.
Finally, we went to the Acropolis Museum. This modern building is one of the most beautiful museums I have ever seen. A perfect combination of modern architectural style and preservation of historical elegance. Large stained glass windows allow a breathtaking view of the Acropolis. Really a great end to a successful tour.
In any case, remember to take a hat with you, because the sun burns mercilessly in the summer and there is little shade on the most famous hill of the city. Comfortable shoes and water are also essential. On the Acropolis there is possibility to refill drinking water. So take a bottle with you.
Getting around in Athens
We mostly moved around Athens by foot. If our acommodation’s location allows, we are happy to soak up more of the city and its flair walking.
An option is using the well-known hop on hop off buses*. There are various providers and the tickets are usually valid for two days.
Athens also has a good metro network and tickets are very cheap. The metro from the center (Monastiraki) to the port of Piraeus costs €1.20 and takes about 20 minutes.
Taxis are also a convenient and reasonably cheap way to get around Athens. We paid €15 from the center to the port of Piraeus, which was significantly cheaper than a transfer arranged by the hotel.
ISLAND HOPPING: BY FERRY FROM ATHENS TO THE CYLCADES
In addition to its extraordinary role as a spiritual center of antiquity and a cosmopolitan city of the present, Athens is the starting point for all ferry traffic to the Greek islands. If you want to go to the Cyclades, the Ionian Islands, the Aegean Sea, the Dodecanese Islands, the Sporades or any other mainland destination, the ferry is the most convenient and economical means of transport.
In addition to the big ferries, there are also some providers of express ferries, which are usually much faster but also more expensive.
We have mostly traveled with Blue Star Ferries ships and have always been very satisfied. The large car ferries in particular are very stable in the water, so that you can enjoy your trip to the Greek islands without feeling sick even when there is a little rough sea. Since the sea is mostly calm and the sun is shining in the Greek summer, we recommend looking for a place on the large decks outside at the stern.
Basically, there are three categories on board the ships. If you book Economy, you will look for a free place in the Economy area. Secure a seat quickly, otherwise you have to sit on the floor when the ship is fully booked. Then there is the Airseats category. These are large upholstered seats like in an airplane – only more comfortable and wider with more distance, which are assigned to you by seat number. The highest category is Business Class. For longer trips overnight, you can also book a sleeping cabin. We have not yet tested either Business Class or Cabins. On the ships you will also find several coffee and snack bars, as well as a restaurant. The coffee is excellent.
Ferry from Athens – Piraeus to Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Tinos
There are three ferry ports in the Athens area: The largest and busiest port of Athens is Piraeus. Piraeus is relatively close to the center of Athens and can be reached by metro in about 20 minutes for €1.20. Ferries to all Greek islands depart from the port of Piraeus. The ferries usually visit several islands one after the other and then return the same route. The Blue Star ship “Naxos”, for example, had the daily route Piraeus – Paros – Naxos – Santorini – Naxos – Paros – Piraeus in summer 2021. Of course you can also take the ferry from Athens – Piraeus to Mykonos via Syros and Tinos. The journey takes around four hours. The ferry from Athens to Santorini starts as mentioned in Piraeus and calls at Paros and Naxos before reaching Santorini. The ferry to Santorini takes a good six hours.
Ferry from Athens – Rafina to the Greek Islands
Also from the port in Rafina you can take the ferry to the popular islands of the Cyclades such as Mykonos, Paros, Naxos or Paros. You can also reach Tinos, Andros or the more distant islands such as Crete, Rhodes or Kos in the Dodecanese region by ferry from Rafina. Of course, availability varies depending on the season. Even though Rafina ferry port is much further from the center of Athens than Piraeus, Rafina may be the better choice in many cases. With a 30-minute drive from the International Airport and proximity to the northern Cycladic islands such as Tinos, Rafina is a good place to depart from.
Ferry from Athens – Lavrio to the Greek Islands
Lavrio is located far south of the Attica Peninsula – about 40 kilometers from Athens airport and about 60 kilometers from the city center. From Lavrio, ferries usually to go to Kea, Kythnos, Serifos and Sifnos. But you can also easily reach other smaller islands from Lavrio.
Conclusion
For us, Athens with its lively city center and with its outstanding historical significance was an absolute highlight of our Greece trip. Also as a starting point for island hopping to the islands of the Cyclades, such as Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Santorini, a city trip to Athens is perfect.
