As soon as Jake graduate medical school we were off! Both of us had spent that past few years grinding through graduate degrees and we were ready for a little adventure. Jake had always wanted to go to Greece, and having studied abroad there during undergrad, I figured I would be the perfect tour guide.

We spent only 24 hours in Athens.

Jake really wanted to visit, and I can’t blame him. Athens is extremely iconic and you would be crazy to visit Greece and not spend at least a day in Athens. With that being said, after our 1 month Turkey/Greece vacation, we both agreed that Athens was our least favorite part of our trip. That isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with Athens, we just aren’t city people. Athens is a HUGE city. It should also be noted that we were EXHAUSED when we arrived in Athens and didn’t really give ourselves any time to recoup. We landed in Athens at 10AM after twelve hours of traveling, took a quick 30 minute cat nap and hit the streets!

Athens is an incredibly historic city… but I am guess you already knew that. Having been to Athens before, I knew what things I wanted to spend time on with Jake and what things to skip. Our first day was spent touring the shopping center near the Acropolis. We didn’t buy anything here as everything in Athens has a BIG markup, but we did get ideas about what kind of souvenirs we were going to try to buy later. If you are going to be spending any time in Greece, I would recommend waiting to buy your souvenirs from places that are a little less mainstream tourism areas (Santorini, Athens etc.).

SCAMS in Athens

BE AWARE: there are lot’s of people who will try to scam you and rip you off while in Athens. In general, the Greek are typically incredibly generous and kind people, but remember, Athens is still a city. Here are a few common scams that we witnessed while there.

1. The Bracelets: Every time I have been to Athens, there are men in the street “giving” out bracelets. DO NOT let them put one on your wrist! They may insist that it is a “gift” for “free”, however, once it is on your wrist they will demand payment for the bracelet. These men often pose as trying to bring awareness to thing such as a music event later that night, or a charity fund raiser. It is a SCAM.

2. Drinks with a Local: Be wary if a local attempts to get drinks with you. I have had friends who thought they were getting drinks with a friendly/handsome/beautiful local… and I guess they were… until the local runs away and sticks you with a massive bill!

3. Wine and Free Drinks: This one isn’t so much a scam as it is a selling tactic. If you enter a shop in Athens, the store owner may offer you a drink, wine, tea or other alcohol. They do this for two reasons, 1. to make you feel indebted to them, and 2. to loosen you up for buying things. Just because someone gave you a free drink does NOT mean you owe them anything.

RESTAURANTS IN ATHENS

There are so many options when it comes to eating out in Athens! We opted to keep thing budget friendly when we were there, however that doesn’t mean you have to! Here is a list of my restaurant recommendations at different price points in Athens Greece.

HIGH END

1. Kuzina: https://www.kuzina.gr/en/home

2. Dionysos Zonars: https://dionysoszonars.gr/

MIDLE GROUND

1. Strofi Athenian: http://www.strofi.gr/

BUDGET OPTIONS

1. Many of your budget options are not actually listed on google, but are small mom and pop type places

Some foods I recommend trying while you are in Greece include:

1. Moussaka

2. Spanakopita

3. Gyros

4. Dolma

5. Greek salad

6. Tiropita

   
   

The next morning we went to the Acropolis. This is a must see in Athens. We spent about 4 hours there, but you can go through it a lot faster or a lot slower depending on how much you like to read. There are lots of signs posted throughout the historic site. Other options to consider include hiring a guide or downloading and audio tour. Jake and I used audio tours and guides a lot during this trip and both are excellent options.

When planning your trip to the Acropolis it is recommended that you buy your tickets in advanced. I will put in the link to where you can buy your tickets here https://hhticket.gr/tap_b2c_new/english/tap.exe?PM=P1P&place=000000002 . Be sure to check the times prior to planning your trip, as the open hours change yearly. You should also not that there are discounts for students, children and seniors. If you decide to buy your tickets in person, be sure to have your student ID with you!

Where to Stay

Jake and I actually stayed in a hostel while we were in Athens. It was Jake’s first time staying in a hostel and he was a little shocked regarding its size and the bathroom situation. It is common for hostels to only have one SMALL bathroom shared between 6-7 rooms. And when I say small, I mean SMALL. I couldn’t even stretch my arms out in the bathroom and struggled to wash myself in the shower due to how tight the quarters were. Despite the smaller accommodations, the hostels are generally very safe, clean and have an amazing old world charm. It can also be fun to meet new people from different walks of life when you stay in hostels.

If you are hopping to avoid staying in hostels, I recommend looking on Airbnb or Booking.com for some great deals on places to stay. Make sure to read the reviews though! Jake and I never stay anywhere with a cleanliness rating below a 7.