We could write endlessly about the capital of Greece, we could philosophize and discuss history endlessly, just as we could walk for hours on end through the streets of Plaka.
It is the city that offers something for every taste: history enthusiasts have museums and archaeological sites; those who love the beach and sunbathing have hotels with sea views, beaches and terraces a few km from Athens; those who want to feel like they are on an island but still be in the city have the super cute neighborhoods of Athens; and those who prefer a city break that will keep them busy but also have time to relax… Athens is the answer!
Next, we will discuss the costs we had for each aspect of this trip: transportation, accommodation, tourist attractions and food.
Transportation
Milan-Athens-Milan Flight
We opted for a flight departing from Milan Bergamo which cost us 30 euros/person per flight segment (60 euros round trip).
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos is located approximately 30 km from the city, and as a means of transfer you have the choice between taxi and public transport. Both upon arrival and departure, we opted for taxi for two reasons: 1) it is faster and more comfortable; 2) considering the distance, it was not that expensive.
We arrived very late in Athens and left quite early, so we opted for taxi. The transfer fee from Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is standard and costs around 35-38 euros.
*The first taxi driver started the clock, and when we arrived in Athens we had to give him 38 euros, even though the clock showed 25 euros. It was not very nice of him, but in the end we did not pay more than we had to, given that the standard fee is 38 euros. For the second option, I used UBER, and in the end I received the tax receipt.
Accommodation
During the time we were there, and I think it applies to all summer months, hotels were quite expensive, which is why we chose an airbnb again. Staying for 4 days, we opted for a studio apartment with a kitchen and private bathroom…and equipped with air conditioning (in Athens it is absolutely necessary).
For the room below I paid 30 euros per night, and the cleaning and administration fees were around 20 euros. So for a studio and four nights of accommodation I paid 160 euros.
Tourist attractions
The only entrances we paid were to the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus and the Archaeological Museum. So we paid 20 euros for the Acropolis and another 6 euros for the Temple of Zeus. Unfortunately, we found out on the last day about the existence of a toursit pass that offers free entrance to all the archaeological sites in the city, and so we paid the entrance separately to the two attractions.
My recommendation is to start with the Temple of Zeus and buy that pass from there. The pass that includes entry to the Acropolis, Ancient Agora and Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Olympion and a few other locations. Such a ticket costs 30 euros and is valid for 5 days.
If you want to better understand what Greece means from a historical point of view, then the National Archaeological Museum should be on your list of must-see attractions. It houses the most important artifacts discovered on Greek territory, from the prehistoric period to late antiquity. Entrance to the museum costs 10 euros from April to October and 5 euros from November to March.
The Food
Greek food has always been my weakness and I think you can tell that any trip to Greece revolves more or less around Greek culinary specialties. So, on this trip, we looked for restaurants that could offer us good food, exactly as we expected it to be, we looked for taverns with live music, we ate in super touristy areas like Plaka, but also in restaurants far from the touristy area.
So, for a huge and delicious portion of gyros we recommend The Greco s Project, where a portion of pork gyros with “house speciality” sauce costs 9 euros; for a super cute terrace right in the heart of the famous Plaka and for equally good food we recommend Zorbas Restaurant, where you have the opportunity to choose the menu of the day, which offers you a salad, a main course and a drink.
There are 4 different options with prices between 16 and 22 euros; and if you want to eat in a restaurant located outside the tourist areas – which I recommend you do – and where the food is extremely good and cheap, then we recommend Anteti Restaurant.
In terms of costs, for a meal for two, with one dish and one juice, I paid between 16 euros and 38 euros.
Good to know! At all restaurants you will also receive a bottle of 1 l mineral water/payment, even if you ask for another drink separately. This bottle of water costs between 1-2 euros and will be added to your bill even if you don't touch it.
Athens is a top tourist destination, and just like in any other tourist city there are tourist traps, hotels tend to be more expensive, and when it comes to restaurants in the tourist area (especially in Plaka) you have to pay a little more attention.
However, in Athens you can organize a city break on a low budget, as we did. You can rent an apartment for a very good price, taxis are as expensive as those in Arad, tourist attractions don't cost a fortune if you use the tourist pass, and restaurants can offer you very good food at even decent prices.
As a comparison, after the 4 days spent in Athens, I arrived in Tallinn and I was surprised to find that the small Baltic capital is soooo much more expensive than the capital of the Hellenic Republic.
I hope this article helped you get some idea of the costs of traveling to Athens, and if you are planning a city break in the Greek capital, then this article will be extremely useful to you.
