Although some Greek islands like Crete or Santorini may have beaten Athens as the most popular travel destinations in Greece, the capital city still has a lot of charms that make it worth visiting if you plan to visit the country.
Valentini from My Shoes Abroad is going to share some local's insights about some budget-friendly activities to do in Athens since the Greek capital city has so much more to offer.
Known as the home of the Olympics, Athens is a city worth visiting whether you love history or prefer immersing yourself in the natural beauty of the city. So, here's what to do in Athens on a budget!
Athens is an amazing city that can be very affordable too. Whether you join a full-day Athens tour that includes places like Acropolis and Parthenon, or plan to wing it and arrange a DIY trip, the city is pretty well-navigated and it offers lots of budget-friendly activities!
Best known for its ancient heritage and culture, food and nightlife it can be a full trip on its own! What can you do here without breaking the bank? Here are some of the best affordable things to do in the capital city of Greece!
1. A beach day out on the South Athenian Beach
First, you could spend the day on the beach.
Take the public bus 122 from the Metro station Elliniko and just enjoy the ride through the south Athenian beach. Pick up one on the go (or do your research beforehand but all the beaches are suitable for swimming) and hop off the bus!
Credit: My Shoes Abroad
There are sandy and rocky beaches, secluded or crowded, with music and bars or local taverns around, with facilities or not etc. Avoid weekends as the traffic can be horrible!
Most of the beaches are free, so the return ticket will cost you for less than $4! Amazing, right?
2. Visit the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Next, you can also visit Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), which is the newest cultural hub in Athens. Free exhibitions, concerts, guided tours and a big park are just a few of the interesting things here.
The Greek Opera House and the public library will be relocated soon here too. There is a free shuttle bust that usually runs every 30 minutes from Syntagma or Syggrou Fix metro station, but you can also reach it with public transport too.
3. Eat souvlaki
While in Athens, or any place in Greece, do not forget to eat souvlaki, the traditional street food of Greece… Avoid touristic place, and for one meal, you can end up spending less than $5.
If you need more than just souvlaki, you can also join the street food tasting tour in Athens where you can explore the local delicacy from souvlaki to scrumptious desserts like baklava.
Source: Unsplash.
4. Climb Mt. Lycavittos
Also, you could climb the mount Lycavittos, the tallest Athenian hill that overlooks the central Athens, which is actually IN the city center!
You can climb it for free, but as Athens can be a very warm city, you can also take the cable car, which is called teleferik, for $9 returns or $6 one way. On top of that, there is a restaurant/cafe that is not that cheap, but enjoying the spectacular view is free, of course!
Many locals do the same, and Lycavittos is, in fact, a romantic place to be around, especially for the sunset!
5. Stop by Tactual Museum
Last but not least, you can visit the Tactual Museum, which is one of the 5 museums worldwide that offer the opportunity of touching replicas of famous artifacts. In Athens, of course, you will be able to touch the copies of ancient Greek sculptures.
It is a small museum that costs only $2.5 and you have to arrange your visit in advance, as it is not always open for public. Taking the local transport to get there will only cost you additional $2!
So, are you ready to explore the land of Gods and Goddesses?
She spent most of her childhood in Athens, an ancient town surrounded by the Aegean Sea. So far, she has traveled in more than 30 countries and lived in 2 countries that include four different cities and one island. For the last 6 years, she has been settling in London as a footwear designer with a passion for shoes and colors.
9 thoughts on “5 Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Athens, Greece”
Emily
This is such a great idea for an article! I’m always looking for affordable activities while on vacation and I’d love to visit Athens some day.
Renata - www.byemyself.com
I love this series – it is actually encouraging to travel: You don’t have to have lots of money to visit amazing places. I think you are motivating many people with this.
Marcie
We were in Athens 2 years ago and we were impressed with how much yummy food we could get for very little money! The souvlaki was so tasty!
I love posts like this one – I find it so amazing how thrifty people could be – do you remember when Rachel Ray had a show called $40 a day – I loved that one too!
This is such a great idea for an article! I’m always looking for affordable activities while on vacation and I’d love to visit Athens some day.
I love this series – it is actually encouraging to travel: You don’t have to have lots of money to visit amazing places. I think you are motivating many people with this.
We were in Athens 2 years ago and we were impressed with how much yummy food we could get for very little money! The souvlaki was so tasty!
I love posts like this one – I find it so amazing how thrifty people could be – do you remember when Rachel Ray had a show called $40 a day – I loved that one too!
omg, yes… i also got the idea from rachel ray cause i used to follow her show during my college time! 😀