SherryStay Destination Guide
Athens
Ancient ruins, modern rooftop bars, gateway to the islands.
About Athens
Athens wears its 2,500 years lightly — a sprawling, sun-bleached city with the Acropolis floating above it wherever you look. Book a timed ticket: the Parthenon now caps daily visitors and sells hourly slots, and an early-morning entry beats both the heat and the crowds, before you descend to the superb Acropolis Museum and its glass floor over live excavations. But modern Athens is the surprise — the whitewashed island-style lanes of Anafiotika, the flea market of Monastiraki, the cafés and record shops of countercultural Exarcheia, and Koukaki, repeatedly named one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods. Rooftop bars frame the floodlit Parthenon at dusk, and a serious, Michelin-recognised food scene has grown up beside the souvlaki joints. Athens is also the gateway to the islands — from the port of Piraeus, ferries fan out to the Cyclades, or a day trip to Hydra and Aegina. Come for the ruins; stay for the living, layered city beneath them.
Stay in Plaka or Monastiraki — the Acropolis is a 10-minute walk and every taverna has a rooftop view. Skip Omonia.
Best For
Where to Stay
Plaka
Cobblestone, tavernas, Acropolis at your doorstep
Monastiraki
Flea market, rooftops, walking to everything
Koukaki
Local, quieter, 5 min walk to Acropolis Museum
Kolonaki
Upscale, fashion, gallery scene, fewer tourists
Money-Saving Tips
- 1Combined Athens ticket €30 covers Acropolis + 6 archaeological sites for 5 days.
- 2Free entry to all archaeological sites on the first Sunday of Nov–Mar.
- 3Order taverna meze plates (€5–8) instead of mains; 3 meze + bread = filling dinner for €18.
Getting Around
- 1Metro M3 from the airport to Syntagma €9, 40 min, every 30 min — beats the €40 flat-rate taxi.
- 2The hop-on/hop-off bus is a tourist tax — the Acropolis, Plaka, and Syntagma are 15 min walking apart.
- 3Piraeus port for the islands is 25 min on Metro M1 (€1.40), not 30 min by taxi (€20+).
Most Common Mistake
Booking near Omonia Square because it sounds "central". It's the seediest part of the city center — Plaka/Monastiraki are 800m away and night-and-day different.
3–4 nights
- • Cape Sounion (1h)
- • Mykonos (3h ferry)
- • Santorini (5h ferry / 45 min flight)
Useful Local Hotel Phrases
Greek- HelloΓεια σαςYAH-sas
- Thank youΕυχαριστώef-kha-ri-STO
- PleaseΠαρακαλώpa-ra-ka-LO
- Check-inΆφιξηA-fi-ksi
- Check-outΑναχώρησηa-na-KHO-ri-si
- HotelΞενοδοχείοkse-no-do-KHEE-o
- ReceptionΡεσεψιόνre-sep-SYON
- BreakfastΠρωινόpro-i-NO
- Wi-FiΓουάιφαιwai-fai
- TaxiΤαξίta-XI
- AirportΑεροδρόμιοa-e-ro-DHRO-mi-o
- Train stationΣταθμόςstath-MOS
- HelpΒοήθειαvo-EE-thya
- How much?Πόσο κάνει;PO-so-KA-ni
- Where is...?Πού είναι...;poo-EE-ne
Athens at a glance
- Athens is in Greece.
- The nearest airport to Athens is Athens (ATH).
- Getting in from the airport takes 40 min to the centre.
- The best way in is Metro Line 3 from the airport, or the X95 express bus.
- A day in Athens costs roughly €55–95 per person on a budget, €130–260 mid-range and €450+ at the luxury end.
- Sherry suggests 3–4 nights in Athens.
- February is usually the cheapest month to visit Athens, August is the busiest, and May offers the best value.
Common questions
- Where should I stay in Athens?
- Plaka/Monastiraki for the Acropolis and atmosphere, Koukaki for a local feel, Kolonaki for upscale.
- How do I get around?
- The metro is clean and reaches the airport, port and centre; the historic core is walkable.
- How many days?
- 2–3 days for the ancient sites and neighbourhoods before island-hopping.
- How do I get to the islands?
- Ferries from Piraeus (metro Line 1) or fast catamarans; book ahead in summer.
- When is the best time to visit?
- April–June and September–October; July–August is very hot.
Where to stay in Athens
Looking for hotels in Athens? It helps to decide on an area first — our guide to where to stay in Athens sets out which neighbourhoods suit which kind of trip.
Around Penthouse the options include 110M? Homm Renovated Penthouse In Athens 3Bd, 110m² homm Renovated Penthouse in Athens 3bd, Athensthea Luxury Penthouse Apt in Omonia 115sq.M. and AthensThea Alpha Luxury Penthouse Apt in Omonia.
Around Skylark the options include Skylark, Skylark Hotel, Athens and Skylark by Aluma Hotels & Resorts.
Around Dream the options include Dream in Athens and Dream in Athens.
Elsewhere in the city you will also find Comfy Flat In Good Location, Waikiki Studio in the center by GHH, Athens, Villa 3bdrm Hiend, Agela Hotel, Aegean Blu, Live Life Athens, Apollon Windmill Boutique Hotel ( Adults Only 16+ ), Two storey Maisonette in Athens, Mimis Studios, Explore the Art Side of Omonia, Athens Tiare Hotel, Soho Athinas 60, Moxy Athens City, Brown Acropol Hotel and Claridge Hotel.