Europe: Round-the-World Travel Destinations
Budget Scale: 1-5
1-least expensive; 5-most expensive
4- When you travel to a large city in Europe, it’s going to cost you. Athens is no different, and while there are always ways to cut costs, if you want to see the sites the city is famous for, be ready to part with some of that money.
Indie Travel Scale: 1-5
1-not a good Indie Travel destination; 5-a great Indie Travel destination
3- Improvements in infrastructure over the last decade have helped travelers tremendously. It’s much easier to get around on your own, giving travelers a better opportunity to have an indie travel experience in Athens.
Indie Travel Tips
Follow these tips to have a truly indie experience when visiting Athens.
- Athens is more pedestrian friendly than it used to be (though some areas are still very pedestrian unfriendly). Check out the mostly car free archeological walk that takes in many of the amazing sites.
- Instead of paying for an expensive tour, rent an iPod Pocket tour audioguide to explore sites like the Acropolis. It’s much cheaper than hiring a guide, and you can go at your own pace.
- Wander the winding streets of Athens, popping in and out of cafes and bars along the way.
- Athens is a great place for art and culture. Explore the many smaller galleries, some of have combined with bars to offer coffee or other drinks.
- Athens is surrounded by four mountains, providing plenty of opportunity for the outdoorsman. Hiking and biking in the various parks surrounding the city is a great way to get away from the traffic, smog, and tourist herds.
Why you should add Athens to your RTW travel list
- Greek coffee will kick your arse
- Get some culture, take in that “cradle of Western civilization” stuff
- The Parthenon and the Acropolis look even cooler in person
- Walk the same streets where Plato, Socrates and Hercules walked
- Cheap wine, great food – hello, Greek food, try some!
- From the city, soak in the sun and surf of the Greek Islands
Why you should not add Athens to your RTW travel list
- This once cheap European destination has gotten much more expensive in the past decade, making travel here an expensive endeavor.
- While public transport and walking paths have improved in recent years, it can still be pretty hectic in some areas of the city. Simply crossing the street in some areas can be extremely challenging.
Are you heading to Athens? What do you need to do?
- Buy an international plane ticket to/from Athens
- Book an Athens hostel
- Book an Athens hotel
- Talk to travelers on the Europe message boards
- Read travel articles on Athens
Back to RTW Travel Destinations
Africa
Asia
New Zealand, Australasia, South Pacific
Central America
Europe
Middle East
North America
South America
Photo credit: 1
