The Proper Traveler

Here are the top 15 things we learned when visiting Athens. This list is compiled of observations and interactions with locals and seasoned travelers. Let’s go!

#1

You Cannot Flush Toilet Paper

When preparing for our first trip to Greece, I heard that one cannot flush their toilet paper, but I brushed it off because I thought surely Athens, being a major city and tourist destination, would not have plumbing issues. However, in most of the tourist attractions and surrounding areas, this was indeed true. If restaurants, museums, and public bathrooms require this, there will usually be a sign when you enter the bathroom. You will often be advised to throw your TP in the available bin within the stall.

#2

Be Careful with The Tap Water

As with some other countries in Europe, it may be best to not drink the tap water. Several travel articles will say that the tap water is safe to drink, but from our experience, many of the locals and seasoned travelers informed us not to drink from the tap water. However, if restaurants serve you pitchers, by all means, go for it. We personally ended up purchasing large bottles of still water at the restaurants because it tasted better than the tap water, which usually gave off a taste of chlorine. The tap water is completely safe to brush teeth and bathe… just maybe don’t open your mouth while showering. The average cost of still water at restaurants was 3€, while picking up water at any of the kiosks or convenient stores were an average of .50€ (make sure you always have water on hand, as it gets VERY hot).

#3

Apply LOTS of Sunscreen… No Matter What Time of Year

When we traveled in March, our flight was completely full, mainly with American tourists. I overheard one tourist say she didn’t pack sunscreen because we were barely out of winter. That same person was on the return flight with us red as a lobster.

The weather out in Athens is known for having some of the best and most gorgeous weather year-round. Don’t underestimate the sun and the heat, even in winter and spring. Make sure you pack plenty of sunscreen because you will need it any time of the year.

#4

Many Museums and Historical Sites Close on Holidays

When we booked our trip for March, we thought it was the perfect time to go: less crowded, not super hot, and more reasonable. What we didn’t realise until a few days prior before our trip was that 25 March is Greek Independence Day. The horror in my eyes when I learned of this sent shockwaves across Cambridge. The Acropolis, Agora, and Temple of Zeus were all scheduled to be closed that day, a Saturday, which was our main chance to see the sites.

What could have been a bad mistake ended up being a positive one. We went to the military parade, interacting with the locals who displayed so much pride to be a Greek. The patriotism that day was indescribable. Yes, the Acropolis, Ancient Agora of Greece, and the Temple of Zeus were closed that day, but the Acropolis Museum was open for free and we got to take part in rich Greek culture. Oh, and not all of the museums were closed. For example, the Panathenaic Stadium was still open to the public, and wow, did it feel incredible to be standing in the stadium that hosted the first modern-day Olympics over 120 years ago on that very day.

Here are some of the public holidays of Greece:

•1 January (New Years Day)

•6 January (Epiphany)

•25 March (Greek Independence Day)

•March/April (Easter – changes)

•1 May (Labour Day)

•15 August (Dormition of the Mother God)

•28 October (Ochi Day)

•25 December (Christmas Day)

#5

There Are Cats Everywhere

Nobody told us that everywhere we turned we would find an adorable, friendly cat. They tend to be well looked after and cared for by locals and tourists alike. It is rare to come across one who isn’t friendly. But, if you are one who does not like cats or is allergic, it is best to be prepared in advance. Unfortunately, you cannot escape these furry felines, as there are literally thousands in the city. However, if you ignore them, they will leave you alone. I for one was in cat heaven!

#6

Homeless and Scammers

As with several major cities, Athens is no exception to a homeless crisis. Homeless individuals and scammers tend to prey on the tourists for money. Some will even heckle and become more aggressive. One man in particular walked us nearly onto the road as we were leaving the Temple of Zeus before he found someone else. We always want to help the homeless, but unfortunately, it is best to just avoid eye contact and keep moving. Also be aware of pickpocketing as Greece holds a reputation for being one of the worst countries for pickpocketing. It’s best to leave your passports in your hotel and only carry a small pouch of cash that can go under your clothes.

#7

Restaurant Owners May Come to Your Table if You Haven’t Finished Your Food

This may not happen in mainstream restaurants or cafes, but in the family-owned restaurants, if you don’t finish your plate, the mom or pop may come over to your table and ask why you did not like their food. Often hating confrontation, we usually just say it was great but it was just too much to eat. There was one restaurant we went to that was highly rated on TripAdvisor, but the food was disgusting. The sanitation was questionable and they microwaved all their food (they freely showed us, so we know with certainty our food was microwaved, including our plate of anchovies). We barely finished our food before the owner came by. We felt uncomfortable that the owner got so close to us wanting to know why our plates were not clean.

#8

The Walkways Are Super Slick and Uneven

Athens is a beautiful city with gorgeous architecture and clean walkways… that are marble or cobblestone. It’s easy to get that great Instagram shot, but we lost count on how many times we slipped on the marbling. We ended up laughing at ourselves as we said, “well, I disappeared again.” We saw several tourists limping or bandaged up because of a sprained ankle that occurred while walking through Athens.

Make sure to bring shoes with a good grip and watch where you are walking. The sidewalks are stunning, but they’re not as angelic as they may look.

#9

Athens is NOT Physically Disability Friendly… Although it Tries to Accommodate

Remember me talking about those slick sidewalks and cobblestones? It is hard if not downright impossible to use a wheelchair or a walker in Athens. We saw a lady push a child in a wheelchair, and she was struggling within every 2 feet. There is a lack of lifts/elevators and ramps, even in some of the museums (the Acropolis Museum has several options, so no worries there). It’s unfortunate that there isn’t more infrastructure for those with physical disabilities, but with the city being very hilly and historical, I suppose these issues were not factored into the city plans. That being said, the archeological sites try to accommodate. For example, you can take the lift to the top of the Acropolis, but you will need to inform them in advance. There are entrances into other sites that are easier to walk through, but it may be a challenge to walk the entire site without difficulty. We personally are not disabled, but we saw several people who were struggling and complaining about the limitations.

#10

Wear Your Walking Shoes…. and Maybe Train Before Your Trip

I felt like an Olympian as we left Athens. We walked up steep hills, hiked hundreds of steps, and ran all over the city. Since the main tourist attractions are within walking distance, it makes sense why we walked an average of 12 miles a day… so we never felt guilty about eating baklava or gelato. We could tell those who were athletically ready versus those who were not. Wouldn’t it be awful to travel to Athens wanting to see the Acropolis just to be out of breath and having to wait at the bottom while your friends hiked up there? We saw it happen a lot.

Much like being physically prepared, you will need to prepare what you will wear, especially what goes on your feet. It’s best to wear closed-toe shoes because of all the rocks, sand, and other things you may be kicking around as you walk. If you are going to wear heels for a night on the town, make sure to hold onto someone or change into your heels when you show up at a restaurant. I saw countless people accidently bend their ankles in unnatural ways while wearing heels, thus ruining their Athens trip.

#11

Most of the Archeological Sites Can Be Seen Through The Fence

You’re going to want a ticket to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and the stunning views…. You’re going to want to walk through the Ancient Agora of Athens and marvel at the “city centre” enjoyed by ancient civilization…. But, you do not need to purchase a ticket for every attraction. Athens has the attractions set up for everyone to enjoy, whether they are open or not. If you are the type of person who wants to read every sign and walk through each historical site, then maybe you should purchase a ticket to walk through. If you are like me and read about the area beforehand and just want to see it, maybe don’t purchase a ticket and just look through and around the fence. It sounds strange because most tourist attractions are not generous enough to have shallow fences, but Athens does a great job by ensuring everyone has the ability to see what the ancient architectural pieces look like.

#12

Taking The Bus to Athens is Better Than Taking the Train

This one was shocking to us: the bus is cheaper, quicker, and easier to get to/from the airport to/from Syntagma Square (most likely where you will want to start when traveling). The metro leaves every 30 minutes, whereas the bus (x95) leaves every 10-15 minutes. A standard ticket for the metro costs 9€, unlike the bus ticket that costs 5€. It will take approximately 15 minutes less to get to Syntagma Square by bus, and you will get to see the beautiful views from the bus that you don’t get with the metro. You do you, but we highly recommend taking the bus in and out of the Athens airport.

#13

You May Need to Bargain with the Shopkeepers

I’m not very good at bargaining. I like to just see the pricetag and know what I’m going to have to pay. It doesn’t usually work that way in Athens. They will sometimes give you an estimate of how much everything is all-together, but say they’ll give you a special price that is slightly below the original amount. You can choose to pay for the asking price or you can bargain down. It’s like seeing a match between seasoned travelers and shopkeepers verbally wrestling with each other. I was a wimp and asked to go lower by 2€ (the shopkeeper seemed really happy that she probably got more money than expected). It’s like I could hear her say “Got another sucker today.” If I had known beforehand, I would have been better prepared for what I was getting myself into.

Bargaining doesn’t happen everywhere though. You won’t bargain at museum gift shops, convenient stores, and restaurants. It tends to be the more tourist gift shops and markets, such as Plaka.

#14

Athens Smells Incredible!

Nobody told me how amazing Athens smelled. There are so many orange trees lined up on the streets, there are rosemary and oregano plants growing wild near rock formations, and the aroma of the phenomenal food in the nearby restaurants really sets the tone for a nice trip. The tourist sections are also very clean, which came as a shock. Now, once you leave the main area and go more towards the local suburbs, you will have less enticing smells and catch more graffiti like you will in any other major city. But, you probably won’t want to go to those parts of Athens anyway.

If there was a perfume that could encapsulate the smells and aromas of Athens, I would happily pay a nice price for it!

#15

You Will Fall in Love with This City!

Look, we’ve been fortunate and lucky to travel to a lot of places around Europe, but Athens will be a memorable trip. Unlike other cities in Europe, Athens truly has something to fit everyone’s taste: history, architecture, kid-friendly activities, culture, nightlight, romance, food, views… everyone in your group will find something they are interested in within the city. It is a beautiful city I feel very fortunate to visit, and I hope to visit Athens again in the near future.

The Top 15 Things to Know When Visiting Athens, Greece

#1