holdall · Athens, Greece

Athens

Jul 2022

1 month

Summary

Summary

Having enjoyed a short stay in Athens a few years back, it was the ideal candidate for a trip in the the summer of 2022, where the main criteria was finding a location with assured summer heat.

Accommodation

Bad

Good

Great

Considering it's status as a global tourist attraction, accommodation is still relatively affordable compared to other main European capitals, especially outside of the peak summer months.

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New legislation

Recent changes introduced by the Turkish government has made short-term rentals for under 100 days more restricted. Keep an eye on Reddit threads for up-to-date assessments of how the new legislation is impacting short-term rentals in practice.

Places to work

Bad

Good

Great

A solid selection of coworking spaces but perhaps not as many as you would expect from a city of it's size and stature. After viewing several, i was very happy with my choice of Stone Soup.

Like anywhere in Greece, there are an infinite array of coffee shops but wifi is not the most reliable so you would be best opting for a dedicated space.

Value

Bad

Good

Great

Not many European capitals can compete with Athens when it comes to value. Eating out and drinking is well priced and there are no shortage of more sophisticated higher end options.

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The yen is currently at a 34-year low

While this is undoubtedly a negative for the Japanese, it makes for an exceptionally good time to visit Japan from abroad. Although this trend is unlikely to reverse significantly in the short term, it's still worth checking before visiting.

View cost of living

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Excitement

Bad

Good

Great

For a city of its size and stature, Athens truly meets expectations in this regard. Especially during the summer months, when visitor numbers swell, the city has a lively ambience, with areas surrounding the Acropolis consistently busy.The pleasant nighttime temperatures encourage people to stay out late, enjoying the numerous dining and nightlife spots.In particular, Exarchia has a uniquely unpredictable and rebellious character, which contrasts well with the more sophisticated areas of the city centre.

Working hours

Greece is based in Eastern European Time, perfect if you are used to working in European hours, one hour ahead of CET.

🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?

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Do you need to speak Spanish?

Without doubt, being able to speak Spanish with a degree of fluency is a huge asset when visiting South America. I had always put off visiting the continent due to my Spanish skills not extending beyond requesting a "cerveza grande".

But even with my incredibly primitive linguistic capabilities, it was not in any way to the detriment of the trip. English is spoken sparsely, but armed with a few phrases, some polite enthusiasm and a translator, it shouldn't deter you from visiting.

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Where to stay

Athens is enormous and unless you want to be spending a lot of time on the metro, you'd be best off considering options within walking distance to the centre.

Would avoid

Recommended

Exarcheia

A very unique, politically charged edgy neighbourhood, home to an array of food and nightlife options. Not uncommon for their to be protests or heavy police presence in the area. 10 minute walk to the centre of town.

Would avoid

Recommended

Kolonaki

Upmarket neighbourhood with several parks surrounding it. If i were to return to Athens, would stay here.

Where to work

Stone Soup Athens

Top Choice

☕️ Good Coffee

📍 Top Location

🥗 On Site Cafe

🧍Community Focused

⭐️ Quality Fit Out

🌳 Outdoor Space

I spent 6 weeks working from Stone Soup and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for space to work from within Athens. It's by no mean the sleekest or most polished space, but the team running it are great, there is generous desk space and it also has a large roof terrace which you have access to, giving incredible views over the city.

It's based in a great location in town and they often put on social nights, a great place to meet the international audience I found working from there.

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Remote work visa

Remote work visa coming soon

A dedicated remote work visa is available for this country.

This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.

There is currently no remote work visa available for this country.

Greece introduced a Digital Nomad Visa in 2021, allowing remote workers to reside for up to two years. From January 1, 2024, applications must be submitted through Greek consulates abroad, not in-country. The visa provides access to 26 Schengen countries but requires spending at least six months in Greece. Digital nomads can bring family members.

Visa length

Visa cost

Earning requirements

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To the best of my knowledge this information was correct as of October 2024. If you notice something has changed drop me a message and I'll update it!

‍Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.

Safety

Off work

Day trip to Agistri

Only a short ferry journey away from the main Pireaus port of Athens, Agistri is an ideal place to spend a day on the beach. The island has plenty of small shops to stock up on essentials and some restaurants for evening meals.

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Walk Areopagus Hill

Not many walks can beat this on an inevitably sunny summer's evening with incredible panoramic views across to the Acropolis.

Explore Stavros Niarchos Park

An enormous, green urban space situated in Kallithea, the park hosts regular free concerts throughout the summer. I caught early 90 hip-hop pioneers Arrested Development there on a sundrenched friday evening in 2022.

Run in Πεδίον του Άρεως

I'm not even going to begin to try and pronunce the name of this park but it is home to a range of outdoor exhibitions throughout the year, I visited the Plasmata exhibit several times which was definitely worth checking out. Also ideal for morning runs.

Duration & season

Having spent 6 weeks there, I would have no hesitations in recommending Athens as a summer destination. Even with temperatures routinely in the mid 30s, the heat was not too much of a concern, with AC availability widespread.

It's worth noting there is something of an exodus from the city in the month of August as Greeks head to the islands for summer vacations. You're better off swerving that period unless you are craving some form of urban isolation.

During the mid summer months there's no shortage of things to do in the city itself and there is an infinite number of islands to explore, reachable from the ferry port or by plane.

If planning on doing a lot hiking or exploring outdoors, you may be better off arriving before June, where the threat of wildfires puts many outdoor spaces out of bounds.

Food & drink

MOTIV

Central

Great quality espresso with a choice of beans and plentiful outdoor and indoor seating.

Top Choice

Feyrouz

Central Athens

Some of the best middle eastern inspired food I've eaten. Soups and wraps all excellent.

Top Choice

The Black Salami Microbakery

Exarcheia

Amazing sandwiches and a variety of baked goods. Worth the walk slightly out of town.

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Tales of Ales

Central Athens

Craft beers isn't Athens strong point but this bar has a great range of local and international beers of varying styles.

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Giorgos Manos

Exarcheia

I ate a LOT of Gyros in my time in Athens. This was one of the best. Small outdoor area for seating as well.

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Warehouse

Exarcheia

Wine bar with a great variety of drinks and snacks. Perfect for a summers evening outside.

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Loving Family

Various

Social enterprise with several outlets across the city which does fresh fruit drinks and snacks at unbelievably good prices.

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Πεδίον του Άρεως

Run

Perfect city park for early morning runs before the sun rises. Walkable from Exarcheia.

Athens City Loop

Walk

Athens is a big place. If you are a keen walker it's worth walking down from the centre to take in the sheer enormity of the city. Plenty of opportunities for iced coffees along the way.

People

As you may suspect, Athens is a year round global tourist destination pulling in people from all corners of the globe. There's a prominent remote working community in the city with the coworking space I worked from being a good mix of individuals from mainly across Europe within Greece. I found Athenians on the whole to be as a friendly and welcoming as you would expect from such a large touristic city.

Exercise

Πεδίον του Άρεως

Perfect city park for early morning runs before the sun rises. Walkable from Exarcheia.

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Athens City Loop

Athens is a big place. If you are a keen walker it's worth walking down from the centre to take in the sheer enormity of the city. Plenty of opportunities for iced coffees along the way.

keyboard_arrow_down

Πεδίον του Άρεως

Perfect city park for early morning runs before the sun rises. Walkable from Exarcheia.

Athens City Loop

Athens is a big place. If you are a keen walker it's worth walking down from the centre to take in the sheer enormity of the city. Plenty of opportunities for iced coffees along the way.

Verdict

Positives

A busy, international city.I found it an inspiring place to work from, with the buzz and vibrancy you would expect from a big city.
Assured great weather.With over 300 days of sunshine per year, you are assured some great weather over the summer months,
Good value.Food and dink is reasonably priced compared to other major Euroepan capitals.
International crowd.Athens draws in people from across Europe and the rest of the world making it a great place to meet others.
A great place to also plan a holiday from.If you are planning a summer getaway, you can quite feasibly be on a Greek island within a couple of hours.

Negatives

Super high density of toursits in the centre.Be prepared for swathes of loud Americans roaming the streets making their presence known.
It is super hot during summer.If you are planning on doing anything remotely strenuous outside, you want to make sure that it's done by 11:00.

Tips

If intending to hike in summer, check prior for forest fire alerts. The surrounding wildlife areas are high risk areas for forest fires. Several times I intended to make my way up only to turn back.
The metro is moderately fast and efficient. It has good coverage across the city and is relatively inexpensiv.
Lots of Athenians leave the city in August.If you are looking for a busy atmosphere during this period, you should look elsewhere or return in September.

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