As the temperatures rise and travel is back (as at the summer of 2022), I don’t blame anyone for wanting to head immediately to the Greek islands and flop on a beach. But don’t overlook Athens as a summer stopover, or for a bit longer.
******Please note! Athens and many places across Greece have reached record-breaking temperatures, including the Greek islands in the summer. You do need to take extra care when travelling at this time of year. See my tips on how to stay cool in the Greek summer to help you enjoy your vacation time.******
Let’s look at why you shouldn’t overlook Athens as a summer destination stopover:
Athens is super quiet in August
It’s true. As you’ll probably know, Athens gets super hot in the summer with temperatures reaching up to 40C/104F so that means that yes, everyone heads to the islands or their villages across the mainland. This includes the locals, meaning that you’ve got the city pretty much to yourself.
Visit the Acropolis–but go very early morning before the heat of the day. It usually opens from about 8am so I would recommend going as early as that. After 11am it’ll be too hot–until about 6pm but it closes about 7pm anyway.
NOTE: NEW RULES FOR VISITING THE ACROPOLIS
As of April 2024, there are new caps on entry numbers to the monument, mainly to curb over-tourism but also it’ll help to combat the crowds and people standing in ridiculous heat (there is no shade at the Acropolis).
- From 8 to 9am, 3,000 people will be let into the complex.
- From 9 to 10am, 2,000 people will be granted access, then numbers for the remainder of the day will vary.
- See my Free Things to Do In Athens for a further look at what to do in this city for free
No lengthy waits for restaurants and tavernas
That’s right, there’ll be no lengthy queues/lines for popular places to eat ie: those with a view of the Acropolis or that unique street food that serves great falafel.
See my suggestions of Greek Dishes–Top Things to Eat in Athens
There’s great street art to be seen in Athens
Beyond the usual ancient sites, a burgeoning scene in this city is street art. There are many companies offering street art tours, one of my favourites is Awesome Athens Experiences. They take you around the various Athens neighbourhoods and explain what each mural means and by which unique artist.
As with anything in Athens in the summer, start off in the morning as it’s much cooler, or after 6pm. Wear a hat and sunglasses plus comfortable walking shoes, bring plenty of drinking water and high factor sunscreen.
Check out my video about a different side to Athens.
- Check out my packing list with downloadable/printable guide to help you plan your Athens summer vacation packing
- Do’s and Don’t’s in Greece – a look at customs and etiquette when visiting to help you navigate this unique culture
- Things to know before travelling to Greece – some tips to prepare yourself
There are many things to see and do in Athens. People generally think of it as a dirty city and want to escape immediately. Please don’t. Give this eclectic metropolis a chance.
There’s so much to see around Athens Airport. The summer is the best time
It’s true! Perhaps rather unusually, Athens Airport is not an industrialised zone. It’s surrounded by beautiful countryside with vineyards, Frankish Towers, fig and olive groves, wineries and not too far from the coast.
There’s a lot to explore in this region of Athens. Vouryia can handcraft your Beyond Athens experience and showcase this unique region with its abandoned railway heading down towards the coast and cute railway stations. Be sure to spend time exploring what’s known as the Mesogaia region of Athens in the summer.
View this post on Instagram
Athens Travel App
Download my Athens Travel App for Android and iPhone to help you plan your Athens summer stopover, or for any time of the year. Click the image below:
PIN for later
Nice tour of Athens, I love the video also bex, hope you can also link it up for Travel Photo Mondays, thanks
I was in Athens for only a couple of days as well. The architecture is really beautiful – especially behind the Acropolis. All those balconies! But visiting in the summer stinks. I was there in late August and it was way too hot for me. Thanks for linking up to #SundayTraveler.
Yes – August is a particularly hot time to be here!
I really hope to make it to Athens one day! Thanks for linking up to th #SundayTraveler! 🙂
I like a lot “Meet Market” initiative. Also, an Open Air Cinema is something that I used to enjoy when I was younger, but thought that they are completely gone. Happy to see that in Athens they are still popular. Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler.
I love me some street art! It livens up the place when done well. I did not enjoy my trip to Athens. I loved the big sites, but struggled in the city. That being said, I had my eyes closed, as I missed so much of this. Thanks for sharing this with us on #SundayTraveler
You HAVE to come to the open air cinemas! A visit to Athens is incomplete without one.
Yes, the Meet Market is also great
I hope you’ll come back and allow me to show you my Athens :0)
Ooh I love street art! I haven’t been to Athens and surprisingly heard mixed feelings about it, but I still want to go. I’m definitely not throwing it out the window for a visit!