Athens
Assured summer sun and plenty of Gyros.
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The capital and largest city of Greece is a fusion of ancient civilisation and modern metropolis.
It's cityscape is visually dominated by ancient landmarks, including the Acropolis. Today, Athens thrives as a modern metropolis, offering a plethora of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, and a lively nightlife scene.
Ideal spot for a month-long stay during the European summer. Would revisit and aim for May or September.
Ideal spot for a month-long stay during the European summer. Would revisit and aim for May or September.
Ideal spot for a month-long stay during the European summer. Would revisit and aim for May or September.
Ideal spot for a month-long stay during the European summer. Would revisit and aim for May or September.
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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
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.
Places to work
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
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.
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?
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.
Exarcheia
Kolonaki
Where to work
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Stone Soup Athens
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
If staying for a prolonged period, you may want to consider a dedicated visa for this destination.
This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.
Check your government website for details of how to obtain a tourist visa.
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.
Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.
Safety
Off-work
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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.
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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
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
Athens City Loop
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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