Athens is a city with a rich history and many places to visit. However, many tourists skip the city to visit the nearby Greek islands. They may only have a quick visit to the Acropolis and take a coffee in Plaka, but Athens is much more than that. 

Athens has a lot of neighbourhoods that you can easily explore on foot. Most historic neighbourhoods are within walking distance from the city centre. 

If you’re wanting to go sightseeing in Athens, the best places to stay are the areas of Plaka, Monastiraki, Syntagma, Psiri and the City Centre. 

Plaka and Monastiraki have the most attractions that someone might want to see. They’re both within walking distance from the Acropolis, in the heart of the historic centre. Syntagma, on the other hand, offers an authentic and not-so-touristy option to the visitor. All these places have a wide selection of restaurants and bars to accommodate every taste. 

While staying in Athens, there’s a range of places to buy some souvenirs! The best places for shopping are Monastiraki and Kolonaki. Monastiraki has a huge flea market on Ifaistou street. There you can find all kinds of shops and vendors that sell everything you can imagine, from second-hand clothes to furniture. 

Monastiraki is the point where Ermou street starts – a full 1.5km long, full of shops! On the other hand, Kolonaki is further from the historic city centre. It has two main roads with shops such as Voukourestiou and Stadiou. Both streets have high-end shops and luxury brand boutiques. Filled with small designer shops, Kolonaki is said to be a posh, upscale neighbourhood. 

At the end of the day, some of the best places for nightlife and restaurants are Psirri, the City Centre and Koukaki. One of the things that Athens is known for is the variety of excellent restaurants and bars. For more authentic and budget-friendly dining, it is better to head to Koukaki. Koukaki has a lot of small bars that usually get very busy with a range of people. Psirri is also a lively place which attracts a younger crowd. Once said to be where workers lived, today, Psiri is a place someone must visit in Athens. Koukaki and Psirri are easily accessible using the Athens metro. 

Apart from the City Centre, there’s a lot of other places to visit and as an option to stay in, like Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni. These three places are by the sea in the southern part of Athens and they combine amazing urban scenery and the beach. You can reach these places by tram and spend a few days in Athens enjoying the sea as well. 

Another place to stay, a bit further from the city centre, is Petralona. ​​Even though Petralona is a densely populated district, it is not well-known among tourists. That is why Petralona is a choice for someone that wants to feel like a local. Petralona combines an urban and relaxed neighbourhood where someone can find many bars and restaurants. It is also easily accessible by the Metro. 

Here’s just an overview of a few of the different areas in Athens – which will you choose for your visit?