I have lived in Athens most of my life – not counting studies and traveling – and I must admit I am a bit biased about it, as I love my home city very much. But, as I am your friend in Athens, I can note the inconveniences that may occur to anyone. Here are the issues to pay attention to and how to deal with them, so that your holidays remain a pleasurable experience as planned.
There are challenges one might face in any big capital city and Athens is no exception to this rule. Here are the basic ones:
1. Extreme weather conditions cause difficulties
There are places in the world, like for example I have seen in the U.K., where the streets are dry the minute rain stops. Sometimes even before it stops!
This is not the case in Athens.
The weather in Athens is usually mild, sunny, and welcoming. This has led to a series of postponements in many major infrastructure improvements concerning how the city reacts to adverse weather conditions.
When the weather is too cold!
So if you visit Athens during January or February you must be ready for the possibility of experiencing someday heavy rain, or even snow. And in such a case, the city …stops.
Weather conditions that would pass completely unnoticed by any of my Northern European friends, lead to many times chaotic traffic. People have a hard time going to work and they avoid any type of movement if possible.
Working from home, fortunately, has provided options that we did not have before. But still, you must take into account that some shops might be closed.
What to do:
- Having the correct hotel location where everything you wanted to see is within walking distance, pays off on such occasions. You do not have to trouble yourself with taxis or busses, you can just decide to walk.
- Mind the shoes you will choose so that they are not slippery and you are ready to go!
When the weather is too hot!
The case of extreme heat is easy to deal with, as the city is much more accustomed to such a case. There are few days within August when the temperature rises above 40 Celcius -104 Fahrenheit. These temperatures are not the rule for every summer day, but they do occur.
What to do:
- You need to protect yourself. On those days you might want to plan a visit to an airconditioned space like a museum or a gallery. Stay indoors as much as possible.
- Another option would be a day at the beach – there are many to choose from in Athens – but stay away from the sun from 13.00 to 16.00 p.m. if you want to be safe and avoid sunburn.
In any case, during the summertime in Greece, one should
- always wear a hat that covers the back part of the neck as well,
- stay hydrated by drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day, and
- use high-protection skin sunscreen that is reapplied every two hours.
This is true for any Meditteranean region in the summer. And it is what we do too.
2. The unannounced strikes and marches are happening too often
In September of 2021, the Minister of Citizens Protection in Greece was happy to announce that there were only 83 marches in the center of Athens during that month. Also, he said that in only 16 of those, the traffic was interrupted because of them.
So in Athens, it is considered a success if in more than half the days of a month there is a traffic jam because of someone protesting about something!
Unannounced two-hour or three-hour strikes and a march or two are beloved “hobbies” of my fellow citizens that no government has managed to control up until today. Protesting about anything and everything might be a collective way to maintain our sanity. Or test yours.
What to do:
- Always have a plan B for the day. Flexibility is key in these situations.
- Phone beforehand if you can at the venue you plan to visit to make sure that everything is in order and allow time for the unexpected.
- If you manage to view it as part of the local folklore it will not upset you too much.
3. State services can be a challenge
Civil servants in Greece cannot be fired. And they know it. It is part of our constitutional law so that the successive governments will not have the option to just replace the state force with their voters.
But this privilege of absolute job security has led to a sometimes problematic attitude. Unfortunately, on some occasions, the mentality of civil servants is not a servant one and it might not even be civil.
On the other hand, Greeks everywhere deal with foreigners with a “host” mentality and your experience – if any – could very well be a much better one than the one we locals have.
What to do:
- In the past couple of years, Greek governance has discovered – finally – the internet. Before you visit any state service visit gov.gr because there is a good chance you might not need to go anywhere.
- During your holidays it is unlikely that you will need state services. If such a case occurs, having help from a local could make a tremendous difference.
4. In a medical emergency you might be socked
EU citizens can use the medical state facilities the same way locals do and enjoy the same benefits with them in case something unexpected happens.
Watch this video for an overview of the way the European Health Insurance Card works. And it is for free!
Citizens from non-EU countries can also use free emergency medical services.
So where will the sock come from?
There is a good chance that the hospital facilities of the (free or almost zero cost) state-owned venues will leave a lot to be desired. Not the doctors, or the medical services, just the venue. And not in all cases, but in many.
So, should you find yourself inside some of the hospitals in Athens, you might think you visited the ’80s and this could be a shock.
On the other hand, if you choose the private sector, the environment will resemble five-star hotels and the price will be much steeper than in one. The bill can be a different type of surprise but it is nevertheless an important factor to keep in mind.
What to do:
- If you do come from one of the 27 European Countries of the EU having the EHIC is an excellent idea.
- Travel insurance is very economical if you think of the benefits and peace of mind it offers.
- Before leaving your home it could be a good idea to call your health insurance agent to learn more about your rights during your time abroad.
5. Prices on some occasions can be pricey
Tickets for visiting the Acropolis Sacred Rock and the Parthenon are 20 euros per person.
Tickets for visiting the Acropolis Museum are 10 euros per person.
Acropolis is unique, and if you compare the entrance fees with other landmarks in the world you would find them to be very competitive. Still, some may view these ticket prices as high.
Especially if you find out, after paying them, that with 30 euros you could buy the “combined ticket” that has a duration of 5 days after the first entrance and it ensures your entrance to the
- Sacred Rock of Acropolis and the Slopes,
- Ancient Agora,
- Roman Agora,
- Hadrian’s Library,
- Olympio,
- Kerameiko,
- Aristotle High School
Another issue some tourists may face is taxi drivers overcharging them. In Greece taxis are still comparatively cheap.
But there is a way to ensure you get the best services at the best price.
There is an app for your taxis you can download the minute you arrive in Athens, Beat. With this app before ordering your taxi, you get an estimate of the cost for the specific route, so there are no surprises. I highly recommend it, I use it all the time.
What to do:
- In order for you to enjoy the best deals, it takes some planning before visiting any venue.
- Ask the locals – at the hotel, at the restaurant, almost anywhere – about what price to expect on any given occasion. They most certainly tell you all you need to know.