TaipeiAccommodation
Great · #20 of 62
8.0/10
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.
GreeceVisited Jul 2022 · 1 month
Athens
Assured summer sun and plenty of Gyros.
Remote work hubGreat valueGreat for a holiday
This guide was written 4 years ago
Prices, opening hours and recommendations may have changed since my visit, so double-check anything important before you book.
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.
At a glance
Coworking
Good · #43 of 62
7.1/10
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.
Value
Great · #20 of 62
8.2/10
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.
Excitement
Good · #16 of 62
7.8/10
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.
Plan
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.
Cost of living
$1,558a month, before rent
Basic living costs, rent not included
Day-to-day spending for a month: two meals out and a coffee every day, three taxis and two nights out a week, a gym and a coworking desk. Add your rent on top.
Moderate- Meal in a casual restaurant$14
- Speciality coffee$4.73
- Pint of local beer$4.73
- Cocktail$13
- Taxi for 2 miles$11
- Men's haircut$21
- Women's haircut$48
- Gym membership, monthly$53
- Coworking, monthly$214
Prices as of Oct 2026. Confidence: medium (gym & coworking verified; other prices restated at 2026-10-07 exchange rates). Sources: numbeo.com, claratravels.com. Always check locally before planning around them.
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.
By month
| Month | Low °C | High °C | Rain mm | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 14 | 39 | |
| February | 7 | 14 | 50 | |
| March | 7 | 20 | 42 | |
| April | 10 | 25 | 51 | wet month |
| May | 15 | 28 | 26 | peak season |
| June | 23 | 36 | 4 | peak season |
| July | 25 | 38 | 17 | peak season |
| August | 24 | 36 | 18 | peak season |
| September | 19 | 31 | 14 | peak season |
| October | 13 | 26 | 20 | peak season |
| November | 10 | 21 | 121 | wet month |
| December | 9 | 15 | 125 | wet month |
Wettest months Peak season
Typical daytime highs and overnight lows, from the last two years of observations (Open-Meteo). Rain icons mark the wettest months.
- Visitors a year
- 8M2024
- Crowds
- High
- Peak season
- May–Oct
- Low season
- Dec–Feb
Remote work visa
Digital nomad visa available
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.
Working hours
Greece is based in Eastern European Time, perfect if you are used to working in European hours, one hour ahead of CET.
Live & work
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.
Kolonaki
Upmarket neighbourhood with several parks surrounding it. If i were to return to Athens, would stay here.
Exarcheia
RecommendedA 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.
Where 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.
Stone Soup Athens
Top locationOutdoor spaceCommunity
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.
Char. Trikoupi 18, 5th Floor, Athina 106 79
Food & drink
Coffee
MOTIV
Top rated
Great quality espresso with a choice of beans and plentiful outdoor and indoor seating.
Food
Loving Family
Social enterprise with several outlets across the city which does fresh fruit drinks and snacks at unbelievably good prices.
The Black Salami Microbakery
Top rated
Amazing sandwiches and a variety of baked goods. Worth the walk slightly out of town.
Giorgos Manos
I ate a LOT of Gyros in my time in Athens. This was one of the best. Small outdoor area for seating as well.
Feyrouz
Top rated
Some of the best middle eastern inspired food I've eaten. Soups and wraps all excellent.
Drinks
Tales of Ales
Craft beers isn't Athens strong point but this bar has a great range of local and international beers of varying styles.
Warehouse
Wine bar with a great variety of drinks and snacks. Perfect for a summers evening outside.
Off the clock
Off work
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.
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.
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.
Exercise
Run
Πεδίον του Άρεως
Perfect city park for early morning runs before the sun rises. Walkable from Exarcheia.
Walk
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.
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.
Notes
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.
Planning a trip to Athens?
Partners I recommend. Some of these links give you a discount, and I may receive a referral reward.
SafetyWing
Specialised, flexible insurance for prolonged trips away.
- Buy while abroad
- Global coverage
- Simple, online claims process
- 24/7 human support
For trips exceeding 30 continuous days, seek dedicated travel insurance. Most holiday policies or credit card offerings become invalid after 30 days, despite advertising year-round protection. SafetyWing provides medical and travel coverage specifically designed for remote workers.
Having successfully claimed through their platform with impressive speed, I confidently recommend their service.
Sign up and get $20 off
Learn more
Airarlo
Easy access to data on your phone wherever you are in the world.
Get $2.50 off your first purchase
Learn more
Western Union
A convenient alternative to high ATM fees or carrying around cash.
Register and earn £10
Learn moreWhere next
Suggestions or improvements?
If there's anything you feel that could make these guides more useful, let me know.
Leave a comment
Say hi!
If you've got any questions on any of the destinations or in remote work in general, give me a shout on LinkedIn.
Get in touch
Take every guide with you
The free iOS app has every guide offline, live weather and local time, costs in your currency, and bookmarks for your shortlist.
