30 Mistakes to Avoid in Athens That Could Ruin your Trip

Imagine strolling through sun-drenched Athens, the Acropolis rising above like a mythical movie set come to life! No tourist traps, no meltdowns, just pure Athenian magic. Sounds dreamy, right?

But hold on, my anxious travelers, before you get swept away by the Parthenon’s grandeur, let’s sprinkle some super-organized pixie dust on your trip. Truth be told, even the most enchanted Athenian adventures can be derailed by common travel blunders.

Consider this article your vacation guardian angel, whispering insider secrets to help you avoid those “wish I knew that before” moments. From battling long lines with a smile to navigating public transport like a pro, I’ll cover it all. Ditch the stress, ditch the mistakes, and embrace the joy of a perfectly planned Athenian escape!

Why is pre-planning so important, you ask? Well, imagine you’re staring longingly at the Acropolis, only to discover there is more than an hour to queue to enter under a scorching sun. Or you’re wandering Plaka’s charming streets, famished but lost amidst a maze of identical tavernas.

A little organization goes a long way in this vibrant city. It means skipping unnecessary stress, maximizing your precious vacation time, and ensuring you don’t miss out on hidden gems in unexpected corners.

Speaking of navigating, remember that Athens, like any bustling metropolis, has its areas best avoided after dark. Stick to well-lit, populated streets, and if unsure, don’t hesitate to ask your hotel staff or fellow travelers for recommendations.

Embrace the spirit of cultural sensitivity. While rocking a toga might seem like a fun photo op, remember that Athens is a living, breathing city with a rich history and proud traditions.

Dress modestly when visiting religious sites, and be mindful of local customs. After all, wouldn’t you want the same respect when someone visited your hometown?

So, let’s ditch the tourist blunders and confidently unlock the magic of Athens! Don’t forget to check out my Athens Travel Guide Page. This convenient guide will become your compass to help you explore ancient wonders, indulge in delicious eats (and learn where to find them), and create a marvelous vacation you will never forget.

Grab your sense of adventure, channel your inner Greek goddess (or god!), and conquer Athens like a seasoned pro! Remember, a well-planned trip is a happy trip, and in Athens, happiness comes with a side of baklava and the Acropolis’ dazzling smile.

30 Mistakes to Avoid in Athens

1. Don’t avoid planning a holiday to Athens:

Greece is one of the most famous countries globally for its fantastic holiday destinations, mostly during summertime. There are islands in Greece, the mainland, and the beautiful capital, Athens. So book your flight tickets and start to plan your travel; trust me, you will love everything about it.

2. Don’t plan to visit Athens during winter if you are looking for hot temperatures:

If you look at flights and accommodations prices for Athens during the winter season, you are going to see that prices drop a lot, and yes, you are going to save a lot of money and avoid the summer crowd, but you will also find cold weather (unless you like it, of course).

Greek is a summer destination, perfect from April to October, but the weather is not as sunny as usual from November to March.

I think the best month to visit Athens is April, May, September, and October when kids are back at school (unless you travel with kids, of course), it is less crowded, and the temperature is already or still warm, but not so hot like July, and prices are lower.

3. Don’t confuse the Acropolis with the Parthenon:

The Acropolis in Athens is a hill in the middle of the city, with many ancient ruins. At the same time, the Parthenon is a massive construction on top of it.

Book Acropolis tickets and tours.  

4. Don’t skip to get up to the Parthenon:

I think the Parthenon on top of the Acropolis is probably the best part of Athens. It is so ancient, and it still stands up. You can see all the city from there, the stunning view, and the pictures you will take will be unique.

See Acropolis tickets and tours available.

5. Don’t be afraid to learn some basic sentences in Greek:

I know the Greek language might be intimidating for some of us, but you have no idea how hospitable Greek people are. They will appreciate the effort, so learn some essential words to use at your accommodation or in a restaurant, like good morning, good evening, thank you, etc.

You might become friends with some locals just because you show them how much you like your country and culture just by saying a few Greek words.

Learn some Greek phrases on the free Duolingo App.

6. Don’t drive in Athens:

Traffic in Athens can be crazy, so don’t risk ruining your day by getting stuck in the traffic and looking for a car park. Use public transport. They are excellent in Athens. You are going to get wherever you need to be much faster.

Pssst! Plan Your Vacation in Athens in the Best Way! Read all articles in my “Guide to Athens Page” and get all the info to make your next travel successful. 

7. Don’t save money on public transport:

Athens Metro works very well and has recently been renovated. It is spotless and cheap. Buses are also excellent because they connect every city area and are always on time.

Taxis are also cheaper than other capitals, so don’t be afraid to ask the price for your destination or book a cab on the app “Beat,” the best app for moving by Taxi in Athens. 

8. Don’t forget to wear comfortable walking shoes:

The city center of Athens is not very big, so you can easily walk everywhere as I did. I honestly took the metro only when I arrived at Athens airport to get to my hotel, when I wanted to get to the entrance of the Acropoli at opening time (to avoid taking pictures with hundreds of other travelers in them), and when I left to go to the port to catch my ferry.

All the other times, I just walked everywhere. The weather was so lovely and warm, and by walking, you could enjoy everything around you and see things you would probably miss if you were underground in the metro. So, remember to pack some comfortable but stylish sneakers if the weather is cold and some fantastic Greek-style leather sandals if visiting Athens in summer.

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9. Avoid tourist traps:

As you probably know, my dear traveler, every tourist place has plenty of tourist traps. Please do your research in advance, check my article “Best Places Where to Eat Local Food in Athens“, or ask locals where they eat.

I’m sure you won’t regret it. You will taste delicious local food and probably also save some money.

10. Don’t be afraid to talk to locals:

And talking to cats doesn’t count, even though you will see many cats in Greece, and they will all love to get some free food and cuddles.

Locals know the area and can give you advice, like where to eat and how to get from point A to B in the cheapest and fastest way (the best way to navigate Athens is by using the free Citymapper app if you don’t want to talk to locals); they know the hidden gems and much more, so don’t be afraid to talk to them and ask for advice.

See the free Citymapper App.

11. Don’t forget to research where to eat locally:

We all have a budget when we travel (at least I do), and the best way to experience the place we visit is through local food. I think this is probably the first thing I research as soon as I choose a destination. For me, I would spend all day eating. Where and what to eat is an essential part of my travel.

So, check out my article “Where to Eat Local Food in Athens“. If you fancy trying the local delicacies with a guide, check out the Food & Wines Tours in Athens.

12. Don’t be scared to share your meal with your travel mates:

And by saying this, I mean there are so many delicious foods in Greece; you cannot just order a starter and a main course for yourself and try only two things a restaurant offers. Share all the food with your travel mates unless you are traveling alone. 

Order different dishes and share everything with them. Sharing your meal is a great way to try most of the options on the menu, still feeling satisfied but not fully ready to explode (or maybe yes. Greek food is so good you won’t be able to stop eating everything).

Check out my article “Delicious Foods and Drinks to Try in Greece,” if you have a sweet tooth like me, check out “Delicious Sweets to Try in Greece“.

As you might have heard, Greece has a substantial financial issue, so please avoid the subject unless a local starts to talk about it with you.

Heads up! Craving Athens’s soul, not just its sights, but short on time? An Athens food tour might be what you need to taste most of the local Athenian food in just a couple of hours:

• Athens: The Original Greek Food Tour
• The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of Athens: 6 or 10 Tastings
• Athens Evening Food Tour

13. Don’t wear shorts and clothes that show your shoulders to enter churches:

If, like me, you love to enter religious buildings of any kind to admire the art and architecture, wear good clothes when visiting the churches in Athens. I always bring a pashmina to cover my shoulders.

Shop a stylish pashmina to pack for all your travels.

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14. Don’t eat only Greek food you have heard about:

Greece is a vast country. Every region has some specialty that you may not have heard about. Do your research ahead, or when visiting, ask your waiter or at your accommodation what the local gastronomy offers. Trust me. You are going to be very surprised.

Heads up! Craving more than just a taste of Athens? Take your love affair with Athens cuisine to the next level by learning to whip up its magic yourself with a hands-on cooking class! ‍

• Greek Cooking Class in Athens Including Rooftop Dinner with Acropolis View
• Greek Small-Group Athens Cooking Class & Dinner
• Athens: Traditional Greek Cooking Class with Full Meal

15. Don’t talk about politics or country issues:

Let’s keep it real. Greek politics can get wild. While chatting with locals and learning about their culture is fantastic, diving deep into political debates might turn your dream vacation into a heated argument.

Trust me, you’d rather be sipping ouzo on a sun-drenched terrace than getting lost in a labyrinth of political opinions. So, let’s focus on the good stuff: ancient ruins, mouthwatering gyros, and those breathtaking island views.

16. Don’t forget to bring a gift when a local invites you to their house:

Greeks are very hospitable people, so if some of them invite you to their home, please be a perfect guest and bring something to say thank you. 

It might be just a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine, or some sweets bought at a local bakery. You will see how much they will appreciate your gesture.

Read the best local gifts to buy in Greece.

17. Don’t forget to be extra careful when crossing the road:

Greeks are a little bit crazy while driving; not all of them, of course, but only because the traffic light is green in your favor; it doesn’t mean you don’t need to check the street before crossing, so keep that in mind, and please be always careful and vigilant.

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Travel Tip: Most phone providers charge extra fees to use your data plan abroad. If you don’t want to end up paying a fortune to use the internet in Greece, buying an eSIM for Greece on Airalo is the fastest and easiest way to have all the data you need while traveling. Check it out here!

18. Don’t expect everything or everyone to be on time:

Trains and buses might not always be right on time like in London (to give you an example), so you might have to wait a couple of minutes for your train to leave or wait a bit longer than usual to meet a local.

My advice is to always be there in advance if you must catch a train, a ferry, or a bus, just in case it leaves right on time or if you find traffic on your way. Traffic can be horrible in high season with locals going to work plus tourists not knowing the area. 

See the train and bus schedules and prices.

Please leave your accommodation in advance and be there with plenty of time ahead of you, do not risk losing it please, bring a novel or have some music to listen to and avoid getting bored while you wait (if this is your case).

See the Greek ferries schedule and prices.

19. Don’t show your hand palm:

It may mean nothing to you, but it is a well-known insulting gesture in Greece. It is like showing your middle finger, so please avoid it. 

To make you understand, I am not saying you cannot let other people see your palms. The gesture I am talking about is when you are talking to someone, and you lift your hand and show their face your palm in a very straightforward way. 

Pssst! Skip lines & soar through myths! The Athens Mythology Pass unlocks Ancient Athens’ greatest hits – Acropolis, Olympian Zeus, Agora – with zero stress & loads of storytelling magic. Buy it, believe it, wander like a legend!

20. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen:

The sun is ill, and we have heard about it many times, so please buy good aloe vera sunscreen lotion and apply it many times daily. The sun in Greece is powerful, so if you come from a country where you don’t sunbathe very often, please do not forget! In case you get sunburned, I’ve got an incredible guide on how to cure sunburn fast on vacation. 

Save your delicate skin and your holiday because sunburns can turn your holiday into a nightmare. Also, apply a good aloe vera after sun lotion in the evening.

Heads up! Looking for the perfect tan this summer? Read my “Guide to the perfect tan.”

21. Don’t spend all your holiday only in one place:

Of course, if you are planning to visit Greece just for a weekend, you won’t have time to see much, but if you are lucky enough to have one or two weeks to spend in this beautiful country, my advice is to visit more than just one place or one island.

All of the mainland is well connected by bus and trains. And all the islands are well connected by ferries, so it will be easy for you to move around. 

When I visited Greece, I started my holiday in Athens, where I spent three days (I had 16 days to spend in Greece). I then moved to Mykonos for four days, then Paros for three days, then Ios for three days, and ended my holiday in Santorini for another three days. I am not saying you have to do the same as I did, but honestly, ferries can be so fast, and the islands are not so big. 

I rented a car everywhere (just not in Athens, where I moved by public transport and walking during the day and by taxi at night), and I saw everything I wanted. I also had a lot of time to spend at the beach relaxing and swimming.

22. Don’t  forget to bargain:

In Greece, buying souvenirs or other things in shops or local markets is expected to bargain and get the best price. Even if you have never done it, try it. They won’t get upset because this is part of their customs, and you might save some money. Don’t forget that paying cash is the only way to lower the prices in a Greek market.

Short on time in Athens? No worries! The Athens hop-on, hop-off bus tour is the perfect way to experience the best of Athens in a flash. Ancient history, modern culture, and breathtaking sights – all at your own pace.

23. Don’t forget you will need an international driver’s license to rent a car in Greece:

Unfortunately, you might not be able to rent a car without an international driver’s license, so check how to do it in your own country (it is just a translation of your driver’s license and is usually valid for one year). 

The best thing to do is to contact your rental car company and double-check with them. If you are from Europe, you won’t have any problems but plan ahead if you come from a country outside the EU.

Check out car rentals in Greece.

24. Don’t forget to buy local products as souvenirs:

Greece has a lot to offer, from wine, olive oils, olives, honey, and herbs, so research where you will visit, buy, and eat locally; your friends at home will love to receive your gift in food form. 

Check out my “Wonderful Things to Buy in Greece” to learn more about what’s worth buying while exploring Greece.

25. Don’t throw toilet paper or anything else inside the toilet:

If you see a little bin next to the bathroom, use it for your paper. The pipes in Greece are pretty much smaller than in any other country. 

If you throw a lot of toilet paper in it, it will clog, and trust me, you don’t want to be in a situation when you and your travel mate cannot use the toilet in the morning, so keep this in mind.

Pssst! Plan Your Vacation in Athens in the Best Way! 
Check out my “Guide to Athens Page” and get all the info to make your next travel successful. 

26. Don’t forget to withdraw money:

While in Greece, always have some cash with you. In many restaurants, bars, and shops, it is possible to pay by credit card, while in some other ones, like in small towns, card payments are not always accepted, so keep that in mind, and never get out without some cash in your pocket.

To be sure, always ask if they accept card payments before ordering something.

Welcome to my travel guide, my lovely anxious traveler! Want to know who is behind Valentina’s Travel Guide? Let me tell you more about myself.

27. Don’t waste your time looking for a smoke-free bar or restaurant:

In Greece, most people smoke, and local owners let them do it, so if you cannot eat in a place where people are smoking at the table next to you, I highly recommend you choose a location with a garden or a terrace.

Conquer Travel Anxiety with a Guided Greece Tour: Begin your journey in Athens and explore the best of Greece. These multi-day tours in Greece, ranging from 3 to 27 days, offer a hassle-free way to discover ancient ruins, stunning coastlines, and vibrant cities.

Want to become a SUPER-ORGANIZED TRAVELER and fight TRAVEL ANXIETY? Check out my Travel Anxiety Tips Page, where you will find all the help, tips, tricks and guides to plan your next adventure in the most organized way!

28. Don’t forget to bring with you an adapter:

Greek plugs differ from the US, UK, and other countries. Make sure to buy a universal travel adaptor before your departure. It is always cheaper to buy it at home than at the airport in a tourist spot. Plan and buy all the necessary for your trip in advance.

Shop my universal travel adapter.

Heads up! If you like my content, remember that I covered many destinations worldwide and add more content weekly. So, let’s keep in touch. Subscribe to my free VIP TRAVEL ZEN AREA to become a super-organized traveler and reduce travel anxiety, and receive MY FREE 42-Page Guide to Plan a Super-Organized Trip, weekly updates about new destinations, and travel tips. 

29. Don’t forget to save the emergency numbers:

I wish you all the luck in this world and that nothing terrible happens to you, but sometimes bad things happen at home or while traveling, so save up all the numbers you might need in an emergency.

In Greece, the numbers to dial are: 

• Police emergency  100 
• Ambulance 166
• Fire Department 199
• Coast Guard 108
• Tourist Police 171
• Forest Fire Authority 191

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Finding all my free tips & info useful and want to thank me for them?
Doing it in the Italian way by buying me a coffee ⤵️

30. Don’t end up in a dangerous area:

Unfortunately, there are some dangerous areas in Athens, and some of them are in the city center, so make sure to book accommodation in one of the safe areas. About accommodations, I wrote articles about the best one to book for each budget:

• Most luxurious hotels in Athens
• Best Boutique hotels in Athens
• Most loved budget accommodations in Athens

These are the safest areas in Athens where you can walk around exploring:

• Thissio
• Plaka
• Pagrakti
• Siggrou Fix
• Monastiraki
• Zografou
• Neos Kosmos
• Koukaki
• Ano Patisia
• Megaro Mousikis

Remember that being safe is one of the most important things while traveling. Be constantly vigilant of what happens around you, even in the safest place.

These are the most dangerous Athens district to avoid, where drug use and crime happen daily:

• Omnia during the night. During the day, Omnia is full of shops, bars, and good restaurants.
• Kolokotroni Square
• The lower side of Kolonos
• Agio Panteleimomas
• Metaxourgio back streets
• Exarcheia
• Vathi

Before you go…

Ah, Athens! The cradle of democracy, the birthplace of philosophy, and…a potential minefield for unsuspecting tourists. Fear not, fellow adventurers! By heeding the wisdom in this handy guide, you’ll sidestep the common pitfalls and navigate Athens like a seasoned pro. ️

Remember, a little organization goes a long way. Snag those skip-the-line tickets in advance, especially for the Acropolis (not to be confused with the Partheon in Rome, darlings!). ️ This ancient marvel is a must-see, but those queues can be legendary. Trust me, your sun-kissed skin and precious vacation time are better spent exploring than waiting in line.

Speaking of exploration, be sure to venture beyond the tourist trail. Athens brims with hidden gems waiting to be discovered. But remember, not all streets are paved with Loukoumades (though many are, and that’s a delicious thing!). Stick to well-lit, populated areas, especially after dark. Safety first, darlings!

And lastly, embrace the Athenian spirit! Strike a conversation with a local, try a new dish (don’t be shy about that octopus!), and soak up the city’s vibrant energy. You might even learn a few Greek phrases to impress fellow travelers.

By avoiding these common stumbles, you’ll unlock Athens’s true magic. Now, pack your bags, embrace the spirit of the organization that will help you avoid travel anxiety, and prepare to create unforgettable memories in this captivating city. Remember, a well-planned adventure is a happy adventure, and Athens awaits your arrival with open arms (and delicious Kadaif )!

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