Budget Travel

Athens is one of those cities that works brilliantly for solo travelers. The neighborhoods are walkable. The food is cheap and delicious. The locals are warm (sometimes aggressively so — you will be waved into restaurants). Public transport is reliable. And the city is safe enough that you can wander at midnight without thinking twice. I’ve spent time in Athens alone and with company, and honestly? Some of my best moments there were solo. Sitting on the Areopagus hill at sunset with a souvlaki in one hand, watching the Parthenon turn gold, surrounded by strangers all doing the same thing — that’s a shared experience you don’t need a travel partner to enjoy.

Here’s the thing that surprised me most about Athens: it might be one of Europe’s best capital cities for budget travel. Not “cheap if you compromise on everything” budget — actually good. While tourists shell out €15 for mediocre moussaka on Plaka’s main strip, locals are eating incredible souvlaki for €3.50 literally one block away. The trick is knowing where to look. Here’s how to experience Athens on a budget without missing any of the good stuff.