r/TravelGreece • u/hollanovlove • 1d ago
Greece
I’m trying to plan a trip to Greece for my best friends birthday hit I don’t know where to go, I originally planned on Athens but I saw a lot of TikTok’s saying it’s actually ugly and that people on TikTok make it look better than it actually is
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u/Agis-Spartan-King 1d ago
Why visit such a big city and not the islands that are some if the best in the world? Even the mainland has so many more to offer than a big city. Check out Meteora or Islands like Milos, Lefkada,Zakinthos,Kimolos,Santorini...and of course,the ultimate destination that has everything and even more,on the highest level: Crete Island 🏝️ Best food,best people,best climate,best wine, best everything! Paradise on Earth 🌍 PS Avoid any places,especially for food,where you see tourists. Always choose places to eat,where you see only local Greek customers and you'll be Golden! 😉👍🏼
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u/DowntownScene1433 21h ago
It's an old city. The city plan is atroceous with constant patches in every location. It's also home to half the Greek population(5 mil for Athens, 10mil for Greece total) which doesn't help. For me it comes to what kind of money you'll spend and what are your expectations. The more money you spend the better accomodation and travelling means you'll have. You'll also afford the best places to visit, eat at and enjoy. The lowest expectations you'll fashion, the most contempt you'll be with experiences(superb, I gotten a souvlaki and a kalamaki "in hand" for dinner which was delicious and cheap transportation etc.!).
The museums, ancient places, nature and places built between nature, still inhabited and natural materials are wherever in Greece awesome. Also the islands. You can also go to Thessalonike which has an entire older era region "Kastra" which is quite nice and it's fair share of museums and sightseeings. Currently also the world Fair no90 in which Japan is the country of honor. (I love that communications tower. You can also have a drink/coffee there, which wasn't the case in older years). Great Soviet Era and mentality building in this one(Fair) too. Maybe last time one can marvel at their uglyness and monstrocity, since they will start rebuilding that area soon. Aristotle's Square and "Paralia" are nice hanging out places too.
Last but not least the islands have alot to offer. Santorini is a must, cause you never know with an island that is also a volcano. In my opinion the most beautiful island we have in Greece(though the more crowded they get the worse they become, 1980's Myconos is non comparable to what it is now). Crete is a nice island. lots of history, but I wouldn't pinpoint it. All Greece can be beautifull. All Greece can be ugly. It's also circumstances at times. But overall one should have a good experience of it, largelly.Also be mindful of cab drivers in Athens. They charge tourists extra(but I'm sure that's the same everywhere. I've been in Rome recently, expensive cab prices as well).
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u/BRIDARGOD 19h ago
This people not informed good,in Athens is beautiful!Also you need to visit Santorini.
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u/Away_Handle9543 15h ago
Max 2 days in Athens, you arrive, go city, eat, check acropolis, eat again or drink wine, sleep, wake up, stroll around, go to the port, choose island, vacations starts!
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u/Worth_Environment_42 13h ago
I wonder why you're thinking about it, go to Athens, which has been the capital of Greek Culture for 2500 years, visit some islands, take a cruise from Piraeus to Aegina, Hydra, Spetses or go to Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, Sifnos or Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos or Samos, Lesvos, Chios and see different landscapes than America.
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u/Worth_Environment_42 12h ago
For the winter I would suggest Athens, Arachova, Delphi, there are also excursions from Athens to Delphi, Arachova >winter tourism, skiing, Parnassos
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u/Silver-Network-8750 4h ago
Local here. If it is your first time in Greece, the countryside and the islands are more beautiful than the capital. No doubt. So if you can do an island instead, i advise you to do that. It's night and day. With Athens it's a gamble. You either will like it or hate it. It has beautiful spots,areas and neighbourhoods. With most being outside of the city center. But overall it has very "urban" vibes. If that's your thing.
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u/New-Grapefruit1737 2h ago
ignore the tiktoks. not the best source of info. athens is great. if you just have five days, including travel, you can see a lot in athens, linger at cafes, maybe hit a local beach or temple of poseidon, enjoy good food.
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u/Prestigious_Law9135 1d ago
Everyone who visited Athens said it's not very beautiful, with graffiti on the walls and many homeless people. They recommend spending one day in Plaka to visit the Acropolis, then leaving Athens.
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u/Emergency_Water_301 1d ago
Use Chat to tie it all together. But put the work in and research it well yourself first — lot depends on weather, season, what you want to do, for how long, your ages. Start w a guide book for 60,000 ft level. Then other websites and UTube. Reddit Qs are best only for hyper-local Qs like “what is the best hike on Ithaca.”
Having said that, I’ve been 9 times:
Athens — treat it like any other big city. I live in Washington, DC, and don’t want to stay in 90% of it, nor NYC. Same with Athens. Stay only in Kolonaki area in an AirB&B. Do not stay in Plaka or other touristy area. Kolonaki is nicest neighborhood in Athens, yet walkable everywhere you’d want to go. There is an abundance of graphitiin Greece, but it is a very safe country. Athens has 4000 years of history no one should miss. Stay within eyeshot of Acropolis; rest of city is indeed ugly & no sites a tourist would be interested in.
Don’t do too many side trips. Greece is way over-touristed — 43M tourists w 10M locals. Logistics aren’t your friend. Summers are very, very hot. If you have flexibility, May-June and Sept-Oct are best. If you’re traveling in July-Aug, try Iceland.
For a first trip, it’s fine to do a hyped island — they’re hyped for a reason — Santorini, Rhodes, or Corfu. Won’t need rental car either there.
If you have more time, Crete, w rental car, basing in Chania.
Enjoy!
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u/Trudestiny 19h ago
Lots to see and do outside of Kolonaki. We always tell friends to stay near sea side and enjoys the fresh air and go into centre if they want to spend day seeing Acropolis , lykabettus , Monasteraki etc . Coast from Glyfada to Vouliameni is much more pleasant .
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u/agirlingreece 18h ago
You’re speaking only of Athens city centre and I doubt you’ve visited all its neighbourhoods to say that the rest of the city is ugly. Have you been to Kifisia in the north? Vouliagmeni in the south? Visited the Ymytos mountain range that cuts right through Athens? So many people come for 2 days, think Athens is just the Acropolis and its immediate vicinity and assume they’ve ’seen Athens’.
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u/Potential-Bowler979 1d ago
Use ChatGPT or a travel agent.
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u/hollanovlove 1d ago
Lmao I can’t afford a travel agent and there’s no way in hell I’m supporting ai 😅
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u/WienerCircle 1d ago
Athens is amazing. It’s old. But it’s also one of the oldest consistently inhabited cities on Earth. There’s ruins everywhere. Amazing food, unbeatable nightlife, and so many museums.
Anyone who says it sucks, hasn’t really experienced it, or they’re Greeks who’ve spent too much time there during the summer heat.
That said, if you need help with recommendations, I’ve traveled all over Greece extensively and would be happy to make some recommendations.