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- Pro: Rich Historical Sites. Living in Athens provides daily access to some of the world’s most renowned historical sites. From the breathtaking Acropolis to hidden Byzantine churches, residents can enjoy the city’s ancient monuments at their leisure.
- Con: Overcrowded Tourist Attractions in Athens. While the historical sites of Athens are undoubtedly one of its greatest assets, they can also become a drawback for those living in the city.
- Pro: Mild Winter Climate. Living in Athens as an expat offers the joy of experiencing its mild winters. During the winter months, the Mediterranean climate ensures relatively warm and temperate conditions compared to many other European cities.
- Con: Hot and Dry Summers. On the flip side, the hot summers in Athens can be a significant drawback. I have experienced some INTENSE heat in the summer months.
- Accommodation in Athens
- Lifestyle in Athens
- Getting Around in Athens
- Cost of Living in Athens
- CON: Much of the city’s accommodation is pricey
Being a tourism hotspot, Athens's accommodationis more expensive than in other areas of Greece. Compared to other cities, there's less value for money, and it can be tough to find something suitable.
+ PRO: Though harder to find, more affordable options exist
There are a few tricks that expats can use to up their chances of finding a more budget-friendly place to live in Athens. They could, for instance, make sure they start their house search in the off season, which will already shave off quite a bit. A lot of accommodation stands empty during this time, which gives expats a bargaining chip that could be used to leverage a lower rental cost.
+ PRO: Incredible historical sites
People come from all over the world to visit some of the world's most ancient architecture and historical sites in Athens, but expats living there are lucky enough to have all this right on their doorstep. Exploring the attractionsof Athens in the off season is a great way to get to know the city.
- CON: Crowded during the holiday season
During the tourist season, Athens is flooded with visitors and can quickly become claustrophobic. Many residents of Athens find this to be a good time to take a getaway of their own to escape the chaos.
+ PRO: Amazing food
Whether grabbing a quick bite to eat from a roadside stall or living it up in a fine-dining restaurant, Athens offers countless opportunities to sample authentically Greek food, and this is just one of many lifestyleperks of living here. High-quality locally sourced ingredients such as fresh seafood, Greek cheese and olive oil never disappoint and can be found in abundance.
+ PRO: Robust public transport system
Home to the country's only metro, Athens has a fantastic public transportsystem that also consists of trains, buses and ferries, making it easy to travel locally and regionally.
- CON: Not the best city to drive in
Driving in Athens is not for the faint of heart, and expat drivers will have to contend with a host of challenges ranging from massive traffic jams and erratic Greek driving to numerous extra expenses and a lack of parking, particularly in the city centre.
- CON: Expensive compared to other parts of Greece
While not the most expensive European capital, Athens is still far from the cheapest. The city's status as a tourism hotspot drives the cost of livingup, giving Athens the unfortunate title of Greece's most expensive city.
+ PRO: Expats can save money by living like locals
Avoiding the touristy areas of Athens can go a long way towards keeping costs down. In particular, restaurants and shops close to tourist attractions often inflate their prices. Expats can save money by eating where the locals eat and shopping where they shop.
Oct 10, 2022 · Athens doesn’t possess the same beauty as, say, the Cyclades. Living in Athens means contending with the ongoing ramifications of the Greek crisis, and dealing with pollution, corruption, and congestion. The Greek way of life on the whole is typically more laid back than that in the west.
Feb 14, 2024 · Last updated on Mar 05, 2023. Summary: The pros of living in Athens, Greece include its rich cultural heritage, its vibrant nightlife, its Mediterranean climate, and its proximity to the sea. On the other hand, the cons of living in Athens include its high cost of living, its air pollution, its traffic congestion, and its lack of green spaces.
Aug 29, 2023 · As you can imagine, living in Athens can be quite an experience. Yet life in Athens may be nothing as idyllic as a Mamma Mia scene. Name: Kathleen O’Donnell. Age: 36. Country of origin: USA. Years living in Athens: part-time for 3 years. Hi Kathleen!
Aug 22, 2023 · The golden visa is a way of getting residency through property investment. For most places, you can gain a five-year residency permit by spending 250,000 euros or more across one or more properties. For some areas of Athens, the minimum investment has increased to 500,000 euros and must be spent on one property.
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Jun 17, 2024 · The next point will explain what I mean a little more. 2. Affordable Cost Of Living. We think that the cost of living in Athens is very affordable considering you are living in a modern, European city with access to decent healthcare, good public transport and great produce for your groceries.
