Quick answer: Athens runs about EUR 110 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: April-June and September-October - warm but not brutal, July-August regularly tops 35C.
What things actually cost
| freddo espresso | 3 EUR |
| gyros pita | 4 EUR |
| 90-minute metro ticket | 1.20 EUR |
| Acropolis entry (summer rate) | 20 EUR |
| taverna dinner with wine | 18 EUR |
| 0.5l beer at a bar | 4.50 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Gyros or souvlaki pita3.50-4.50 EUR, the benchmark cheap meal, try Kostas near Syntagma
- Greek salad with barrel feta7-9 EUR at any taverna
- Loukoumades (honey doughnuts)5-6 EUR a portion, Krinos is the classic stop
- Freddo espressoabout 3 EUR, the default summer coffee
- Full taverna dinner in Psyrri with house wine15-20 EUR per person
Money mistakes to avoid
- Climbing the Acropolis at midday in summergo at 8am opening or the last two hours, and book timed tickets online
- Eating at places with photo menus and touts on Adrianou Street - walk two blocks into Psyrri or Koukaki instead
- Treating Athens as a half-day layover to the islandsthe museums and food deserve two full days minimum
- Accepting taxi price 'quotes'insist on the meter or use the FreeNow app
Transport without the tourist tax
Metro line 3 runs from the airport to Syntagma in about 40 minutes for 9 EUR, or the X95 express bus costs about 5.50 EUR. The center is walkable and the metro covers the rest - a 90-minute ticket is 1.20 EUR.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Athens itinerary.