Budget · Athens · Greece
Athens on a budget
What a trip to Athens really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: George E. Koronaios, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Athens is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $60–$100 per person per day on a tight budget, $140–$260 mid-range and $350–$900 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $60–$100 a day
- Mid-range
- $140–$260 a day
- Luxury
- $350–$900 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 9
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $60–$100 | $180–$300 | $300–$500 | $420–$700 |
| Mid-range | $140–$260 | $420–$780 | $700–$1,300 | $980–$1,820 |
| Luxury | $350–$900 | $1,050–$2,700 | $1,750–$4,500 | $2,450–$6,300 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Athens, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro or bus ticket (90 minutes) | about €1.20–€1.50 |
| Airport metro ticket | about €9–€10 |
| Pita gyros | about €3.50–€5 |
| Freddo espresso | about €2.50–€4 |
| Taverna dinner with house wine | about €18–€30 per person |
| Acropolis ticket | about €20–€30 |
| Small bottle of water at a kiosk | about €0.50 |
| Cocktail at a rooftop bar | about €12–€18 |
Money-saving tips
- State archaeological sites have free-entry days on some national holidays and selected low-season dates; check the Ministry of Culture's list before you go.
- Eat souvlaki or bakery pies for lunch and save tavernas for dinner; both are good value.
- The 3-day tourist ticket includes an airport round trip and all city transport, which pays off if you take the metro to and from the airport.
- Buy water and snacks at the street kiosks (periptera) rather than at cafés near the ruins.
- Stay in Koukaki, Pangrati or Psyrri for better-value rooms than in Plaka, all within walking distance of the sights.
- Travel between November and March for the lowest hotel rates and the quietest ruins.
Free things to do
- Changing of the Guard at Syntagma — Evzones of the Presidential Guard, in pleated kilts, tasselled caps and pom-pom clogs, stand at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier below the Hellenic Parliament.
- Plaka and Anafiotika — Below the Acropolis's north face, Plaka's lanes of neoclassical houses lead up to Anafiotika, a tiny cluster of whitewashed cube houses built in the 19th century by builders from the island of Anafi.
- Mount Lycabettus — At about 277 metres, Lycabettus is the highest point in central Athens, crowned by the small white chapel of Agios Georgios.
- Monastiraki Flea Market — From Monastiraki Square, Ifestou Street and the lanes around Avissinias Square are packed with shops selling vintage furniture, records, army surplus, leather sandals and souvenirs.
- Philopappos Hill — Opposite the Acropolis, this pine-covered hill is topped by the marble tomb of Philopappos, a Roman-era prince, and gives the classic straight-on view of the Parthenon.
- Areopagus Hill — This bare marble outcrop just below the Acropolis entrance was the seat of the ancient court of Athens, and a bronze plaque records the sermon St Paul preached here.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Monastiraki and Psyrri
Flea-market square, souvlaki grills and late-night bars below the Acropolis
$$ · Best for food lovers, quiet stays, budget and solo travellers
Pangrati
Local squares and tavernas behind the Panathenaic Stadium
Eating well for less
- Souvlaki and gyros — Souvlaki counters on Mitropoleos Street at Monastiraki and neighbourhood grills (souvlatzidika) across the city.
- Koulouri — Street vendors and bakeries everywhere, especially near metro stations.
- Bougatsa — Bougatsa shops and bakeries, eaten in the morning with coffee.
- Spanakopita and tiropita — Bakeries (fournoi) and pie shops across the city, warm in the morning.
Getting around for less
3-day tourist ticket
Unlimited travel on the metro, tram and buses for three days, including one round trip to the airport by metro or express bus.
Combined archaeological ticket
A combined ticket valid over several days has long been sold for the Acropolis plus the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Athens cost?
About $700–$1,300 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $300–$500 on a tight budget.
+Is Athens expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. State archaeological sites have free-entry days on some national holidays and selected low-season dates; check the Ministry of Culture's list before you go.
+How much money do I need per day in Athens?
Roughly $60–$100 on a budget and $140–$260 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Athens?
Usually in January–March and November.