Living in Athens: choosing a neighbourhood, transport and entertainment

With excellent metro connectivity, an affordable cost of living compared to other European capitals, a healthy climate, and welcoming locals, Athens attracts expats, investors, and digital nomads alike. However, potential residents should consider the summer heat, occasional bureaucracy, and the need for Greek language outside tourist zones. For those seeking EU residency, the Greek Golden Visa offers a flexible, property-based route with long-term benefits.

In this guide, we will tell you about the top neighbourhoods to live in Athens, the city’s infrastructure and transportation options, educational opportunities for families, and what daily life is really like. We’ll also cover the pros and cons of living in the Greek capital and explain how you can obtain residency through investment – all to help you make an informed decision about moving to, or investing in, Athens.

Quick Overview of Living in Athens

• 🌟 Best areas to live: Kato Glyfada, Nea Smyrni, Kalamaki, Ano Ilioupoli, Kolonaki 
• 🚦 Traffic and parking: Heavy traffic jams; parking is difficult in many areas 
• ☀️ Climate: Mild winters; hot summers (up to 40°C); air conditioning is widely available 
• 💰 Cost of living: Affordable compared to other European capitals; rent from €300 to €1,200 for studios 
• 🏖️ Leisure: Close to beaches and islands; a rich cultural scene; concerts, festivals, nightlife 
• 🏥 Amenities: Good schools; good healthcare; public transport with metro and tram lines 
• 🗣️ Language: Greek is essential for integration; English spoken mostly in tourist areas 
• 👪 Family-friendly: Many green, quiet neighbourhoods preferred by families 
• ⚠️ Downsides: Bureaucracy, summer heat, learning Greek is necessary for full social integration 

What are the Best Areas of Athens to Live in?

A few of the top areas include Kato Glyfada, Nea Smyrni, Kalamaki, Ano Ilioupoli, and Kolonaki.

The Athens metropolitan area includes 7 municipalities divided into 50+ districts; home to about 3M people. It even includes beach suburbs connected to the centre by the overground metro. Greater Athens has quiet, green areas that are preferred by families with children, and noisier, tourist areas with plenty of entertainment options, bakeries, and cafes with inexpensive food.

Top 5 areas to live in Athens, according to Greeks, are as follows:

• Kato Glyfada. The luxurious Athenian Riviera, where many famous Greek actors live. This is an area with golf and yacht clubs and quite expensive housing.
• Nea Smyrni. A business district with good schools; popular with families with children and young couples.
• Kalamaki. Also considered a family orientated and quiet place. The main attraction is a clean, sandy beach. A 2-bedroom apartment of 100 sq. m can be rented for €950. A small studio is more difficult to find than a family apartment.
• Ano Ilioupoli. A residential area with many green areas and everything necessary for life, including a metro line.
• Kolonaki: An exclusive area with signature restaurants and boutiques, popular with Greek doctors, lawyers, and wealthy expats.

Respectable Greek families don’t like the Exarcheia area very much. It’s the centre of student life – noisy, graffiti-laden and always bustling. However,many young expats specifically seek out housing here, to live in an atmosphere of constant debate about the future, surrounded by second-hand bookstores, cheap bars and coffee shops.

These are only a small part of the Athens’ neighbourhoods. There are many other locations in the city that are popular with wealthy citizens, foreign investors, young expats, creative professionals, and students. The final choice of area depends on individual preferences. 

Athens has 3 metro lines, 3 tram lines, and several bus routes. Locals try to find accommodation near the metro. Traffic jams and lack of parking spaces are a problem in Athens. For example, in some eastern suburbs, such as the Zografos area, it is inconvenient to live without a car; it takes an hour to get to the centre by bus, and there is no metro.

What are the Advantages of Living in Athens?

Advantages of Athens include warm weather, rich culture and history, affordable cost of living, healthy Mediterranean cuisine, countless entertainment options, etc.

Climate

Many expats choose Greece and Athens because the climate is quite comfortable most of the year – you can play sports outdoors and enjoy the sun, even in winter.

It can be hot here in summer: the temperature can rise to 40C or more. However, new buildings, modern shopping malls, restaurants, and public transport have air conditioning. Plus, the nearest clean beach with sun loungers and umbrellas can be reached from the centre in 40 minutes by metro, which also has air conditioning, and no traffic jams.

Once every few years, there is snow in the winter in Athens, but most of the winter is warm – from 15C, with many sunny days.

Culture and History

Athens is the city where modern, European civilisation was born. Those who are passionate about ancient history are fascinated by the opportunity to live next to the Acropolis or other ancient monuments. Others are attracted by the unique culture of Greece – the traditions of noisy holidays, the leisurely pace of life, even in the capital,and the ability to find a balance between work and rest.

Affordable Cost of Living

Athens regularly ranks among the top 20 European capitals with the lowest cost of living. Freelancers from the US and UK are happy to move here, as they can afford more on the same income.

• Markets are regularly held in different areas of Athens, where you can buy farm produce at a low price.
• Utilities, including air conditioning in summer and winter, cost from €150 per month.
• Rental prices vary by area. Studios range from €300 to €1,200.

Tasty and Healthy Cuisine

Greek cuisine is a type of Mediterranean cuisine that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers one of the healthiest. These are simple dishes that almost everyone likes – vegetable salads, grilled meat and fish, homemade cheese, pastries and honey. Prices for lunch in a cafe in Athens start at €12, and many expats note that the portions are simply huge. It is much more economical to have lunch with friends, because you can definitely get a salad and appetisers for two.

Athens is the capital and tourist centre. Those who don’t like, or are tired of, Greek cuisine will easily find sushi, pasta, and shops with imported products here.

Leisure & Entertainment

For tourists, a holiday in Athens includes a tour of the Acropolis, a tour of traditional tavernas and modern bars, and a cruise to the nearby islands.

Expats in Athens prefer to:

• Take a ferry on a weekend trip to the Cyclades or Aegean Islands. These are archipelagos of 200+ islands with mountain villages, volcanic craters, and white beaches. Each one is unique, so you can explore them endlessly.
• Catch discounts on concerts by world stars – Robbie Williams, Green Day, Tom Jones, and many others come here, as well as the world’s leading orchestras, opera and theater companies.

• Choose events at the international festival of Athens and Epidaurus – it takes place every July, and the programme includes ancient theatre, modern performances, and classical music.

• Go to open-air cinemas.
• Relax at parties at the city’s outdoor pools.
• Go on a night out at the bars in the centre – the best ones are located in the Plaka area.

Expats note that Greeks are very friendly to foreigners. Get to know Athenians better and they will definitely tell you about the best markets, bars and bakeries that tourists don’t know about.

What are the Cons of Living in Athens?

Living in Athens has its downsides, including heavy traffic, hot summers, bureaucratic delays, and the need to learn Greek for deeper integration beyond tourist areas.

• Traffic jams and parking problems. Even motorists often choose the metro over driving.
• Hot summers. Without air conditioning – very difficult.
• Bureaucracy. Queues and long waits are encountered in almost all government institutions.
• The need to learn Greek. If you want to find new friends among the locals, learn the language. In Athens, English is known mainly by employees of cafes and shops in tourist areas. In institutions, and in areas more distant from the centre, Greek is needed.

How Can I Obtain Residency by Investment in Greece?

Greece’s Golden Visa allows you to obtain a 5-year renewable residence permit for the entire family with real estate investments starting at €250,000. The conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Greece are among the most attractive compared to other European countries offering similar programmes. At the same time, the Golden Visa doesn’t impose requirements for the investor to permanently reside in the country to maintain the status.

Holders of a Greek residence permit can travel freely throughout the Schengen area, conduct business in Europe, use banking and medical services, and receive quality education. A residence permit also helps optimise taxes and protect assets. If certain conditions are met, one can apply for citizenship of Greece, which is in the EU.

In addition, the investor can purchase their own property in Greece, which they can use themselves, or rent out. The income can be 4-6% per year.

Looking to secure your Greek residency smoothly and confidently? Astons is your trusted partner – recognised as the best real estate agency in Greece at the European Property Awards 2024-2025. Our expert team will guide you through every step of the Golden Visa process, from property selection to paperwork and residency approval. With Astons, you get personalised support, exclusive property options, and proven expertise to make your investment and residency journey seamless. Contact us today to start your path to living and investing in Greece!