At the end of June, I went on a workation to Athens. A city I had never been to before and had not actually considered before as a destination for remote work. Even though I think Greece is a beautiful country! The digital nomad in me felt that this could not continue and so I packed my suitcase: on to Athens!
Rich culture and history
When I think of Athens I immediately think of 3 things: warm, good food and a rich history. And that starts with the city’s name, which is derived from the Greek Goddess Athena. Perhaps one of the city’s main attractions is the Acropolis, which is full of archaeological monuments. As a culture lover, you definitely shouldn’t skip it, neither did I, I’ll tell you more about that later. First, on to one of my greatest hobbies: food!
Authentic dining out in Athens
There is no shortage of good food in Greece. The cuisine is a combination of fish, meat but also vegetables and typically the Greeks take their time to enjoy their food. When I work remotely I want to experience the real life of the locals as much as possible, so I sought out the hidden places and small-scale restaurants. Think restaurants with white walls and blue tables, gardens with shade under the most beautiful trees and, above all, the absence of tourists. And I found those in Athens!
My 5 tips for restaurants and bars in Athens
- Hoocut. This restaurant is known for “back to basics. No fuss, just good, real Greek food. It looks dead ordinary, but it tastes really great! I ate the very best veggie pita here and drank a nice Greek Mamos beer.
- Nisos Flisvos Marina. When you are in a port city like Athens, you obviously have to visit a seafood restaurant in the harbor. We ate at Nisos, a typical Greek restaurant where they serve every kind of fish you can imagine. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy views of very expensive yachts, just dreaming away while eating delicious food!
- Minu. That Athens is immensely hip is very evident here. It is a store and restaurant in one, where you can have a delicious vega and vegan lunch. The streets around here, at Ogigou are so wonderfully Greek and beautiful to walk through.
- Sousourada. This wine bar where you can also eat delicious food can be found just near the center, in a side street where you have to look carefully but where it turned out to be super cozy. Great wine, great food and only locals: I’m a fan!
- Anana Coffee|Food. If you want to combine food and good coffee with some more work on your laptop, be sure to visit Anana. Several digital nomads settle down here to get some more work done while enjoying a real Greek Espresso Freddo.
Things to do during your workation in Athens
Athens is a real metropolis and as such there is an awful lot to do. It is therefore difficult to make a choice, but these are my tips for things to do during the workation in Athens:
- Walking Tour
Discovering a city together with a local is the most fun there is. Especially if you have just arrived, it is a convenient way to discover the city. Through This is Athens you can book free tours and a guide will go with you to show you the best spots. Keep your camera handy because the city is very photogenic. - Acropolis
The biggest attraction in Athens is without a doubt Acropolis, the mountain on top of which stands the iconic Pantheon. It is definitely worth a visit and very beautiful to walk around. We also visited the adjacent museum, which allows you to learn more about the history of this millennia-old monument. Because of the gigantic crowds and high temperature, we did not walk upstairs; the charm of a beautiful building quickly disappears anyway when it is overrun by noisy tourists. I therefore chose to enjoy it from a distance on a bench in the shade of one of the many olive trees. - Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Ok, this was definitely the highlight during my digital nomad adventure in Greece: a visit to the historic open-air theater Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The theater is already a work of art in itself, add to that great opera singers, a fantastic orchestra and idem choir and you have a unique experience that would not be out of place on any bucket list. I even visited this unique experience on my birthday, making it a day to remember.
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation
Athens has a large cultural center with an associated park. Here you have a nice view of the city on one side and on the other side you can see the sea. Unlike many other places in Athens, this building is actually very modern. Since we were close to the coast, we walked to the harbor in half an hour and had a nice dinner there. - Island day cruise
While in Athens on workation, be sure to plan a visit to the nearby many islands. From Athens, you can take a day trip to Hydra, Poros and Aegina. A nice tourist outing, but really fun to see some Greek islands. There is just enough time to walk around an island and drink a typical Greek Cappuccino Freddo or take a dip in the sea. Hydra is my favorite, with idyllic white streets with colorful flowers and blue awnings. Tip: go left where the mob of tourists goes right; you’ll find yourself in an oasis of calm in no time! - Lake of Vouliagmeni
Lake Vouliagmeni is a small lake just outside the city in the heart of the Athenian Riviera. It is a Natural Thermal Spa, rich in salt and minerals, good for the skin! In addition, the lake is rich in fish. And not just any fish, but those Spa Fish that nibble at your feet and eat your dead skin. That really tickles me! In the VIP area, you enjoy the peace and quiet and the sound of the many cicadas on a bed.
Fun fact
The Parthenon, one of the most famous buildings on the Acropolis, has served as both a mosque and a church. Through the various wars and occupations over the centuries, the building was used for what they wanted by the then ruling population.
This is how you go from a to b
Athens is big. So big, in fact, that you really need public transportation to see everything. Fortunately, public transport tickets are not very expensive. I bought a 5 day ticket for my short workation for less than 8 euros, to be used in both bus, metro and streetcar. More information about public transport tickets can be found on the site of Athens Transport. If you don’t feel like using public transport, there are plenty of cabs. A tip, though, is to have the cab driver turn on the meter or clearly agree on a price in advance. We have experienced that they really wanted to charge too much for a ride, so be prepared for this.
Staying in the city
During my workation I stayed in a hotel just outside the city center, but if you want to meet other digital nomads, Selina Athens comes highly recommended. This is a coliving, a place where remote workers live and work, in the center of the city. Here you can choose your own room with desk, or a dormitory. Personally, I find a good night’s sleep very important so during my workation I prefer to choose my own room. There are nice common areas and workspaces where you can work. This place also has a fantastic rooftop terrace with incredible views of the Acropolis. A Greek remote workplace at its best!
By the way, are you a fan of coworkings and coffee shops that are perfect for working as a digital nomad? Then check out our separate blog about coworkings in Athens soon. Want to know more about what it is like to go on a workation to Greece and what to look out for? We wrote a blog about that as well: going on workation to Greece.
