To ask where you'd stay in Athens (and if it really is as scary as San Francisco in terms of street chaos)

Just back from Athens. Mental health yes, old man with willy out piddling in the street. Main streets absolute dump but out of the square and changing of the guards fab. You will enjoy it. Oh and didn't see 1 stray dog.

Who is giving you this travel advice? Maybe time to ignore them. They’re only making you anxious.

We stayed in the Ambrosia Suites (cheap and cheerful) in Omonia, on the Western side of Exarcheia two years ago and it was absolutely fine!

DH and I stayed in Koukaki last September (Athens residence apartments). It was a fantastic neighbourhood. I'd go back and stay there in a heartbeat. Very walkable to many of the main sights and a good €10 cheaper for a main course in the local neighbourhood restaurants in comparison to plaka and other touristy areas. We never felt unsafe and we walked about a fair bit late into the evening whilst pissed - first child-free break in a decade.

PILs went a couple of months later because we talked about it so much... FIL ignored our recommendation of the Koukaki area and poo-pooed the idea of an apartment so he booked a cheap hotel near Omonia - they did not have a good experience and said it was not nice to walk about after dark. FIL also had his wallet pickpocketed on the metro on the way in from the airport to the city centre and lost €400.

(By contrast, we found the metro excellent (it was only €8 for a five-day multi mode transport ticket) -but we would never carry that much cash and would always be careful about pickpockets and not make it easy for them in any city).

I love Athens. We stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel last time and it was brilliant. Saw no chaos issues but then I live in London so have a fairly high tolerance of homelessness etc without feeling concerned about it.

We stayed in Plaka in August at the Athens Backpackers Hostel. It has a rooftop bar and amazing views.

No chaos that we saw and we were with 3 young children.

We stayed in Glyfada too, great neighbourhood.

There was a bakery we used to stop at on the way to the metro where I had spanakopita for the first time 😋

One of those core food memories sitting on a little table in December sunshine.

Scary in what sense? I am from Greece. If you are driving, yes it’s a chaos, the drivers are not as well behaved as in the UK but other than that you are safe. Nothing to worry about!

You should avoid staying in the area around Omonia, but Psyrri, Plaka, Koukaki, Kolonaki, Monastiraki are all good choices in the centre depending on what you’re looking for. There are far fewer dogs than there used to be, and they just slope about harmlessly. Athens is a great city, welcoming and fun.

Athens is one of my favourite places!

We were in Athens this summer. Absolutely loved it. Stayed in a small hotel called Neoma. Was very reasonable and close to the acropolis. We had dinner in a lovely restaurant called Aerides one of the nights which was very Greek (well, as Greek as Plaka gets) in a little courtyard off one of the main lanes there. Also ate in Nolan in Monastiraki which has amazing food. Everything is so cheap compared to London.

Yes there are stray dogs, dogs roaming around - but in the main very sweet and well mannered. Will approach for food and fuss but not aggressive and will wander off if ignored.
My DD (scared of dogs) was in Athens last year and commented on how unscary the dogs were despite there being quite a few of them..

Stay in plaka. The nicest touristy bit of town. Do not stay in the Hyatt.
the only odd thing I found was the air pollution was pretty bad.

@CremeBruhlee that rooftop area is really something isn’t it !!!

Athens is amazing
as is Naples
Brussels

can’t stand this desire to sanitise and dumb down real life

it’s not Disney, it’s real life that makes these places special

We stayed at the Stanley - really lovely rooftop area with pool - I have also stayed at the Royal Olympic in plaka- a bit dated but lovely location and nice pool area, nicer area than the Stanley -- I love the monistaraki area - it’s got some great sites and some run down areas- a big mix - but the lit up acropolis at night is a sight to behold!!

We stayed in the hotel Plaka in 2019. Lovely hotel. One entire floor given over to the breakfast room, that also served complimentary drinks and biscuits throughout the day if you needed a sit down and recharge in your sight seeing. Beautiful view of the acropolis, lit up at night, especially from the rooftop bar.

I was in awe of the lady who went round each morning talking to each table and making recommendations for their day depending on their plans. Speaking in several different languages depending on the guests.

Nice little square in the centre of Plaka itself.

Turning one direction was lovely, in the direction of the ancient sites. Walkable. Felt safe.

Turning the other direction I was less keen - lots of begging (with children on laps whose job was to sit there all day), and approaching you to sell things in the street. I was less of a fan of that. Lots of graffiti.

We went very off season, which was amazing. They'd had snow in February in the hills (q rare apparently) and despite that it was q warm but we could walk and walk without getting hot and bothered.

There used to be stray dogs when I spent a lot of time in Athens, but that was about 35 years ago. They were lovely, ridiculously chilled.

I think they were "got rid of" for the Olympics 😪

As long as you avoid Omonoia in Athens, especially at night then you will be grand.

I don't recall seeing a single stray dog! Or distressed mentally ill people (see that a lot in London though). Don't recall any sewer issues.

Really not scary at all! A bit run down in places but really beautiful in other's. We stayed in Kolonaki area last time and loved it.

That’s good to see. Looking to stay there next summer before going to Aegina.

What?! Don’t recognise Athens in your description at all. Just returned and had a great time. Central area is small and very touristy. Felt very safe to me but I live in London.

I love Athens, it's a great city and I've never felt unsafe. Usual precautions apply, as they do in any City.

We stayed in the Makriyanni area on this map this August. 5 mins walk from the Acropolis south entrance. Great evenings in the area, and in the trendy Koukaki neighbourhood with the locals - great restaurants!

We walked most of the area during our stay, and we’re so happy we stayed where we did: clean, safe, interesting. Was very glad we didn’t stay north of Plaka 😳