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Original poster

Do you know Athens? Is it a 'complete shithole'?

81 replies

Fuckoffeverything · 30/05/2022 20:38

I read this on another thread. I've never been there. Have you been there? Is it really a complete shithole? What are your opinions on it?

OP posts:
hellcatspanglelalala · 30/05/2022 21:43

It's like lots of cities - some wonderful sights as well as some grotty bits! We enjoyed a couple of days there before sailing to the islands, I think it's worth a visit.

Honaloulou · 30/05/2022 21:47

It is awesome. I love it.

I did once get stuck between rioters and riot police, though.

NoraNancy · 30/05/2022 21:52

I loved it but did stay in the Acropolis area - Thisseio. Wonderful pavement cafe culture with shade from trees, walking distance to Monistaraki flea Market, and of course the Parthenon. Went in August but was happily surprised it wasn't over 31 degrees, with a pleasant breeze

VeryQuaintIrene · 30/05/2022 22:08

@glebaisaword I've been to Athens loads of times and never once felt unsafe. I have to say that my experience in Rome (quite a long time ago when I was much younger and probably less invisible than I am now) was different and it's the only time in my life I have been unnerved by being quite determinedly followed. But obviously, that can happen anywhere so don't be put off.

AnnaMagnani · 30/05/2022 22:08

Well DH took a load of German Geography university students on a field trip there to study the political slogans and change in areas from rundown squats to luxury flats.

He loved it, even the edgy bits and felt people were incredibly welcoming and friendly. Even to a load of German students at the height of the Euro crisis when the Germans were very unpopular in Greece.

AnnaMagnani · 30/05/2022 22:12

I've been to Rome, never felt unsafe except for occasionally crossing the road - you just have to march out and have confidence the cars will part around you.

As long as you expect to get ripped off at least once, for us it's usually when we are tired and hangry, it's fine.

The cafe outside the Vatican Museums makes a fine living on tired tourists who can't face looking anywhere else to eat and then charging 20Euros for a small sandwich. Also never eat anywhere with a great view a famous piazza, they don't need to bother making the food good, learnt the hard way.

HiltonB · 30/05/2022 22:19

Horrible place. Didn’t like it at all. And yes @Ladywiddio same feelings about Naples - scammed by taxi on the way from the airport, robbed on way back to airport!!! Awful place.

Lesina · 30/05/2022 22:27

I stayed very close to the Parthenon and absolutely loved it. The wider city is like any big sprawling urban environment but the area directly underneath the Parthenon was great :)

glebaisaword · 30/05/2022 22:30

Thanks those who responded about solo travel, much appreciated, I'll continue on the slow steady savings and frequent daydreaming then, fingers crossed for next year. Sorry for jumping in OP.

Time40 · 30/05/2022 22:30

It's great! It feels ancient and mysterious - almost magical. I loved it.

Nothingiseverything · 30/05/2022 22:34

I've been. I loved it. It's like another world. I hate the phrase 'shit hole'. It is so rude and in this case inaccurate.

Poppetlove · 30/05/2022 22:38

It depends what you class as rubbish. I didn’t think it was bad and I’m quite particular, the Greek food is lovely.

RichardOsmansXraySpecs · 30/05/2022 22:41

No it’s lovely.
(And I got slated on the other thread for daring to say Venice was an old and tatty dump 😆)

Paprikapommes · 30/05/2022 22:51

It's a city break. I'd say it's on par with Berlin in terms of edginess. I loved it. I think you need to choose accommodation carefully, if you're on a low budget it might feel a bit underwhelming, but other than that it's great.

If you're the type of person who likes to meander and explore then there are some real hidden gems, and beautiful areas. Alongside the big ticket attractions.

When I went we booked a day trip cycling around a nearby island which I'd recommend to break the city bustle up a bit.

paintingcolors · 30/05/2022 22:54

glebaisaword · 30/05/2022 21:32

To those of you who have been recently, would you go as a single female traveller? Athens and Rome are 2 of my dream destinations and if ever I get enough money I want to go exploring landmark cities... but now keep coming across posts saying they are totally dangerous and unsafe!

Not unsafe in my opinion, just unpleasant attitudes towards women. I've travelled to Morocco and Turkey as a young single female traveller and never felt unsafe there either. Go for it !

Strangerthings4NW · 30/05/2022 22:56

glebaisaword · 30/05/2022 21:32

To those of you who have been recently, would you go as a single female traveller? Athens and Rome are 2 of my dream destinations and if ever I get enough money I want to go exploring landmark cities... but now keep coming across posts saying they are totally dangerous and unsafe!

I can’t comment on Athens but I’ve been to Rome twice as a lone female and I adore it. It has it rough areas (especially around the train station) but it absolutely amazing, if I could speak Italian I’d probably live there.

As pp says, do your research and be streetwise and you’ll be fine.

paintingcolors · 30/05/2022 22:58

You may feel a little intimidated as i did, but i do not think that means you are actually in an unsafe situation. It's just the general vibe from some of the men that is revolting.

Treecloudtree · 30/05/2022 23:01

It depends what you want from a holiday really! It wouldn’t be me ‘relax by the pool, go out for meals’ holiday destination but I loved it

SmellsLikeMiddleAgeSpirit · 30/05/2022 23:08

DH and I went for a long weekend a few years ago... loved it! Stayed in a big grotty hotel that was like a museum to the 1970s; the big revolving toast machine had to be seen to be believed! Noisy and dirty part of town but liked it: it was interesting, foreign sort of grot.
Got plastered in Plaka, and well, the ancient stuff speaks for itself, just amazing.

Apollonia1 · 30/05/2022 23:24

Yes, as a sole female traveler, felt totally safe.
It's not "glossy" and chocolate-box-pretty like somewhere such as Bruges.
Instead it's a large city where people work, live and holiday. So it's not 100% oriented to tourists.
But there are lovely hidden gems - Eg the steep streets near the Acropolis. It's well worth a visit.

Lampzade · 30/05/2022 23:26

I love Athens , but couldn’t bear the stray dogs who often walked around in packs

Theoldwrinkley · 30/05/2022 23:48

We went for special wedding anniversary 6 years ago. The city is amazing, but the graffiti was horrendous, even on the most historic and iconic buildins. So much so that I wrote to the Greek embassy in London saying they should be ashamed of themselves for letting such a world wide iconic heritage city be defaced to such a degree. I'm not quite sure what I expected them to do. But I felt total shame at some of the spray painting in English, eg 'supporting' various football teams. But for sheer impoverished-ness which, with a bit ipof investment could be made exceptional, I would say the 'Gates of hell', where the 300 Spartans held back a loads on Greeks. Amazing history, but you go to this place which gas been the source of myth and legend, and it a dump over-run by homeless migrants etc....and I don't know how they solve that problem either. Just very very sad.

GrandRapids · 30/05/2022 23:53

Yes exactly, the graffiti was absolutely everywhere and it was just run down and grotty.
There was nothing beautiful about it imo!

Rome on the other hand, I loved.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/05/2022 07:49

GrandRapids · 30/05/2022 23:53

Yes exactly, the graffiti was absolutely everywhere and it was just run down and grotty.
There was nothing beautiful about it imo!

Rome on the other hand, I loved.

Isn't there loads of graffiti in Rome as well? That's one of the main things I remember from my trip there!

AnnaMagnani · 31/05/2022 09:24

Most of Rome isn't covered by graffiti. However it is a living city with political problems and so you do see things like poor rubbish collection. It's not a museum - if you want that try Bruges.

In Athens there is masses, a lot is highly political and is probably best described as street art than graffiti. Seeing it doesn't necessarily mean you are somewhere dangerous or edgy, just that the city has other priorities than cleaning up graffiti.

You can even go on tours of it or watch documentaries about it.

havecamerawilltravel.com/places/athens-greece-grafitti/