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

[valianttortoise]

Have heard a few scare stories but determined to give it a go and I know some people love it

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!!

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

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

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.

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..

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.

Athens is one of my favourite places!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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).

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!

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

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.