Athens, Greece is great for all types of digital nomads, but it is a big city with a lot of neighborhoods so we broke down the best neighborhoods for digital nomads in Athens for you in this article.
We lived and worked in Athens for a month in the summer of 2021 and we loved it! Here is a quick high-level review of Athens, Greece for digital nomads before we get into the neighborhoods.
Downfalls of Athens for Digital Nomads
🚫Let’s get the negatives out of the way. It’s Can be crowded, expensive and people smoke everywhere. But if you pick the right neighborhood and eat like a local the first two aren’t that bad.
Perks of Athens for Digital Nomads
✅Pros: fun, progressive, safe, and walkable city with great food. Most locals will know some English and are very friendly to foreigners. There is reliable transport and good healthcare. It can get cold in the winter but never falls below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
🔆Work: the internet is fast and reliable, plus there are plenty of co-working spaces to choose from if you need it.
💰Can live comfortably as a nomad for under $3,000 a month in the city (rent included). However, you could probably get by with less if you get creative as the average monthly COL for a local is around $1,000.
📍Neighborhood: We stayed in Pangrati. A cool local vibe and is less expensive and crowded compared to the heart of Plaka.
COL: $3,000 a month in the city (rent included). However, you could probably get by with less if you get creative as the average monthly COL for a local is around $1,000.
If you are not planning on staying in Athens for more than 1-3 days then I would recommend staying more central (Plaka or Psiri). It will be and quicker to get to the sites you want to see.
While there are many amazing places in Greece and around Athens this article focuses on neighborhoods near the very heart of Athens. This is so that everything is easily accessible for everyday living, you are close to public transit and also close to some of the main attractions. As a digital nomad, you will be living your day-to-day life, but it is always nice to venture out and see some of the tourist things or the main attractions since this will likely be a new adventure for you.
Neighborhoods
| Pangrati | Psiri | Plaka | Kypseli |
| Exarchia | Monastiraki | Kolonaki | Nea Smyrni |
Pangrati
First on the list of best neighborhoods for digital nomads in Athens is Pangrati. We stayed in Pangrati which is Southeast of Acropolis and right next to the Panathenaic Stadium which is where the first modern-day Olympics were held in 1896. They sometimes have events and shows in the stadium. We saw an amazing fashion show when we were there.
It is about a 15 – 20 minute walk to Athens center and Plaka neighborhood. Pangrati has a local feel, it is safe, and the rent was about 30% less than in some of the more popular neighborhoods like Plaka or Monastiraki. The only downside about where we stayed was that we were not as close to some of the better restaurants and attractions, but we could easily walk to almost anywhere we wanted to go in about 20 minutes.
Exarchia
Exarchia has a hipster and artsy vibe to it. It is an up-and-coming neighborhood and has a large student population. In Exarchia you will find graffiti, street art, vegan food, smoothie shops, cafes, book, and antique shops. We had heard the area could be a little dangerous at night. We went out in Exarchia a few times and never had any issues, but it is a place where you want to keep your wits about you at night, like any city.
Psiri or Pysiri
One of the best neighborhoods for digital nomads in Athens is Psiri. Psiri is small but so much fun! Psiri is just north of Plaka and Monastiraki and it is close to the Central Municipal Athens Market. This neighborhood offers a mix of young locals and trendy tourists. Psiri was our favorite spot to go out. The area has a lot of vintage shops, concept stores, bars, and restaurants. It is a lovely neighborhood and if you can afford it and don’t mind the lively atmosphere I would recommend staying here.
Next on the list are Plaka and Monastiraki. These are the two main tourist neighborhoods, but they do have the most businesses and coworking spaces for digital nomads. We go to co-working spaces sparingly, but if that is your thing you might want to consider one of these neighborhoods.
Monastiraki
Monastiraki is very busy and a big center for tourism. I definitely recommend visiting the area and seeing Monastiraki Square and Market. There is a beautiful church in the center as well. There will 1,000% be people trying to sell you things left and right. Tip: if they say it is free it is not. I would not stay in the heart of this area it is too chaotic and crowded for my taste.
Monastiraki is also where you can find the Roman Forum, Hadrian’s Library, and the Ancient Agora of Athens. Regarding the Roman Forum and Hadrian’s Library, there really is not much to see so if you are looking to save money, skip the tickets for these two ancient sites and view them from the perimeter. One structure worth seeing is the Clock Tower inside the Roman Forum. This clock tower is also known as the Tower of Four Winds is considered the first meteorological station ever! However, you may want to buy a ticket to check out the Ancient Agora of Athens as it is a large area with museums, a small church, an excavation site, and the Temple of Hephaestus.
Plaka
Plaka sits at the base of Acropolis and is a must-see neighborhood. There are cobblestone streets, boutique shops, and in some areas an old-world feel. Plaka almost feels like it is two neighborhoods in one, the old Athens and the new. Can be noisy, crowded, and a little expensive to stay in some areas, but if you are just in Athens for a day or two it is a good option because it is centrally located. If you can stay up the hill a little it is a bit more peaceful and even has a bit of that Greek island feel with white-washed walls.
Kolonaki
Kolonaki is an elegant, upscale, family-friendly neighborhood. It is the perfect spot for a digital nomad family or the calmer traveler. Kolonaki is classy, but still has a down-to-earth local feel to it. A lot less nightlife but some great restaurants, upscale shops, and art galleries. One downfall is that it is a bit of a walk from many main tourist sites. Kolonaki is about a 20-30 minutes walk to Acropolis depending on where you are staying. On the plus side, Lycabettus hill is in the heart of Kolonaki. Lycabettus hill was one of our favorite Sunday hikes as it takes you to the highest point in Athens to see 360-degree views of the city.
Kypseli
Kypseli is even further out than Kolonaki and about a 45-minute walk to Acropolis. If you are staying in Kypseli I would recommend getting comfortable with using the public transit in Athens. Kyspeli feels both calm and busy at the same time and is probably the most local of all of the neighborhoods. There is fun local nightlife and really good cafes and restaurants. You can definitely find some great deals on accommodations in this neighborhood. Kypseli is near Pedion Park and The Statue of Athen. We did not spend much time here but would definitely go back and check it out more. It is a good option for budget travelers staying longer than a few days.
Nea Smyrni
So we did not get to explore this neighborhood, but it was on our list when we were doing research so I put it on here. The plus of Nea Smyrni seemed to be that it was between the tourist attractions of Athens and the coast and was not packed with tourists. You would have to take public transport or drive if you wanted to visit either downtown Athens or the beach. It is a place to consider if you want out of the hubbub of the city and easy access to the oceanfront. However, if you are just in Athens for a day or two I would consider staying closer to the city center.
Those are our best neighborhoods for digital nomads in Athens!
If you are just starting out on your digital nomad journey check out this article on how to keep up with your routines. It is very important as a digital nomad to weave travel into your work and normal life and not the other way around. Putting travel first and your real-life second can lead to burning out and we don’t want that to happen to you.
