Athens on $70 a Day
Athens is one of the best-value capitals in Europe. Here's how to budget $70 a day for a hostel, souvlaki lunches, taverna dinners and the Acropolis, with plenty of free sights.
Athens is one of the cheapest capitals in Western Europe, and one of the few places where you can see world-famous monuments, eat well and enjoy a lively nightlife on a modest budget. A souvlaki lunch costs a few euros, a taverna dinner with wine is a fraction of what you would pay in Paris or Rome, the Metro is cheap and clean, and many of the best things to do, wandering Plaka, watching the sunset from Philopappos Hill or exploring the flea market, are free. With a hostel bed, street-food lunches, a taverna dinner and a transport pass, $70 a day is realistic and comfortable, even in summer.
Daily Budget Breakdown
🏨 Where to Sleep for Under $38 a Night
Athens has a good range of hostels, many with rooftop terraces and views of the Acropolis, especially around Monastiraki, Psyrri, Omonia and Koukaki. A dorm bed typically costs about $22 to $38 a night, depending on the season, and rates are highest from June to September. Private rooms in hostels or guesthouses cost about $55 to $100, and budget hotels start at around $70. Koukaki, near the Acropolis Museum, is quiet, safe and well located, while Monastiraki and Psyrri are lively and noisy. The area around Omonia is cheaper but rougher at night, so choose carefully.
| Option | Avg. Price/Night | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel Dorm Bed | $22–$38 | The cheapest option, with a social atmosphere and often a rooftop terrace |
| Private Hostel Room | $55–$100 | Couples and solo travelers who want privacy at a low price |
| Budget Hotel or Guesthouse | $70–$120 | Couples and families who want a private bathroom and air-conditioning |
| Apartment Rental | $80–$150 | Groups and longer stays with a kitchen to save on food |
Agoda
Compare hostels, guesthouses and budget hotels across Athens, with good rates outside summer.
Search Hotels on Agoda →Booking.com
Useful for filtering by neighborhood, free cancellation and guest scores for hostels and small hotels.
Search Hotels on Booking.com →🍽️ Eating Well for Under $22 a Day
Eating in Athens on a budget is a pleasure. A souvlaki pita costs about $3 to $5, a bakery cheese pie or sesame bread ring costs about $2, and a taverna lunch of a main, salad and bread costs about $9 to $13. Many tavernas serve a daily special, called a magirefta, of home-cooked dishes such as stuffed tomatoes, baked beans and lamb stew, at low prices. Dinner with meze and wine for two in a local taverna can cost about $30, far less than the tourist restaurants on the main streets. Water and bread are often included, and the Central Market has cheap fresh food.
Souvlaki
A grilled meat pita wrapped in paper, eaten at the counter. Avg. $3–$5. See our souvlaki guide.
Read the guide →Taverna Lunch
A magirefta main with salad and bread in a neighborhood taverna. Avg. $9–$13.
Moussaka
A hearty baked casserole that makes a filling dinner in a family taverna. Avg. $9–$14. See our moussaka guide.
Read the guide →Loukoumades
Hot honey-drizzled dough balls for dessert or an afternoon treat. Avg. $4–$7. See our guide.
Read the guide →
🚇 Getting Around Cheaply
Athens' public transport is cheap and easy. A single ticket, valid for 90 minutes on the Metro, buses, trams and trolleybuses, costs about $1.50, and a 24-hour or five-day pass offers unlimited rides for a few dollars. The airport Metro and bus are much cheaper than a taxi. Most of the historic centre, including the Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki, the Agora and Syntagma, is within walking distance, so you may use transport only for the airport, the coast and the port. Taxis are cheap by European standards, but the Metro is faster in daytime traffic.
⚖️ $70 vs. $180 a Day: What Actually Changes
At $70 a day you will stay in a hostel, eat street food and tavernas and use the Metro, with enough left over for the Acropolis and one or two other sites, and you will still see Plaka, Monastiraki, the Agora, the museums and the sunset from a rooftop. At $180 a day, you add a private hotel with an Acropolis view, dinner at a restaurant with wine, entry to every site and day trips with guided tours. The difference is mainly comfort, with all the major sights accessible on a small budget.
🌅 Free and Cheap Things to Do
Philopappos Hill
A free hill with the best views of the Acropolis, perfect at sunset.
Read the guide →Plaka and Anafiotika
Wander the old lanes for free, with views of the Acropolis from every corner.
Read the guide →Monastiraki Flea Market
Browse the stalls and shops for free, with a lively market on Sundays.
Read the guide →Lycabettus Hill
Walk up the hill for panoramic views of the city, free if you skip the funicular.
Read the guide →🧾 Sample $70 Day Budget
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | $29 |
| Breakfast (koulouri and coffee) | $3 |
| Lunch (souvlaki pita and a drink) | $6 |
| Dinner (taverna meal and a glass of wine) | $12 |
| Transport (Metro and bus tickets) | $4 |
| Viewpoints and walking | $0 |
| One paid sight (Acropolis, shared across days) | $16 |
| Daily Total | ~$70 |
Eating at the restaurants with picture menus around the main tourist streets, taking taxis from the airport instead of the Metro and buying single tickets for each ancient site rather than the combined ticket are the quickest ways to blow a budget. Check prices before sitting down.
📱 Useful Apps and Tools for Budget Travel
Google Maps and Citymapper work well for the Metro, buses and trams, and the OASA telematics app shows live bus times. Beat and FreeNow are the main taxi-hailing apps and are usually cheaper than street taxis. Too Good To Go sells unsold food from bakeries and restaurants at a discount, and free walking tours run on a tip basis. The combined archaeological ticket is available online and covers the Acropolis, the Agora and other sites. A card with no foreign transaction fee is useful, though cash is handy for small tavernas and bakeries.
