Rents Rise for Homes by the Sea in Athens

Winter or summer, a place by the beach has always a special appeal. With demand for homes shifting away from central Athens due to the pandemic, there is a clear preference for larger, more spacious houses in the capital’s less crowded suburbs.

This has boosted the average price of renting a house in the southern suburbs by 2.1 percent to 10.21 euros per sq/m in the third quarter of the year, data shows. This compares with 9 euros per sq/m in the city center and 9.47 euros per sq/m in the northern suburbs, where demand has been strongest recently.

A recent breakdown of figures provided by RE/MAX shows that rent prices along the southern Athens coast vary.

Progress on the construction of the Ellikino complex at the former international airport has boosted demand in the area as the development project is seen transforming the southern stretch, boosting its strong appeal among locals and foreigners. The beach area does not have access to the Athens subway which services the southern suburbs but further inland, along Vouliagmenis Avenue.

Most of the stretch, however, on the beach is well serviced with buses and the tram line. The majority of areas are also in close proximity to central Athens and landmarks, such as the Acropolis.

Glyfada remains a popular choice, costing 9.60 euros per sq/m, according to RE/MAX data. Next door in Voula, rents are cheaper at 7.80 euros per sq/m.

In Alimos, monthly rents for houses are at 7.9 euros per sq/m, versus 7.80 euros per sq/m in Elliniko and 7.30 euros per sq/m in Paleo Faliro.

Further out, the affluent area of Vari-Varkiza tops the rent price list at 9.50 euros per sq/m.

Near the Port

Down by the port of Piraeus, the country’s largest, prices are lower but fast-rising. Figures show that the price of renting a home in the suburbs of Piraeus rose 14.7 percent in 2021 to 6.88 euros per sq/m, from 6 euros previously. Along with improving infrastructure in the area, the construction of new office buildings has drawn large multi-national tenants, boosting housing needs.

This article was first published here. 

For more Real Estate News & Views on Greece and Europe’s South, head to The Greek Guru.

*Image courtesy of Sotheby’s

16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Planning a trip to Athens soon? We’ve chosen a handful of the top neighbourhoods in the Greek capital that are perfect to visit during your holiday. And with so much rich history and culture, plus great cafes, eateries, and boutiques, these spots are sure to delight all the senses.

Plaka

The oldest part of Athens, Plaka is a picturesque neighbourhood filled with beautiful houses, loads of restaurants and cafes, and some of the city’s best museums and archaeological sights. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

 

Anafiotika

Reminiscent of a small Cycladic island with its white cubic houses and blue doors and windows, this area is partially covered by beautiful bougainvillea. Anafiotika is an oasis of tranquility in the centre of the Greek capital and a spot to take amazing photos. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Koukaki

An older residential neighbourhood, Koukaki is close to Plaka, but far less touristy and much quieter than the more popular central neighbourhoods. Here you will find some great spots to grab a coffee and bite to eat. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens
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Kifissia

One of Athens’ most upmarket neighbourhoods, Kifissia is about 45 minutes from the centre of Athens via metro. Perfect place to stroll around and enjoy the greenery, and also the place to go if you are looking for some boutique stores and gorgeous cafes. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens
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Psirri

A wonderful place buzzing with colourful taverns, cafes, and bars, Psirri comes alive at night with locals and international visitors who gather to enjoy a casual dinner at one of the many traditional taverns. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens
 

Syntagma

This is Athens’ central square and home to the Greek Parliament House and where you will catch the Evzones (changing of the guards.)  It’s also the top of famous Ermou Street, the city’s busiest shopping strip. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Kolonaki

Upscale, and filled with designer shops, museums, cafes, restaurants, and bars, Kolonaki is a glamorous neighbourhood at the foot of Lykavittos Hill and a place where you will find locals wining and dining on any given evening. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens
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Chalandri

The Northern suburb of Chalandri is one of the hippest neighbourhoods in Athens and a great place to visit. From a great range of eateries, bakeries, and cafes to unique bookstores, jewellery shops, and cinemas, there is something here to suit all tastes. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Pangrati

With an array of amazing places to eat and drink, Pangrati features some trendy shops, art galleries, and some amazing buildings. Pangrati is also home to Athens’ oldest cinema, Pallas, which opened in 1925.

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens
Image @cntraveller

Gazi

This neighbourhood in Athens has received a major makeover over the last few years and has now become one of the most popular spots for Athenians. With some must-see galleries, all-day cafes, and ancient sites, you can spend all day here and it’s still not enough. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Thissio

A great place, especially over summer as it’s a favourite venue for open-air events and festivals. Athenians love coming here for a catch-up with friends at one of the many cafes. Make sure you check out the museums and the open-air Cinema, which opened in 1935. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens
Image @trip2athens

Glyfada

Another upscale area of Athens, Glyfada features seaside living complete with endless restaurants, bars, and boutique stores. The area is very popular, especially over summer where it gets packed with international visitors making the most of the Athenian Riviera views. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Voula/ Vouliagmeni

Also along Athens Riviera, here you will find some of the city’s best beaches and swimming spots, as both neighbourhoods (located next to each other) are upscale residential areas. The “downtown” of Voula has lots of restaurants and cafés, and Vouliagmeni is home to some of the most luxurious hotels in Athens. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Pireaus

From fine dining restaurants to little-known archaeological treasures, there’s a lot more to Piraeus than its port. With great bakeries and cafes to the Piraeus Archaeological Museum, make sure you add this neighbourhood to your list. Zea Harbor is also located here; it’s a promenade of restaurants, cafés, and home to lots of fancy yachts.

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Mets 

This is actually a small section of the central suburb of Pangrati that has a character of its own. Less than a 10-minute walk to Syntagma Square and to the Acropolis, where you feel as though you are in a small town rather than a big city. It’s away from the crowds and tourists and a place where you will get a real sense of old Athens.  

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens

Fix

Only a ten-minute walk from the Acropolis Museum and lots more historical sites, this is another lesser-known neighbourhood in Athens. Full of charming cafés with outdoor tables, it’s a great place to stroll around. Make sure you stop off at the National Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Insights Greece - 16 Coolest Neighbourhoods to Visit in Athens
Image @greeka

Our Essential A-Z Athens Guide for Wine Lovers

You’ll probably find decent, perhaps even great wine at most decent bars around Athens today. But if you want a place that specialises in wine and offers amazing varieties -that you can enjoy by the glass too – look no further than our guide! You’re welcome! 

A For Athens

Vibe: Smart-casual, friendly, relaxed rooftop bar with stunning views of the Acropolis and city.

Wine List: Greek and foreign wines in a newly extended cellar that can house up to 2,500 labels.

Food: Anything from the restaurant’s dinner menu, from burgers and malt chicken to finger foods and meze dishes. The sommelier is happy to suggest foods that pair well with your wine of choice.

Location: Miaouli 2, Monastiraki

Baratin

Vibe: Cosy, casual-chic, friendly, all-day bar-restaurant with small tables as well as a large monastic bench and an outdoor square.

Wine List: Around 140 labels from Greece and abroad, 42 of which can be sampled by the glass. Baratin’s knowledgeable and friendly sommeliers are happy to help you imbibe on exactly what you desire.

Food? Try the carefully sourced Greek cheeses, salads, sea bream risotto and cold cuts for an ideal accompaniment.

Location: Dekeleias Avenue 120, Nea Filadelfia

BoBo

Vibe: Trendy, chic, hipsterish

Wine List: Around 200 labels from Greece and abroad as well as cocktails made using Greek wines (not easy to find elsewhere!).

Food? Indulgent accompaniments to share with your wine buddies include cevice, roast beef with truffle sauce and homemade mayo, stuffed figs with caramelised onion and creamy goat cheese and bruschetta with Greek cheeses.

Location: Anastasiou Zinni 36, Koukaki

By The Glass

Vibe: In an elegant arcade facing the Russian Orthodox Church, chic, buzzy.

Wine List: You can choose among 250 Greek and global wine labels, 50 of which can be served by the glass using the Coravin system.

Food? An array of modern Mediterranean platters and appetizers, many of them designed especially to be paired with their wines.

Location: Filellinon and Georgiou Souri 3, Syntagma.

Cava Vegera

Vibe: Friendly, laid back and smart-casual.

Wine List: Over 1000 Greek and foreign labels.

Food? A menu based on deli products that are seasonal and make for great accompaniments to your wine of choice. The menu changes every three months.

Location: Poseidonos 11 & Vas. Pavlou 61, Voula.

Cinque Wine Bar & Deli

Vibe: An ebullient ambiance usually pervades in this compact, cosy and familial locale.

Wine List: Very special because here you’ll find only Greek indigenous varieties passionately sought out by the wine-fanatic owners. The Monastiraki store organizes excellent wine tastings.

Food? Homemade chutneys, great platters of deli foods from Greece and abroad.

Location:Agatharchou 15, Psyrri & 10 Vorreou St Monastiraki

Fabrica De Vino

Vibe: Modern, upbeat, elegant but unpretentious. A-buzz during weekend nights.

Wine List: 600 labels by 150 producers from around Greece, 20 of which that can be sampled by the glass.

Food? Mainly fish and seafood (try the fish fillet sandwich), as well as some well-prepared meat dishes.

Location: Emmanouil Benaki, Exarcheia

Fiali Wine Bar

Vibe: Elegant, minimal and fresh décor with a laid back, chic crowd.

Wine List: Selective and lesser-known but good-quality labels from small wine producers around the world, 40 of which can be sampled by the glass.

Food? A gratifying selection of tasty, cold and hot Tapas, salads, pizza and other comfort food.

Location: Dekelias 108, Nea Filadelfia

Heteroclito

Vibe: Cultural, homey, low-key chic.

Wine List: Over 200 labels from Greece and abroad.

Food? Homemade quiches and pies, platters of cheese and cold cuts.

Location:Fokionos 2 & Petraki 30, Monastiraki

Kiki de Grece

Vibe: Elegant, upbeat, smart-casual.

Wine List: Around 60 Greek and foreign wine labels.

Food? From appetizers to mains, you’ll find a great selection of Greek-Mediterranean dishes.

Location: Ipittou 4, Syntagma

Materia Prima

Vibe:  Contemporary, urban-chic and cosy.

Wine List: Over 500 wines from around Greece and abroad, including labels you won’t find in most other places. Expensive wines can be sampled by the glass using the Coravin method. Wines can also be bought to go.

Food? Breakfast and brunch during the day, finger foods and Mediterranean meals in the evenings.

Location: Falirou 68, Koukaki, across the EMST National Museum of Contemporary Art.

Monk grapes and spirits

Vibe: Arty post-industrial open terrace with a laid-back ambiance.

Wine List: 200 labels from 136 wineries in Greece and 16 countries, many expensive labels can be sampled by the glass via the Coravin method.

Food? Modern Greek cuisine.

Location: Aghias Eirinis Square, Monastiraki

Oinoscent

Vibe: Originally a wine shop that has now added seating, this is very much a wine-centric point in town for those who take wine seriously.

Wine List: Over 1000 labels from all over the world. Every week there is a new selection of wines that can be sampled by the glass.

Food? Cheese platters and Mediterranean dishes.

Location: Voulis 45-47, Syntagma.

Paleo

Vibe: Wine bottles line the high-ceilinged stone walls of what was once an old storehouse, and at the end of the room from top to bottom stands a large cava.

Wine List: Over 350 labels mainly from southern France, Spain, Italy and Greece.

Food? A decent range of Greek-Mediterranean cuisine, from appetisers to mains.

Location: Polidekous 39, Piraeus.

Scala Vinoteca

Vibe: Sophisticated, intense, stylish.

Wine List: Over 200 labels from Greece and abroad.

Food? Refined and contemporary Mediterranean dishes with influences from Latin America, Spain and Italy.

Location: 50 Sina str. & Anagnostopoulou, Kolonaki

Vinarte

Vibe: A stylish and classical-modern large open space ideal for work dos and larger gatherings.

Wine List: Over 250 labels from quality Greek winemakers and abroad, including a selection of hard to find Italian wines. Here you can try any wine you like by the glass via the Coravin method.

Food? Try the platter with aged cheeses and cold cuts, as well as other Mediterranean dishes.

Location: Marangou 18, Glyfada

Vintage

Vibe: A large, modern open space for smart-casual wining and dining with great service.

Wine List: The only place in Athens where you can choose among 600 labels to try by the glass – either a full glass or even just a half glass.

Food? Platters with quality cheeses and/or cold cuts, original Greek-inspired appetisers like Pastitsio croquettes and mains.

Location: Mitropoleos 66-68, Syntagma

Warehouse

Vibe: Sophisticated but unpretentious, laid back and indulgent.

Wine List: With a wine cellar stocked with over 500 Greek and foreign wine labels, Warehouse has become known for its quality selections and serves around 150 of them.

Food? Greek ingredients farmed by select small producers around the country, food platters and salads.

Location: Valtetsiou 21, Exarcheia

Wine Not

Vibe: Swing jazz music, after-work chill, industrial décor.

Wine List: Around 90 wine labels, 20 of which can be sampled by the glass.

Food? Try the cheese and cold cuts platter with homemade chutneys and jams.

Location: Kalogrezis 12, Halandri

Wine o’ Clock

Vibe: A tiny place with a few benches on the pavement where you can people-watch as you sip wine.

Wine List: Around 70 well selected wine labels, many of them from Greece and 20 of them that can be sampled by the glass.

Food? Small platters with flavoursome bites that are just what you need to accompany good wine.

Location: Lebessi 10, Makryianni

Wine Point

Vibe: Usually busy and lively, with occasional live gigs and a laid back, smart-casual crowd.

Wine List: Over 200 labels to choose from, and with a different Greek winery and its wines presented as a special every month.

Food? Finger foods and bites like bruschetta, olives, cold cuts and cheeses from around Greece.

Location: Athanasiou Diakou & Porinou 2, Makriyianni

Wine Station @ Chocolat Royal

Vibe: Jazzy (with occasional live gigs too) and easygoing with a chic twist. Beautuifully scenic outdoors with a view of the Parthenon to get drunk on.

Wine List: Regional wines from Greece that are really hard to find elsewhere, as well as top selections from foreign wineries. Around 160 labels of which 40 can be sampled by the glass.

Food? Choose anything you like from the Chocolat Royal Restaurant menu of contemporary Mediterranean cuisine.

Location: Apostolou Pavlou 27, Thisseio

Wine Up

Vibe: With a lovely outdoor garden, this is the ideal place to relax with friends in a casual set-up and simply enjoy great wine in the summer months, but gets a little more trendy and modern indoors during cooler months.

Wine List: Featuring over 200 Greek labels, many of which are organic and produced by small quality wineries around Greece.

Food? A variety of platters starring quality Greek seasonal ingredients from creamy cheeses and punchy olives to juicy tomatoes.

Location: Eleftheriou Venizelou 86, Petroupoli

Where Health Food Fans Can Shop in Athens

Organic, vegan, gluten-free, blessed by angels before packaging – you name it and you’ll be able to find a store selling it.

Mangos, papayas and avocados from Crete. Endless varieties of Greek and exotic mushrooms and truffles from Epirus and Evia. Seitan, vegan cheese, kale crackers, gluten-free-anything and other packaged vegan or super healthy bioproducts. Ethically farmed meat and fish. Biodynamic and organic wines. Pure olive oil and honey of all grades, shades and tastes. Salt pipes and Neti pots. Health supplements in the form of liquids, potions, capsules, and powders. Oil press extractors. By now the health-food and alternative wellness trend is in full swing in Athens and bio minimarkets are regularly opening their doors to new streams of keen and increasingly savvy customers. Here’s our reliable guide to the best places where you can stock up in the capital.

Insights Greece - Where Health Food Fans Can Shop in Athens

Gaia’s Dora (Online)

What you’ll find: Organic food products, vegan, vegetarian and raw food products, health supplements, household cleaning products and essential oils. Anything special? A great variety of organic pasta from Greece and abroad.

Four Seasons Bio (30 Nikis, Syntagma)

What you’ll find: Fresh groceries (including avocadoes, mushrooms, papayas and mangos from Crete and Evia) eco-friendly cosmetics, organic foods and household cleaning products and cosmetics from around Greece and the world. Anything really special? The store can create a Bach flower remedy blend of your choice at a good price.  

Bamboo Vegan (102 Solonos & Mavromichali, Exarcheia)

What you’ll find: As the store’s name suggests, there are vegan food products a-plenty here – a broad variety of meat and cheese alternatives as well as sweets. Also, a good range of green cosmetics, superfoods and supplements. Anything really special? Vegan pet food.

Viofos – Organic Products (Themistokleous 3, Exarcheia)

Insights Greece - Where Health Food Fans Can Shop in Athens

What you’ll find: Organic food products, superfoods, health supplements, household cleaning products, natural/green/ethically produced cosmetics for face and body. Anything special? A broad variety of gluten-free products.

Viologiko Horio (in Kolonaki, Psychiko, Voula, Nea Smyrni)

What you’ll find: A supermarket chain in many areas of Attica, this is where you’ll find practically anything and everything organic, fair trade, ethically farmed, vegan, gluten free and green. Anything special? A huge selection of healthy kid-centric products in the food and cosmetics categories.

Kampos Biomarket (Filellinon 2 & Mitropoleos, Syntagma) 

What you’ll find: A more than satisfying array of fresh food products (groceries and refrigerated goods, as well as frozen, dried and other packaged foods from Greece and abroad. Essential oils, flower remedies, superfoods, supplements and books.Anything really special? The cosmetics range includes a large variety of face and body products including organic Henna hair dyes.

Bioway (57 Panepistimiou, Omonia)

What you’ll find: Organic food products of all varieties, superfoods, supplements and cosmetics. Anything special?A great array of innovative wellness-related equipment and appliances like humidifiers, dehydrators, wooden flour mills, blenders, juicers, an oil press extractor, a salt pipe and ecological cups.

Bioshop (30 Veikou Ave, Galatsi)

What you’ll findBooks, gardening accessories and products. Organic cosmetics, eco household items, supplements and superfoods and an array of quality health foods. Anything special? A good range of wellness tools and items like salt inhalers and salt crystal lighting.