Far from the tacky tourist shops selling replicas of the Acropolis and I love Athens t-shirts, you will find the beautiful and far more authentic areas of Piraeus, Glyfada and Kifissia. There you can experience a more “real”, more “Greek” Athens on every level, from shopping in the local supermarkets to eating out in family-run tavernas. Below is a short description of each of these areas to give you a feel for their unique atmospheres.As is the case in many modern cities, Athens as spread out from the centre and absorbed some of the surrounding villages like the port of Piraeus and you can notice a different atmosphere in this area, one which the locals are keen to maintain. Accommodation in Piraeus is easy to come by and it is still reasonably close to the rest of the city (it is 10km south-west of the city centre) so you can combine sightseeing with a restful seafront stay. Piraeus is divided into two main parts: The Great Harbour and the Zea Marina but don’t overlook the lovely little harbour called Microlimano which is a lovely place to have a stroll or enjoy an evening drink looking out over the private yachts which are moored there. If you are planning on visiting the Greek Islands as well as the capital city, Piraeus is the logically place to stay as ferries depart from here.
Sometimes it is easy to forget you are anywhere near the sea in Athens, especially if you stay in the hot, dusty city centre with its traffic and general noise. The Glyfada Beaches are located just 10km south-east of the city though and are ideal for a summer break (especially if you like night clubbing). This is where the city’s best beaches are and it naturally becomes very crowded in summer so don’t overlook this place in winter as the beaches are still lovely and most hotels in Glyfada are open all year round and will be a lot more peaceful and pleasant in the cooler months.
Kifissia is an affluent Athens suburb located 18km north-east of the city centre. It is an interesting place to visit both during the day and by night as it has a number of classy bars and clubs where the city’s most chic young people congregate. Even if you can’t afford to shop in the Prada and Chanel boutiques that line the streets here, it is still interesting to wander around the area, taking in the beautiful Greek houses and pretty green areas to get a feel for how the other half live in Athens.