Advice: Don't visit Athens in August!

[redsoxdw_]

I tried this once and it was a huge mistake! Most Athenians leave Athens during August to go on vacation or to go to their villages so the city is super empty. Even many of the bars/clubs/restaurants are shut down for the month! Don't make the same mistake as me, if you want to go to Athens, only stay for a few days and don't expect to go out a lot or meet many locals

 

[Vangelis]

I made this mistake as well. Apart from the touristy areas (Plaka, Monastiraki, Psirri, etc) most other cafes/restaurants/bars shut down during the month of August. I love Athens and stay there for months but never in August any more. In fact, August is not a good time to visit the islands either as they are just overcrowded and not pleasant. It is a good time to visit villages and towns on mainland Greece so if you have relatives there, it's a good time to catch up with them.

 

[dpappas87]

I made this mistake as well. Apart from the touristy areas (Plaka, Monastiraki, Psirri, etc) most other cafes/restaurants/bars shut down during the month of August. I love Athens and stay there for months but never in August any more. In fact, August is not a good time to visit the islands either as they are just overcrowded and not pleasant. It is a good time to visit villages and towns on mainland Greece so if you have relatives there, it's a good time to catch up with them.

That has been my experience as well. I usually visit my family in the village during this time because they are working a lot less. Even though many of them are taking their own vacations to other islands so sometimes its different to coordinate as well

 

[Greek_John87]

Been there, done that. It is sooo hot I don't remember much of that particular trip. The only redeeming quality of it is that if you go during the first two weeks, you might find that the city is quieter than usual since many Greeks have taken time off from their jobs, and have dispersed throughout Greece to visit their families. The city moves at a much slower pace. But yes, it is not only a ghost town because of this, but it is also extremely hot!

 

[toniiv]

Been there, done that. It is sooo hot I don't remember much of that particular trip. The only redeeming quality of it is that if you go during the first two weeks, you might find that the city is quieter than usual since many Greeks have taken time off from their jobs, and have dispersed throughout Greece to visit their families. The city moves at a much slower pace. But yes, it is not only a ghost town because of this, but it is also extremely hot!

Very true. If you go to Athens in the summer, prepare to be sweating all the time. Because the city is not very coastal, there is no sea breeze

 

[Greek_John87]

Very true. If you go to Athens in the summer, prepare to be sweating all the time. Because the city is not very coastal, there is no sea breeze

So true - which reminds me, one can always visit the seacoast areas that are near Athens, like Glyfada, to get a bit of a break from the heat. It's also nice if you end up staying in a hotel that has a pool. It seems that hardly anyone has air conditioning in that city, so it isn't like traveling in the heat in the United States, where most places have AC.

 

[acamp7]

So true - which reminds me, one can always visit the seacoast areas that are near Athens, like Glyfada, to get a bit of a break from the heat. It's also nice if you end up staying in a hotel that has a pool. It seems that hardly anyone has air conditioning in that city, so it isn't like traveling in the heat in the United States, where most places have AC.

That's why I always call hotels before visiting. It's so frustrating when the AC isn't working, especially the Wifi too. It's always a problem that I run into when traveling in Greece

 

[Greek_John87]

That's why I always call hotels before visiting. It's so frustrating when the AC isn't working, especially the Wifi too. It's always a problem that I run into when traveling in Greece

So true, in Greece the AC is either "broken", or it doesn't exist!

 

[ellinasgolfer0320]

August is not the best time to visit Greece because of Panigiri... During Panigiri , everyone returns to their village to celebrate the patron saint, and because of this, many stores shut down (the touristy areas will still be open though). That said, if you want to go to a village and have a lot of fun, Panigiri is the time to go! I love going to the village to dance and eat!

 

[seleanor]

August is not the best time to visit Greece because of Panigiri... During Panigiri , everyone returns to their village to celebrate the patron saint, and because of this, many stores shut down (the touristy areas will still be open though). That said, if you want to go to a village and have a lot of fun, Panigiri is the time to go! I love going to the village to dance and eat!

When is the panigiri?

 

[ellinasgolfer0320]

When is the panigiri?

August 15, but the first 3 weeks of August are generally bad.. The first 2 weeks is nothing but festivals, then on August 15 you have the celebration of the Theotokos, and then many people like to take a 1 week vacation after the celebration

 

[nadellii]

August 15, but the first 3 weeks of August are generally bad.. The first 2 weeks is nothing but festivals, then on August 15 you have the celebration of the Theotokos, and then many people like to take a 1 week vacation after the celebration

This is so helpful thanks for sharing, I'm not up to date with what the locals are doing these days. I will try to avoid these dates

 

[k_tsoukalas]

Although it is frustrating that a lot of things were closed, I also found it to be relaxing when I traveled to Athens in August. The streets were quieter. The air was clear from pollution. As gorgeous as the city is, I always noticed that, at least in the heart of the city, there is often a thin film of pollution in the air. It was kind of nice to see the city in a much quieter light.