Athens Prices

« KID'S GARDEN IN GREECE
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In Greece, there are many private kindergartens, catering to every taste! But of course, there are also public ones, where getting in can be quite challenging. 🙄
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👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 To enroll your child in a public kindergarten, you need to prepare the necessary documents (tax declaration, documents from the pediatrician, a statement of family composition, etc.).
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📝 Based on certain criteria, there’s a points system, and they announce who gets in. For example, if both parents work, or there’s a small income, or a large family, they assign more points, increasing the chances. 🤞
⏰ From 7 to 9 in the morning is when parents can drop off their kids, and pick-up is possible until 4 PM.
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🎂 Usually, the kids get breakfast and lunch, and in the afternoon - a snack (though I’m not sure what that is anywhere else). 🤷‍♀️
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💰 The fees depend on the family's budget – for smaller families, it’s around $0, but as salaries increase, the kindergarten fee can rise significantly. 😩
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😩 Kids usually sleep in cribs, but not always, and not every age group does that. In older groups (from 3.5-4 years), they don’t sleep any longer.
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👭 There are no performance requirements – no morning exercises or recitals. Often, activities are held even without the parents' presence, but if parents attend, it’s usually more of a general presentation than a performance from the educators, with parents included only as observers.
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🤝 There are European programs that ensure placement in kindergartens, but there are also many criteria (the most important being low income). 💸
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👩‍👧 In public kindergartens, the main language spoken is Albanian, along with other foreign languages.
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❌ Overall, getting into public kindergartens can be quite complicated. 😏😱
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✅ Privately, it’s usually easier. 👍 However, be prepared to pay starting from $320 a month. For additional care, private kindergartens often provide transportation to pick up the kids. Often, additional activities can be selected - swimming, studying languages, gymnastics - all depends on the specific kindergarten. It also varies by nutrition. 👉 There are schools where you need to provide your own food for the kids. 🎉
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In conclusion, I should mention that working mothers often return to work after giving birth while grandmothers take care of the little ones. This system supports the highest percentage of Greeks. 😄
.
Thanks to the organizers of this kindergarten! You can read more about other countries. 🤖✌️ »

« KID'S GARDEN IN GREECE
.
In Greece, there are many private kindergartens, catering to every taste! But of course, there are also public ones, where getting in can be quite challenging. 🙄
.
👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 To enroll your child in a public kindergarten, you need to prepare the necessary documents (tax declaration, documents from the pediatrician, a statement of family composition, etc.).
.
📝 Based on certain criteria, there’s a points system, and they announce who gets in. For example, if both parents work, or there’s a small income, or a large family, they assign more points, increasing the chances. 🤞
⏰ From 7 to 9 in the morning is when parents can drop off their kids, and pick-up is possible until 4 PM.
.
🎂 Usually, the kids get breakfast and lunch, and in the afternoon - a snack (though I’m not sure what that is anywhere else). 🤷‍♀️
.
💰 The fees depend on the family's budget – for smaller families, it’s around $0, but as salaries increase, the kindergarten fee can rise significantly. 😩
.
😩 Kids usually sleep in cribs, but not always, and not every age group does that. In older groups (from 3.5-4 years), they don’t sleep any longer.
.
👭 There are no performance requirements – no morning exercises or recitals. Often, activities are held even without the parents' presence, but if parents attend, it’s usually more of a general presentation than a performance from the educators, with parents included only as observers.
.
🤝 There are European programs that ensure placement in kindergartens, but there are also many criteria (the most important being low income). 💸
.
👩‍👧 In public kindergartens, the main language spoken is Albanian, along with other foreign languages.
.
❌ Overall, getting into public kindergartens can be quite complicated. 😏😱
.
✅ Privately, it’s usually easier. 👍 However, be prepared to pay starting from $320 a month. For additional care, private kindergartens often provide transportation to pick up the kids. Often, additional activities can be selected - swimming, studying languages, gymnastics - all depends on the specific kindergarten. It also varies by nutrition. 👉 There are schools where you need to provide your own food for the kids. 🎉
.
In conclusion, I should mention that working mothers often return to work after giving birth while grandmothers take care of the little ones. This system supports the highest percentage of Greeks. 😄
.
Thanks to the organizers of this kindergarten! You can read more about other countries. 🤖✌️ »

« 🇦🇳 Afina. Part I

An interesting country. Right from the start, it hits you with the aftermath of the crisis, many abandoned storefronts, homes, and shops. Even in the very center, where life should be bustling, there are dirty and neglected areas with "For Rent" / "For Sale" signs, and homeless people on the streets.

The second thing that struck me was the architecture and nature, all in vibrant and green colors. Everything is infused with antiquity and history. There aren’t many large buildings, and that’s understandable, but you can still find yourself in thrilling moments as you explore the lively zones. The city, being at the height of the mountains, left me very impressed. The corners are very cozy, and you want to wander about and discover new places. Just charming.

Then I turned my attention to the prices. Gasoline is around €1.50 per liter, which is nearly $1.61. Coffee costs about €2-3, and street food like pastries or burgers ranges from €2 to €4. That is, if you want to enjoy like many locals, it certainly costs more than what we pay back home. But dining at restaurants and cafes is a different story; the average bill per person is around €20-30 for a couple of dishes, which can be about 3-4 times more than what one would pay elsewhere.

Entrance fees for museums and other historic sites range from €10 to €20, which isn't exactly cheap either. For transportation, we used the Hop-On Hop-Off bus which had three routes and cost between €16 and €20 for 2 days. It’s quite a convenient option if you want to check out the city or use it like a taxi to travel from one point to another. The catch is that you can also use the tickets multiple times and then reuse them on different days. It’s also possible to hop onto the bus and have your tickets scanned accurately on the spot. The main thing is to stay alert and not fall asleep, gazing in the mirrors. All in all, it's quite economical.

🍃Have a great day!🍃 Continuation Tomorrow. »

« The first modern Olympic Games took place right here.

Back in 1896, at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, a new era of contemporary Olympic Games was born. The stadium impresses with its scale. Already 140 years ago, it could accommodate up to 50,000 people!

Currently, this unique stadium can hold up to 80,000 spectators on its marble steps.

By the way, its Greek name translates to "beautiful marble."

At some point, this venue hosted games in honor of the gods of Athens. Initially, the stadium was made of wood, and it wasn't until 329 AD that it was transformed into marble.

Now, this is a place not just for sporting events, but also for concerts.

General admission tickets cost €5, with a discounted price of €2.50 for students and seniors, while entry is free for children under 6. Is there any reason not to come here? Definitely not!

I recommend checking out the stunning view of the Acropolis from the upper tiers.

In a particular moment, my friend was right! The Acropolis is practically visible from here.

The Panathenaic Stadium is located centrally in Athens, not far from the "Acropolis" metro station.

I spent some time enjoying the views and soaking up the atmosphere. At that time, someone was jogging up the paths, while I just sat on the ancient marble steps dreaming...

What do you think - is €5 too much for entrance? Just to sit and enjoy the sights? 😄😆 »

« Despite being over 2000 years old, the Temple of Hephaestus has largely survived intact to this day. The famous Parthenon was built around the same time as the Temple of Hephaestus, so their styles are quite similar, but it's the latter that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

Hephaestion, as this sanctuary is also called, was constructed in honor of the ancient Greek god of fire and metalworking, Hephaestus. There are also theories that the temple is dedicated to Athena, the goddess of war, wisdom, and various crafts. The temple is part of the Acropolis complex, and you can enjoy this magnificent site with a single entrance ticket priced at €12. »

« Let me share our experience with transport in Greece and the local traffic police ;) We drove about 1,800 km across the mainland, hitting all the major attractions. We rented a Fiat Panda for $35/day, which included full insurance with no deductible. They don’t block any amount on the card as a deposit when you opt for insurance. Gasoline was around $1.30 on average. There are many toll roads, but they’re of excellent quality, with tolls ranging from $1.50 to $4 depending on the distance. For instance, when we traveled from Athens to Corinth, we paid about $8 for an 80 km stretch. There’s usually a parallel free road, but it winds a lot and goes through small towns.

On our last day, we headed into the city center and missed a sign indicating that only buses and motorcycles were allowed on that road. We set off because we saw other cars turning there too. Just 200 meters later, local traffic police were stopping everyone and writing fines. My heart dropped when I thought about the penalty. To make matters worse, my friend had left his wallet with the driving license in his hotel jacket ;) So there we were, with no documents and breaking the rules. The outlook wasn’t promising at all. We had about a kilometer to go to the car rental office to return it in 30 minutes ;) Luckily, the police officer was kind and let us go without a fine, but I definitely gained some gray hairs from that experience ;) »

« "My perfect spring! Fragrant strawberries for €1.50/kg ;))" »

« The Athens metro is one of the oldest in Europe, and during its construction, many archaeological treasures were discovered and left on site. Next to it, there's a quite modern abstraction. There are no turnstiles in the metro, but if you're caught without a ticket, the fine is €70. Everywhere, there are special elevators, making it quite comfortable to navigate with a stroller. »

« It's such a pleasure to sip wine at the top of a mountain in the heart of Athens with a fantastic view! 😍 Though, of course, it's clear that the prices at cafes and restaurants with such views are quite steep! 🍷✨ »

« The purchase of an apartment in Athens costs €35,000. A thought to ponder :) »

« Hello from Athens! It feels so warm here! But you can definitely sense the crisis on the way from the airport, haha))) The city is huge, we spent an hour on the bus without lights!...))) After that, we climbed up to the ancient Greek landmarks, and it was a bit eerie because, again, there wasn't enough lighting. The Greeks are very kind and sweet! They are good people! The prices are quite comforting after Italy and Spain 😊 so everyone should definitely visit Athens! »

« The toll road connecting the Greek cities of Athens, Corinth, and Patras is the Olympia Highway. It’s an extension of the European route E65. The starting and ending points of the route are Athens and Patras. There are six main toll stations on the highway, as well as stations for exits and entrances. The toll rates vary depending on the category of the vehicle, and there are four categories in total. For example, the cost to drive from Athens to Patras in a regular car is about 7.5 euros. Considering the distance, this price is quite reasonable. »

« The stadium where the first Olympic Games took place charges an entry fee, with ticket prices around 5 euros. »

« Here I am in my room, waiting for the washer to finish my laundry so I can hang it on the roof of my "house." Just reminiscing. Well, it wasn't mentioned in the hostel description that hot water costs extra and lasts only 7 minutes. I'm not complaining, having paid €10 a night, I haven't come across anything like this before. I know laundry usually comes with a fee. No biggie, after a rough night at the airport, lying on something soft—I'm talking about the bed—is just perfect. As for Athens, I can say one thing so far: the pastries here are cheap and delicious. 🥐✨ »

« Two hours before the match and I already have the ticket in hand. I decided to compare the level of the second Bundesliga, where the entrance to the stadium cost 30 dollars for a seat behind the goal and 32 dollars for VIP at Panathinaikos. »

« Today, I wasn't very lucky with the tickets, so tomorrow I'll arrive earlier. The most expensive ticket is for VIP at 32 dollars. The center tickets are 21 dollars, and the ones nearby are 16 dollars. »

« And I suddenly realized that you can pretty much live without cash in Greece :) In any cafe or restaurant - card, heading to the hypermarket or a small local shop - card. Even kiosks accept credit cards, even for the smallest purchases. Hospitals also accept cashless payments, as do beauty salons and stores for clothes, furniture, and home goods. You can buy tickets for the metro and all public transport with your credit card too. I'm not sure about schools and kindergartens, but they seem to be free, so a card wouldn’t be needed there. Utility bills and taxes can also be paid online with a card. For ferry and airplane tickets to the islands - no cash required, everything is done through special websites. So now I have a new experiment: where can't you pay by card? Summarizing comments from friends: it's impossible to use cashless payments in very small establishments, places that evade taxes, at markets, and during weekly flea markets (thumbs up). In churches, cash is the only option, and you should have up to 10 euros if you want to buy corn or fruits/flowers/handmade jewelry from street vendors. Taxis typically don’t have terminals, but there are ATMs on every corner, so you can step out of the car, withdraw cash, and pay the driver immediately. Overall, you can live in Athens with only a card or with just cash. Whichever your soul prefers. »

« In the metro, there are exhibits from excavations. You buy a metro ticket (about $1.30) and it's as if you've visited a museum. »

« Billions of dollars at sunset. On average, boats cost around $5-6 million. In the first five years, the cost of maintenance and ongoing expenses equals the purchase price of the vessel. »

« The Acropolis, but I didn’t have enough money for the entrance... €26 for two. Plus, the weather isn’t great. I'll go later when it’s sunny. I’ve heard the view of Athens from up there is incredible! 🌞 »

« In Greece, there are quite a few toll roads! For example, a trip from Chalkida to Athens and back cost us 7 €. Gasoline prices are around 1.7 € on average! Plus there’s a hefty car tax! Owning a car isn't exactly cheap! Perhaps that’s why you can buy a decent car for just 7,000 to 8,000 €! »