Athens City Guide: A Weekend in Greece’s Vegan Paradise
Vegan Feast at Vegan Beat.
We made it to the Acropolis! Sarah (left) Michelle (right).
When you think of Greek food, one of the first things that pops to mind is the meat-centric gyro. Imagine my delight when I arrived in Athens to discover a vegan paradise.
My friend Michelle Warner Martin (whom I met because she’s a fan of the Postcard Academy podcast!) invited me on her trip to Athens, so of course I said yes.
We spent about four days in Athens at the beginning of March, right before the world shut down due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Weatherwise, this is the perfect time of year to visit the city, so it was a lovely way to spend our final days of freedom (for now).
Michelle and I dive deep into our favorite food and travel experiences in Athens on the Postcard Academy podcast. Here are some highlights of the trip.
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We paid a lot of money for a vegan food tour, which was not worth it. The guide didn’t tell us anything about the city or history, which had been advertised. Instead, she brought us to all the places we’d already eaten. So, you can save your money on a tour and just go eat here:
Best vegan gyro in Athens
Vegan Beat -- Made with mushrooms, rich and hearty. This place is tiny and kind of hidden; you have to walk into a covered shopping area and it’s upstairs. Vegan Beat was my favorite restaurant in Athens. I ate here more than once.
Best Lebanese spot in Athens
Feyrouz — We tried the acrobatic pie: beetroots, broccoli and cauliflower, baked with sun-dried tomato. The line was very long, but it was tasty.
Best spinach pie in Athens
Undecided. You can get this almost anywhere.
They have their own little changing of the guard going on at Parliament. Go at 11 a.m. on Sunday. There are other times, too.
The National Archaeological Museum of Athens is a must and free on the first Sunday of the month.
Which walking tour should you take in Athens?
We did the Athens Free Walking Tour (typical to tip at least 10 euro a person for free tours. This one is worth it for sure). DON’T do the similarly named Athens Free Tour — they didn’t show up for our tour.
Non-touristy neighborhoods to hang out in Athens
If you like street art, have a wander around the Metaxourgeio (silk mill) neighborhood.
We stayed in Exarchia, which we loved. Lots of cafes and little shops. Many tour books call this the anarchist neighborhood and some say it’s even dangerous. We felt safe there and could see the Acropolis from our balcony. Across the street, we had the archeological museum, which you should definitely visit.
Temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved Greek temple in Athens. 5th-Century BC. You get here by going into the Agora, Athen’s ancient marketplace.
Getting around Athens
Take the metro into the city from the airport for 10 euro, but be careful of pickpockets. I was only in Athens for a long weekend and I met two people who’d had their wallets stolen. You can also pay a flat fare in a taxi for 40 euro. Once you’re in the city, you can walk everywhere, take the metro, or call a taxi using Uber or the app Taxibeat.
We walked up the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, but I fell in love with the more feminine Erechtheion. If you buy a 30 euro pass to get in, you can use if for five days to get to the other top sites in Athens. But you can only go to each place once.
Good-to-know Athens tips
Museums and historical sites are free on the first Sunday of the month.
There’s marble and slippery rocks everywhere! Wear shoes that grip.
Go at the end of February / early March.
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If you found this article useful, please share it, and subscribe to the Postcard Academy podcast. Each week, expats and adventurers share their insider travel tips on the best food, nightlife, and cultural experiences in the most interesting places around the globe. I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, an American who's spent the last 10 years living in, and traveling around, Europe.