Experience in Athens, Greece by POLIXENI

What is it like to live in Athens? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Athens is not a usual city that everyone can simply visit, but it's a unique place that combines the past with the present, the traditional life with the modern Greek world. This combination connected with the feeling of arriving in Athens emerges a feeling of travelling in a magic world, where the time stops existing and the journey has already started!

What is the student lifestyle like in Athens?

Living and studying in Athens every young person has the opportunity to discover theoretically and practically the meaning of what is cultural life. Through the numerous musical, theatrical and artistic events that the city organises, the students can learn about the Greek civilisation and history. But, living in Athens it doesn't only mean spiritual development, but also every student can meet the meaning of entertainment and nighting out, spending their time as they imagine it, doing different things every moment, every day and this is the singularity of our city.

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How much does it cost to live in Athens?

The life cost in Athens is not so expensive neither so cheap.

It would be good for you to have a minimum monthly budget from 800 to 1000€, in order to pay the rent and the bills, your daily needs and your personal expenses.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Athens? Is there any advice you can give?

It's not difficult to find accommodation in order to live in Athens, but it's very important to be careful with the choices and the prices because in some sites flats are represented differently from their real condition and price. So, it could be better for students to accommodate for a while in a hotel and look carefully for the appropriate flat and at the same time, it's safer to talk with friends who have lived in the city and can give smart advice, having the experience of living in Athens.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

There is a variety of traditional and delicious Greek dishes that every person can take a taste. Greek gastronomy is varied and is strongly connected with the Mediterranean diet. Our traditional salads, our local cheese named "feta", and "souvlaki" are some of the most famous dishes of Athens.

What places would you recommend visiting in Athens?

Walking in the most famous locations of the city such as Acropolis, Plaka and Monastiraki, you have the chance to discover the feeling of how these places have the power to grip you because of their architecture and their history. These places have also a lot of cafeterias and tavernas in order to sit and take pleasure of their landscapes in association with the view of Parthenon. Ιt has to be mentioned that there is plenty of cafeterias in the square of Santa Irine, of Syntagma's Square and Ermu's street. You can visit the National Park which is next to the Greek Parliament in the center of Athens, the National University of Athens and the National Library which are located in Panepistimiou's street. Zappeion is also a place next to the Greek Parliament that worth of visiting and the Panatheneon Stadium is an archaeological attraction strongly recommended to be visited.

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Is it good to eat out in Athens? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

If you asked me for a city in which you would like to eat out every night, I would tell you that Athens exists for this aim. There is no place in Athens, there is no spot in this city, where you can't imagine that it's the appropriate spot to eat out and only have fun. In other words: wherever you eat out you will absolutely enjoy it.

Is the nightlife good in Athens? Where is good to go?

The view of a variety of archaeological attractions in all over the city, in association with the Greek night entertainment with the traditional greek tavernas, the roof-garden places and the night clubs make Athens the heart of living a different experience of having fun. If you want to dance and drink Gazi is one of the most famous places to go because there are many clubs. Otherwise, if you want a traditional night under the moonlight of Acropolis there are many greek tavernas with traditional greek music in Plaka. If you prefer a peaceful night, a good option would be walking in the long historical street of Thiseion and having the great view of Parthenon under the moonlight. Whatever of these recommendations you choose, you will absolutely feel the excitement and the desire of living forever in this city because of that magician beauty.

What advice would you give future students heading to Athens?

It is worth of living or visiting Athens the minimum once time in your life! Students who are heading to Athens have to live all the aspects of our city: from visiting the cultural and archaeological attractions and tasting the greek gastronomy, to taking the pleasure of greek traditional and modern nights and making a lot of greek friends who are going to show you what Greek hospitality means! My advice is: Just live it as much as you can in Athens because you only live once!

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