By Ann Perepezko

After a long week of spring break, struggling to see every monument, museum and tourist site in Rome and Venice, the relaxing beaches of Greece greeted me kindly. Feeling a little nervous questioning the country’s financial condition, I was a little hesitant to visit my trip’s second to last stop. However, despite some need of improvements, this city definitely had its shining moments.

When to Go: Right now is the time for perfect weather to fly to this city. The two days that I spent there were perfect—70 degrees and constantly sunny.

Currency: They are on the Euro so the prices are a little higher than Prague ($1.35 to €1), but the restaurants, bars and hotels were all reasonably priced.

How to Get There: I didn’t fly directly from Prague to Athens, but I recommend flying through Rome. The tickets from Prague to Rome are a little cheaper than a direct flight—take Wizzair to Rome and then Easyjet from Rome to Athens. The prices vary based on particular weekends, but getting tickets earlier is always better. As for the return trip, a flight to Berlin with Easyjet and riding Student Agency Bus to Prague are the lowest priced options.

Where to Stay: Once you get into Athens a place to stay isn’t hard to find, but I recommend the Aristotle Hotel. A four person room, with bathroom, breakfast, and towels included costs about €12 per person, per night. From the airport you can take a €3.20 bus ride (the X95) to the last stop, Syntagma Square. The bus takes about 50 minutes depending on traffic and a 10 minute walk from Syntagma Square.

What to Do: While I spent most of my time by the perfectly blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, eating gelato and walking through the refreshing waves, I also found that the city offers many other worthwhile activities. The Acropolis and Parthenon are must see sites and even better at night, lit up against the dark sky (great for pictures!). Other sites for history lovers include the National Historical Museum, Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, and Lycabettus Hill.
See the monuments, eat the gelato, go to the beach and avoid the creepy night dwellers. Oh and if you have time (sadly I did not) go to Santorini Island. Straight from the movie scenery of Mamma Mia and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, this island claims to be the perfect day trip. It is accessible by boat from the Port of Piraeus daily.

Nightlife: As for the nighttime activities in this Greek city, bars surrounding the hotel are scarce, but after walking or taking the bus you can find many more places to visit. The Center Bar, by Kolonaki Square, is a lounge bar that plays ethnic music and caters to all ages. If you are looking for more dancing, then Folie Club is the right place for you. Located on Eslin Street, this club plays many different styles of music and carries both food and drink. Be careful when making your way back to your hotel, the alleyways can hold some pretty shady characters at night.