Athens

Athens is a city where 3,000 years of history sit casually alongside everyday modern life — you might grab a coffee in the shadow of the Acropolis on your way to the office. It is loud, warm, chaotic and deeply welcoming, with a famous café and nightlife culture that runs late into the night.

For internationals the appeal is a rare combination: a genuine European capital with one of the lowest costs of living on the continent, almost year-round sunshine, and the Aegean islands a short ferry ride away. Weekends easily become beach days or island escapes.

Greek hospitality (filoxenia) is real, the food is exceptional and cheap, and while Greek is the local language, English is widely spoken in the international workplaces that hire most expats.

Living in Athens means having ancient history as a daily backdrop. The Acropolis, Parthenon, Ancient Agora, and National Archaeological Museum are among the finest historical sites in the world.

The real draw for expats is the lifestyle: outdoor living almost year-round, weekend trips to nearby islands (Aegina is 40 minutes by ferry), rooftop bars with Acropolis views, and the famous Greek hospitality.

Athens has a vibrant arts and music scene, night markets, street food culture, and a nightlife that starts late and runs until sunrise.

Daily life in Athens is sociable and outdoors. The café culture is central — Greeks linger for hours over a freddo espresso — and evenings revolve around long tavernas dinners, rooftop bars with Acropolis views, and a nightlife that starts late and ends at sunrise.

The climate means beach season runs from May to October, and locals decamp to the coast or islands every chance they get. The expat community is large thanks to the multilingual job market, so making friends is easy and English will carry you while you pick up some Greek.

Athens is home to one of Europe's largest concentrations of multilingual customer support roles. Several major global companies operate large customer experience teams here, actively hiring speakers of Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Czech, and other European languages.

Beyond customer support, the city has growing fintech, shipping & logistics, and professional services sectors. Tourism-related businesses also offer seasonal and year-round opportunities.

English is the business language in most international companies. Greek is rarely a requirement for roles targeting foreign language markets.

Athens is huge and varied — from buzzing central districts to leafy northern suburbs and the breezy southern coast (the "Athens Riviera"). The metro makes most of it commutable, so choose by lifestyle.

Athens is remarkably affordable. A one-bedroom in a good central neighbourhood costs €400–700/month — making it one of the best-value capitals in Europe.

Popular expat-friendly neighbourhoods: Pagrati (central, green, residential), Koukaki (near the Acropolis, lively), Glyfada (coastal, popular with expats), and Chalandri or Marousi (northern suburbs, close to business parks).

Many landlords speak English and welcome international tenants. Typically 1–2 months deposit is required.

Athens is consistently one of the cheapest cities for expats in Europe. A comfortable lifestyle typically costs €1,000–1,600/month — extraordinary value for a European capital.

The Metro is modern and inexpensive — a monthly pass costs around €30. Taxis via the Beat app are cheap by European standards.

Food is a highlight. Supermarkets are very affordable, and eating out at Greek tavernas is excellent value — a full meal with wine rarely costs more than €15–20 per person.

Athens has a modern, inexpensive metro (3 lines) plus buses, trolleys and a tram down to the coast. A monthly pass covering all of it is one of the cheapest in Europe, and the metro connects directly to the airport and the port of Piraeus for island ferries.

The centre is walkable, though summer heat and hilly stretches make the metro welcome. Taxis (via the Uber-owned FREENOW / Beat app) are very cheap by European standards, which many residents use day to day.

Your AFM number (Greek tax ID) is the first thing to get. It's obtained from the local AADE tax office and is required for employment, banking, and contracts. Bring your passport and proof of accommodation.

The AMKA (social security and health number) comes next — apply at a local ΙΚΑ (social insurance) office. This gives you access to the national healthcare system.

Keep copies of all documents — Greek bureaucracy moves slowly, so patience helps. Learning a few words of Greek is warmly appreciated by locals.