This is what my experience in living in Athens, Greece is like so far

The capital of Greece is most definitely a concrete jungle that is always bustling and never sleeps. It still has traces of Ancient Greece, with famous monuments, landmarks and temples such as the Parthenon standing tall above the city.

Many tourists flock to this capital in order to stay for a couple of days before leaving from Pireaus port in order to go to a Greek island.

What is the city really like?

This city isn't typically pretty like other famous cities such as Paris, but it most definitely does have character. The majority of this capital is covered in street art, with large murals covering city buildings and even some neighbourhoods such as Exarcheia and Psyri are covered in graffiti.

Then there are neighbourhoods such as Ano Kypseli and Galatsi that offer you some of the most picturesque panoramic views of the city at every corner you turn.

However, there is a huge litter problem in this city and some neighbourhoods are dirtier than others, which is an obvious problem to the environment and ecosystem. It is unfortunately common to see garbage on pavements, trees and even on natural landscapes.

What can you do in this city?

Athens has a lot of free and paid activities that you can do. This city has a lot of hilltops such as Philopappou Hill, Strefi Hill and Attikos Alsos, where you can have a mini-hike and climb to the top in order to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.

There are many ancient grounds that you can visit, but you have to pay an admissions fee and there are also national observatory research centres where you can take a tour and enjoy some stargazing.

On the south side of Athens, there are organised and unorganised beaches where many locals head to during the summer season. There are also beach bars and clubs that are especially popular during the summer period, and some famous DJs also make an appearance.

But what I have learnt about this city is that the coffee culture is huge here. Everyone loves coffee and it's a daily ritual for them to wake up and have coffee and to continue drinking as much coffee as they can throughout the day. I never used to like drinking coffee, but eventually, I converted and became a coffee lover too. Even though people do drink tea here, it's more common for them to drink tea during the winter period or when they are ill. Coffee is the number one beverage here and it gives the people a chance to socialise and sit at a coffee shop/kafenio for hours.

People also love going to ouzeries or tavernas in order to socialise. They usually dine or go to ouzeries from 10pm onwards and order platters of meze in order to pair it with their ouzo or tsipouro.

It's important to keep in mind that the people here like to socialise over coffee from morning to late evening and then from 10pm onwards they like to go to a taverna/ouzeri and possibly to a bar or nightclub after.

What's the living situation like in Athens?

When I first moved to Athens, the rent was cheap and it was easy to find an apartment. However, as the years have gone by, the rent prices have increased making it harder to find something decent for a good price.

Even the sketchier areas are becoming more expensive, and only studio-style apartments are slightly cheaper. Rent prices can now start from €290 and can go as high as €900, depending on the area you choose to live in.

It is very common for the locals to still live with their parents, or at least have inherited an apartment/house from their family. However, when it comes to the housing situation for foreigners, they usually live with housemates or can sometimes afford to live alone.

The living situation in Athens can be affordable, but it's all down to how much you earn for a living. Supermarkets can be cheap to moderate prices, but many people take advantage of the fruit and vegetable market called the Laiki, which usually runs for one day on a weekday or weekend. You can find locally grown fruit and vegetables from farmers who also discount their prices towards the last hours of the market.

Restaurants and coffee shops are also at a decent price. You can easily find cheap eats and coffee shops because there are a lot of small businesses that are located in neighbourhoods. As for restaurants, prices can be decent but can also be expensive, depending on the type of dining experience you want.

The takeaway from all of this

Athens is a city that you will never get bored of. There are always new eateries popping up, local annual festivals running and even hidden gems you will come across. It's a city full of surprises and it is a city that is safe to live in.