Arguably Europe’s most iconic city is going against the grain in the day and age of overtourism.
Rather than yank welcome mats right out from tourists’ feet, they’re ready to embrace more despite already being such a year-round hotspot to immerse in its tangible history of ancient temples and open-air ruins.
Boasting affordability across the board, ease of access to endless islands, and neighboring nations equally as enticing to visit, the obvious question becomes, “Why wouldn’t anyone want to call this city home?”
Already seeing an influx of remote workers from the United States, Germany, France and various Scandinavian countries, a “come one, come all” approach is being implemented as hefty investments pour in to make it Europe’s top digital nomad hub for years to come.
Be sure to check the latest Travel Alerts & Entry Requirements before your trip.
Athens Wants You To Stay A While
Athens wants you.
Not to sound like Uncle Sam, but hey, that is my name.
With the remote-work craze still in full force despite many old-school bosses trying to reel them back into cubicles, the army of laptop warriors may not have won every battle, but the war is tilting in their favor.
Some pockets of Europe have had it up to their necks with digital nomads taking over their city and driving up prices, particularly Spain, where protests are common.
Greece, however, is still largely affordable with the exception of Santorini, with plenty of room to embrace more nomads living out of their backpacks.
The plan is to make even more room, actually. Instead of relying on Europe’s notoriously cozy apartments to find a space to comfortably work, Athens is determined to open more workspaces across the city.
Leaning on affordability compared with places like London, Paris, and Amsterdam, Athens knows they have a leg up to lure more remote workers long-term since many are freelancers with shifting monthly budgets.
According to Numbeo, rent in Athens is over 50% cheaper than in Paris.
As cool as this storied city is on its own for a vacation, living here and waking up to backdrops of the Acropolis and the gleaming Saronic Gulf, they are boldly attempting to rebrand itself as a serious digital nomad and flexible-work hub, not just a history-and-islands stopover.
Digital Nomad Requirements In Greece
As it goes with many digital nomad hotspots, each nation sets forth its own requirements to be an official nomad.
Some are more stringent than others, but Greece is relatively straightforward, asking applicants to meet the following:
- Minimum income: roughly $4,100 after tax and the threshold increases to $4,920 if bringing a loved one, and about $615 more per month with each additional dependent
- Proof of employment: you must be able to prove you are employed remotely, or that you have signed contracts with companies based outside of Greece
- Health insurance: obtaining a health insurance policy is mandatory, and it must be valid for the entirety of your stay in Greece
- Criminal history: You must not have been convicted of serious crimes in your home country, and you may be asked to provide a clean record
- Application: documents must be submitted at a Greek consulate or embassy in your home country prior to your move
- Validity period: stay up to 2 years, with possibility to renew as long as you continue fulfilling initial requirements
Beyond cheaper rent than many major European cities, Athens gives digital nomads plenty of reasons to stick around:
- Sunny weather: over 300 days of sunshine a year, with mild winters and long stretches of warm weather.
- Speedy wifi: a growing co-working scene provides fast internet, and free wifi is easy to find
- Convenient transit: Metro, tram, bus, and suburban rail links make it easy to move around the city without a car and ferries make amazing trips to nearby islands seamless
- Tipping not expected: tipping is appreciated, but not mandatory — rounding up or leaving a little extra is usually enough to save you money
How Safe Is It To Live In Athens?
Safety may be the biggest selling point of all when it comes to calling a new city home, especially in a foreign country.
According to our real-time Safety Index, travelers are scoring Athens’ safety with 81/100, which is pretty great.
As iconic as Athens may be, there are some rough spots. It’s not all postcard streets of bougainvillea-draped tavernas and Acropolis views.
Keep in mind, my lone visit to Athens was pre-pandemic, but it’s the only city in all my travels where I was pickpocketed — and it almost completely butchered our trip.
In other words, don’t keep your passport in cargo shorts. Better yet, just don’t wear cargo shorts, fellas.
Piggybacking off my own experience as well as fellow travelers, the U.S. State Department last updated Greece’s travel advisory in October 2025, classifying it as “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions” — the lowest possible designation.
