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Awful Athens

4 Reviews 4.75 out of 5 stars Based on 4 reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Athens, Greece
Book online or call us

from $36.51 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Awful Athens Image 1
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 33 (0) days in advance.
1 hour 45 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
and 1 more
Spanish
Instant confirmation

Overview

They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. But some places are genuinely awful. Want to discover a different side of Athens? You're in the right place!

Explore a contrasting city of bustling streets, immigrants, tourists, street vendors and everyday life. Discover a fascinating mix of cultures, urban decay and social tensions in neighborhoods largely untouched by traditional tourism.

This is the less polished Athens: lively, gritty and full of contrasts. Along the way, we'll explore overtourism, Airbnb, rising property prices, gentrification, foreign investment, migration and the refugee crisis.

Discover the city behind the postcard and why its messy, chaotic and sometimes ugly corners can tell you more than another beautiful ruin ever could.

Expect fascinating stories, uncomfortable truths, dark humor and places you probably wouldn't visit on your own.

Godforsaken places and plenty of urban decay: awful can be awesome. Dare to see it!

What's Included

  • Political Scientist

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    28is Oktovriou 47
    Athina 104 33, Greece

    Show on Google Maps

    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    Karaiskaki 17
    Athina 105 54, Greece

    What To Expect

    Book Online

    Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
    Read more

    Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

    Vathi, Athens (pass by)

    Discover one of central Athens's most multicultural corners. As you cross Vathi Square, you'll encounter small falafel shops and food businesses run by Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese and Iraqi communities. Take in the smells, flavours and everyday activity of this lively neighbourhood while learning how migration has transformed Athens's food culture. We'll also explore how affordable neighbourhoods gradually become attractive to investors, visitors and developers, and how gentrification can begin with something as simple as a falafel shop.
    Read more

    Max Brown Hotel Downtown, part of Sircle Collection (pass by)

    Stop outside the Max Brown Hotel and discover one of Athens's more unusual examples of urban transformation. The building once housed offices of the Communist Party before being converted into a boutique hotel.
    Read more

    Omonia Square (pass by)

    Experience one of Athens's busiest and most emblematic public spaces. Stop by the square's fountain and watch the constant movement of pedestrians, buses and metro passengers. Omonia is where different parts of the city meet: commuters, migrants, workers, visitors and local residents. Discover why this square, whose name means "concord", has become a symbol of modern Athens and its social contradictions.
    Read more

    Adia Aluma Athens, Curio Collection by Hilton (pass by)

    Discover the striking contrast between luxury tourism and everyday urban life in central Athens. Stop outside this five-star hotel, housed in a former tax office, and explore how neglected commercial buildings are being transformed into upscale accommodation. Just a few streets away, the neighbourhood has a very different character, with visible poverty, homelessness and street-level economic activity. Learn how investors identify opportunities in affordable central locations and how the expansion of luxury hotels is reshaping the city.
    Read more

    Platia Theatrou (pass by)

    Explore a changing corner of central Athens where traditional commercial buildings meet a new hospitality industry. You'll see a modern hostel with coworking facilities, a rooftop and social spaces, alongside new hotel developments. Discover how former working-class and commercial neighbourhoods are being transformed to attract digital nomads, international visitors and property investors, and what this means for the people and businesses that have traditionally occupied these streets.
    Read more

    Theatre in the Old Printer of Empros Newspaper (pass by)

    Empros Theatre, a former newspaper printing house that became one of Athens's most distinctive self-managed cultural spaces. In 2011, artists and anarchists occupied the abandoned building and transformed it into an independent venue for theatre, performances and alternative cultural events. After its eviction by police in 2021, activists reclaimed it just four days later. Discover the story of this unconventional cultural space and explore the relationship between artistic freedom, political activism, squatting and the struggle over who gets to use the city's abandoned buildings.
    Read more

    Iroon Square (pass by)

    Discover the heart of Psyrri, a neighbourhood that has undergone a remarkable transformation. Explore its charming square, traditional buildings and surrounding narrow streets, now filled with cafés, bars, boutique hotels and craft shops. Learn how an area once associated with workshops, craftsmen and working-class life became one of Athens's trendiest destinations. We'll examine the paradox of gentrification: how artists, creative businesses and alternative culture can help make a neighbourhood attractive, eventually contributing to the displacement of the very communities that shaped it.
    Read more

    Little Kook (pass by)

    Encounter one of Athens's most photographed cafés, famous for its extravagant fairy-tale decorations, colourful façade and spectacular seasonal displays. Depending on the time of year, you'll find an entirely different visual theme, from Christmas decorations to Halloween-inspired settings. Explore the nearby Pittaki Street, transformed by an art project that introduced hanging lamps and lanterns. Discover how Instagram, street art and creative businesses can turn an overlooked street into a major tourist attraction, changing the local economy and the character of an entire neighbourhood.
    Read more
    Show 7 more stops

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

    Frequently Asked Questions (8)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Awful Athens?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EET).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We're here to help.
    Activity code: C-282072P3

    Traveler Photos

    Reviews

    4.75
    4 reviews

    Average 4.75 out of 5 stars based on 4 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    3
    4 stars
    1
    3 stars
    0
    2 stars
    0
    1 star
    0
    Don't miss out!
    On average, this is booked 33 (0) days in advance.
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    Frequently Asked Questions (8)

    Activity name

    The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.

    Filter by:

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Awful Athens?
    A:
    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EET).
    • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What's included in the price?
    A:
    The following is included:
    • Political Scientist.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
    A:

    This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
    A:

    There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

    Apr 2025
    Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
    A:

    If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

    If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

    Apr 2025
    Q: Is this an accessible tour?
    A:

    Accessibility information for the Awful Athens is as follows:

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    Apr 2025
    Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
    A:

    Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Awful Athens will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

     

     

    Mar 2024
    Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
    A:

    Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

    Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

    If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

    Oct 2026

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Political Scientist

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

    Report Product Issue

    Activity name