Athens, Greece
Where in the world am I? In San Diego, Athens, Greece.
The FAQ is: What is going on with the number of cars on the road these days? Is traffic increasing, and why?
Answer:
Americans are sitting in traffic longer than ever. Last year, commuters lost an average of 63 hours, or almost 8 workdays, stuck in traffic, according to a Texas A&M study reported by Kiplinger. It is a 16% increase in national congestion costs from 2099 to 2024. Truck congestion rose 19%. A shift in traffic patterns has contributed to overall increased traffic times. Delays are no longer just during weekday rush hours. Traffic congestion is spreading to midday, midweek, and even weekends, due in part to hybrid work schedules.
60-second confidence challenge
Your challenge today, Confidence Challenge, is to find your way through traffic congestion.
If you like today's Confidence Challenge, my book series delves into alternatives to traffic congestion and how to pick places to visit off-season or in shoulder season, while moving through the 5 steps to solo travel, from easy to more challenging, with foreign language communication tips.
See Book A for addressing this concern about traffic and congestion while traveling.
Find it on the website at https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon—it's a several-part series.
Today's destination is Athens, Greece.
Start with the essentials—but pace yourself.
Aristotle, in Athens, Greece
The Acropolis of Athens—go midday or early evening, and pair it with the nearby Acropolis Museum
Wander through the Ancient Agora of Athens and the Roman Forum of Athens
Walk up Areopagus Hill—simple climb, big views
But here's what many miss—and you shouldn't:
Sunset at Philopappos Hill—less crowded, more reflective
A peaceful reset in the National Garden of Athens (free and safe)
The energy of Syntagma Square—especially the changing of the guard
Sunset in Greece
Let's be honest, Athens gets hot. You'll need water.
Glyfada Beach—easy, affordable, and refreshing
Visit Lake Vouliagmeni—calm, scenic, and perfect for solo
These were highly rated water experiences for me, and it was easy to get there on public transportation. I wanted to cool off.
I saved some money by buying a 5-day transport ticket, unlimited rides anywhere for €8.20.
Here is how I got around Athens:
Take the Green line to Piraeus, Pier 8 for Hydra or Agistri. Daytrips.
Swimming at Athens beach: take tram 6 or 7 to Paralia Glyfadas or Edem
Red line Syntagma National Garden and Zappeio
Take the red line to the Acropolis Station, and the museum
And if you're ready for a Step 5 move, do a ferry day trip as I did on day two in Greece.
From the Port of Piraeus, head to Hydra
No cars. Just donkeys, boats, and calm energy
I swam there with about 50 others—felt adventurous, but safe
Hydra daytrip. Hydra is two hours by boat from Athens. No cars. Donkeys. Burros. Swam in a local area, climbing over a fence. About 50 others are there. Greek Island day trip to Hydra (pronounced "Edra") concluded with the ferry returning to Piraeus around 8 PM.
Culture You Can Taste Athens is not just ruins, it's flavor and rhythm:
Try feta cheese, fresh and simple
Enjoy a gyro or souvlaki
Listen for bouzouki music—think Zorba energy, but modern
And don't rush meals. Sitting alone is normal here. No one is watching you as closely as you think.
Athens is generally safe, but not effortless.
Stay aware in crowded metro stations.
Keep your bag zipped and in front of you
Avoid poorly lit areas late at night
Because sometimes the best parts of a trip aren't the famous sites; they're the moments when you step slightly outside your plan.
Bring Your Athens Mindset-Athens isn't polished like some European cities. It's layered, a little gritty, deeply real.
And maybe that's exactly why it works so well for solo travelers. You don't need perfection. You need movement, curiosity, and just enough courage to take the next step.
My missteps: Getting lost in Athens
The hostel manager pointed outside. "Don't go that way when you leave," and I did not ask. I did get lost a few times, though, finding my way back. I may have walked that way by accident.
I found the metro station, which served the modern, faster blue line. I changed lines at Monastiraki and arrived at Omonia Square, but I got a bit lost. The neighborhood was quite confusing and not very safe, with only small markets around. I felt scared at times. It was 9:15 PM and dark when I finally reached the hostel, but no one was at the reception.
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