Think all capital cities are out to drain your savings? Think again! Ancient Athens is bursting with Greek flavours without the hefty price tag – with a little planning (and some fab insider tips), you can eat like a god too. Here’s how we’d do if with a £50 note for a day... 

Breakfast of champions  

Whether you like your brekkie healthy, fluffy and round or egg-based, we know a place which has it all… Brunchers is an Athens institution, with cute café-like outdoor seating, plus a vibrant interior that’s well worth a peek! The best part? Most of their menu is under €10 (£8.70), so the breakfast won’t break the bank. 

On the go 

Anyone for a coffee or pastry? You’ll find a cup for less than €4 (£3.50) almost everywhere and same goes for the baked goods. Our favourite spots? 72H Artisanal Bakery for out-of-this-world pastries and Little Tree Books and Coffee for an espresso with a side of book-browsing. 

Lunch like a local 

You know what they say... When in Athens, or something like that. Either way, for lunch, the main on the menu is gyros. If you haven’t tried it back home, it’s a traditional Greek wrap, filled with veggies or salad, grilled-to-perfection meat and lined with the tasty tzatziki sauce. The best part? They usually don’t cost more than a fiver but will fill you up for a good while! Our top picks are Kapsa Souvlaki, Tylixto and Kosta Souvlaki. 

Sweet treat  

What are holidays for? Repeat after us: treating yourself. So go on, get that sweet snack to elevate your afternoon. We’ll even show you a way to sneak one in and stay on a budget. Named after a Greek dessert, Lukumades is a stylish parlour serving up traditional doughnuts with a modern-day twist. We’re talking everything from trendy Dubai chocolate-filled dough balls to classic cinnamon-dusted circles of greatness. These melt-in-your-mouth morsels will set you back around €5 (£4.35), but you’ll be less hungry for dinner!  

Top tip 

The drink budget often goes to the back of our minds when on holiday, so although it might seem obvious, try to avoid cocktails and other spenny drinks. If you do fancy a tipple, go for a local pint or glass of wine – these are the Greek specialties and won’t cost you an arm and a leg! 

The main course  

If you had a breakfast, coffee and pastry break, lunch and a cheeky sweet treat by the book (AKA this neat guide), you should be left with around €29 (£25) for your final outing of the day. This should be more than enough to grab a traditional dinner with a beer or a glass of wine, but you can always stay under budget and go for seconds at the souvlaki stand. We won’t judge.  

Need more Athens recommendations? Discover our favourite spots with this blog on the best restaurants in Athens!