Where to stay, how to get to the Olympic Stadium, what to pack, and what to do in Athens during the Coldplay concert.
It’s now 100% certain.
The Coldplay concert in Athens on the 8th and 9th of June at the OAKA will proceed as planned!
The stadium’s structural issues have been resolved, ensuring that the reparations will be completed on time.
This means the approximately 60,000 spectators per day, myself included, will be able to enjoy the band on stage as planned.
So, what do you need to know about the concert if you’re coming to Greece from abroad?
Let’s dive into all the essential information!
Coldplay in Athens: Best Hotels near Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens (or simply OAKA) is located in the northern part of the city, outside its historic center.
As a result, you won’t find many hotels nearby.
The best solution is to choose accommodation near the center of Athens, where there are plenty of options.
From there, you can use the green metro line to get to the stadium – more information on your transport options shortly.
In summary, the best hotels I recommend in Athens, as a lifelong resident and travel enthusiast, are as follows:
- Best luxury hotel in Athens city center: Hotel Grande Bretagne.
- Best hotel in Athens with rooftop pool: Electra Metropolis.
- Best hotel near Acropolis: Coco-mat Athens BC.
- Best luxury hotel in Athens by the sea: Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens.
- Best Mid-priced hotel in Athens: Amazon Hotel.
- Best budget hotel in Athens: Mosaikon.
If you want more information regarding your stay, then definitely check out the Top 10 Neighborhoods to Stay in Athens for Every Traveler.
How to Get to Athens from the Airport
Your main options for getting from Athens Airport to the city center (about 30 kilometers away) are two:
- Metro
- Taxi
A regular Athens Metro Airport ticket costs 9 euros, and a 3-day tourist ticket, for all public transport means, costs 20 euros.
As soon as you exit the airport, simply follow the signs (they are everywhere), and just before reaching the platforms, you will find automatic ticket machines.
Alternatively, you can use a taxi, with the fare being 40 euros.
Uber operates in Athens, but only the Uber Taxi service. Uber X is not available.
However, if I were you, for trips from the airport to the city center and vice versa, I would use a pre-booked taxi.
And this is because finding a taxi with any application during rush hour isn’t easy.
Drivers prefer to turn off their phones and pick up passengers from the road to avoid paying fees to the apps.
The service I use is the local startup Welcome Pickups.
Even though their flat rate is a few euros more expensive, they are worth it.
They use only top-rated drivers, they wait for you at the arranged meeting point, even if your arrival is delayed, and they have numerous positive reviews on TripAdvisor and Trustpilot.
Uber, though, is significantly better when it comes to daily commuting in the city.
Without a doubt, it offers much better prices and greater availability.
You’ll find additional transportation options from and to the airport (and why it’s good to avoid buses) in the Athens International Airport guide.
How to Get to the Olympic Stadium
I’ll be as clear as possible with this question: DO NOT use a taxi to go to the Coldplay concert in Athens!
Athens already has heavy traffic most days of the year.
I can’t even imagine what it will be like on the roads on the concert day.
The best solution by far is to use public transportation, specifically the green metro line.
You’ll get off at the Irini or Neratziotissa station (Irini is better), and from there, OAKA is about a 10-minute walk away.
Keep in mind that these are the same facilities where the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens were held.
Finally, another important tip is to make sure you have bought your return train ticket in advance to avoid the queues.
A round-trip ticket costs 2.40 euros.
What to Pack for Athens in June
It’s hot in Athens in June!
The average temperature during the day reaches 29.8 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit)!
However, heat waves are not uncommon, with the thermometer in these cases reaching even 42 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit)!
So, make sure to bring sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, and a hat.
You’ll find detailed information and recommended products in the Ultimate Packing List for Athens.
Additionally, for the day of the Coldplay concert in Athens, have a water bottle with you.
Food Options at the Olympic Stadium of Athens
I’ll be clear here, too: do not eat from the street vendors selling food outside the stadium!
The last thing you want during the Coldplay concert in Athens is stomach issues.
You’ll find safe and delicious street food in my guide to Athens Street Food, as well as the Best 10 Authentic Greek Taverns.
Moreover, there are not many restaurants near the Olympic Stadium of Athens.
So, be patient and return to the city center, where you can enjoy, for example, a delicious souvlaki.
After all, most restaurants in Athens are open until 00:00 or even later!
Finally, for the concert hours, prefer to buy packaged food from your nearest supermarket.
However, make sure it doesn’t contain perishable foods like eggs or mayonnaise because due to the heat, they are very likely to spoil.
What to Do in Athens Besides the Coldplay Concert
Athens is an amazing city, with thousands of years of history, worth exploring.
Besides the Coldplay Concert, there are excellent museums, delicious local food, and, of course, world-famous attractions waiting for you to discover them.
Depending on the days you have at your disposal, I have created detailed step-by-step itineraries, with the best places in town and their pins on Google Maps: Athens in 1 day, Athens in 2 days, Athens in 3 days, Athens in 4 days, or hidden gems of Athens if you plan to stay even more days.
Best Day Trips from Athens
Given that you’re coming to Athens in the summer, the best day trip you can make is a boat tour to multiple islands like Agistri and Aegina.
It’s essential to remember that popular islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, and Milos are a considerable distance from Athens, making them unsuitable for a day trip.
However, Greece has many islands – about 6,000! – and some of them are quite close to Athens.
The “Boat Tour to Agistri, Aegina with Moni Swimming Stop” comes highly recommended.
It might cost a bit more than other day trips from Athens, but trust me, if you can afford it, it’s totally worth spending a little extra for such an experience.
Alternatively, you’ll find additional ideas in the 5 Best Day Trips From Athens Compared.
Coldplay in Athens + Your Questions
I hope the above guide to the Coldplay concert in Athens has helped you find the detailed information you need for your trip.
If you have any further questions, please write to me in the comments, and I would be happy to answer!
Finally, if you enjoyed this article, then please join our newsletter using the form below. You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram.
Make Your Trip Easier
Airport Transfer
If you want to get to and from Athens Airport with peace of mind, I recommend pre-booking your taxi with Welcome Pickups. Their flat rate is a few euros more expensive than random taxis, but it is totally worth it. They use local, English-speaking drivers, who will wait for you even if your flight is delayed and introduce you to the city during your ride.
Accommodation
I always book my accommodation with a reliable service like Booking.com. They offer a price guarantee and 24/7 support in case of any problems with your hotel. Always make sure you read reviews from other guests before booking.
Activities
From day trips to Greek islands to Acropolis Guided Tours, GetYourGuide will help you find some unique ideas for your trip.
Car Rental
If you decide to rent a car while in Athens, check Rentalcars. It compares the most reliable companies and returns the best prices with free cancellation.
Free Athens Tours
If you have limited time or want a local guide to introduce you to the city, check GuruWalk. They offer free tours, and at the end, you give them the amount you think is fair.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you if you get sick or injured while abroad, or if you lose your luggage or your flight is delayed. On my trips, I use SafetyWing as it’s affordable and has a simple claims process.
Sunny Athens is reader-supported. Some of the links above may be affiliate links for which I may receive compensation if you click, at no cost to you. This does not influence my evaluations. Learn more in Advertise Disclosure.
Do you know if they normally put extra metro trains back to the centre after the concert. I read that the last train from the Irini stop back to Monastiraki is at 00.24 and with the amount of people trying to use the trains to get back afterwards I assume it will take some time for all to get on a train (I’m thinking what it is like getting out of stadiums and the queues back in the UK .
Hello Rebecca,
Yes, there will definitely be extra trains for the concert.
This is also done for football or basketball games in Athens.