Cards Are Widely Accepted, But Carry Some Cash
Card payment is standard in restaurants, shops and taxis across central Athens. Small kiosks (periptera), some tavernas outside the center, and certain markets still prefer or require cash, so keep a modest amount of euros on hand.
The Real Cost Gap Is Plaka vs Everywhere Else
A meal at a picture-menu taverna directly on a Plaka tourist street can cost genuinely double what the same dish costs a few streets away in Koukaki or a neighborhood spot in Monastiraki — see Athens Neighborhoods for where those areas are.
Tipping Is Appreciated, Not Obligatory
Rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% at restaurants is common and appreciated but not expected the way it is in the US. Taxi drivers are usually just rounded up to the nearest euro; hotel staff tips are optional and discretionary.
Budget travelers can eat and get around Athens affordably by staying a few streets back from the main tourist strips — the euro currency makes tracking spend simple, the neighborhood you choose makes the bigger difference.