With a population of 116,714, Athens is a must-see destination in Georgia, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Athens deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
If you’re looking for affordable options, Five and Ten (1073 S Milledge Ave) and The Falls (8851 Macon Highway) are great picks.
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Athens in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 91.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 33.8 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 4.5″. In contrast, May is usually the driest month of the year in Athens, with an average rainfall of 3″.
Although Athens doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL), which is located 65 miles from Athens. Greenville is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Delta, WestJet and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Athens departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 1h 53m.
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Athens. The train journey from Athens to Birmingham takes 4h 36m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about $57 for a 5h 48m trip.
Another option to get to Athens is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 61 miles from Athens. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Hertz, among others, in Atlanta.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Athens, including Megabus, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Charlotte, the bus ride to Athens takes 285 miles and will cost you around $48. From Jacksonville, the ticket costs about $28 for a journey of 365 miles. The most popular bus station is Athens 4020 Atlanta Hwy, located 7 miles from downtown Athens. Athens West Broad St 1000 is also a commonly used station, and is 1.9 miles from the city center.
Average rates range from around $238 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $366 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Americas Best Value Inn Athens, Ga and SpringHill Suites by Marriott Athens Downtown/University Area.
Renting a car in Athens costs $64 per day, on average, or $127 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 2% more expensive than at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Athens (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Athens is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 63% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.