Athens Travelers Recommend

With the Mediterranean heat and a roster of events taking over Athens, summer is a lively time to visit the Greek capital. To help you plan your visit and battle the crowds, here are our picks of the top things to see and do in Athens this summer.

• Marvel at the UNESCO–listed ruins of the Acropolis, then learn more about the ancient wonder at the Acropolis Museum.

• Add a fun twist to your sightseeing tour and zip around the historic center of Athens on a Segway.

• Tuck into tasty Greek delicacies like bougats a (sweet or savory pastries) and loukoumades (Greek honey dumplings) on a food tasting tour.

• Take a road trip along the Sounion Peninsula and enjoy spectacular views from the seafront Temple of Poseidon.

• Escape the city heat and cruise out to the Greek islands of Hydra, Poros, and Egina.

• Journey back to ancient Greece on a day tour to Delphi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

With three days in Athens, you have time to experience all of the historic city’s main draws, from its archaeological landmarks to its vibrant neighborhoods, and also venture into the surrounding countryside to visit hilltop monasteries, ancient ruins, and locations central to Greek mythology. Here are some top options for three days in Athens.

Day 1: Ancient Athens

Kick off your time in Athens with a tour of its landmarks. Tour on foot or by Segway or electric bike and visit lively neighborhoods such as Plaka and Monastiraki and spots including Hadrian’s Arch, Panathenaic Stadium, and the National Gardens of Athens. Most tours include a trip to the top of the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the Parthenon and take in views over Athens.

In the afternoon, spend time touring a few of the city’s museums. The collection at the Acropolis Museum focuses on the famous archaeological site, while the Museum of Cycladic Art on Vasilis Sofia showcases marble statuary dating back some 3,000 years. The world’s most comprehensive collection of Greek antiquities is on display at the National Archaeological Museum.

Day 2: Modern Greece

Now that you’ve explored Athens’s past, step into its present with a day spent savoring this modern Greek city. Wander through some of the city’s less-visited areas on a guided walking tour, and take in views of the Acropolis from Syntagma Square, the heart of Athens. Head to the upmarket neighborhood of Kolonaki for a coffee break with Greek socialites or head to the Athens Planetarium, among the world’s largest and most technologically advanced.

In the afternoon, dig into the modern culinary landscape. Get hands-on with a Greek cooking class, or join a food tour and treat yourself to bites at eateries popular among locals.

Day 3: Myths and Monuments

Some of Greece’s biggest destinations are within day-trip distance of the capital city. A self-guided, private, or group tour to the UNESCO-listed town of Delphi is among the most popular day trips from Athens. Tours here usually stop at ruins of the Temple of Apollo, Temple of Athena Pronaia, and the Delphi Archeological Museum.

Other options include a train ride through the Peloponnesian countryside to the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora or a group tour to see the Mycenae ruins and well-preserved Theater at Epidaurus in the Sanctuary of Asklepios. It’s also possible to take a half- or full-day tour of ancient Corinth and visit the Temple of Poseidon on the sea cliffs above Cape Sounion.

Few places on earth are more enchanting than Athens, the capital city of Greece. As one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, there's no shortage of historic sites to visit in what’s considered the birthplace of Western civilization. Here, you’ll find a plethora of monuments from ancient times, including the world-famous Acropolis. However, it’s not all archaeology and antiquity; Athens is, in many ways, a very modern city, especially since the extensive revamps that led up to the Summer Olympics in 2004. See below for some of the best ways to experience Athens and its surroundings. 

Home of Aphrodite, goddess of love, and Eros, the original Cupid—not to mention Dionysus, god of wine—Greece delivers magical sunsets, fabulous food, and achingly romantic cruises. And you and your beloved can experience all this from Athens. Here’s how.

Soak Up a Sunset

Whether you’re watching the sun set over the ancient Acropolis from Areopagus Hill or marveling at Mediterranean vistas from Cape Sounion, feel the romance as twilight falls.

Cruise the Aegean

The wine-dark waters of the Aegean Sea make the perfect setting for love. Cruise the Athenian Riviera and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, or spend the day hopping the Saronic Islands. For big events, be they proposal or anniversary, charter your own sailing boat and savor an indulgent dinner on board.

Dine à Deux

There’s more to Greek cuisine than the humble taverna. Enjoy dinner at a table suspended in the sky, or feast on seafood overlooking the Aegean. Join your own personal guide for a tutored wine tasting, a food adventure, or a visit to the city’s most romantic night spots. Let your personal photographer immortalize it all.

Stroll the City

As lights illuminate the Acropolis, experience the city on a romantically themed tour. Follow in the footsteps of the love poet Lord Byron or ancient nymphs and the gods who pursued them, and soak up the timeless glamour of this city of hills.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Athens—and all of Greece. Flowers and herbs bloom in the hills and on the islands, cooler weather makes getting active a joy, and the high season crowds are nowhere to be seen. Here are a few ways to experience the Greek capital this spring.

• Take a walking tour of the Acropolis and essential ancient ruins.
• Beat the crowds to Santorini for a night or two.
• Soak up the sun on a Greek islands day cruise.
• Explore the city or the coast on a bicycle tour.
• Learn how the first Olympians exercised with an ancient Greek workout at the Panathenaic Stadium.
• Take an overnight adventure to see spring flowers bloom at the ancient temple of Delphi and among the sky-high monasteries of Meteora.
• Hike Mount Lycabettus for sunset city views.
• Learn about Greek plants and flowers on a National Gardens tour.
• Perfect your photography with a private guided tour of iconic sights and no big groups to ruin the shot.

Athens’ peak-season crowds disappear in the fall. The weather is cooler, but the Aegean is still blissfully warm, the grape and olive harvests are in full swing, and the city looks magical after dark. Here are a few ways to enjoy Athens this fall.

• Take the train to Meteora to savor the fall colors and the warm light around the monasteries.
• Treat yourself to a private food tour of the city’s best markets, delis, and artisan stores.
• Enjoy an all-day island-hopping adventure to Poros, Hydra, and Aegina without the high-season crowds.
• Tour the vineyards around Nemea as the grape harvest comes in.
• Savor local artisan olive oil with a tutored tasting.
• Watch the sunset from the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.
• See the Acropolis lit up at night on an evening tour that includes dinner.
• Learn about Greek gods, myths, and heroes as you explore the city’s ancient monuments.
• Get to know locals on a bar-hopping tour.
• Discover traditional neighborhoods such as Plaka and Anafiotika on an off-the-beaten-path walking tour.
• Make like Dionysus with a wine tasting in the shadow of the Acropolis.

With its whitewashed towns, stellar beaches, and lava-sculpted topography, Santorini is a quintessential Greek island and the perfect complement to Athens. From a weekend retreat to a longer adventure, here's how to visit Santorini from Athens.

Multi-Day Santorini Tours

Multi-day tours are the easiest way to visit Santorini, combining the flexibility of independent travel with the convenience of pre-organized transport and accommodation. Check off Santorini's highlights on a short but sweet two-day tour; see more of the island on a two- or three-night tour; or combine your Santorini adventure with sightseeing in Athens on a seven-day tour. Tours typically include round-trip transport to Santorini by either ferry or speedboat, and a choice of two-, three-, or four-star accommodation.

Island Hopping Multi-Day Tours

Thousands of islands dot Greece's Aegean Sea coast, and island-hopping tours prove a popular way to visit Santorini. Set sail on an epic seven-night cruise around the Cyclades Islands, stopping at Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, and Syros, or opt for a five-day independent tour to explore Syros, Mykonos, and Santorini at your own pace, with island accommodation included.

Things to Know

• Ferries run from Piraeus Port in Athens to Santorini and take about eight hours, while express speedboat transfers take 5.5 hours.

• It's possible to visit Santorini on an overnight tour, but a two- or three- night option will give you more time to experience the island, especially given the travel times.

• Most multi-day tours include round-trip transport and accommodation.

• Independent tours combine the convenience of an organized tour with the flexibility to create your own itinerary.

• Tours to Santorini from Athens are often combined with visits to neighboring islands such as Syros and Mykonos.

As the cradle of European civilization, Greece is packed with remarkable ancient sights. From open-air theaters where Greek dramas were first performed to majestic temples ruins to the athletic facilities at the site of the first Olympic Games, here are our top picks of ancient sites accessible from Athens, Greece.

Corinth — 52 miles (83 km) from Athens

Though most of Corinth’s ruins date back to the Roman era, the fifth century BC, Temple of Apollo can be traced back to Classical Greece. As well as an archaeological site, Corinth also has an excellent museum. The museum houses lots of significant finds dating from ancient Greece.  

Mycenae — 71 miles (115 km) from Athens

The UNESCO-listed ancient site of Mycenae is spread around the foothills of Mount Agios Ilias and Mount Zara. Between 1600 and 1200 BC, Mycenae was the most powerful kingdom in Greece and was even name-checked by Greek poet Homer, who told of the legend of King Agamemnon of Mycenae leading the Greek forces in the Trojan War.

Epidaurus — 87 miles (140 km) from Athens

The fourth-century BC Epidaurus Theater is the star of the show of this archaeological site in the northern Peloponnese. The 14,000-seater theater has astonishingly good acoustics; even a whisper at stage level can be heard from the seats farthest-up on the hillside. 

Delphi — 110 miles (178 km) from Athens

Set on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, this archaeological complex was said to be home to the legendary Oracle of Delphi, who offered advice to leaders of the classical world from the Sanctuary of Apollo.

Olympia — 193 miles (310 km) from Athens

The site of the world’s first Olympic Games back in 776 BC, this fascinating mountainside complex includes remnants of the old sporting facilities, including a stadium, second-century BC gymnasium, and training hall. It also features structures that predate its time as a sports venue, such as the fifth-century Temple of Zeus. As the ancient Greek sight is a good distance from Athens, it’s best visited as part of a multi-day tour from the capital. 

Lefkadia — 327 miles (527 km) from Athens

One of Greece’s less well-known ancient treasures, the theater of Mieza was discovered in 1922. Though smaller than its Epidaurus counterpart—it would have only hosted an estimated 1,500 audience members—the rock-carved venue is nevertheless fascinating, and has been restored to how it would have appeared back in the third and fourth century BC. It was a key venue in the town of Mieza, the site where Aristotle is said to have taught a young Alexander the Great.

With two days in Athens, you have time to branch out beyond the essential museums and archaeological sites to delve deeper into history, treat your tastebuds to some traditional cuisine, and explore the local neighborhoods. Here’s how to make the most of two days in Athens.

Day 1: Essential Athens

Morning: Kick off your 48 hours in Athens with a half-day city sightseeing tour. You’ll get an overview of the city’s top attractions, such as the Temple of Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, Dionysos Theater, and the National Gardens of Greece. Opt for a private tour to customize your itinerary and get insider tips on the best places to visit during your stay.

Afternoon: Now that the morning crowds have cleared, head up to Athens’ main landmark, the Acropolis. Spend the afternoon exploring this UNESCO-listed archaeological wonder on your own or with a tour guide who can fill you in on the history of the ruins, including the Parthenon. Continue learning about the Acropolis and its history at the Acropolis Museum.

Night: Wind down your day of sightseeing with an evening on the town. Do it like the Greeks do with a leisurely dinner at a traditional taverna; tuck into meze (appetizers) at spots where locals go to socialize, sip ouzo or raki, and dance to the sounds of bouzoukia, a local folk music.

Day 2: Culture and Cuisine

Morning: After getting an overview of Athens, today is the day to dig deeper into the rich culinary traditions of Greece with a morning cooking class. Classes typically include learning to prepare traditional dishes using fresh, local ingredients before dining on the fruits of your labor. Alternately, hit the pavement on a walking food tour to sample some of the city’s best bites.

Afternoon: Spend your afternoon strolling through one (or more) of Athens’ neighborhoods. Colorful Plaka, the oldest residential district in Athens, is a maze of narrow lanes and alleyways lined with shops and cafes. For bargain shopping and historic ruins, head to Monastiraki in central Athens, or, for people watching, visit Syntagma Square.

Night: Treat yourself on your final night in Athens to dinner with a view. Take the funicular to the top of Lycabettus Hill for a meal with panoramic views over the illuminated city below, or book a table in a revolving restaurant 165 feet (50 meters) up for a look at the Acropolis while you eat.

Featuring seasonal vegetables, grilled meats, and delicious cheeses, Greek cuisine has something for everyone. Whether you prefer fine dining or grabbing a bite to go, your culinary experience in Athens will not disappoint. Here’s what not to miss.

Must-Try Dishes

Almost any meal in Athens is likely to include a Greek salad, made of tomatoes, cucumbers, Greek olives, and shallots, dressed with Greek olive oil and topped with a slab of feta cheese. Another popular staple is tzatziki, a Greek yogurt with cucumber and garlic, and is used as a dip for meat, vegetables, or bread, or even eaten alone with a spoon.

Many Greek dishes may seem familiar as versions can be found around the Mediterranean. For example, the Greek version of moussaka is a baked dish made of layers of eggplant, ground beef, pureed tomato, onion, garlic, and spices, and topped with melted cheese.

Dolmadakia, or dolmades, are grape leaves stuffed with rice, pine nuts, herbs, and sometimes ground beef as well. If you’re in a hurry, skewers of chicken, beef, or lamb known as souvlaki are a popular street food to grab on the go, as are spanakopita —phyllo dough stuffed with spinach and feta cheese.

Must-Do Experiences

• Enjoy a traditional Greek dinner in a popular Athens tavern.

• Join a cooking class to learn about the staples of Greek cuisine and try your hand at preparing popular dishes yourself.

• Take a walking culinary tour to several bakeries and restaurants, and visit a market to sample traditional ingredients like honey, olives, and olive oil.

• Sample a variety of Greek appetizers and enjoy traditional Greek music at a lively bouzouki bar.

The Acropolis rises from the heart of Athens, and remnants of ancient history appear around every corner of the city. With an early start and a bit of planning, you can catch the highlights of one of the world’s oldest cities in a single day. Here’s how to make the most of your limited time in Athens.

Morning: City Sightseeing

Some of the greatest treasures of ancient Greece are found in Athens, and there are a few ways to see them all. Join a half-day sightseeing tour to make sure you hit the highlights—you can visit the Greek Parliament and Panathenaic Stadium (home of the first modern Olympic Games) and climb to the top of the UNESCO-listed Acropolis to take in the marble columned Parthenon. Next, make your way to the Acropolis Museum to admire the Parthenon friezes and learn about the archaeology of the site.

Afternoon: Plaka and Agora

After lunch, wander the colorful streets of the Plaka neighborhood, home to numerous ancient sights, Byzantine churches, 19th-century homes, and sidewalk cafes. Take an afternoon stroll through the ruins of ancient Agora (the commercial center of ancient Greece), or book hop-on hop-off bus tickets to catch sight of some of Athens’ top spots at your leisure.

Night: Athens Illuminated

You haven’t seen Athens until you’ve seen it at night. As the sun goes down, head out on an evening tour to see monuments such as the Parthenon, Temple of Zeus, and the Greek Parliament illuminated against the night sky. Duck into a traditional taverna for a dinner of Greek favorites and an evening of traditional bouzouki guitar folk music. Alternatively, go all out on your one night in Athens with a 5-course dinner in a revolving restaurant 165 feet (50 meters) above the city.

Visits to ancient sites like the Parthenon and the Acropolis are highlights of any trip to Athens. But a great way to learn even more about Greek history and culture is by exploring some of the city’s excellent museums. Here are four not to miss.

New Acropolis Museum

Opened in 2009 on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis hill, this museum was designed to house every object found around the Acropolis, dating as far back as the Bronze Age. It also sits over Roman and early Byzantine ruins, the excavations of which are visible to visitors. Skip the line by booking a private tour of the museum.

National Archaeological Museum

This may be the best museum in Athens for an introduction to ancient Greek history and art. Five permanent collections feature items from Greece’s most important historical sites, and together they help tell the story of the Greek influence on Western civilization. Opt for a private tour of this museum alone or together with a tour of the Byzantine and Christian Museum.

Benaki Museum

Housed in a mansion in downtown Athens, this museum holds collections of Greek art from prehistoric to modern times, as well as a large collection of Asian art. It is the only museum in the city that features all eras of Greek history and celebrates foreign influences on Greek culture. Visit independently and at your own pace as a stop on an Athens hop-on, hop-off bus tour.

Byzantine and Christian Museum

Renovated just before the 2004 Athens Olympics, this museum presents rare exhibits of Byzantine art from the third century through medieval times. Combine a private tour of this museum with a tour of the National Archaeological Museum.

From Toronto to Melbourne, from London to Detroit, Greek food has spread around the globe, but there’s no better place to discover it than Athens. Whether meze, olives, moussaka, or octopus, here are some must-try dishes from the Greek capital.

**Olive Oil:**Greeks have been growing olives for around 5,000 years, and different regions compete passionately for the title of the best. There’s nothing like an olive oil tasting to discover the wealth of flavors—fruit, grass, almonds, mint—that hide inside an artisan Greek oil.

**Seafood:**Greece is a seafaring nation, and seafood is an Athens must. Savor melt-in-the-mouth calamari or an octopus salad; brave the intense tang of raw sea urchin or the simple freshness of grilled red mullet; and don’t miss traditional fish soup.

**Kebabs:**No Greek village is complete without the rich scent of barbecued pork drifting above the vines. Souvlaki—a skewered kebab generally made with pork—is a must, while gyros are the local answer to the doner kebab.

**Meze:**Meze, little tapas-style appetizers, are at the heart of any Greek evening. Besides Mediterranean favorites such as hummus, savor stuffed vine leaves, tzatziki yogurt dip, or smoky, citrusy taramasalata. Wash them down with ouzo or raki.

**Pastries:**Spinach pies, cheese pies, and sticky-sweet baklava dessert have one thing in common: phyllo pastry, a tissue-thin dough that many Greek cooks still learn at their grandmothers’ knees.

**Moussaka:**No neighborhood taverna is complete without this hearty, warming blend of ground lamb, eggplant, and bechamel sauce. And, yes, it works in summer too.

Filled with historic monuments, museums, and archaeological wonders, Athens might not be the obvious choice for a kid-friendly vacation. But with tailor-made tours and fun family activities, the Greek capital can be great fun for all ages. Here are some of the best things to do in Athens with kids.  

• Discover Athens at your own pace with a hop-on hop-off bus tour that covers all of the city’s major attractions.
• Pre-book skip-the-line tours or tickets to top attractions to ensure you don’t waste time queuing and waiting around. 
• Bring ancient history to life with a treasure hunt or a guided tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon, specially-adapted for younger travelers.
• Take a break from sightseeing and enjoy a fun family day out with combined tickets for the Attica Zoo and Attica Fun park.
• Explore Athens’ famous landmarks and atmospheric neighborhoods by bike, Segway, or on a walking tour.
• Spend a day at the seaside, where you can visit the beautiful beaches, swim in the ocean, and walk through the scenic coastal parks.
• Learn about local culture and sample delicious Greek foods and drinks on a family tasting tour.

Athens is well known for its ancient treasures, but it’s also emerging as a center for contemporary art and culture. From classical riches to contemporary art spaces, here are some of Athens’ unmissable cultural experiences. 

Explore Ancient History.

Athens has an abundance of historic sites, some of which date back to the Classical, Roman, and Byzantine eras. The pinnacle is the millennia-old Acropolis, which alongside the treasure-packed Acropolis Museum, is a must-see sight. Tours typically cover the mighty Parthenon and the Panathenaic temple, and help you appreciate the significance of the relics. 

Visit a Museum or Three.

Athens is jam-packed with museums that showcase Greek culture. The Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation hosts modern and contemporary art, while the National Archaeological Museum houses a collection so vast that it would take days to see it all. Vasilissis Sofias Avenue is home to multiple museums—including the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, and the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture—which allows you to tick off several museums in one go. 

Take a Street Art Tour.

In recent years, Greece has experienced some political turbulence, which has fueled artistic expression Walking tours of vibrant neighborhoods such as Psirri, Gazi, and Metaxourgeio lead you to colorful street murals and explain the socio-political messages behind them. 

Go Gallery-Hopping in Kolonaki.

Sitting at the base of Mt. Lycabettus (Lykavittos), the upmarket and fashionable neighborhood of Kolonaki is peppered with private galleries—you can barely turn a corner without stumbling upon one—as well as boutiques stocked with artisan products.

The gorgeous, ancient sculptures of Greece’s ruin-filled capital city have shaped European art for thousands of years. See below for the best ways to experience the city’s marble, gold, bronze masterworks—as well as some examples of more contemporary street art.

Parthenon—The epicenter of the Acropolis

No visit to Athens is complete without a pilgrimage to the Acropolis. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the site houses the spectacular Parthenon temple as well as a variety of other monuments. The carvings that once decorated the Parthenon’s facade have been removed, but many can be seen at the nearby Acropolis Museum.

Benaki Museum of Greek Culture—A collector’s masterwork

This museum offers a variety of pieces ranging from Greek and Roman sculpture to Byzantine icons and gold jewelry, all amassed by the collector Antonis Benakis. The museum’s foundation also runs other venues art lovers should put on their list, including the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art and 138 Pireos, a contemporary gallery.

National Archaeological Museum—Thousands of years of treasures

Greece’s defining archaeological museum offers a world-class selection of classical marble and bronze sculptures, as well as older artworks. Highlights include the golden mask once known as the Death Mask of Agamemnon, which dates back more than 3,500 years.

Museum of Cycladic Art—Ancient inspiration for modern artists

While Athens is known primarily for the statues and ruins of Ancient Greece, the works at this museum—some of which date back to the third millennium BC—serve as a reminder that the region’s history goes back to even earlier times. The slender, abstract forms showcased here have inspired the likes of Picasso, Modigliani, Giacometti, and Barbara Hepworth.

Street Art—Back to the future

If you’re looking to escape the ancient world and see a different, fresher side of Athens, join a street art tour. Exploring funky neighborhoods such as Exarchia with a local artist as your guide will snap you straight back to the 21st century.

Take a break from Athens’ urban buzz and enjoy the city’s tranquil side in its parks and gardens. From forested hills to botanical gardens, Athens’ parks offer the chance to relax and unwind in between visits to major monuments. Here are some of the best. 

National Garden

Located in the heart of the city, Athens’ National Garden is one of the city’s grandest green spaces. Just steps from Syntagma Square, the park spans 38 acres (15.5 hectares) and, in addition to palm trees and exotic plants, boasts ancient ruins, public artworks, and the grand Zappeion Hall.

Lycabettus Hill

Lycabettus Hill (Mt. Lycabettus) may be best known for its views of the Acropolis, which is located on an adjacent peak, but it also has its own scenic beauty. During a trek to Athens’ highest point, you’ll wend your way through forested trails that reveal extraordinary vistas of the city.

Philopappou Hill

Another of Athens’ vertical parks, Philopappou Hill—also known as the Hill of the Muses—is a worthy place to stretch your legs and immerse yourself in the scenery. The hill is crowned by the Philopappos Monument, which makes it a great place to enjoy sunset panoramas of the Greek capital in the early evening.

Diomidous Botanical Garden

Located on the edge of the city, the Diomidous Botanical Garden falls far enough off the typical tourist trail that you’re guaranteed to beat the crowds. Home to thousands of plants, a pond dappled with water lilies, and shaded walking paths, it’s an urban oasis that’s well worth venturing to.

If you value uncrowded spaces, then winter, Athens’ low season, is the perfect time to experience the Greek capital. From December through February you can make the most of the city’s museums, restaurants, cooking classes, and shops at a peaceful pace. Here are some great Athens winter activities.

• Immerse yourself in the ancient world on an Acropolis Museum tour.
• Explore underground archaeological excavations on the Athens Metro.
• Craft the perfect souvenir—or holiday gift—at a pottery class.
• Spend the day skiing on Mt. Parnassus, home of the Muses.
• Cook up a feast of winter warmers, Greek style, with a private cooking class.
• Discover Athens’ festive treats on a Christmas food and market tour.
• Warm up with a massage and a sauna.
• Get in the Christmas spirit as you follow in St. Paul’s footsteps on a Corinth tour.
• Show off your footwork with a Greek folk dancing class.
• Pick up artisanal gifts on a private shopping tour.