Rest assured that there’s no shortage of things to do and see in Athens. This historic city is full of ancient ruins, cultural museums, affordable shopping, delicious traditional food, and copious hospitality.
I’m sure you can find hundreds of things to do in Athens, but these are my top 25!
25 Things to do in Athens
1. See The Acropolis, obviously
If you’re in Athens, it goes without saying that you’re going to visit the ancient Greek Acropolis. Visit Temple of Athena, the goddess after which the city of Athens was named. Also at the Acropolis site, you can discover the Parthenon and Erechtheion, as well as the North and South slopes.
You can even explore the Acropolis with Key Tours as your guide takes you back in time with their expert story-telling and intricate knowledge of Athens history.
Word of warning though, it’s going to be crowded.
Cost: The Acropolis €20 / North & South Acropolis Slopes €10
2. Visit the Acropolis Museum
Once you’re done with The Acropolis, it’s time to visit the museum which houses more than 4,000 artefacts discovered on the hill of Acropolis. I would strongly suggest taking a guided tour to appreciate the experience more.
Cost: €5 / FREE for students
3. Want to explore more ruins? Check out the Ancient Roman Agora!
Much less crowded than the tourist-packed Acropolis, The ancient Agora also offers beautiful history to explore at a more relaxed pace.
Cost: €8
We interrupt this program to give you a tip that will save you a whole lot of cash! If you plan to see several historical sites in Athens, I would advise purchasing a “Combo Ticket”.
Here’s the Ticket Price Breakdown:
- Combo Ticket (€30) includes:
- The Acropolis (€20)
- The North and South Acropolis Slopes (€10)
- The Roman Agora (€8)
- Hadrian’s Library (€4)
- The Ancient Agora (€8)
- Kerameikos (€8)
- Olympieon (€6)
- Other historic sites (not included in the combo ticket):
- Panathenaic Stadium (€5) [you can totally skip this one in my opinion]
- Acropolis Museum (€5)
4. Eat Gyros and Greek Salad
I have to admit T and I tried quite a few gyros in Athens – we even had some terrible ones. Our favourite was Tylixto near Monastiraki. Greek Salad was the one thing I couldn’t bring myself to part with. That giant block of crumbly feta is divine – order this salad at every restaurant.
5. Visit Mokka for authentic Greek coffee
Operating since 1922, Mokka aims to offer its customers exceptional high quality blends and coffees with brilliant service. Watch your coffee “roast” in the sand and enjoy it with a sweet Loukoum.
6. Go on a food tour
Our Athens food tour with Athens Walking Tours was a blast! We learnt so much about Greek cuisine and our enthusiastic guide took us to the best places to eat Greek specialties in Athens. See the whole review of our Athens food tour here.
7. Explore Athens at night in the old neighbourhood of Plaka
Plaka is one of my favourite spots in Athens (that and Anafiotika village – which I mention in the next point). Located at the foot of the Acropolis, the old neighbourhood of Plaka is packed with shops as well as Greek restaurants and bars to discover in the evening.
8. Take a stroll in Anafiotika Village
Above Plaka lies the scenic hidden tiny village of Anafiotika with its distinct white-washed stone houses and colourful painted doors and windows. It resembles very much an island village.
I didn’t want to share photos of other people’s houses as to not invade their privacy, so here’s a shot of the graffiti street you go through before arriving to the white-washed houses part of the area!
9. Visit the upscale neighbourhood of Kolonaki
Just outside the centre of Athens, between Panepistimiou Street and Mount Lycabettus, Kolonaki is the ultimate area for a more luxurious and quieter Athens scene away from the crowds. The upscale neighbourhood, inhibited mainly by wealthy locals, offers many trendy restaurants and boutiques to discover.
10. Check out Little Kook
At Little Kook, massive plates of delicious crepes, cakes, ice cream, and more are served in a setting straight out of a fairy tale book – complete with fully-costumed waitresses! Every room is exaggeratedly decorated and each featuring an individual theme. It’s not very “Greek” but makes for some pretty pictures and it’s perfect if you have a sweet spot for cake and fairy tales. Who doesn’t though?
11. Go Grocery Shopping at Greek Specialty Stores
During our Athens food tour with Athens Walking Tours, we stopped by some Greek specialty stores that sell local olive oil, olives, honey, tea, soap, and more. These make great souvenirs to take back home!
12. Buy Traditional Greek Leather Sandals
The Poet Sandal Maker is an option, however, be prepared to wait in line for a really LONG time (i.e. over an hour) with little to zero notice from the shopkeepers and end up leaving with a much lighter wallet (less 45-55 euros). You can buy a beautiful pair of Greek sandals at multiple spots for less than half price (between 15-25 euros) on Monastiraki Street AND save time 😉
13. Witness the changing of the guard at Syntagma Square
The changing of the guards at parliament takes place every hour. We were coincidentally at the square and witnessed this spectacle!
Cost: FREE
14. Visit Athens’ Oldest Distillery: Brettos
The oldest bar in Athens, Brettos, has been open since 1909. Beautifully decorated and lined with colourful bottles on the walls, Brettos is THE place for the popular traditional Greek ouzo and many more specialty liquors.
15. Watch a movie in the open-air Cinema Thision
For movie night under the sky, this makes for a perfect date idea when visiting Athens. The open-air cinema Thision remains traditional in the sense that you cannot make any reservations or book your tickets in advance, so get there 30 minutes early 😉 Note that Cinema Thision is closed in winter.
16. Go on a free walking tour!
The company Athens Free Walking Tour offers FREE walking tours around the city with professional guides who share their knowledge and passion of Athens including facts, myths, and secrets you’re not going to find in any guidebook! To reserve one or more of their walks, check out this link.
Cost: FREE, but don’t forget to leave a tip!
17. National Gardens and Zappeion
If you want a change of scenery from the museums and ruins, why not visit the beautiful gardens of Athens? Grab a bite to eat from the bakery and set up a picnic among the birds and random wandering turtles.
Cost: FREE
18. Explore the bustling Monastiraki Square
You really can’t visit Athens and not discover the packed square of Monastiraki in the old town. There are many good deals around the corner and a great flea market to visit on Sundays.
19. Climb to the top of Mount Lycabettus
Watching the sunset from up here should be on your list of things to do in Athens! The view of Athens city from the top of Mount Lycabettus is breathtaking!
There’s also a small church once you get to the top!
20. Take a traditional Greek cooking class
The Greek Kitchen offers traditional Greek cooking classes complete with market tours! You’d surely put those new cooking skills to use back home 😉
NOW LET’S GET OUT OF THE CENTER!
Here are a few excursions out of the city if you have some time (if you don’t, make some):
21. Go on an Island Hopping Tour!
If you’re staying in Athens for more than 3 days, then you should definitely consider a day cruise from Athens. This full day-trip from Athens was a really fun experience and we got to know 3 different islands – which helped us choose which one we were to visit on a longer term. Check out our full experience on our day cruise from Athens to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. I’ve even written an extensive guide to Aegina if you decide on a long stay 😉
Cost: See end of Day Cruise from Athens.
22. Visit Delphi
Need more Greek ruins to see? No problem. This popular day trip from Athens to Delphi is a great opportunity to explore one of the most famous archaeological landmarks of Greece. Not to mention, Delphi is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its significant influence in the ancient world.
23. Visit Temple of Poseidon
If you’re looking for a half-day tour, visit Cape Sounion by the sea to experience a panoramic sunset over the Aegean Sea at the 5th century B.C. Temple of Poseidon, who was known as God of the Seas.
24. Go on a day trip to Meteora from Athens by train
Catch a morning train to Kalambaka to see yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Meteora. The small town of Kalambaka lies right at the foot of the renowned colossal cliffs. This serene, spiritual, and unique area is filled with volcanic rock formations millions of years old, and Meteora Monasteries left and right.
25. Choose a Greek Island that suits your personality!
For me, it was the serene and beautiful Skiathos Island that captured my attention. To learn more about this stunning Greek island, check out my ultimate guide to Skiathos!
What to eat in Athens [and where to find it]
1. Kebab at O Thanasis in Monastiraki
We had lunch here on our first and last day in Athens. It was that good! I definitely recommend every item photographed below:
2. Baklava at Το μαγαζάκι της πλάκας (Τo magazaki tis plakas)
It’s located right before you reach the famous Plaka Stairs; here’s the address. They have the BEST baklava I’ve ever had and there’s a fresh batch prepared daily by the shopkeeper. It’s a must try!
3. Mezze at Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani
I strongly urge you to visit to Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani when in Athens. Just order some mezze items – you really can’t go wrong! I personally recommend every single item we ordered (except the eggs, because it’s just way too heavy for your stomach to digest in the heat).
Check out my full review of Karamanlidika.
4. Ice Cream at Le Greche
Le Greche was our favourite ice cream in Athens, and we tried more than a handful! It’s a tad pricey, but quality always wins. We had pistachio and salted caramel gelato. Their ice cream is creamy, not too sweet, and the perfect summer treat! FYI that rhyme was totally unintentional…
Want more food recommendations? Stay tuned for the FULL Greek Food Guide for Things to Eat and Drink in Greece!
From Athens Airport to Athens City Centre
By Bus
It’s easy to find the bus once you arrive – simply follow the signs. Take the X95 Bus to Syntagma Square. The buses leave every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the route.
- One-way ticket for 1 person: 6€
By Metro
Take Metro Line 3 (Aghia Marina – Douk. Plakentias – Athens International Airport), connecting Athens airport with Athens city center. Trains run 7 days a week, every 30 minutes from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm. The duration time from/to the Airport to Syntagma station lasts 40 minutes.
- One-way ticket for 1 person: 8€
- Return ticket for 1 person: 14€
- One-way ticket for 2 persons: 14€
By Taxi
Taking a taxi from Athens Airport to Athens city centre, the fare is flat at around 38 euros (daytime) and 55 euros (from midnight to 5:00 am). Don’t accept adding any “extras”; the price the taxi quotes is the final price you pay.
Getting around Athens City
By Bus / Metro / Tram
You can purchase a 3-day Tourist Ticket for all modes of transport (bus, metro, tram, trolley), including 1 journey form and to the airport, for only 22 euros! Otherwise, a daily ticket for all modes of transport (invalid for Airport Lines) is 4.50 euros, and a 5-day ticket is 9 euros.
For more info on transport around the city, check out this detailed guide, and this one for fares.
By Taxi
Taxis operate 24-hours, and they’re quite cheap. Fares initially start at €3.44, monitored using a meter. Then add €0.74 per Km. Note that this amount doubles after midnight until 5:00 am. I found this taxi guide very helpful!
By WALKING!
In my opinion, the best way to discover a new place is to walk everywhere. That’s what we did 🙂
Best time to visit Athens
The best time to visit Greece in general is in the spring time and early summer (from mid-April to mid-June) or in autumn (from September to mid-October). Otherwise, say hello to summer high season, which includes inflated prices, flocks of tourists, and high temperatures of 40°C.
Note that we visited Athens in September, and it was still pretty crowded. I don’t want to imagine what July and August look like!
Here’s the Acropolis in September:
Vs. Monastiraki in the early A.M. (also September):
Same thing, right? Right.
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Non-watermarked photos were sourced from Delphi by tamara semina / Poseidon Temple / Meteora
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