Athens Itinerary + Travel Budget Guide for first-timers

I finally achieved my first Eurotrip! First stop was Athens.

In the past, I never expected Greece would be the first country that I would be visiting in Europe. Now, I’m really glad that it was. Greece is regarded as the cradle of Western Civilization after all. Exploring its ancient sites was an interesting way to kick-off a journey in the region.

The trip was made possible thanks to Scoot Airlines‘ (flyscoot.com) Manila-Singapore-Athens flights. If like me, you’re traveling from Southeast Asia, this new route is excellent news. To add a cherry on top, Scoot offers affordable year-round fares & frequent price drop promotions. It’s high time to achieve your Europe travel goals!

Traveling to Athens for the first time? This detailed travel guide will make it easy for you to plan a trip, save money, and maximize your time.

Scroll down to read must-know travel tips before you go, followed by a sample itinerary + budget breakdown , recommended hotels/places to stay , things to do/places to visit and lots of extra travel tips.

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How to get to Athens — Touchdown at Athens International Airport (ATH), the primary gateway to Athens and the rest of Greece. This airport has direct connections across Europe and selected destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and North America. If you are traveling from Southeast Asia, fly with Scoot Airlines, which operates direct flights from Singapore (twice to 4x weekly) and convenient connections from major cities in the region. Travel time from Singapore to Athens is 11 hours.

Book your hotel early — The best places to stay are the areas surrounding Acropolis Hill including Plaka, Syntagma and Monastiraki. Grab rock-bottom rates and avoid fully-booked rooms by booking online as soon as you know you’re going. Click below to compare discounts and read reviews by other travelers.

Cheapest ratesBest hotel reviews

Check prices online and pre-book discounts — Save money by checking discounts on tours, airport/city transfers & sim card/WiFi hotspots. Booking before you leave also saves you time by avoiding the hassles of bringing large amounts of cash & exchanging currency/money during your actual trip.

See top discountsSee more

ATMs offer the best exchange rate in Greece — Euro (€) is the official currency of the country. Local banks do not charge ATM withdrawal fees, so you will only get charged what your bank will charge. If available & fees are not that high, changing money before you leave is also a good option. Currency counters are the worst. I found this to be true in Athens and many cities in Europe.

Consider buying a multi-site ticket — The entry ticket to the Acropolis Hill alone costs EUR 20. For EUR 30, you can buy a special package ticket that includes the Acropolis admission ticket PLUS six other important archaeological sites. If you are visiting during winter time (November 1 to March 31), however, it is cheaper to buy separately because the admission tickets to the included sites are sold 50% off when purchasing individually.

Meet the locals — The “This is my Athens” tour is a must do for first-timers! This program was created to match visitors with enthusiastic local volunteers waiting to share insider tips of the city. It’s FREE and an awesome way to explore Athens from the perspective of a friendly Athenian.

Do Filipinos need to get a Visa for Greece? — Yes. Greece is party to the Schengen agreement along with over 20 other countries in Europe. This means Pinoy travelers (Philippine passport holders) will need to have a valid Schengen Visa to travel to Greece for tourism purposes. I applied for my tourist visa at the Embassy of Greece in Manila. See more details on the extra tips below.

How many days to spend in Athens? — With 1 or 2 full days, you would be able to see Acropolis Hill and many of the top attractions in the city center. Spend at least 3-5 days or more to enjoy a better appreciation of its ancient/historical sights, especially if you want to explore beautiful sights beyond the city like Meteora, Peloponnese Peninsula, Delphi, Saronic Islands (Hydra, Poros, Aegina) etc.

Athens Travel Guide Blog

Athens Itinerary

The 4 days / 3 nights (4D3N) Athens itinerary below includes Athens’ top archeological sites, a quick tour of the city center, and multiple options for excursions outside the city. I added a 4th day for the return/onward flight. The timings are adjusted based on Scoot Airlines’ Singapore-Athens flight schedule.

Day 1: Arrival & ‘This Is My Athens’ Tour

Day 2: Acropolis & Athens City Tour

Day 3: Beyond Athens

Day 4: Departure from Athens

Athens Budget

Your travel expenses will largely depend on your traveling style and how much you plan to spend on activities, accommodations & food. To help you set your own budget, here are budget estimates if you follow the 4 days and 3 nights (4D3N) itinerary posted above. Make sure to review all discounts & online booking prices.

I’ve included backpacker budget estimates for food & accommodations to give you an idea of how cheaply you can do the trip. If you have money to splurge on hotels, food, and luxuries, simply use the expenses posted to calculate your own budget.

Where to Stay in Athens

The best places to stay are the areas surrounding Acropolis Hill, including Plaka, Syntagma, and Monastiraki. Many of Athens‘ top tourist spots are clustered within these districts & are easily reached by walking. Some areas of Thissio/Makriyanni, Koukaki, and Psiri that are conveniently located as well. Make sure to check if the property is located near the Acropolis or Monastiraki metro stations. Consider Omonia and Kolonaki/Lycabettus (Likavittos) if you want to get away from the main tourist districts & experience the more local side of Athens.

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Click below to compare rates and Athens hotel reviews within your budget.

Top-rated places to stay in Athens

Where to book

Book your room through these trusted booking sites. I use them frequently to grab rock-bottom prices & enjoy convenient bookings. Click below to confirm the lowest prices:

Booking.comAirbnbAgoda

Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons.

Athens Travel Tips Before You Go

How to get to Athens

How to get around Athens

When is the best time to visit Athens

How to get Euros

Buy a special ticket package

Treat yourself to yummy Greek food

Greece/Schengen Tourist Visa for Filipinos

Useful travel apps

Athens and Santorini, Greece itineraries

How to get to Athens

Athens-“Eleftherios Venizelos” International Airport (ATH), commonly initialized as “AIA,” is the primary international gateway to Athens and the rest of Greece. It serves direct connections from most major cities in Europe and selected destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and North America.

From Singapore

On my trip to Athens, I flew with Scoot Airlines, a subsidiary airline of Singapore Airlines, which operates twice to 4x weekly non-stop (direct) flights from Singapore to Athens. Flight duration is typically 11 hours (12 hours on the return flight).

From The Philippines

It’s now possible to travel affordably to Athens from The Philippines and Asia-Pacific thanks to Scoot’s extensive flight network in the region.

On my trip to Athens, I flew from Manila via Singapore. Travel time from Manila to Singapore is 3 hours and  45 minutes. Transit time varies depending on available flight schedules. Regular fares from Manila to Athens start at around PHP 11K to 12K one-way. Prices dip even lower during seat sales and promotions.

If you are coming from other parts of the Philippines, the airline also operates flights from Cebu, Clark, Davao, and Kalibo (Boracay).

Flying with Scoot

I loved that Scoot’s flight to Athens arrived mid-morning (8:45 am). Me and my travel buddy, Gael, were able to sleep during the long-haul flight from Singapore, so we got to tour a bit of the city after check-in at our hotel. If you are planning to visit other destinations in Greece (outside Athens), you can maximize your itinerary by booking an afternoon flight to Santorini, for example. Then, explore Athens during the end part of your trip.

Scoot uses a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for its Athens-Singapore flights. The standard ‘Economy Class’ seats have a more spacious legroom (31″ seat pitch) compared to Airbus 320s seats (28″ seat pitch) utilized for short-haul flights. The airline also offers ‘Economy Class’ seats with more space as an add-on. You can read more about it here.

We had the ‘Stretch seats’ (36″ seat pitch) during our onward flight and ‘Super seats’ (at least 34″ seat pitch) on the flight back. Both these seat options are available in the ‘ScootinSilence’ quiet zone (rows 9 to 28). If you want to rest better during your flight, I suggest that you upgrade to, at least, the ‘ScootinSilence’ zone (the first row are ‘Stretch seats’ and the rest are ‘Super seats’). For more space, check out the ScootBiz seats.

Pre-book your meals and other add-ons to grab lower prices compared to purchasing on board.

Athens Airport to City Center

Athens International Airport is located 30+ kilometers away (driving distance) from the city center/downtown area. Travel time typically takes 30 to 45 minutes by car or 45 minutes to 1 hour by public transport. Here are different transport options you can take:

Train

The airport is connected to Athens Metro “Light Blue” Line 3 (Aghia Marina – Athens International Airport). Travel time to downtown Athens is 45 minutes to 1 hour. The fare is EUR 10 one-way per person or EUR 18 if you buy a roundtrip ticket.

Bus

The airport express bus is the cheapest option at EUR 6 one-way, per person. Travel time is 50 minutes to 1 hour. Or more if road traffic is heavy / depending on your destination. Take route X95 to get to Syntagma in Athens center. Consider taking the bus if your hotel is near Syntagma Square (last stop) or along Leof. Vasileos Konstantinou Street. Other bus routes include X96 (Piraeus Port), Route X93 (Kifisou Avenue/Athens intercity bus station) & Route X97 (Elliniko).

Shared Transfer

Direct airport-hotel shared shuttles. Price is EUR 20 per person, perway.

See discounts

Taxi/Ride-sharing

A taxi ride from Athens Airport to the city costs EUR 38 (up to 4 pax). The price is fixed/flat rate and includes everything (tolls fee, VAT, meter start, airport charge, luggage handling etc). You can also use Uber for convenient rides in Athens. Click below to download the app and check fare estimates.

Get Uber

Private Car

Welcome Pickups arranged all our airport-hotel direct transfers in Athens. I highly recommend them for hassle-free private transfers. The cost is EUR 38 one-way per car. It’s the same price as taking the taxi but with the benefit of having personalized service, a local driver who speaks excellent English, ready to share helpful tips and insights of the city. You can also pre-order travel essentials like SIM cards, WiFi hotspots & skip-the-line attraction tickets. For 4 people traveling, the cost is actually a bit cheaper than the EUR 10 train fare.

How to get around Athens

An excellent way to sightsee Athens’ city center is on foot and by metro. Top tourist spots in Syntagma, Monastiraki Plaka & surrounding areas of Acropolis Hill have pleasant pedestrian zones, making it possible to stroll from one attraction to the other.

Other parts of the city like Kolonaki & Omonia are easily reached by metro (subway/train) or bus. Getting around by public transport is affordable and easy with the help of Google Maps. Use the ‘transit’ navigation feature to check routes, distances & travel time.

‘Athens Transport’ card

A simple ticket pricing system is used for public transport in Athens. You can buy a ticket from the kiosk/ticket counters at the airport or any metro station.

A 90-minute ticket costs EUR 1.40, which can be used for an unlimited number of transfers on the bus, metro train, trolley-bus, tram & suburban railway network (excluding airport trains & airport express buses).

If you are going on public transport frequently during your trip, save money by purchasing these tickets:

When is the best time to visit Athens

The best months to visit Athens are from March to May (Spring) and from September to November (Autumn/Fall). If you go during this time, you can enjoy sunny weather and avoid the massive tourist crowds during the summer months from June to August.

We did our trip during Winter time. Thankfully, Athens has mild winters compared to most European cities. It rarely snows in the city. We enjoyed exploring the popular sites without the crowds, and even half-price tickets to Acropolis Hill.

How to get Euros

Euro (€) is the official currency of Greece. Use ATMs to get money because they offer the best exchange rate. Local banks do not charge ATM withdrawal fees, so you will only get charged what your bank will charge. Make sure to activate your card for international withdrawals before you leave. You can do this by calling or visiting your bank. If available & fees are not that high, changing money before you leave is also a good option.

Use credit cards & pre-book online whenever you can to avoid carrying large amounts of cash during your trip.

Avoid currency exchange stalls because they offer the worst rates. I found this to be true in Athens and many cities in Europe.

Buy a special ticket package

If you are keen on visiting multiple ancient sites in Athens, save money by purchasing a special ticket package. It costs EUR 30 per person, valid for 5 days and includes entry to 7 archaeological sites. Namely:

If you are visiting during the Winter season, however, it’s cheaper to buy tickets individually because admission tickets are sold half the price. There’s no Winter price reduction for the special ticket package.

Likewise, you can also buy a special ticket package for selected museums in Athens. It costs EUR 15 per person, valid for 3 days. Included museums are:

Treat yourself to yummy Greek food

One my most memorable experiences in Greece was its food — Affordable, made with fresh ingredients, and of course, very delicious. Start with the classics Souvlaki (Greek-style kebab/grilled meat on skewers), Gyro (Pita bread wrap), and Greek salad. A serving only costs EUR 2 to 4. Don’t leave without eating at a proper sit-down restaurant as well. A typical meal costs EUR 10 to 20 per person.

Greece/Schengen Tourist Visa for Filipinos

Pinoy Travelers (Philippine passport holders) need to have a valid Schengen visa to visit Greece for tourism purposes.

You can apply for a Schengen visa at the Greek embassy or at the embassy of other European countries party to the Schengen agreement. Typically, you’re required to send your visa application to the embassy of the country where you’ll be visiting the longest. In our case, it was Greece. So we applied at the Embassy of Greece in Manila.

I’ll be posting more about how to successfully get a Schengen Visa in the future. In the meantime, visit the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs website to learn more about how to apply. You can check the requirements here.

Useful travel apps

Athens and Santorini, Greece itineraries

Here’s a quick sample itinerary if you want to visit Athens and Santorini but you only have 7 days/1 week:

Day 1: Arrival in Greece

Flight to Athens
Flight to Santorini

Day 2: Santorini

Fira/Oia walking tour

Day 3: Santorini

Santorini island tour
Sunset in Oia

Day 4: Athens

Flight to Athens
Acropolis Hill

Day 5: Athens

Day trip beyond Athens

Day 6: Athens

Athens city center tour

Day 7: Departure

Return/onward flight

Places to Visit in Athens + Things To Do

Check out these top tourist spots, best places to visit & things to do in Athens.

1. Acropolis Hill & Parthenon

2. Athens Archeological Sites

3. Acropolis Museum

4. Changing of the Guards & Syntagma

5. Athens Districts

6. Panathenaic Stadium

7. Lycabettus Hill

8. Athens Museums

9. Greek food

10. Other sights in Athens

1. Acropolis Hill & Parthenon

Built on a rocky hilltop, this is Athens’ most iconic landmark. Do not skip a visit to the Parthenon, a ruined temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Theatre of Dionysus, and other sites in the temple complex. From the top, revel in the glorious views overlooking the entire city. A single-entry admission ticket costs EUR 20. Or, EUR 10 during winter.

How to go — There are two options to enter/exit the Acropolis: (1) The north entrance, near Monastiraki metro station, or (2) the south entrance near Acropoli metro station and Acropolis Museum.

Check guided tour price

2. Athens Archeological Sites

The whole city of Athens is a huge archeological park where the ancient and modern co-exist. Discover ancient monuments, ruins, and excavations dating back to the Neolithic period, Classical, Roman and Byzantine eras.

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Sites marked with * below are included in the special multi-site ticket package. Scroll down for details.

Ancient Agora of Athens* — Ancient Greek gathering place & a museum with artifacts. Inside, you can visit the Temple of Hephaestus and restored Stoa of Attalos, which houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. The nearest metro station is Monastiraki. Admission ticket costs EUR 8 per person, reduced to EUR 4 during winter.

Roman Agora of Athens* — Ruined remains of this agora was built by the Romans from 19-11 B.C. The nearest metro station is Monastiraki. Admission ticket costs EUR 6 per person, reduced to EUR 3 during winter.

Hadrian’s Library* — Ruins of a library & cultural complex that was constructed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a gift to the people of Athens. The nearest metro station is Monastiraki. Admission ticket costs EUR 4 per person, reduced to EUR 2 during winter.

Temple of Olympian Zeus* (Olympieio) — Formerly one of the largest temples in the ancient world, it served as an outdoor sanctuary dedicated to Zeus. The nearest metro station is Acropoli. Admission ticket costs EUR 6 per person, reduced to EUR 2 during winter.

Arch of Hadrian — Marble arch named after the ancient Roman emperor. It is located in a public area, outside the fenced complex of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Cost is FREE. No admission/entry fee.

Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos* — Site of the oldest and largest Attic cemetery. The museum houses many important early Geometric Art pieces that date as far back as 860 BC. The nearest metro station is Thissio. Admission ticket costs EUR 8 per person, reduced to EUR 4 during winter.

Archaeological Site of Lykeion* — Best known as the site of Aristotle’s school of philosophy. The nearest metro station is Evangelismos. Admission ticket costs EUR 4 per person, reduced to EUR 2 during winter.

Special ticket package

If you are keen on visiting multiple ancient sites in Athens, save money by purchasing a special ticket package. It costs EUR 30 per person, valid for 5 days and includes entry to 7 archaeological sites. Namely:

If you are visiting during the Winter season, however, it’s cheaper to buy tickets individually because admission tickets are sold half the price. There’s no Winter price reduction for the special ticket package.

3. Acropolis Museum

This stunning ultra-modern museum houses over 4,250 ancient artifacts from the Acropolis archaeological site. Enjoy majestic views of Acropolis Hill behind the museum’s glass walls as you explore the exhibitions.

Book skip-the-line ticket hereAll guided tours & tickets

4. Changing of the Guards & Syntagma

Go to Syntagma to watch one of the World’s most famous changing of the guards ceremonies. It happens in front of the parliament building on Plateia Syntagmatos every hour on the hour. On Sunday at 11 am, a band accompanies the traditionally costumed evzones (guards) of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier march down Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. This is one of the best free things to do in Athens.

5. Athens Districts

Most of Athen’s best sights are located close to each other, concentrated in the city center districts of Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki, Kolonaki, and Psyri. The best way to get around is on foot because you get to see more of the city’s diverse character.

See Athens walking tours prices

Plaka

This old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, is home to narrow cobblestone streets lined with sidewalk cafes, family-run tavernas, and tiny shops selling local crafts.

Syntagma

The heart of Athens. See the central square and Old Royal Palace, which has housed the Hellenic Parliament since 1934.

Monastiraki

Known for its lovely atmosphere and archaeological sites including the Ancient Agora and Hadrian’s Library.

Koukaki

Home to the Acropolis Museum and the south entrance of the Acropolis, this is one of the city’s most charming neighborhoods. Take a walk along the pedestrianized Georgaki Olympiou Street. Explore the interesting mix of cafés and quirky bars.

Kolonaki

A hub or upscale shopping and mid-range to fine dining restaurants.

6. Panathenaic Stadium

The site of the first modern Olympic games in 1896. The Panathenaic Stadium is the world’s only white marble stadium. Admission ticket costs EUR 5 per person.

How to go — The nearest metro station is Acropoli, Syntagma, and Evangelismos. It is located in Leof. Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, Athens 116 35.

7. Lycabettus Hill

At 300 meters above sea level, Lycabettus Hill (also called Mount Lycabettus/Lycabettos/Lykabettos/Lykavittos) offers breathtaking views overlooking Athens. The best time to visit is during sunset. Get to the top by riding the funicular railway/cable car that runs through a tunnel. The cable car costs EUR 7 for roundtrip tickets and EUR 5 one-way. The nearest metro station is Evangelismos.

8. Athens Museums

Athens’ superb archeological museums showcase antiquities from the ancient period. Because most of the actual archeological sites are now in ruins, it’s important to visit these museums to enjoy a better appreciation of Greece’s ancient history. Don’t stop there! Museums of all kinds are found all over the city.

See museum ticket & tour prices

5 Best museums in Athens

Free museums in Athens

9. Greek food

One my most memorable experiences in Greece was its food — Affordable, made with fresh ingredients, and of course, very delicious. Start with the classics Souvlaki (Greek-style kebab/grilled meat on skewers), Gyro (Pita bread wrap), and Greek salad. A serving only costs EUR 2 to 4. Don’t leave without eating at a proper sit-down restaurant as well. A typical meal costs EUR 10 to 20 per person.

10. Other sights in Athens

Where to go near Athens

11. Meteora

12. Cape Sounio & Temple of Poseidon

13. Peloponnese

14. Saronic Islands

15. Delphi

11. Meteora

If you have at least one full day to spare, Meteora is one of the best places to visit near Athens. This extraordinary landscape is dominated by rock formations that soar from the middle of nowhere. On top of the almost inaccessible sandstone peaks, you can find several Eastern Orthodox monastery complexes built by monks.

How to go — From Athens, travel time by car takes around 4 to 5 hours. It was quite a long drive, but doable on a day trip thanks to Welcome Pickups’ hassle-free private transfers. Our driver, Venediktos, was very friendly and informative. He shared a lot of interesting insights about Meteora and places we passed by. The car was comfy enough to catch up on sleep (well-appreciated while still jetlagged after the long flight from Singapore). We also loved the WiFi, tablets, and charging docks/cables available on board.

Book your welcome day trip to Meteora

Don’t miss: If you’re going, one cool thing to do is stop by the statue of King Leonidas in Thermopylae, the site of the epic battle that inspired the movie ‘300’. In Kalambaka, try the delicious Greek food at Taverna Panellinion.

By public transport — Kalampaka (also called Kalambaka), is the jump-off point to Meteora. Travel time takes 4 to 5 hours by train or 5 to 6 hours by bus. From Kalampaka, it’s a 15-minute drive uphill to the monasteries and viewing points.

12. Cape Sounio & Temple of Poseidon

Got only half-a-day? Go on a trip to Cape Sounio to see the ruined ancient Temple of Poseidon and sweeping views of the Aegean Sea.

See tours & discounts

ow to go — Cape Sounio is a 1 hour and 30 minutes drive east of Athens. The cheaper way to go is by public transport. Buses depart from the KTEL bus terminal at Pedion Areos Park once every hour from 7:40 am to 7:40 pm. The one-way bus fare is EUR 6.90 per person.

13. Peloponnese

This massive peninsula west of Athens is home to many important archaeological sites dating from the Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages. Places like Corinth Canal, Epidaurus and Mycenae are popular & easy places to visit from Athens. Here, you can also find Olympia (site of the Ancient Olympic Games), Sparta, many off-shore islands & more.

See tours & discounts

14. Saronic Islands

If you don’t have enough time to visit Santorini, Mykonos & Zakynthos (shipwreck beach), head to the Saronic Islands. The islands of Poros, Hydra and Aegina are popularly visited on day cruise trips from Athens.

See tours & discounts

15. Delphi

The site of the most important oracle of the god Apollo. Delphi is believed, throughout the ancient Greek world, to be the center of the universe. Here, you can find remnants of the Temple of Apollo.

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Don’t Stop Here

Did you find this travel guide helpful? Share your Athens experience & tag #detourista. Follow trip updates on: Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest.