HomeEuropeGreeceAthens Athens Itinerary + Travel Budget Guide for first-timers By Marcos Detourista. Updated on January 14, 2019. Here’s a detailed Athens travel guide with sample itinerary, budget, spots to visit, places to stay & more. 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. Follow me on Instagram Get Started 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 Get Started Athens Itinerary Athens Budget Where to Stay in Athens Travel Tips Before You Go Places to Visit in Athens + Things To Do More Travel Guides & Blogs 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 Greek Salad & Gyros in Athens, Greece Changing of the Guards in Syntagma, Athens, Greece Ermou Street in Athens, Greece Time Activity 0900 am Arrive at Athens International Airport (ATH) — Clear immigration checkpoint, claim baggage, and clear customs checkpoint. Withdraw Euro/exchange money. If applicable, meet your driver, claim online pre-orders, buy SIM card/WiFi hotspot, transport tickets etc. 1000 am Athens Airport to hotel transfer. — By train, bus/shuttle or taxi/private car. 1100 am Athens hotel check-in Cheapest rates 0100 pm Start This is My Athens tour — Recommended options for walking tours are Syntagma, Monastiraki and/or Plaka districts. Syntagma — Changing of guards ceremony at the Greek Parliament building. Monastiraki — Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library & Ermou Street. Plaka district — Greek food, restaurants & nightlife. Day 2: Acropolis & Athens City Tour Marcos at the Parthenon in Acropolis Hill, Athens, Greece Odeon of Herodes Atticus on Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece Time Activity 0800 am Panathenaic Stadium — Ride train to Syntagma or Acropoli metro stations. Then, walk to Panathenaic Stadium. Better yet, ride a direct bus from your hotel (check Google Maps for the routes) or get a taxi/Uber. 0900 am Temple of the Olympian Zeus & Hadrian’s Arch — Ride Bus 2, 4, 11 or 209 from Panathenaic Stadium to Temple of the Olympian Zeus. Or, walk (750m). For a more scenic walk, take a detour to the Zappeion building & National Garden. 1100 am Acropolis Museum — Easy walk (350m) from Hadrian’s Arch / Olympian Zeus. 0100 pm Acropolis Hill & Parthenon — South entrance of Acropolis Hill is located in front of Acropolis Museum. Athens Trilogy — Ride train to Panetistimio metro station. Day 3: Beyond Athens Varlaam Monastery viewed from Great Meteoron Monastery in Meteora, Greece Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, Greece Lycabettus Hill in Athens, Greece Time Activity Option #1 Cape Sounion & Lycabettus Hill 0805 am Depart to Sounion by KTEL public bus — KTEL bus terminal is located at Pedion Areos Park, near Victoria metro station. Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to catch the 8:05 am departure. 0930 am Arrive in Sounio — The bus stop is found right outside the Temple of Poseidon complex. 0100 pm Depart to Athens 0230 pm Arrive in Athens 0300 pm Ride funicular to the top of Mt. Lycabettus — From Pedion Areos Park, ride bus 22 to Kolonaki (see route here). Or, a train to Evangelismos metro station. Better yet, get a taxi/Uber to Teleferik Cable Car Station (the lower terminus of the Lycabettus hill funicular). Option #2 Meteora Monasteries Option #3 Peloponnese Peninsula Option #4 Saronic Islands of Hydra, Poros & Aegina Option #5 Delphi ancient sites Day 4: Departure from Athens Colorful #scootitude cabin lights on Scoot Athens-Singapore Flight Time Activity Return/onward flight from Athens — Scoot’s flight to Singapore departs from Athens Airport at 11:45 am. Leave your hotel at around 8 to 9 am if you’re going by private transfer/taxi. Go earlier if you’re taking the train or public bus. 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. Transport expenses breakdown EUR 12 Airport express roundtrip bus fare — EUR 6 one-way, per person x 2. EUR 9 Athens transport 5-day ticket— Unlimited Metro train, bus & trolley rides. Activities/attraction costs breakdown EUR 30 Athens archaeological sites — Special package ticket. EUR 5 Panathenaic Stadium admission ticket EUR 5 Acropolis Museum admission ticket EUR 13.8 Athens to Cape Sounio roundtrip bus fare — EUR 6.9 one-way, per person x 2. EUR 8 Temple of Poseidon admission ticket EUR 7 Mt. Lycabettus furnicular round-trip fare Budget Trip – Backpacker expenses EUR 21 Transport — Airport transfers by bus + 5 days unlimited Athens transport ticket. EUR 60 Accommodations — 4 days / 3 nights stay in a hostel dorm. EUR 20 per bed per night x 3 nights. EUR 60 Food — Daily budget of EUR 20 x 3 days. EUR 141 Sub-total — Including transport, accommodation & food expenses for 4 days. Approximately PHP 8,920 / USD 173. Or, a daily budget of EUR 35.25 / PHP 2,230 / USD 43.25. EUR 209.8 Total — Including activities & 4 days expenses above. Approximately PHP 13,272 / USD 257. Or, a daily budget of EUR 52.45 / PHP 3,318 / USD 64.25. 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. Check discountsSee more Novotel Athens Omonia See discounts Athinais Hotel Kolonaki See discounts Click below to compare rates and Athens hotel reviews within your budget. Top-rated places to stay in Athens Hotel Grande Bretagne Splurge / Syntagma See discounts InnAthens Mid-Range / Syntagma See discounts Hotel Lozenge Mid-Range / Syntagma Metro / Kolonaki See discounts Emporikon Athens Mid-Range / Monastiraki See discounts Concierge Athens Budget / Monastiraki See discounts Athens Studios Budget Backpacker / Acropolis Metro / Koukaki See discounts Bedbox Hostel Budget Backpacker / Monastiraki See discounts Athens Backpackers Budget Backpacker / Acropolis Metro / Koukaki See discounts 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: ‘3-day’ tourist ticket — Costs EUR 22. This ticket presents huge savings if you’re traveling for 3 days (or less) and taking the train to/from the airport. The roundtrip airport metro tickets alone costs EUR 18. This ticket includes roundtrip airport transfers and 3 days unlimited rides on all modes of transport. ‘5-day’ — Costs EUR 9. Get this one if you are visiting Athens for more than 3 days & buy airport tickets separately. This ticket includes 5 days unlimited rides on all modes of transport (except trains & buses to/from the airport). ’24-hour’ — Costs EUR 4.5 and includes unlimited rides for 24-hours, on all modes of transport (except trains & buses to/from the airport). 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: Acropolis of Athens Temple of the Olympian Zeus (Olympieio) Ancient Agora of Athens Roman Agora of Athens Hadrian’s Library Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos Archaeological Site of Lykeion 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: National Archaeological Museum Byzantine & Christian Museum Numismatic Museum Epigraphical Museum 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 Google Maps —This travel app will make it a lot easier to get around on your own. Download the offline maps before you go so you can check the map even if you don’t have mobile data. Internet access is still important because the directions feature only works if you are online Maps.me — Excellent offline maps & Google Maps alternative. Uber — Reliable ride-sharing app. XE Currency — Free & easy currency converter. Google Translate — Very useful to communicate with locals who do not understand/speak English. Agoda & Booking.com — My go-to for convenient hotel bookings & cheap room rates. To display the total price (including taxes & fees) on Agoda, click here to download the app. Tap the menu on the top left corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap on “Price display”. Then, select “Total stay”. Airbnb — Home/apartment rentals. Momondo & Skyscanner — Top flight search & price comparison apps. TripAdvisor — Reviews on the best places to eat & where to stay. Download the app on your iOS or Android device. 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 View overlooking the city from Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece Odeon of Herodes Atticus on Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece Marcos at the Parthenon in Acropolis Hill, Athens, Greece 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 Temple of the Olympian Zeus (Olympieio) in Athens, Greece Hadrian’s Arch in Athens, Greece Tower of the Winds at the Roman Agora in Athens, Greece 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. See discounts 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: Acropolis of Athens Temple of the Olympian Zeus (Olympieio) Ancient Agora of Athens Roman Agora of Athens Hadrian’s Library Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos Archaeological Site of Lykeion 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 Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece 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 Changing of the Guards in Syntagma, Athens, Greece 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 Dionysiou Areopagitou street in Koukaki District, Athens, Greece Ermou Street in Athens, Greece 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 Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece 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 Lycabettus Hill in Athens, Greece 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 Acropolis Museum National Archaeological Museum — Neoclassical museum of Ancient Greek art & archaeology. A single-entry admission ticket costs EUR 5 per person. Located in 28is Oktovriou 44, Athina 106 82 (near Viktoria metro station). Benaki Museum — Displays on Greek culture from prehistory onwards, housed in a former family mansion of an art collector. A single-entry admission ticket costs EUR 9 per person. Located in Koumpari 1, Athina 106 74 (near Syntagma and Evangelismos metro stations). Byzantine and Christian Museum — Displaying Byzantine and Post-Byzantine cultural heritage from as far back as the 3rd century. A single-entry admission ticket costs EUR 4 per person. Located in Leoforos Vasilissis Sofias 22, Athina 106 75 (near Evangelismos metro station). Museum of Cycladic Art — Houses over 3,000 artefacts of Cycladic, Ancient Greek and Cypriot art. A single-entry admission ticket costs EUR 7 per person. Or, EUR 7 per person on Mondays. Located in Neofitou Douka 4, Athina 106 74 (near Evangelismos and Syntagma metro stations). Free museums in Athens The Museum of the History of Greek Costume — Located in Dimokritou 7, Kolonaki. The Philatelic and Postal Museum — Located in 5 Stadiou Street (next to the Kallimarmaro Stadium of Athens). Gounaropoulos Museum — Located in 6 G. Gounaropoulou Street, Ano Ilisia. Athens University History Museum — Located in Tholou 5. Museum of Greek Folk Instruments — Located in 1-3 Diogenous Street. Centre of Folk Art and Tradition — Located in Angelikis Hatzimichalis 6, Plaka. Hellenic Children’s Museum — Located in 14 Kydathineon St., Plaka. Railway Museum of Athens — Located in Siokou 4. Theatrical Museum of Greece — Located in 50 Akadamias Street. Natural History Museum of Maroussi — Located in 2 Kyprion Agoniston & Kairi Street, Maroussi . 9. Greek food Greek Salad & Gyros in Athens, Greece Greek Fusion Food in Ergon Restaurant, Athens, Greece 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. Ergon – The best restaurant we tried in Athens! Ergon serves Greek fusion dishes. Inside, there’s a deli/shop where you can buy local and artisanal food products. Nicole, our “This is my Athens” local guide, showed is this place. We definitely wouldn’t have discovered on our own. Located at Syntagma Mitropoleos 26, Athina 105 63 (across the entrance of Electra Metropolis Hotel). O Gyros pou Girevis — Found this small shop that serves yummy street food on the cheap eats section of Tripadvisor. It’s located near Acropolis Museum and the south entrance of Acropolis Hill (just outside the entrance/exit of Acropoli metro station). The address is 1 Athnasssiou Diakou, Athens 117 42. Kalamaki Mou — We decided to eat here because it was near our hotel in Kolonaki. We ordered souvlaki — our first meal in Greece. The first bite was heaven! Well recommended if you’re in the area. You can find this small street-food style joint at the corner of Dorylaiou 8 | Soutsou 11, Athens. 10. Other sights in Athens Academy of Athens, part of Athens Trilogy, in Athens, Greece Zappeion buildng in Athens, Greece Bitter Orange Trees near Zappeion & the National Garden in Athens, Greece Athens Trilogy — One of the most iconic buildings in Athens. The trio is composed of The University of Athens, the Academy, and the National Library. Zappeion & National Garden — Opened in 1888, it was the first building to be erected specifically for the revival of the Olympic Games in the modern world. After visiting the Panathenaic Stadium, we made our way to the Zappeion passing by colorful groves of bitter orange trees and a portion of the massive Athens National Garden. Where to go near Athens 11. Meteora 12. Cape Sounio & Temple of Poseidon 13. Peloponnese 14. Saronic Islands 15. Delphi 11. Meteora Meteora rock formations & monasteries in Meteora, Greece Varlaam Monastery viewed from Great Meteoron Monastery in Meteora, Greece Monument of Leonidas, leader of 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae in Greece 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 Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, Greece Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, Greece 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 Epidarius Theatre in Peloponnese, Greece 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 Aegina Island, Greece 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 Tholos of Delphi at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia in Delphi, Greece 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. See discounts Don’t Stop Here Did you find this travel guide helpful? Share your Athens experience & tag #detourista. Follow trip updates on: Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest. Don’t leave yet. There’s more! Singapore Itinerary + Budget Travel Guide for first-timersBoracay Itineray + Travel Budget Guide18 Places to Visit in Athens + Things To Do7 Places to Visit in Kota Kinabalu + Things To Do for… Discover more blogs and travel tips in: Athens GreeceEurope See all places Find more posts about:FeaturedPinoy Travel BlogTravel GuideDo It Yourself Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments Nick @ GreekBoston.com says April 16, 2018 at 10:39 pm If you’re going to Greece, seeing Athens is a must. It’s rich with history and culture. A few days is better than nothing but at least 4 days is best. Reply JOJI BARCELONA says November 10, 2018 at 3:01 pm HI ….HOW MUCH DID YOU SPENT ALL IN ALL THE TRIP TO ATHENS?…HOW MUCH IS THE VISA?…HOW MANY DAYS TO GET A VISA FOR ATHENS?? Reply Marcos Detourista says November 13, 2018 at 9:22 am Hi Joji, I didn’t keep track of our exact expenses. You can use the budget/expenses estimate posted on the blog/guide above to get an idea on how much a trip to Athens costs. The Schengen Visa fee via Greece Embassy costs EURO 60 (paid in Peso, around PHP 3,600). Hope you can check out my travel buddy’s blog: https://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/ She posted a very helpful guide on how to apply for a Greece/Shengen Visa for Filipinos. Reply Lena says January 29, 2019 at 1:16 am Well written, with great details and tips. Thank you so much! Wish I had encountered your blog sooner. My husband and I are going to Athens, will have a private tour of Meteora, then head to Santorini and Mykonos during last week of April. Cheers and happy travels. Reply Marcos Detourista says January 29, 2019 at 3:33 am Thanks for visiting Lena! Enjoy your trip to Greece! Reply Tiana says September 4, 2019 at 8:38 am Athens is a city of history and culture. I love greek history and their lots of monuments and architectural amazes. I wish to travel Athens soon. Thanks for your amazing travel guide, that was informative for me. Reply Peter says November 10, 2019 at 11:44 pm Walking tour in Athens is the best way to learn all the stories & legends with entertaining and passionate local guides. I was in Athens 2 years ago and stayed for 5 days . It was amazing! The food, the nightlife, the authentic character of this city Reply Greg says February 22, 2020 at 8:18 pm I loved Lake Vouliagmeni which is a natural spa. It is powered by sea and thermal water, so you can swim in it all year round :) Reply Best Airbnb rentals in Athens says April 22, 2020 at 7:01 am Is there anybody here who’ll refuse to travel to Athens, Greece? Great article on showcasing the beautiful places in Athens. Thanks for sharing! Reply
Nick @ GreekBoston.com says April 16, 2018 at 10:39 pm If you’re going to Greece, seeing Athens is a must. It’s rich with history and culture. A few days is better than nothing but at least 4 days is best. Reply
JOJI BARCELONA says November 10, 2018 at 3:01 pm HI ….HOW MUCH DID YOU SPENT ALL IN ALL THE TRIP TO ATHENS?…HOW MUCH IS THE VISA?…HOW MANY DAYS TO GET A VISA FOR ATHENS?? Reply
Marcos Detourista says November 13, 2018 at 9:22 am Hi Joji, I didn’t keep track of our exact expenses. You can use the budget/expenses estimate posted on the blog/guide above to get an idea on how much a trip to Athens costs. The Schengen Visa fee via Greece Embassy costs EURO 60 (paid in Peso, around PHP 3,600). Hope you can check out my travel buddy’s blog: https://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/ She posted a very helpful guide on how to apply for a Greece/Shengen Visa for Filipinos. Reply
Lena says January 29, 2019 at 1:16 am Well written, with great details and tips. Thank you so much! Wish I had encountered your blog sooner. My husband and I are going to Athens, will have a private tour of Meteora, then head to Santorini and Mykonos during last week of April. Cheers and happy travels. Reply
Marcos Detourista says January 29, 2019 at 3:33 am Thanks for visiting Lena! Enjoy your trip to Greece! Reply
Tiana says September 4, 2019 at 8:38 am Athens is a city of history and culture. I love greek history and their lots of monuments and architectural amazes. I wish to travel Athens soon. Thanks for your amazing travel guide, that was informative for me. Reply
Peter says November 10, 2019 at 11:44 pm Walking tour in Athens is the best way to learn all the stories & legends with entertaining and passionate local guides. I was in Athens 2 years ago and stayed for 5 days . It was amazing! The food, the nightlife, the authentic character of this city Reply
Greg says February 22, 2020 at 8:18 pm I loved Lake Vouliagmeni which is a natural spa. It is powered by sea and thermal water, so you can swim in it all year round :) Reply
Best Airbnb rentals in Athens says April 22, 2020 at 7:01 am Is there anybody here who’ll refuse to travel to Athens, Greece? Great article on showcasing the beautiful places in Athens. Thanks for sharing! Reply