Even though our visit was brief, it didn’t take long before we fell in love with Athens. What we discovered was a city with a charming vibe, impressive street art, and delicious food! There are so many things to do, it can be hard to know which one to prioritize when you have a limited amount of time. This is why we compiled the 8 best things to do in Athens, perfect for a 2-3 day itinerary. We also included some free things to do in Athens!
- Visit the Ruins of Athens
- Walk around the old neighborhood of Plaka
- Grab a Greek Coffee
- Monastiraki Square
- National Garden of Athens
- Watch the Sunset at the Areopagus
- Taste the Best of Athens
- Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus ( + Free Walking Tour)
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Visit the Ruins of Athens
Even if you’re not a fan of ancient history, visiting the Acropolis and seeing the Parthenon is a unique experience. However, it can be hard to appreciate it when there are too many people. We suggest you get there for the opening at 8:00 am to have enough time before the masses arrive. The entrance ticket costs 20 EUR.
You can choose to visit the Acropolis Museum, which is close-by. We decided to visit the National Archaeological Museum instead. It has one of the greatest collections of Greek artifacts and art in the world. We were really impressed by the quality of the exposition and information available.
There are so many interesting historical sites you can visit. Depending on your interests, you should buy the appropriate ticket. For 30 EUR you can get a package ticket which will give you access to the Acropolis (Parthenon), Hadrian’s Library, the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Zeus, and Kerameikos.
TIP: We got lucky and were in Athens on the last weekend of September which is European Heritage Days. Every year, for the occasion, most attractions and museums in Athens offer free entrance! There will be a lot more people on these days so get up early and be the first one in line. The entrance is also free on different holidays:
- March 6th (Memory of Melina Mercouri)
- April 18th (International Monuments Day)
- May 18th (International Museums Day)
- The last weekend of September (European Heritage Days)
- October 28th (Greek National Holiday)
- The first Sunday of the month, from November to March.
Walk around the old neighborhood of Plaka
Spend some time walking around the charming neighborhood of Plaka. Find a place to eat, or visit one of the artisan shops selling handmade ceramic and jewelry. You can walk up to Anafiotika which is part of the old historical neighborhood. These houses, which look very different from the rest of Athens, have a Greek island vibe for a very good reason!
In the 19th century, king Otto decided to invite masons from the island of Anafi. They were known to be the best builders of the Cyclades. The northern slope of the Acropolis became their home where they built houses mimicking the Cycladic architecture. It is a fun little escape from the busyness of Athens, and gives you a new point of view on the Acropolis. Anafiotika is definitely a must-see in Athens!
Grab a Greek Coffee
You will quickly notice how every Athenian seems to be drinking coffee at every hour of the day. The coffee culture in Greece has something for every taste. You can get a Freddo espresso which is simply an espresso over ice. A Freddo cappuccino is the same thing but covered with frothy milk. The Greek frappe is made with instant coffee, cold water, and sugar
TIP: They often add a lot of sugar, to every coffee, without asking. Make it clear if you do not want sugar or only a small amount.
Monastiraki Square
Located in the heart of Athens, Monastiraki Square is busy at every hour of the day. Being in the middle of the city, it is the perfect place to rest in between your sightseeing visits. Buy some fresh peaches or cherries from the fruit stand, and watch the Athenians and tourists walking around. Sunday are unique in Monastiraki Square! While the market is there all week long, on Sunday all the Athenians come to the square to sell or buy things. The flea market grows drastically in size and tables are filled with jewelry, furniture, and antiquities. You should get there early to beat the crowd, as well as the mid-day heat!
TIP: When staying in Athens, be mindful of where your hotel is located! The city is safe where most of the tourist attractions are. You will however want to avoid the North Side of Omonia Square. The first time we were in Athens we booked an Airbnb in this area and we did not feel safe.
National Garden of Athens
The National Garden of Athens is a giant public park of 38 acres, located right behind the Old Palace. It is the perfect place to have a picnic, get some shadow, and appreciate the calm around you. The imposing palms at the entrance make a beautiful photo opportunity. As you walk the different trails you will see there are multiple lakes on the property where live ducks and other types of birds. The vegetation is abundant and there is a variety of plants and trees from different countries around the world.
Watch the Sunset at the Areopagus
Finish the day in a beautiful way, and watch the sunset from the Areopagus. Located on the north side of the Acropolis, it used to function as a site of council in Ancient Greece. This viewpoint has an incredible panoramic view of Athens as well as a beautiful photo opportunity of the Acropolis. Many people end up here at the end of the day and watch the sun go down together. It’s one of our favorite spots and probably the most romantic things to do in Athens.
Taste the Best of Athens
Athens has so many great restaurants depending on your taste. The authentic street food being a gyro, we were on the hunt for some vegan versions and happily found vegan ‘gyros’ made from mushroom at Cookoomela Grill!
If you’re looking to eat something on the move, bakeries all over Athens are baking goodies since the early morning! From spanakopita, to bagels and different phyllo dough deliciousness, the prices are very affordable, meaning you can try a lot of different things!
READ Vegan in Greece: The Ultimate Guide (Athens, Santorini, Milos, Sifnos)
Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus (& Free Walking Tour)
When visiting a big city, you will usually have to spend money on bus tickets or taxi rides. In a place like Athens where there is a lot to visit, we like to explore the cost and routes of the Hop-on/Hop-off tour bus. The cost of each bus ticket is 13 EUR for 48 hours. The bus drives along selected routes near popular attractions so you can discover the city with ease. We mostly use it as a taxi, but it can be fun to simply stay on the bus for the full 150 minutes and listen to the audio. Especially after a long day of walking in the sun! We highly recommend buying this ticket as it gives you so much freedom and makes it fun to travel around the city.
TIP! The best way to get around in Athens is definitely with the app ‘BEAT’. Similar to Uber, it connects you with taxi drivers and authenticated users for a very good price. The app, unlike a taxi, also tells you the cost of the ride before you order it. We used this service to reach the port of Athens (going to the islands) as well as to go to the airport.
READ: How to Save Money While Traveling
The ticket also comes with a free walking tour. There were different routes to choose from including Anafiotika, Psiri as well as the Central Market. We chose to do the Anafiotika tour which included a beautiful walk in the lesser-known streets while exploring the graffiti art.
We were surprised by how much we loved Athens, this city steeped in ancient history. From walking in the old town of Plaka to watching the sunset on the Areopagus, we had the most amazing time. Everyone should make sure to stop in Athens for a couple of days before escaping to the Greek Islands!
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