Athens 3-day itinerary
Greece
Where to go and what to see in Athens to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer John Malathronas.
Bucket list experience:
Athens, Central Greece, Greece
Hugging the eastern and northern slopes of the Acropolis is the neighbourhood of ‘Plaka’, the city’s old town heart. This maze of jasmine-scented alleys and colourful neoclassical houses – now protected by a preservation order – has been continuously populated since antiquity.
Strolling through Plaka feels like strolling through a 19th-century film set. Though the area’s tacky souvenir shops and terrible tavernas teem with tourists, the winding lanes and shaded squares, dotted with Byzantine churches and ancient ruins, have retained their charm.
The northern reaches of Plaka are the prettiest. This maze of whitewashed alleys is called Anafiotika, after the islanders from Anafi who built the capital of newly-independent Greece in 1841.
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Greece
Where to go and what to see in Athens to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer John Malathronas.
Greece
Where to go and what to see in Athens to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer John Malathronas.
Start from the Akropoli metro station and go north; Plaka is nestled in the eastern and northern foothills of the Acropolis. Adrianou is the main shopping street.
The best way to explore the area is simply to get lost in the meandering lanes, dipping into the little churches, cafes, and museums at your leisure.
As with everywhere outdoor attraction in Athens, things heat up in the summer months. The best times to visit are the shoulder seasons (May-June and September-November).
Dusk is a lovely time to roam around. Shops and restaurants stay open late, and the heat of the day starts to wane.
Athens, Central Greece, Greece
Pop into Brettos, the oldest distillery in Athens, for a shot of ouzo or mastic liqueur. The cosy interior, lined with multi-coloured bottles and barrels, dates from 1909.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Athens, Central Greece, Greece
After a wander around Plaka, unwind with a Greek coffee and lemon cake at Yiasemi (Mnisikleous 23). With tables spilling down whitewashed steps, it’s like escaping to an island. There’s occasional live music on weekends.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.3 miles]
Favela chic with a strong sense of humour and place, this quirky downtown hotel is a sustainable design landmark.
Official star rating:
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.6 miles]
A heritage hotel with an immaculate pedigree that doesn’t skimp on contemporary luxuries, bang in the heart of Athens. The choice for visiting VIPs.
Official star rating:
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.7 miles]
A modern, five-star hotel in a hip neighbourhood, within walking distance of all the capital’s most impressive sights.
Official star rating:
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.8 miles]
A modest, excellent-value hotel, superbly sited for the Monastiraki nightlife and with comfortable, family-friendly suites.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Central Greece, Greece
Antiquities galore, contemporary culture, scintillating nightlife and fantastic food: there’s something for everyone in Greece’s cosmopolitan capital that’s continuously reinventing itself.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.4 miles]
This dazzling ancient citadel, perched on a hilltop rising above the city, houses some of the most impressive ancient buildings in the world. The jewel in the crown is the Pantheon, a 2,500-year-old temple dating back to 438 BC.
Best for ages: 7+ | £9
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.5 miles]
A jaw-dropping array of antiquities – all the Acropolis’ treasures – in one very modern museum designed by starchitect Bernard Tschumi.
Best for ages: 15+ | £4
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.8 miles]
A unique and extraordinary 3km pedestrian promenade peppered with world-class antiquities – triumphant arches, ancient amphitheatres, Greek temples, and ‘Socrates’ Prison’.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 3 kilometres
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[1.9 miles]
The largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the best in the world, with a collection ranging from Mycenaean-era jewellery to some of the best-known classical sculptures.
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.1 miles]
On Kydathinaion Square, Cine Paris is one of the loveliest outdoor cinemas in Athens. If the film disappoints, you can just gaze at the Parthenon under the moonlight. Open May to October.
Best for ages: 10+ | £7 | 2 hours
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.3 miles]
Just below the Acropolis complex on the eastern side, this ancient amphitheatre was the largest theatre in Athens with a capacity of 17,000. First built in the 6th century BC, it operated continuously for 1,000 years, until it was abandoned.
Best for ages: -218+ | £10
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.3 miles]
Athens’ Agora and the adjacent Roman Agora were the centre of the ancient city. The many monuments here include the massive Stoa of Attalos and housing a museum.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.4 miles]
Designed to honour Zeus, the head of the Olympian Gods, with the largest temple in Greece, construction started in 6th century BC. When it was finally finished (ca 131 AD) it comprised no fewer than 104 gigantic columns, although only a dozen or so remain today.
Best for ages: 13+ | £5