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.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
Acropolis Museum
Photo Nikos Daniilidis
Last updated: 10 November, 2022
Decades in the works, the Acropolis Museum opened in 2009. The clunky concrete and glass building has many detractors, but few dispute the magnificence of the collection.
For the first time, all the treasures unearthed on and around the Acropolis are displayed under one roof – except, of course, the ‘Elgin marbles’, a large section of the famous Parthenon frieze that’s in the British Museum. Should they be repatriated? Visit the top-floor gallery and decide for yourself.
The museum restaurant matches a great view with great food. Try inventive Greek dishes on a terrace jutting out towards the Parthenon. The glass-walled dining hall also offers stupendous views.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Athens 5-day itinerary
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.
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Overview >Price from: £4
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 15+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The museum is next to the Acropoli metro stop. Tickets can be bought online in advance, or at the ticket desk.
The treasure trove is vast, you really need expert guidance to take you around. You can book an organised tour with an expert guide (see our recommendations below). Alternatively, every Saturday morning there is a free 90-minute guided tour (in English), ‘Saturday in the Museum with 20 + 1 masterpieces.’ There is no pre-booking – the tour is available to the first thirty visitors to ask at the information desk so a place is not guaranteed.
If you can’t make those, there’s a 2-hour audio tours available – ask at the Museum’s Information Desk on arrival – where museum curators introduce you to 60 exhibit highlights.
The website has a handy section of ‘highlights’ – have a browse before you go. There’s also a great section that introduces the site and the collection to kids.
When to do it
The museum is open all year round, seven days a week. Go early to avoid the coach parties or after dark, when the surrounding cityscape is eerily reflected in the glass-walled galleries.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Acropolis monuments & Parthenon Walking Tour with Optional Acropolis Museum
Athens
Behold the beginnings of Western civilization with an experienced licensed tour guide on a 4-hour walking tour of this UNESCO Heritage site....
€35 | Rating 4.93 / 5 [307 ratings]
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Tour supplied by:
Skip the Line Acropolis Museum Tour
Athens
A thorough visit at the Acropolis Museum which hosts its collections across three levels, as well as in the archaeological excavation that l...
€35 | Rating 4.44 / 5 [18 ratings]
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Tour supplied by:
Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis museum walking tour - Skip the line
Athens
Explore the Acropolis Monuments in a small group tour. Visit the state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum and enjoy a unique and personalized time ...
€60 | Rating 4.93 / 5 [60 ratings]
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The Acropolis, Athens Walking City Tour and Acropolis Museum
Athens
The Ideal Combination Tour! See the city center including two top sights in just a few hours. At the Acropolis of Athens, you’ll explore the...
€67 | Rating 4.78 / 5 [325 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Divani Palace Acropolis
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.3 miles]
A modern, five-star hotel in a hip neighbourhood, within walking distance of all the capital’s most impressive sights.
Official star rating:
NEW Hotel
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.7 miles]
Favela chic with a strong sense of humour and place, this quirky downtown hotel is a sustainable design landmark.
Official star rating:
Hotel Grand Bretagne
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[1 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:
Athens4
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[1.1 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
Athens
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.
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Overview >Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
The Acropolis
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
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Plaka
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.5 miles]
The heart of old Athens, Plaka has an authentic charm with winding lanes, shady squares and atmospheric Byzantine churches.
Best for ages: Any | Free
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Grand Promenade
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.7 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
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National Archaeological Museum
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[2.3 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..
Experience
Theatre of Dionysus
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.2 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
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Experience
Brettos
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.4 miles]
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
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Experience
Temple of Olympian Zeus
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
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Experience
Cine Paris
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.4 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
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