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
Temple of Hephaestus
If you have only a day to spend in Athens, you can cover most of the city’s ‘greatest hits’ by wandering through the Grand Promenade that rings the Acropolis.
Designed to link all the main sights of ancient Athens in a single pedestrian zone, beautifully landscaped walkways are punctuated by exceptional monuments. There are contemporary attractions, too: al fresco cafés, street art, and friendly stray dogs.
Start at Hadrian’s Arch. Wander along Dionysiou Areopagitou, pausing to take in the ancient amphitheatres Herod Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysus, and the modern Acropolis Museum.
Continue on Apostolou Pavlou passing the rock of Pnyx on your left where the Athenian citizens used to gather listening to orators from Themistocles to St Paul.
A longer, signposted diversion at the junction of Dionysio Areopagitou and Apostolou Pavlou leads you to the alleged ‘Socrates’ Prison’, and to the top of Philopappou hill with bird’s eye views of the ancient sites below.
Back on Apostolou Pavlou and in about 500 yards you’ll spot the ‘Thission’ (a misnomer as it was a temple to the god Hephaestus), one of the best-preserved Doric temples anywhere in Greece.
Here you can divert into the Agora, the ancient Greeks’ shopping mall and civic hall as well as its fine museum where you can see ceramic voting slips, reminders of the city’s democratic past.
Backtrack to Thission and finish at the overlooked cemetery of Kerameikos, which has an amazing collection of tombstones and statues.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
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.
Take the metro to the Acropolis Metro station, and head to Hadrian’s Arch from there. The walk ends at Kerameikos – from where it’s an easy stroll to the Thission metro station.
Car-free and relatively flat, the path is ideal for cycling. You can hire a bike with Athens by Bike.
At your first port of call, ask for a multiple entry ticket that gives you access to most of the major archaeological sights. It will save you a fortune.
Avoid the searing midday heat in high summer, as there’s little shade en route. Most archaeological sites close early, especially in winter, so don’t set off too late.
The experience is very weather-dependent. Clear, bright days are best. Don’t bother if it’s raining.
Athens, Central Greece, Greece
This site – reached from metro Thission and not Kerameikos – comprises the ancient Athenian cemetery and a well-preserved part of the city walls with two important gates, as well as a small museum. The site evokes the lived ancient city better than any other monument, bar the Acropolis.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
Athens, Central Greece, Greece
A lovely 1-hour walk on marble footpaths through pine forests to the summit of this small city hill, offering the best views of the Parthenon without the crowds.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free | 2-3 hours
Athens, Central Greece, Greece
Hadrian’s Arch was a monumental gate leading from Plaka to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, built circa 132 AD, it’s thought, to honour the Roman Emperor Hadrian for his many benefactions to the city.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Athens, Central Greece, Greece
Housed in the restored Stoa (covered walkway) of Attalos, this is probably the second most interesting museum after the Archaeological one; the most intriguing displays are the clay voting tablets with carved names, a reminder of Athenian democracy.
Best for ages: 18+ | £9
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Athens
€35 | Rating 4.96 / 5 [981 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Athens
€67 | Rating 4.83 / 5 [1159 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Athens
€95 | Rating 4.97 / 5 [96 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Athens
€103 | Rating 4.70 / 5 [67 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.5 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[0.9 miles]
A new art-focused hotel with a lovely rooftop pool and terrace, bringing a New York city buzz to one of Athens’ oldest neighbourhoods.
Official star rating:
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:
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[1.1 miles]
Favela chic with a strong sense of humour and place, this quirky downtown hotel is a sustainable design landmark.
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[0.7 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]
The heart of old Athens, Plaka has an authentic charm with winding lanes, shady squares and atmospheric Byzantine churches.
Best for ages: Any | Free
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..
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.4 miles]
An institution since 1953, the Dora Stratou Dance Company performs daily folk dancing shows in summer, in the eponymous open-air theatre on Philopappou Hill. Eye-opening as well as hugely entertaining, this is the best folk experience in Athens.
Best for ages: 8+ | £13 | 2 hours
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.6 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[0.6 miles]
Built by Emperor Augustus between 19 and 11 BC, the Forum was Athens’ trade centre, evolving into the city’s administrative hub by 3 BC. The two highlights are the Western Gate and the Tower of Winds, a 39-foot-high clocktower-cum-weathervane with a frieze depicting eight wind deities, thought to be the world’s first meteorological station.
Best for ages: 18+ | £2
Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.6 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
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
From traversing sand dunes, to walking on glaciers, through canyons, up mountains and along ancient city walls, here’s our round-up of the world’s best walks. Each walk can be tackled in a day or less with a moderate level of fitness and no technical ability.