Athens itinerary: 1 to 4 days
Plans for one to four days in Athens, day by day: the Acropolis with the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike, the Acropolis Museum, Plaka, the Ancient Agora and the Areopagus first, then Kerameikos, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Syntagma Square, and the National Archaeological Museum, the Panathenaic Stadium, Philopappos Hill and Mount Lycabettus as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Athens in 1 day
Day 1
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Roman stone theatre of AD 161 on the Acropolis south slope, restored and used for summer concerts of the Athens Festival.
Temple of Athena Nike
Small Ionic temple to Athena of Victory on a bastion beside the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis.
Parthenon
The great Doric temple to Athena built in the fifth century BC on the Acropolis, the symbol of classical Greece.
Erechtheion
Ionic temple on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, known for the Porch of the Caryatids.
Theatre of Dionysus
The ancient theatre on the Acropolis south slope where the plays of Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first staged.
Acropolis Museum
Modern museum at the foot of the Acropolis with the original sculptures from its temples and a glass-walled Parthenon gallery.
Plaka
The oldest neighbourhood of Athens, with narrow lanes, neoclassical houses, tavernas and shops on the slopes below the Acropolis.
Hadrian's Library
Ruins of the library and courtyard built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 132, beside Monastiraki Square.
Monastiraki
Lively square and flea-market quarter below the Acropolis, with a small church, a mosque, street food and rooftop views.
Ancient Agora of Athens
The marketplace and civic heart of ancient Athens, where Socrates taught, with temple, stoa and shrine ruins in a green park.
Temple of Hephaestus
One of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples, on a low hill above the Ancient Agora.
Areopagus
Rocky hill just below the Acropolis, seat of the ancient council and court, with a wide view over the Agora.
Athens in 2 days
Day 1
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Roman stone theatre of AD 161 on the Acropolis south slope, restored and used for summer concerts of the Athens Festival.
Temple of Athena Nike
Small Ionic temple to Athena of Victory on a bastion beside the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis.
Parthenon
The great Doric temple to Athena built in the fifth century BC on the Acropolis, the symbol of classical Greece.
Erechtheion
Ionic temple on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, known for the Porch of the Caryatids.
Theatre of Dionysus
The ancient theatre on the Acropolis south slope where the plays of Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first staged.
Acropolis Museum
Modern museum at the foot of the Acropolis with the original sculptures from its temples and a glass-walled Parthenon gallery.
Arch of Hadrian (Athens)
Marble gateway of AD 131 that marked the boundary between the old city and Hadrian's new quarter, by the Olympieion.
Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens
Ruins of the largest temple in ancient Greece, finished by Hadrian, with fifteen giant Corinthian columns still standing.
Plaka
The oldest neighbourhood of Athens, with narrow lanes, neoclassical houses, tavernas and shops on the slopes below the Acropolis.
Areopagus
Rocky hill just below the Acropolis, seat of the ancient council and court, with a wide view over the Agora.
Day 2
Kerameikos
Ancient cemetery and potters' quarter by the old city walls, with grave monuments, the Dipylon Gate and a small museum.
Temple of Hephaestus
One of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples, on a low hill above the Ancient Agora.
Ancient Agora of Athens
The marketplace and civic heart of ancient Athens, where Socrates taught, with temple, stoa and shrine ruins in a green park.
Stoa of Attalos
Rebuilt two-storey colonnade of the ancient Agora, now the Agora Museum with finds from daily life in ancient Athens.
Monastiraki
Lively square and flea-market quarter below the Acropolis, with a small church, a mosque, street food and rooftop views.
Hadrian's Library
Ruins of the library and courtyard built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 132, beside Monastiraki Square.
Tower of the Winds
Octagonal marble clock tower in the Roman Agora, with reliefs of the eight winds and traces of sundials and a water clock.
Syntagma Square
The central square of modern Athens in front of the Parliament, where the Evzone guards change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
National Garden, Athens
Shady public garden behind the Parliament, laid out for Queen Amalia, with ponds, paths and ancient remains.
Athens in 3 days
Day 1
National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Greece's largest archaeological museum, with the Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism and classical bronzes.
Academy of Athens
Neoclassical home of Greece's national academy, with statues of Athena, Apollo, Plato and Socrates outside; seen from the street.
Syntagma Square
The central square of modern Athens in front of the Parliament, where the Evzone guards change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
National Garden, Athens
Shady public garden behind the Parliament, laid out for Queen Amalia, with ponds, paths and ancient remains.
Panathenaic Stadium
Ancient stadium rebuilt entirely in marble, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.
Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens
Ruins of the largest temple in ancient Greece, finished by Hadrian, with fifteen giant Corinthian columns still standing.
Arch of Hadrian (Athens)
Marble gateway of AD 131 that marked the boundary between the old city and Hadrian's new quarter, by the Olympieion.
Plaka
The oldest neighbourhood of Athens, with narrow lanes, neoclassical houses, tavernas and shops on the slopes below the Acropolis.
Anafiotika
Island-style whitewashed lanes under the Acropolis, built by workers from Anafi, with bougainvillea, cats and small chapels.
Day 2
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Roman stone theatre of AD 161 on the Acropolis south slope, restored and used for summer concerts of the Athens Festival.
Temple of Athena Nike
Small Ionic temple to Athena of Victory on a bastion beside the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis.
Parthenon
The great Doric temple to Athena built in the fifth century BC on the Acropolis, the symbol of classical Greece.
Erechtheion
Ionic temple on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, known for the Porch of the Caryatids.
Theatre of Dionysus
The ancient theatre on the Acropolis south slope where the plays of Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first staged.
Acropolis Museum
Modern museum at the foot of the Acropolis with the original sculptures from its temples and a glass-walled Parthenon gallery.
Philopappos Hill
Pine-covered hill facing the Acropolis, topped by the Roman Philopappos Monument, with one of the best views of the Parthenon.
Areopagus
Rocky hill just below the Acropolis, seat of the ancient council and court, with a wide view over the Agora.
Day 3
Kerameikos
Ancient cemetery and potters' quarter by the old city walls, with grave monuments, the Dipylon Gate and a small museum.
Temple of Hephaestus
One of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples, on a low hill above the Ancient Agora.
Ancient Agora of Athens
The marketplace and civic heart of ancient Athens, where Socrates taught, with temple, stoa and shrine ruins in a green park.
Stoa of Attalos
Rebuilt two-storey colonnade of the ancient Agora, now the Agora Museum with finds from daily life in ancient Athens.
Monastiraki
Lively square and flea-market quarter below the Acropolis, with a small church, a mosque, street food and rooftop views.
Hadrian's Library
Ruins of the library and courtyard built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 132, beside Monastiraki Square.
Tower of the Winds
Octagonal marble clock tower in the Roman Agora, with reliefs of the eight winds and traces of sundials and a water clock.
Benaki Museum
Museum in a Kolonaki mansion with Greek art and crafts from antiquity to the 20th century and a rooftop cafe.
Athens in 4 days
Day 1
Kerameikos
Ancient cemetery and potters' quarter by the old city walls, with grave monuments, the Dipylon Gate and a small museum.
Temple of Hephaestus
One of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples, on a low hill above the Ancient Agora.
Ancient Agora of Athens
The marketplace and civic heart of ancient Athens, where Socrates taught, with temple, stoa and shrine ruins in a green park.
Stoa of Attalos
Rebuilt two-storey colonnade of the ancient Agora, now the Agora Museum with finds from daily life in ancient Athens.
Athens Central Market
The covered Varvakios market, with butchers' and fishmongers' stalls, spice and olive sellers and cheap eateries, full of local colour.
Monastiraki
Lively square and flea-market quarter below the Acropolis, with a small church, a mosque, street food and rooftop views.
Hadrian's Library
Ruins of the library and courtyard built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 132, beside Monastiraki Square.
Tower of the Winds
Octagonal marble clock tower in the Roman Agora, with reliefs of the eight winds and traces of sundials and a water clock.
Plaka
The oldest neighbourhood of Athens, with narrow lanes, neoclassical houses, tavernas and shops on the slopes below the Acropolis.
Anafiotika
Island-style whitewashed lanes under the Acropolis, built by workers from Anafi, with bougainvillea, cats and small chapels.
Day 2
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Roman stone theatre of AD 161 on the Acropolis south slope, restored and used for summer concerts of the Athens Festival.
Temple of Athena Nike
Small Ionic temple to Athena of Victory on a bastion beside the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis.
Parthenon
The great Doric temple to Athena built in the fifth century BC on the Acropolis, the symbol of classical Greece.
Erechtheion
Ionic temple on the Acropolis dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, known for the Porch of the Caryatids.
Theatre of Dionysus
The ancient theatre on the Acropolis south slope where the plays of Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first staged.
Acropolis Museum
Modern museum at the foot of the Acropolis with the original sculptures from its temples and a glass-walled Parthenon gallery.
Philopappos Hill
Pine-covered hill facing the Acropolis, topped by the Roman Philopappos Monument, with one of the best views of the Parthenon.
Areopagus
Rocky hill just below the Acropolis, seat of the ancient council and court, with a wide view over the Agora.
Day 3
Arch of Hadrian (Athens)
Marble gateway of AD 131 that marked the boundary between the old city and Hadrian's new quarter, by the Olympieion.
Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens
Ruins of the largest temple in ancient Greece, finished by Hadrian, with fifteen giant Corinthian columns still standing.
Panathenaic Stadium
Ancient stadium rebuilt entirely in marble, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.
National Garden, Athens
Shady public garden behind the Parliament, laid out for Queen Amalia, with ponds, paths and ancient remains.
Syntagma Square
The central square of modern Athens in front of the Parliament, where the Evzone guards change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Benaki Museum
Museum in a Kolonaki mansion with Greek art and crafts from antiquity to the 20th century and a rooftop cafe.
Kolonaki
An upscale central neighbourhood of boutiques, galleries and cafe terraces at the foot of Lycabettus Hill, popular for people-watching.
Day 4
National Archaeological Museum, Athens
Greece's largest archaeological museum, with the Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism and classical bronzes.
Academy of Athens
Neoclassical home of Greece's national academy, with statues of Athena, Apollo, Plato and Socrates outside; seen from the street.
Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art
Museum known for its marble Cycladic figurines from the Bronze Age, plus ancient Greek and Cypriot art.
Mount Lycabettus
The highest hill in central Athens, climbed on foot or by funicular, with a chapel and views over the city and the Acropolis.
Watch: Athens in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Athens
April to early June and September to October are the best times, warm and sunny with fewer crowds. July and August are very hot, sometimes over 40 °C, and the Acropolis can close in the hottest hours. Winters are mild and fairly wet but quiet; Greek Orthodox Easter, usually in April, is the biggest festival.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Athens on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Athens on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Athens on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Greece from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Athens
- Book Acropolis tickets online for a timed entry slot; go at opening time or late in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat and the cruise groups.
- A combined ticket covers the Acropolis and its slopes, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, the Olympieion and Kerameikos, valid for several days.
- The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is seen from the path up to the Acropolis; inside it opens only for concerts of the summer Athens Festival.
- Wear shoes with good grip: the marble on the Acropolis is worn smooth and slippery, and there is little shade, so bring water and a hat.
- The changing of the Evzone guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in front of Parliament on Syntagma Square, takes place every hour.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Academy of Athens: Julian Lupyan, CC0
- Acropolis Museum: Acropolis Museum, Public domain
- Anafiotika: Antonio Fajardo i López, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ancient Agora of Athens: Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arch of Hadrian (Athens): A.Savin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Areopagus: O.Mustafin, CC0
- Benaki Museum: Dimboukas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Erechtheion: Jebulon, CC0
- Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hadrian's Library: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kerameikos: George E. Koronaios, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kolonaki: Giorgoos, Public domain
- Monastiraki: George E. Koronaios, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mount Lycabettus: Apaleutos25, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Archaeological Museum, Athens: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
- National Garden, Athens: Apaleutos25, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus: Robert Anders from Hamburg, Germany, CC BY 2.0
- Panathenaic Stadium: Mister No, CC BY 3.0
- Parthenon: Steve Swayne, CC BY 2.0
- Philopappos Hill: Calidius, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Plaka: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stoa of Attalos: Julian Lupyan, CC0
- Syntagma Square: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Temple of Athena Nike: Jebulon, CC0
- Temple of Hephaestus: Julian Lupyan, CC0
- Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
- Theatre of Dionysus: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
- Tower of the Winds: George E. Koronaios, CC BY-SA 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
