Athens is one of those cities that has a LOT more to see and do than people think. Many rush through it on the way to the islands, or worse, treat it as a box-ticking exercise before boarding a ferry. That’s a mistake. Athens isn’t a stopover city; it’s a destination in its own right, and it rewards anyone who gives it time.
Three days in Athens gives you range. You see the ancient city and the modern one. You walk neighbourhoods, sit in cafes, eat properly, and understand how Athenians use their city. You’re not rushing between ruins, and you’re not stuck inside museums all day either.
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What to expect in Athens
• Athens is lively, intense and full of character. It moves quickly and confidently, and you feel that energy the moment you step outside.
• The city is highly walkable, with pedestrian zones linking major sights, neighbourhoods and viewpoints.
• Graffiti is everywhere, although it has improved, and Athens has one of the leading street art movements in the world.
• The food scene is exceptional, from simple bakeries and market stalls to modern Greek restaurants doing clever, creative dishes. Even the casual spots are reliably good.
• Archaeology appears at every turn, sometimes literally, when they try to build a metro station and uncover half a temple.
• Shopping is fantastic, especially for jewellery, ceramics, local designers and food and beauty products.
• The nightlife is warm, relaxed and atmospheric rather than wild. Rooftops, wine bars and street-side tables keep things buzzing late into the night.
Note: For a hassle free transfer to your hotel from the Airport or Port book your transfers here. Use the discount code ‘GTS’.
Where to stay
For accommodation, location matters more than luxury. Staying central means you’ll walk almost everywhere.
Good options include;
• Athens Gate: has excellent views and a genuinely practical location with a great rooftop restaurant. There are interconnecting rooms too.
• Electra Metropolis: elegant, modern, with a killer view of the Acropolis from the rooftop pool and bar, right in the centre of everything
• Ergon House: stylish, located above the famous food emporium so great food is literally at your finger tips
Day One
Morning
• Do a walking food tour, which will start in Monastiraki. The morning tours include a visit to the Central Markets and to many small providors in the neighbouring areas. It’s a great way to get your bearings and a feel for the lay of the land, all for the price of a food tour.
• After the tour, you are already in Psyrri or the Central Market area, so just wander on foot. Everywhere here is within a 20-minute walk, and this is where you’ll find some of Athens best bars, cafes and street art.
Early Afternoon
• Head to Syntagma Square. If coming from Psyri, walk along Ermou Street, which is the main pedestrianised shopping street of Athens.
• At Syntagma, cross the Square to the Parliament building where the Evzones stand guard. You can watch the changing of the guard every hour on the hour.
• Turn right and head through the National Gardens to the Zappeion. Across the road on the other side is the amazing Panathenaic Stadium.
Once you exit near the Zappeion, you will also see the Temple of Olympian Zeus just a few minutes away on the other side of the road.
Late Afternoon
• From the Temple of Zeus, walk over toward Plaka. Take the pedestrian path past Hadrian’s Arch and follow the crowds uphill into the old neighbourhood. It takes around five minutes.
• Don’t miss Anafiotika, an old part of Plaka founded by marble craftsmen from the island of Anafi that still feels like a Greek Island.
Evening
• Rooftop bars in Monastiraki,, Thissio or Plaka are all walkable from Anafiotika. There are many in Monastiraki and Psyri too.
• Dinner in Thissio or Monastiraki is a leisurely stroll along the big, wide, car-free pedestrian boulevard.
Further reading: Top Tavernas, Bars and Beachclubs
Day Two
Morning
• Visit the Acropolis. Book a private Guide to take you around this vast and complex attraction to truly understand and appreciate what you are seeing. Try to be there at opening if visiting in summer, before the heat and the crowds kick in.
Then visit the Acropolis Museum. Allow 4 hours to explore both, more if you are a history buff.
Lunch
There is a good cafe at the Acropolis Museum with amazing views of the Acropolis, or there are many excellent tavernas and cafes nearby.
Afternoon
Walk through Plaka for a spot of shopping and past the Roman Agora and the Tower of Winds before heading on to Hadrian’s Arch. These can be easily viewed from the sidewalk, or you can pay to enter and explore more deeply.
From there, it is a short walk to the Ancient Agora, which really needs a couple of hours to explore. It is a vast site home to the Temple of Hephaestus, the best-preserved Temple in Greece, and the Stoa of Attalos, an excellent Museum.
Further Reading: Top Archaeological Sites in Athens
Evening
For something really unique and very special book Dinner in the Sky! Enjoy great food and wine and excellent service all while dangling from a crane, with spectacular 360 degree views of Athens.
This really is a lot of fun and a very different experience. It’s also an opportunity to explore Technolopis City which is a converted gasworks and cultural centre.
Use the Promo code ” GTS”
Morning – Option 1
• Jump on the Metro and head down to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, which is home to the National Library, Opera and Ballet. It’s a vast complex, always has something on, and it’s actually quite an interesting museum too. You can also visit this using the red Hop on Hop Off bus too.
• You can then continue to visit the Athenian Riviera, which is very popular with Athenians on summer weekends.
Morning – Option 2
• Shopping! This is where to stock up on all your souvenirs and gifts. The big high street brands are all on Ermou Street, while the surrounding areas have many independent boutiques, designers, leather shops, and jewellers.
Afternoon
• There are many incredible Museums in Athens – in fact, it has more per capita than any other European city.
The Benaki Museum is an easy ten to twelve-minute walk from Syntagma, heading toward Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. The Museum of Cycladic Art is five minutes further along the same stretch. Both are close together, so no transport is needed.
For my money, the National Archaeological Museum is one of the best in the country and showcases artifacts from all over the nation. It is a 20-minute walk from the ancient centre or a quick taxi ride.
Evening
• Check out a rootfop performance of an Ancient Greek tragedy. Very entertaining and spectacular views too.
- If theatre isn’t your thing, then head to Thissio or Psiri and the many lively bars with live music and perhaps a bit of spontaneous dancing.
Don’t forget Travel Insurance!
It’s important to make sure you are covered for medical expenses ( some countries may include this in health insurance), but also for lost baggage, flight and ferry delays and cancellations, theft, and emergencies, including something that happens back home while you are away, and you need to get back urgently.
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