Planning to visit Athens soon? This is the best 3-day Athens itinerary you could follow to enjoy your perfect time there and see most sights.
Athens, one of the longest inhabited cities dating back 3000 years, is the historical gem of Europe, home to some of the most important cultural and historical attractions and the essence of all of Greece.
Every step you take and every street you go to leads to a fascinating monument or a reminder of the grandeur of its ancient heritage and the transformations the city has gone through.
It is the cradle of Western civilization and the beacon of the ancient world, a pleasant tourist attraction where philosophy, democracy, and theatre were born.
In the three days, you’ll spend in Athens, you’ll be able not only to enjoy this amount of history and culture but you’ll also enjoy this sprawling city with its cafes, restaurants, its food, its quirky neighborhoods, its street art, its bars, theaters, museums and much much more…
Staying three days in Athens can be a bit challenging as you might not know where to begin, so here’s our recommendation on more things to do in Athens!
You might be interested in this 10-day Greece itinerary.
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How to get from and to Athens airport
When you arrive at Athens International Airport, there is a choice of transport to reach the city center.
Metro: Metro Line 3 connects the airport with the city center. Trains run every 30 minutes to Syntagma Station and the journey takes 40 minutes. This service operates between 06.30- 23.30 seven days a week. The ticket costs 10 euros.
Bus: The X95 express bus service operates every day of the year between the airport and Syntagma Square. There is a ticket kiosk located between exits 4 and 5 in Arrivals, or you can buy tickets on board at no extra cost (if you are not boarding at the airport or the ticket kiosk is closed). The X96 bus service goes to the port of Piraeus and the X97 to Eliniko Metro Station. Tickets cost 5.50 euros.
Taxi: There are a number of taxis available at the airport, and their charges vary depending on the time of day. The prices are about €40 during the day and €55 at night.
Private Airport Transfer with Welcome Taxi: You can pre-book a car online before your arrival, and find your driver waiting for you at the arrivals with a welcome name sign and a bag with a bottle of water and a map of the city, thus saving you all the hassle of having to find a taxi/bus/metro.
There is a flat rate of 47 EUR from the airport to the city center, and if you arrive from midnight until 5 am, that increases sharply to 59 EUR.
For more information and to book your private transfer, check here.
Three days in Athens, a Detailed Athens Itinerary
3 Days in Athens: Day One
The Acropolis
The Acropolis is one of the most important ancient Greek monuments and one of the most important monuments in the world. It towers over the rest of the city and reflects its splendor and grandeur. The Acropolis means the upper city, and this is where people lived as early as 5000 B.C. and used it as a natural defense to avoid enemies due to its sheer size.
The Acropolis is the birthplace of democracy and one of the main influencers of modern civilizations and has been an attraction in Athens for thousands of years. You’ll enter through Beule Gate and then pass through the Propylaia entrance. There you can check out the Temple of Athena Nike!
Theater of Dionysus
This theatre, built in the 4th century B.C., is the oldest of the three architectural temples in the Acropolis. This open-air theatre is the birthplace of European theatre and is one of the earliest preserved in Athens.
It was used for performances back then, and it’s considered the birthplace of theatre, where the great Greek tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides were performed. The theatre could accommodate 17,000 spectators, and back then; it was not only used for performances but also for festivals that honored the god Dionysus.
Odeon of Herodus Atticus
Imagine being able to attend a live classical theatre performance in a theatre that has been functioning for over 2000 years! Today you will be sitting in the midst of ancient history as you enjoy performances, bands, plays, and the best talent in the region in an ancient theatre built in Roman times.
It was actually built by Herodes Atticus, the Roman philosopher and teacher in memory of his wife, and you can still visit this beautifully made theatre and attend the Athens Arts Festival, concerts, and classical tragedies with a marvelous acoustic experience.
Tip: Try to visit the archaeological site of the Acropolis as early as possible to avoid the crowds and the heat, especially during the summer months.
Tickets: There is a special ticket package for visiting most of the ancient Athens monuments costing 30 € full and 15 € reduced, which is valid for the Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora of Athens, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, North slope of Acropolis, Olympieio, Roman Agora of Athens, South Slope of Acropolis. The ticket is valid for 5 days.
If you don’t want to wait in line and already have the ticket, you can buy this: Acropolis and 6 Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket it costs 6 euros more but saves you the time and hustle, especially in the high season.
If you want to visit the Acropolis, tickets cost 20€ from April 1st to October 30th and 10€ from November 1st to March 31st, and you can buy them online at the official e-ticketing service of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
The crowds are huge between April and October at the Acropolis. If you want to beat them I recommend that you visit the Acropolis at the opening time (8:00 am). If you are interested in a guided tour, I recommend this No-Crowds Acropolis Tour & Skip the Line Acropolis Museum Tour by the company Take Walks, which gets you in the Acropolis for the first viewing of the day. This way, not only do you beat the crowds but the heat as well. It also includes a skip-the-line tour of the Acropolis museum.
Another great option is the Best of Athens tour that takes you to the Acropolis for the first viewing without any crowds and also to the Ancient Agora and a walk around Plaka. This way you can see the best of Athens in 4 hours. Plus, with the combo pass that you get, you have access to five more top Athens attractions for the next five days.
Finally, If you are interested in a guided tour of both the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis, I recommend the Athens, Acropolis, and Acropolis Museum Including Entry Fees. This 5-hour guided tour includes skipping the line entrance tickets to both sites and a guided tour as well. It also includes a visit to the Panathenaic Stadium and the Royal Gardens.
Acropolis Museum
This is one of the museums that has always been constantly rated as one of the tops in the world, with its huge glass walkways, high ceilings, and incredible panoramic views.
You not only get to learn about Athens, the Parthenon (to which it is devoted), and all the surrounding temples, but you also get to marvel at the beauty of the museum itself.
You will be met with large glass panes that allow light to get in and illuminate the entire museum and also allow for wonderful views of the ancient and modern parts of Athens, giving you an overall great experience.
A good way to save money and time on your visit to Athens is to buy the Athens City Pass. I reccommend the Classic or Complete Athens City Pass. For more information: Athens City Pass.
Temple of Zeus
This is an impressive ruined temple right in central Athens, also known as the Olympion. It was built back then to honor Zeus, the father of all of the Olympian gods, and was massive to the extent that it took over 700 years to build. It was supported by 105 Corinthian columns but only 15 columns, each 17 meters tall, remain standing.
You can check out the remains of Roman houses, the city walls, a Roman bath, and the giant ivory and gold statue of Zeus.
Tickets: Included in the special ticket package of 30 €
Arch of Hadrian
This triumphal arch was built to honor the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and thank him for his benefactions to the city. It was made of fine Pentelic marble, and the design is actually fully symmetrical, it’s crowned by Corinthian columns and pilasters, giving it a distinct type of grace and beauty.
The arch served as one of the seven gates that were used in the defensive wall built by the Turks when there were several different attacks as attacks by the Albanian raiders, and it was also used as a connection between the ancient street of old Athens, to the new, more Roman Athens. You will be able to see its effect by checking out the inscriptions carved on the architrave where one reads, “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus” while the second reads, “This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus.”
Plaka
You can end your day by walking around and having dinner at one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens, where most of the streets are closed to just pedestrians.
You will be walking around neoclassical houses, pedestrian streets, and beautiful views in one of the oldest districts in Athens. Today it has become an area full of restaurants, little taverns, jewelry stores, and cafes, and you can find all types of diverse shops, from normal ones to traditional ones, to more touristy ones. Lastly, you can check out the Museum of Greek Folk Art.
OPTIONAL: If You Would Rather Have A Mythology Highlights Tour
If you find it hard to visit all of the ancient monuments on your own, or need someone to guide you through them and explain their history to you, then you can take a 4-hour guided tour from 9 am every day in either English or French where you will be able to visit the most important monuments the Acropolis, the Zeus Temple, the Ancient Agora, and much more.
Not only will you be visiting all of the monuments in a systematic tour, but you’ll also learn about the Gods and their history, the city’s ancient history, the society and how it worked, and how people lived back then.
Find here more information about the Mythology Highlights Tour.
3 Days in Athens: Day Two
Ancient Agora
Slightly less busy than the Acropolis but just as majestic, strolling around Agora is a journey through history and time. You can wander aimlessly around greenery and ancient ruins that were once a part of Ancient Athens’ essence. It was the commercial hub, the marketplace, the focal point of all social, economic, political, and intellectual activities, and it was the pulsing heart of Athens back then.
The Agora, translating to “a place of gathering”, was once dotted with statues, shops, markets, and schools and it was the place Socrates used to lecture young students there at the Stoa f Attalos II.
Lastly, you can also check out the Temple of Hephaistos, which is the best-preserved temple of antiquity.
Tickets: Included in the special ticket package of 30 €
A 14-minute walk to…
Syntagma Square
As you move from Agora to Syntagma, it will be like moving through a time machine where you go from the ancient pulsating heart of the city to the new one. This square is what keeps the city going; it is its beating center and its main transport hub. This is where people meet to have a drink, have a meal, meet with friends, relax after work, go shopping, or people-watch.
Things to check out:
- War Memorial of the Unknown Soldier – Dedicated to all of the unknown soldiers who died during the wars
- National Garden
- The Parliament Building – You can walk through the national garden to the Parliament Building, where the Changing of the Guard Ceremony takes place. Every hour exactly, the changing of the guard takes place where the presidential guards dress in their traditional uniform to pay tribute to all of the war victims. You are not allowed to touch them, however.
A 14-minute walk to…
Panathenaic Stadium
This is where the Olympic Games were born in 1896! The stadium was actually constructed in the 4th century B.C., and the main purpose for it back then was to host events and competitions where male athletes competed, and now it’s one of the most important stadiums in the world. It is also the only stadium in the world that is made entirely of marble and can hold up to 60,000 spectators today!
Check out the street art in Athens
Usually, when we think of Athens, images of completely ancient monuments come to mind, right?
However, the streets of Athens are filled with incredible pieces of graffiti, making it a very colorful town with all sorts of art and graffiti, from posters to murals, on the walls.
If you are interested in Street Art, you can book a tour here.
The Psiri neighborhood
This area has been turned from one of the most dangerous in Athens to one of its quirkiest, trendiest, edgiest, and most fashionable neighborhoods.
As you wander around, you will be able to see not only wonderfully authentic craftsmen’s stores but also a lot of street art that evolved due to the economic crisis and art galleries like Sarilla 12 and AD Gallery. You have to look out for Alexandros Vasmoulakis and Vangelis Hoursoglou, who brought public art into the streets for the first time.
Monastiraki Square
A lively square, a flea market, and a neighborhood that is so colorful with colors and murals. There are all types of graffiti there, from quirky and funny to completely unprofessional to very political ones!
A good way to save money and time on your visit to Athens is to buy the Athens City Pass. I reccommend the Classic or Complete Athens City Pass. For more information: Athens City Pass.
Monastiraki Market
Head to the Monastiraki market after wandering around Monastiraki and checking out its art and graffiti. The market there (which turns into a flea market on Sundays) is one of the most diverse markets you will encounter. You will find different shops offering interesting merchandise, from ancient vinyl, handcrafted artifacts, jewelry, and trinkets to mass-produced quirky t-shirts and souvenirs.
You’ll find rare books, leather goods, traditional products, musical instruments, and so much more…
After you’re done, you can go to the square and have a coffee at one of the many cafes that dot the streets.
A 9-minute walk to…
Athens Central Market
If you want to get a taste (pun intended!) of what true Athenian life is like, this is where you have to go. You can let go of who you are and live like a true local for an hour or two as you enter the glass-roofed building called the Varvakeios Agora. You will be met with the best representation of the Athenian food scene as the market is divided into two parts – one for meat and one for seafood.
You will be a direct part of the chaos in the markets as you walk around locals rushing to get their hands on the freshest produce and vendors shouting out the prices of their products.
OPTIONAL: The Original Athens Food Tour
What better way to discover a country than by exploring its gastronomy? In this tour, you will see Athens in a different light than you have in the past day as you will embark on a journey of discovering the best Greek pastries, wine, cheese, and salamis.
You’ll be going on a guided culinary tour of Athens, have an authentic Greek breakfast at a café that is a century old, purchase your choice of cheese and meat from a market, sample different types of food, try some Athenian coffee, and purchase souvenirs to take home.
Find here more information about this Athens Food Tour.
National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum is one of the most important museums in the world. The museum is devoted to Ancient Greek art, and it contains and protects the principal exhibits from a variety of archaeological locations across Greece.
3 Days in Athens: Day Three
Two days are enough to see all of the main attractions in Athens, and now it’s time to get out of Athens and discover its neighboring cities.
Full-Day Cruise to Aegina, Poros, and Hydra
After you’re done with the hustle and bustle of the city of Athens, it’s now time for relaxation as you have a full-day tour of the islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. The boat itself is huge, fitting up to 600 people with spacious lounges, bars, audiovisual systems, a modern kitchen, and a VIP cabin.
When you reach Hydra, you will realize how beautiful it is with its stone mansions, its beautiful alleys, the surrounding crystal clear waters, the picturesque settlements, and the scenic pathways. You can also take an optional walking tour.
You will then cruise to Poros, the leafy island full of green pine forests and scented lemon groves. The island is known for its tranquillity, its peace, and its calm that will incite a sense of peace in your heart.
After you’re done with Poros, you will be heading to Aegina, which is famous for its pistachio grove and beautiful beaches. From there, you have the option to take a bus to check out the Temple of Aphea and the Byzantine monastery of Agios Nektarios.
You will also be served a buffet-style lunch of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.
Read here my experience about the 1-day cruise.
Find here more information about the day cruise to three islands.
Or: Half-Day Trip to the Temple of Poseidon Sounion
The half-day tour lasts only about 4 hours and moves from Athens. A minivan will pick you up for a 50-minute scenic ride along the coastal roads and villages, and then you will arrive at the Temple where the host will explain the history and the mythology, and then you’ll get an opportunity to relax and enjoy the views over the Aegen sea.
Click here for more information and to book this tour
For more day trips from Athens, check here.
Where to stay in Athens, Greece
Here are my picks for the best accommodations in Athens, Greece:
Athens is usually fully booked from April to November so book early for the best hotels and prices.
Budget Hotels in Athens
Attalos Hotel This comfortable hotel is relaxing and peaceful, yet is centrally positioned within an easy walk of all the archaeological sites. The hotel has a lovely rooftop bar where you can enjoy a drink and a magnificent view of the Acropolis.
Arethusa Hotel This tastefully decorated hotel is situated in Plaka and offers easy access to all the main sites. The day starts with an American-style breakfast that can be enjoyed in your guest room. After a busy day of sightseeing, the attractive roof garden with its views of the Acropolis, is the perfect place to relax.
Mid-Range Hotels in Athens
360 degrees This modern hotel is decorated with a neutral palette that accentuates the industrial design details. The hotel is centrally situated on Monastiraki Square right by the colorful flea market. The hotel has a lovely roof bar/ restaurant which offers amazing views of the city both by day and night. The hotel has a great variety of rooms and suites that suit all budgets.
Boutique Hotels in Athens
Herodion Hotel Situated at the foot of the Acropolis, this hotel’s guest rooms are stylish and modern. The hotel has a roof terrace with two hot tubs and sun loungers for enjoying the spectacular view of the Acropolis and in the evening dining on Mediterranean cuisine at the Point A Restaurant overlooking the floodlit Acropolis is truly memorable.
5 Star Hotels in Athens
St George Lycabettus Hotel This stylish hotel is situated in the upmarket Kolonaki district. Each of its beautiful guest rooms is individually styled and most have private balconies. The rooftop swimming pool offers stunning views of the Acropolis, Mt Lycabettus, and the Saronic Gulf. This hotel has a spa and gym for relaxing moments and you can enjoy delicious flavors of the Mediterranean in the La Suite Restaurant
This is how you can visit Athens and its neighboring cities in just three days, all while being able to see the most important monuments. After those 3 days, you will have had an overall well-rounded experience of Athens where you’ve checked out its ancient ruins, its monuments, its museums, its restaurants, flea markets, food markets, graffiti, and quirky neighborhoods!
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