Looking for the ultimate Athens itinerary?! Whether you’re a first time visitor or a return visitor, this post is for you! Coming from two people who LOVE Athens (I have been almost 20 times!!), this Athens itinerary will help you cover the must-do activities and still let you individualize it for your preferences!
This post is dedicated to creating your perfect 3 day Athens Itinerary!
Athens Itinerary: Day 1
Panathenaic Stadium
Okay everyone, put on your walking shoes!
For Day 1 you’ll start off at the Panathenaic Stadium. This stadium has an ancient history but is most famous as the home of the first modern Olympics, held in Athen in 1896. This is a great place to take pictures from the outside and enjoy, but it’s also well worth paying the €10 entry fee to walk (or run!!) on an original Olympic track.
This stop takes 1 hr | €10 entry fee | Water and soft drinks sold | Restrooms on site
Monasteraki for Lunch
From the Panathenaic Stadium, you can get to Monasteraki via tram or metro, but I strongly recommend walking! It only takes about 20 minutes and you’ll get to see the Botanic Gardens and the Temple of Zeus along the way!!
Ok, at this point, your feet are probably getting tired, and you’re itching for a rest. Luckily, Monasteraki is a great neighborhood for cheap, classic Greek food! Enjoy a gyro, souvlaki, Greek salad, stuffed grape leaves (dolmades), and so much more! Hydrate as much as possible, find a table in the shade and take a rest.
Once you’ve got your energy back, it’s time to shop! Monasteraki is where you’ll find Athens’ most vibrant flea market – perfect for buying souvenirs! If you’re a haggler, this is where you’ll shine. I recommend Mati “evil eye” jewelry, handmade leather sandals, and Greek candies.
This stop takes 2 hrs | Food & Water sold everywhere | Restrooms at the restaurants
Museum of the Acropolis
Now that you’re fed, hydrated, and in possession of a few cheap souvenirs, I’m willing to bet you’re dying for some A/C!! Walk about 10 minutes to Museum of the Acropolis.
Now, some folks find this controversial … you’ll see most itineraries tell you to go to Museum of the Acropolis in the morning before you hit the Acropolis/Parthenon/Agora. As someone who has visited this museum 5 times and has been to the Parthenon over 10 times (!!) DON’T DO THAT.
It is way too much ancient history all at once, it is fully exhausting, and if you do the museum before the Acropolis/Parthenon/Agora, then you’ll end up doing your climbing in midday when the weather and crowds are at their worst.
Instead, enjoy the Museum in an afternoon (less crowded) the day before you actually see the landmarks themselves. That way, you’ll actually recognize what you’re looking at on the Acropolis, but you can still hit the Acropolis first thing in the AM.
This stop takes 1-2 hrs | €15 entry fee | Café on site | Restrooms on site
Watch Sunset from Lycabettus
Depending on when you started your sightseeing day, you may have time to go back to your accommodation to rest and freshen up before heading to Lycabettus for sunset (I’m a big fan of taking a late afternoon nap in Athens … the city is pretty dead during the hours of 3-5pm). If you don’t want to go back to your place, if you have enough energy to keep pushing, then use that time to see Syntagma square and watch the famous guards.
Either way, about 60 minutes prior to sunset, start making your way up Lycabettus, which is a hill in Athens with a small church on top and killer sunset views over the city! To get to the top, you can take the funicular or walk the path (it’s paved, not difficult, FREE, and I’d totally recommend walking). There is also a restaurant up at the top of Lycabettus, but it’s pricey.
This stop takes 1-2 hrs | €8 funicular ticket | Restaurant on site | Restrooms at Restaurant
Dinner in Plaka
After watching the sun go down over the city, make your way to the neighborhood of Plaka. This is a classic neighborhood with historic buildings, small boutique shops, and several cafes and restaurants. Take your pick!
Drinks in Psiri
Psiri is a fun neighbood with lots of small bars and restaurants, famous for street art. It’s become very popular with tourists and locals alike!
Athens Itinerary: Day 2
Acropolis & Ancient Agora
The most exciting part of any Athens trip is walking up the Acropolis, standing before the Parthenon, and wandering through the ancient Agora. It is awe-inspiring and well worth its place on any bucket list.
My best tip is try to get there at 8am, first thing in the morning. The weather will be milder and the sites won’t be overrun, yet. Ticket prices vary. Everything on the Acropolis itself (including Parthenon) can be seen for €20, but there are certain times of the year where rates are discounted (late fall through early spring) and certain dates and ticket types (student) are free. So check ahead once you know your dates. Regularly priced tickets can be purchased online! If you are interested in seeing the Ancient Agora (which I think is definitely worth a visit), it’s an extra €10. With this extra €10 though, you also get access to multiple other archeological sites in the area, so you can really make this portion of your day as long as you want.
This stop takes 4-5 hrs | €20-30 (unless discounts apply) | Restrooms on site
Lunch & Rest
Do not plan too much immediately after your half day of walking through history. You want to really enjoy and absorb the sites! Try not to rush through it if possible.
Especially if you exit the archeological area via the Ancient Agora, you’ll have a brief and easy walk to Plaka, which is just as charming during the day as it is at night. Bougainvillea and jasmine drape over balconies, restaurants spill out onto hilly streets, and you’ll have plenty of picturesque options for a late lunch.
I strongly recommend figuring in some time to go back to your accommodations to shower after a long and hot morning of sightseeing, and get a good nap in (trust us, you’ll need it!)
Sunset Dinner & Drinks from a Rooftop
The neighborhoods of Makrigianni, Plaka, and Monasteraki have many rooftop restaurants and bars to choose from, all with excellent views of the Parthenon. You’ll want to make a reservation around sunset time, when the colors of the Parthenon are constantly changing and the night lights begin to illuminate it from below!
Three rooftops that we love and recommend to everyone going to Athens: Dionysus Zonar, Point A , and A is for Athens.
Athens Itinerary: Day 3
Day trip from Athens Itinerary
Day 3 is all about exploring the areas surrounding Athens! Escape the city and see what mainland Greece has to offer! Choose your own Day Trip adventure. Assuming you don’t want to hassle with renting a car, you will probably take some kind of guided tour. Get Your Guide is the best tourist-friendly website where you can see lots of affordable day trip options. Here are a few ideas for you!
Meteora
Ancient monasteries built on top of sheer cliffs along a gorgeous valley. It will blow your mind to learn how these masterpieces were built using essentially pulley systems and baskets. This UNESCO world heritage site is well worth a day trip – in fact we’d even recommend spending the night at Meteora if you have more days in Athens!!
Take a day cruise
In the heat of summer, sometimes a relaxing day on the ocean is exactly what you need! We’ve done this before and had a great time. There are dozens and dozens of tours available … You could focus on archeological sites along the coast such as Epidauros. You could see beautiful cities along the coast by boat, such as Nafplio or Bolos. You could even do some quick island hopping – Aegina, Poros, and Hydra are popular stops! Explore underwater archeological sites by snorkel! The list of day cruises is endless. Again, I’ll refer you to Get Your Guide for more info.
Corinth Canal
An engineering marvel that connects the Aegean and Ionian seas, with cute surrounding towns is a fun day trip, and not too touristic. By that, I mean that it requires very little prior planning and organization, but is still extremely impressive and an important part of Greek History.
Oracle at Delphi
Another fascinating archeological wonder that is accessible as a day trip from Athens! For mythology fans, this is a must see.
This is our Perfect 3 Day Athens Itinerary! We know you’ll love this ancient capital. Comment below what you are most excited to see or do in Athens! Don’t forget to check out our 17 Must-Have Items: Packing List for Greece before you leave!
Well, rounded itinerary, it has it all!!
Thanks
I’m so happy you like it!