There are such a lot of thrilling issues to do in Athens, it may be laborious to resolve what to do. Athens is an iconic vacation spot, steeped in historical historical past and stuffed with scrumptious meals choices. But, regardless of all this, many individuals solely spend a day or two in Athens earlier than heading to one of many Greek Islands.
This listing will provide help to resolve what to do in Athens throughout your time there — regardless of how lengthy your go to is. I’ve been to Athens twice and love town, that is positively probably the greatest locations to go to in Greece.
Learn on to find out about the very best 25 issues to do in Athens!
Observe: this listing of issues to see in Athens has been up to date 2022 to mirror the present high issues to do, the most recent costs, finest excursions, and extra. Get pleasure from your journey to Greece!
1. Climb to the Acropolis
Seeing the Fifth century Acropolis is the preferred factor to do in Athens.
After all, which means everybody desires to go there, together with guests from the cruise ships. My recommendation is to get there early. The location opens at 8 am and the cruise ship passengers arrive round 10 am.
Most individuals go to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon however there are a number of different issues to see on the hill, together with the Erechtheion, the Arrhephorion, and the Temple of Athena Nike.
From the Acropolis, you may see a lot of Athens and might see all the way in which to the ocean. The doorway charge is €20 ($23.25).
To find out about the entire unimaginable historical past right here, be part of a non-public strolling tour. The tour may even take you to the museum (under). There are a number of various kinds of excursions you may take, click on right here to be taught extra a few highly-rated, skip-the-line tour.
2. Go to the Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is one in all most lovely museums I’ve ever been to. It’s stuffed with pure mild, which highlights the artifacts nicely.
Right here you may get a detailed take a look at the Parthenon frieze replicas on show. The cafe balcony additionally presents nice views of Athens. You possibly can be taught extra in regards to the Acropolis on my weblog.
Both earlier than or after you go to the Acropolis, you need to go to the Acropolis Museum. It’s not removed from the doorway of the Acropolis and the doorway charge is just €5 ($5.80).
Line-ups right here will be big, to skip the road, buy your ticket forward of time right here for simply $8. Alternatively, you should purchase an all-inclusive ticket for each the museum and the Acropolis right here.
3. See Hadrian’s Library
This library just isn’t a library within the sense we all know immediately, it was a spot of research, not a spot the place books have been lent.
Hadrian’s Library was constructed round 132 AD for housing paperwork and studying rooms. There’s not a lot left however you may clearly see the format of the library and there’s glorious signage.
The doorway charge is €4 ($4.70). Hadrian’s Library is positioned within the Monastiraki neighborhood not removed from the Acropolis.
4. Go To Edem Seaside
Going to the seashore is among the lesser-known issues to do in Athens as most individuals assume you need to go to the islands to get pleasure from some seashore time. Though it’s not one of many finest seashores in Greece, it’s nonetheless a terrific place to chill out and benefit from the sea.
Take your personal towel and umbrella if you’d like one, as there are none obtainable there. You will get a terrific meal on the Edem Taverna positioned on the seashore.
To get to Edem Seaside, take the Inexperienced Line tram at Syntagma Sq. and take it within the course of Askllipiio Voulas, and get off on the Edem cease. The 24-hour tram ticket is €4.50 and there’s no charge for the seashore.
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5. See The Decorations at Little KooK
I found Little KooK on my most up-to-date journey to Athens. Every vacation season it’s adorned inside and outdoors the restaurant. After I was there it was adorned for Halloween.
Little KooK is principally a dessert cafe, however the high attraction is the decorations. That is most likely essentially the most Instagrammable place in Athens apart from the Acropolis!
6. Take a Avenue Artwork Tour
Avenue artwork is straightforward to seek out in Athens and ranges from basic graffiti artwork to fashionable avenue artwork.
Whereas you will discover a lot of it by yourself within the Plaka space, this tour is obtainable by an precise avenue artist. The artist will take you to the established artwork spots, in addition to new items which have just lately appeared.
The highly-rated tour lasts 3 hours. Have your digital camera or cellphone able to take images. Click on right here to be taught extra about this tour and to ebook.
7. Seize a Drink at A is For Athens
For the very best view of the Acropolis at night time, you need to have a specialty cocktail at A is For Athens cocktail bar — it’s one of many closest viewing factors of the Acropolis. Should you’re searching for cool issues to do in Athens within the night, this can be a great spot.
It’s truly a resort, so you possibly can keep right here and see the Acropolis within the morning for breakfast as nicely!
The cocktails vary from €12 to €20. They didn’t have any soda (pop) so don’t come right here to order rum and Coke. All the cocktails have nice names referencing Greek historical past and tradition.
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8. Eat The Greatest Yogurtlu and Souvlaki
O Thanasis is among the hottest locations to eat within the Plaka. It’s so standard that even Greeks eat right here. One of the best factor to eat is the Yogurtlu, which is a beef kebab coated in yogurt on a mattress of pita bread.
The Yogurtlu is massive sufficient to separate with somebody and it’ll solely set you again €9.90. The folks at O Thanasis are pleasant and never pushy. The souvlaki can also be probably the greatest on the town.
(Replace 2021: a Greek reader has suggested us that Agrafa restaurant has the very best souvlaki in Athens. Perhaps attempt them each?!…)
9. Go to the Benaki Museum
Visiting the Benaki Museum is among the finest cultural issues to do in Athens.
The Benaki Museum is a museum of Greek tradition starting from prehistory to the twentieth century. The gathering presents rooms from homes, massive sculptures, and smaller gadgets like swords and historic paperwork.
The museum is a brief stroll from Syntagma Sq.. It’s positioned in a fantastic Neo-classic constructing and you may get pleasure from a espresso and the view from the cafe. Skip-the-line tickets to the museum will be bought forward of time, right here.
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10. Smash Issues at Limba Rage Room
Feeling a bit stressed? Must get some rage out? Limba Rage Room is the place to do exactly that!
You buy a package deal (which may embody plates, bottles, a tube TV and glasses), and also you smash them! It’s a terrific stress reliever and some of the distinctive issues to do in Athens.
There are a selection of packages for each price range. They vary from €10 to €100. Don’t fear, they offer you protecting gear to put on. It’s positioned simply down the road from Little KooK.
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11. Drink a Greek Espresso
Sampling a freddo cappuccino is among the must-do issues in Athens. This is only one of three basic Greek coffees, there’s additionally a frappe and a freddo espresso.
The frappe just isn’t like a Starbucks frappe however as an alternative is made with on the spot espresso, water and sugar (when you select).
The freddo cappuccino is espresso topped with frothy milk.
The freddo espresso is simply swirled espresso over ice. All of those coffees pack a critical caffeine punch however since they’re all served chilly, it’s nice on a scorching day in Athens.
Espresso tradition in Greece is a really huge deal. Not solely do locals drink espresso (scorching or chilly) quite a few instances all through the day, however as legend would have it, your fortune will be advised by studying the dregs of espresso left on the backside of your cup.
The subsequent time you’re completed consuming your espresso in Athens, be certain that to ask somebody to point out you easy methods to learn your fortune!
12. Go to the Museum of Cycladic Artwork
The Museum of Cycladic Artwork is dwelling to some of the full non-public collections of Cycladic Artwork. That is particularly nice to see when you received’t be visiting one of many Cycladic islands in your journey to Greece.
A lot of the artifacts on show are marble items together with bottles, plates, and requirements. There are some steel objects as nicely. The items of marble are principally white making them beautiful of their simplicity.
This museum in Athens is open Μonday – Wednesday – Friday – Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, Thursday from 10:00 to twenty:00, Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. The doorway charge is €7.
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13. Store in The Plaka
The Plaka is a neighborhood positioned under the Acropolis. A lot of this space has been closed off to visitors, though supply vans nonetheless are allowed by and a few streets are open.
The chain shops and extra upscale retailers are on Ermou Avenue — the place you will discover retailers like Sephora and H&M.
Then there are vacationer retailers and lower-end retailers, that are additional down previous Monastiraki Sq.. Right here you will discover souvenirs you would possibly wish to deliver dwelling in your family and friends. Plus, this can be a nice space for folks watching.
14. Watch the Altering of The Guard
This is among the finest issues to do in Athens. To catch this weekly occasion, you should be in Athens on a Sunday. The Altering of the Guard takes place on the Parliament Constructing at Syntagma. It takes place at 11:00am and is free to look at.
Whereas the guards do change hourly, on Sundays at 11:00 there are extra guards than regular, they’re dressed within the conventional Greek uniform and the ceremony is extra complicated.
Sundays are the very best day to see the altering of the guards in Athens. And whereas they might look a bit uncommon, they’re extremely educated troopers referred to as the Evezone.
15. Go to Monastiraki Sq.
Should you sit in Monastiraki Sq. lengthy sufficient, I swear you will note everybody in Athens stroll by. That is the place to look at vacationers and locals work together.
Additionally it is a historic website with a Ninth-century church, a Nineteenth-century mosque and within the subway station are antiques discovered in the course of the constructing of the metro.
This is among the most bustling locations in Athens and chilling out right here is among the finest issues to do in Athens.
16. Get Customized Made Greek Sandals
If you are purchasing within the Plaka, you’ll want to cease at Pantelis Melissions The Poet Sandalmaker for a pair of custom-made Greek sandals. This store has been round since 1920 and has been handed down from technology to technology.
You will get a basic pair in fundamental leather-based or get a elaborate pair with decorations or metallics. The costs vary from €40 to €50.
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17. Eat Loukoumades
Loukoumades is a Greek donut. It’s a small puff pastry that’s soaked in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. I had one with sesame seeds as soon as too. They’re scrumptious!
One of the best place in Athens to get loukoumades is on the aptly named Lukumades. It isn’t removed from O Thanasis so after consuming your kebab you may have a donut for dessert!
18. Watch the Sundown at Lycabettus Hill
Watching the sundown from Lycabettus Hill is among the finest issues to do in Athens. Not solely is the sundown beautiful, however you get superb views of Athens from right here. You may as well see the Acropolis all lit up for the night.
There’s a funicular to take you up and down when you don’t wish to climb the hill. The fee for the funicular is €7.50 return or €5 for a one-way ticket.
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19. Go to the Nationwide Archaeology Museum
The Nationwide Archaeology Museum has many artifacts starting from prehistory to late antiquity. The artifacts are from throughout Greece and the world. It additionally has an Egyptian assortment.
The museum is north of the Acropolis. You possibly can take the metro to the Victoria station and stroll from there. The doorway charge is €10.
20. Take a Strolling Tour (probably the greatest issues to do in Athens for foodies)
There’s a multitude of strolling excursions to soak up Athens. These are nice if you’d like somebody to provide the historical past and background of what you might be seeing.
Should you do one that features the Acropolis, they often have a skip the road possibility which will be nice in case you are there in the summertime.
However, not all of the excursions in Athens are about historical past. There may be an incredible meals tour and a wine tour. The costs fluctuate relying on the size and what’s included and vary, however all are inexpensive.
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21. Take a Day Journey to Hydra
You possibly can nonetheless go to a Greek island whereas in your journey to Athens!
Hydra is a small island that enables no vehicles. A lot of the issues to do are positioned proper within the port together with eating places and purchasing. There may be even a swimming spot a five-minute stroll away.
Hydra is about an hour ferry trip away when you take the quick ferry. The fee is about €56 return. You catch the ferry at Piraeus port. Spend the day in Hydra and be again in Athens for dinner.
Another choice is to hitch a full-day tour that takes you to Hydra, Poros and Aegina islands aboard a luxurious cruise ship. Click on right here to be taught extra.
22. Go to Parliament Constructing
Even when you don’t see the Altering of the Guard, the Parliament constructing is value a go to. It was constructed between 1836 and 1842 and was dwelling to the primary fashionable King of Greece.
It grew to become the Parliament constructing in 1935 after the monarchy was abolished in 1929. I recommend seeing it at night time when it’s superbly lit.
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23. Eat Gyros
You can’t come to Athens and never have a basic gyro. They’re obtainable nearly all over the place and you may have enjoyable looking for the very best one. A seek for your favorite gyro is among the finest issues to do in Athens for foodies!
The gyro consists of rooster or lamb, french fries, onions, and tomatoes all wrapped up in comfortable pita bread. Generally you may organize them open-faced on a plate. They’re fairly huge, so when you’ve achieved tons of strolling that is the meal for you!
24. Take a Day Crusing Journey
One among my favourite issues to do in Greece is to sail. You possibly can be part of a crusing journey that lasts all day, or take a half-day tour. You possibly can even sail to a number of the islands.
Most of those sails are on catamarans making it simpler for the non-sailor to regulate their sea legs. This is among the finest methods to chill out in Greece. Click on right here for a top-rated crusing journey (on an precise sailboat) that takes you to Agistri, Moni & Aegina.
Or, when you’d favor a catamaran journey in Athens, click on right here for particulars.
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25. Go to the Temple of Poseidon
This beautiful historical temple sits on the Aegean Sea and was constructed within the Fifth-century. An inscription on the temple confirms that it was constructed for Poseidon.
It’s best to attempt to be right here early within the morning or for sundown. You possibly can generally see a number of islands on a transparent day from the temple.
Technically this can be a day journey from Athens because it’s 70kms south of town. There’s a bus from Athens from the Mavromateon Terminal and you may also get it from Syntagma Sq.. Search for the bus going to Sounio. The bus fare one-way is €6.90.
Should you’d reasonably be part of a tour and never have to fret about transportation, try this highly-rated half-day tour to Poseidon.
Bonus!
There are greater than 25 enjoyable issues to do in Athens, listed here are a pair extra actions so as to add to your listing:
26. Stroll By the Roman Agora
The Roman Agora is positioned proper down the hill from the Acropolis. It was constructed as a market after Athens grew to become a part of the Roman Empire within the 1st-century.
After I was there, it was very empty making a pleasant change from the crowds of the Acropolis. It’s a pleasant place to discover. Nonetheless, there’s not a lot signage so you’ll have to look issues up after you go. The doorway charge is €6.
27. Discover the Athens Central Market
That is the basic out of doors market with shouting distributors and all of the smells that come together with it. I found it after I stayed in a resort proper out there. The fruits in Greece look and odor superb so even when you don’t purchase something it’s nonetheless a terrific place to go to.
The opposite factor to notice is that many of the distributors don’t communicate English, however you may level to gadgets that you just’re focused on and use signal language (or a translation app).
There’s additionally meat and fish in case you are in self-catering lodging. I liked this market as a result of it felt like such an authentically Greek expertise.
28. Donate Your Time: Volunteer in Athens
Should you’re an animal particular person, there are a number of volunteer choices so that you can assist out with deserted and stray animals. Take a look at ZEIL, SGS or SCARS the place you may help with strolling and caring for canine and cats.
This is probably not one of many extra touristy issues to do in Athens, however in case you have some further time, or if you need to assist out, it’s positively one of many extra rewarding actions within the metropolis.
29. Go to the Panagia Kapnikarea Church
Constructed within the eleventh century, this is among the oldest church buildings in Athens. The fascinating factor about this Greek Orthodox church is that it’s surrounded by fashionable buildings! You will discover it right here on the map.
Now You Know What To Do in Athens
As you may see there are such a lot of issues to do in Athens. You possibly can even make a theme for every day you might be there — exploring all of the meals choices, seeing all of the archaeology websites, and aimlessly exploring and seeing what you may uncover!
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Have you ever been to Athens? What was your favourite factor to do whilst you have been there?
Observe: Photos on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
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