Athens was the last stop on our month-long honeymoon in July 2022. We only spent 2 days here, but that was long enough for us as we had seen so much already. There is obviously much more to see in such a large city, and there are also some really cool day trips you can take from Athens if you’re there longer. If you want to check out where we ate during our 2 days, our gluten-free guide is here.
Here’s what you’ll find in this guide (click to jump ahead):
- When to Visit
- Where to Stay
- Things to Do
- A map to help you plan your itinerary
- Other Things to Do (that we haven’t done)
When’s the best time to visit Athens?
We travelled to Athens in July, and it was hot! It was also peak tourist season, so we do recommend trying to go pretty much any time other than July or August. Many businesses close in August for vacation, so you may experience closed shops and restaurants. It can rain in the winter, and if you’re also travelling elsewhere in Greece, you can experience many closures. With this being said, spring or fall are the best times to visit Athens (April/May/June or Sept/Oct).
Where to stay?
We decided to stay at an AirBNB in the Plaka neighbourhood. This neighbourhood was a good choice due to its proximity to the Acropolis archaeological site, and it was close to many restaurants. We had also read that this was the best area to stay for first timers. The area was very walkable to everything; we didn’t need a car or the metro other than to get to/from the airport. We chose an AirBNB over a hotel because we wanted to be able to cook our own breakfasts (gluten-free breakfast is often expensive and hard to find), and to be able to do laundry (we were travelling with carry-on only for a month). Our AirBNB was amazing – it was clean, quiet, spacious, and very accessible to where we wanted to go.
We had also read that Koukaki is a good option if you wanted a “local vibe” and nightlife. Monastiriki was a good option if you want lots of shopping and was good for families.
THINGS TO SEE & DO in ATHENS:
1. Acropolis Archaeological Site (the Parthenon)
Atop the Acropolis in Athens sits the majestic Parthenon! This is a must see while in Athens and will undoubtably be on any “things to do in Athens” lists you search for. We recommend doing this at the beginning of the day when it is less crowded and less hot, and head straight to the top to experience the Parthenon at its least crowded. It opens at 8:00am during tourist season, so we recommend being there to line up at 7:45am.
You can buy tickets at kiosks right at the entrance, or purchase tickets online in advance. We bought skip the line tickets through Get Your Guide, that also included tickets to the museum. You can buy a combination ticket at the kiosks on-site that includes the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Aristotle’s School, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus if you want to see these ruins as well.
You will find the museum right across the street from the main entrance to the Acropolis archaeological site. It houses artifacts that were found at the Parthenon and the Acropolis slopes. It is a new, modern museum with plenty bathrooms, a full restaurant, and gift shop. We spent about 2 hours here, but probably could have spent more time here if we hadn’t already seen so many museums during our 3 weeks in Greece. Hours vary by season, and the museum opens earlier and stays open later during tourist season. We had pre-booked tickets that were combined with our Acropolis tickets, but there was no lineup and they really weren’t needed.
This is the site of the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896. It is the only stadium in the world made completely of marble! We didn’t buy tickets to go inside and sit in the stands, or get a tour, but these are both options if the stadium is at the top of your list. As former athletes, this was a must-visit for us!
4. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Near the Hellenic Parliament Building, you can find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square. The tomb, a war memorial to fallen Greek soldiers, is guarded by a soldier in traditional uniform. Each hour two soldiers perform the changing of the guard, taking about 10 minutes. A special changing of the guard takes place every Sunday at 11:00am. This is a popular event, guarded by many police officers. If you hope to be able to see this special ceremony, you should arrive no later than 10:30am, or you likely will not be able to see much. While you’re here, explore Syntagma Square as well.
5. Plaka
This is the oldest neighbourhood in Athens, where the streets are lined with artisans, cafes, and tourist shops. You will find ruins scattered through streets that you will stumble upon, charming alleys, and old Byzantine churches. The Plaka stretches from the Acropolis to Syntagma Square, but the more interesting streets and shops are near the Acropolis. Have fun wandering through the streets, popping into shops, or grab a coffee and people watch at a local café.
We stumbled upon these as we made our way to the Panathenaic Stadium from our AirBNB. Free to visit, it was completed in 1840 and covers 16 hectares. You can find many ponds, stumble upon scattered ruins, and see many different types of trees. We found it a serene break from the noise of the city, and a welcome retreat from the heat. If you have time, you can also visit the Benaki Museum that is attached to the gardens (we did not). As you make your way here, you may stumble upon Hadrian’s Arch.
7. Monastiriki
We did not get to spend much time in Monastiriki, partly because it was a Sunday when we stumbled upon this neighbourhood, so everything was closed. Monastiriki is a popular neighbourhood with many shops and restaurants. There were many shop doors that were covered in beautiful graffiti – more like artwork than vandalism. You can also find Monastiriki Square, which is a very busy area that is a short walk from the Acropolis. If you go to Monastiriki Square at night like us, just be sure to have your wits about you, as it is very busy and chaotic. Apparently, there is also a flea market in Monastiriki that is quite an experience, but we missed it.
8. Ermou Street
If you’re hoping to get some shopping at popular stores (H&M, Zara, Sephora, etc), head down Ermou Street. Ermou Street passes through Monastiriki and is “the” shopping street in Athens! You can find the Greek department stores Fokas and Attika here as well. If you’re hoping for some good shopping but want something more unique, you can head down the side streets that branch off from Ermou. Down these streets, you will find specialized shops with interesting and innovative items. Despite being the shopping street, you’ll still stumble upon beautiful pieces of history, like this Byzantine church!
Map of Things to do in Athens
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all of the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
Other Things to do:
These are things we didn’t get to see due to our short time in Athens, but came highly recommended on many “Things to do in Athens” lists during our research:
- Temple of Posiedon at Sounion
- Day trip to Hydra (an island with no cars!)
- National Archaeological Museum
- Ancient Agora
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Day trip to Delphi (we did this as part of our road trip around the Peloponnese)