A photograph of Athens

City guide · Greece

Up to 1 hour in Athens, Greece

Athens combines an ancient pedestrian core with a much larger modern city. The Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki and the Ancient Agora form the central visitor clus...

Photograph · Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de

4,205 Places
Suggested stay
2–3 days
Getting around
Walk, metro, tram and bus

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Athens

Editorial responsibility: Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Athens combines an ancient pedestrian core with a much larger modern city. The Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki and the Ancient Agora form the central visitor cluster. Syntagma and Kolonaki extend east, while the National Archaeological Museum lies north and the coast runs far to the south. Piraeus is a separate port city within the wider urban area and needs its own journey.

Checked 2026-08-26

Practical information

Language spoken
Greek
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+30
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers the mainland and all islands

Planning a visit

November · November averages 19°C by day and 12°C at night in Athens, with about five daily sunshine hours.

  1. January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  2. February: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  3. March: good time to visit
  4. April: best time to visit
  5. May: best time to visit
  6. June: good time to visit
  7. July: recurring difficult conditions
  8. August: recurring difficult conditions
  9. September: good time to visit
  10. October: best time to visit
  11. November: good time to visit — current month
  12. December: viable with meaningful trade-offs

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Anafiotika
    02 45 min

    Anafiotika

    Anafiotika is a tiny, scenic neighbourhood in the centre of Athens and part of the old historic quarter of Plaka. It lies on the north-east side of the Acropolis hill, directly below the ancient citadel.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
  2. Temple of Olympian Zeus Temple of Olympian Zeus
    03 45 min

    Temple of Olympian Zeus

    Ναός του Ολυμπίου Διός

    The Temple of Olympian Zeus stands inside the archaeological site of the Olympieion, the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus that occupied the low ground between the Acropolis and the hill of Ardittos, on the banks of the Ilissos.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  3. Panathenaic Stadium Panathenaic Stadium
    04 1 hour

    Panathenaic Stadium

    Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο

    The Panathenaic Stadium, called Kallimarmaro for its marble, is the horseshoe-shaped arena of Athens's first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  4. Odeon of Herodes Atticus Odeon of Herodes Atticus
    05 45 min

    Odeon of Herodes Atticus

    Ωδείο Ηρώδου Αττικού

    The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone Roman theatre structure on the southwest slope of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  5. Roman Agora of Athens Roman Agora of Athens
    06 45 min

    Roman Agora of Athens

    Ρωμαϊκή Αγορά Αθηνών

    The Roman Agora is an archaeological site in central Athens, located to the north of the Acropolis. It was constructed during the Roman period and served as a commercial and administrative centre, distinct from the earlier Classical Agora.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  6. Syntagma Square Syntagma Square
    07 45 min

    Syntagma Square

    Πλατεία Συντάγματος

    Syntagma Square is the central plaza of Athens, Greece, serving as the political and geographic heart of the capital. It derives its name from the Greek constitution (syntagma) granted in 1843.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  7. Old Royal Palace
    08 45 min

    Old Royal Palace

    Βουλή των Ελλήνων

    The Old Royal Palace is the first royal palace of modern Greece, a neoclassical building facing Syntagma Square in central Athens.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  8. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Athens
    09 45 min

    Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Athens

    Μνημείο Αγνώστου Στρατιώτου

    The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a war memorial in Syntagma Square, Athens, in front of the Old Royal Palace, which now houses the Parliament.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  9. Monastiraki Square Monastiraki Square
    10 45 min

    Monastiraki Square

    Monastiraki Square is a public square in central Athens, Greece. It serves as a meeting point between the old city and the modern commercial district.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  10. Temple of Hephaestus Temple of Hephaestus
    11 45 min

    Temple of Hephaestus

    Ναός Ηφαίστου

    The Temple of Hephaestus stands in the Ancient Agora of Athens, a well-preserved Doric temple dedicated to Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking. Constructed largely of Pentelic marble, it dominates the western side of the agora.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  11. Kerameikos Kerameikos
    12 45 min

    Kerameikos

    Αρχαιολογικός Χώρος Κεραμεικού

    Kerameikos is an ancient cemetery and archaeological site in Athens, located northwest of the Acropolis along the Eridanos River. The area served as the primary burial ground for the city from the 12th century BC through Roman times.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  12. Hadrian's Library Hadrian's Library
    13 45 min

    Hadrian's Library

    Βιβλιοθήκη του Αδριανού

    Hadrian's Library is a walled Roman enclosure in the middle of Athens, a few minutes north of the Acropolis and immediately east of Monastiraki Square.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  13. Arch of Hadrian Arch of Hadrian
    14 45 min

    Arch of Hadrian

    Πύλη του Αδριανού

    The Arch of Hadrian, known locally as Πύλη του Αδριανού, is a monumental gateway in Athens, Greece. Erected in the second century CE, it stands on the ancient road between the Athenian Agora and the Olympieion.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  14. National Garden of Athens National Garden of Athens
    15 1 hour

    National Garden of Athens

    Εθνικός Κήπος

    The National Garden of Athens is a public park situated in the heart of the Greek capital, directly behind the Hellenic Parliament building. Established in the nineteenth century, it occupies a central location between the districts of Syntagma and Pangrati.

    • Must see
    • Nature site
  15. Zappeion
    16 30 min

    Zappeion

    The Zappeion is a large, palatial neoclassical building beside the National Gardens in the heart of Athens and one of the city's best-known modern landmarks.

    • Notable
    • Historic site
  16. Theatre of Dionysus Theatre of Dionysus
    17 45 min

    Theatre of Dionysus

    Θέατρο του Διονύσου

    The Theatre of Dionysus is an ancient Greek theatre on the south slope of the Acropolis in Athens. It is widely regarded as the birthplace of European theatre and the first home of dramatic performances.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  17. Stoa of Attalos
    18 45 min

    Stoa of Attalos

    Στοά του Αττάλου

    The Stoa of Attalos is a stoa, a covered walkway or portico, on the east side of the Agora of Athens.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  18. Areopagus
    19 45 min

    Areopagus

    Άρειος Πάγος

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  19. Philopappos Monument Philopappos Monument
    20 45 min

    Philopappos Monument

    Μνημείο Φιλοπάππου

    The Philopappos Monument is an ancient funerary monument situated on Mouseion Hill, southwest of the Athenian Acropolis.

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  20. Pnyx
    21 45 min

    Pnyx

    Πνύκα

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  21. Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
    22 30 min

    Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

    Μητροπολιτικός Ναός Αθηνών

    The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, also known as the Cathedral of the Annunciation, is the principal cathedral of the Church of Greece in the capital.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  22. Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea
    23 30 min

    Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea

    Παναγία Καπνικαρέα

    The Church of Panagia Kapnikarea is a Byzantine-era church standing prominently on Ermou Street in central Athens. It dates to the 11th century, though portions may reflect earlier construction.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
  23. Lyceum
    24 45 min

    Lyceum

    Λύκειο Αριστοτέλη

    • Must see
    • Historic site
  24. Kaisariani Monastery Kaisariani Monastery
    25 30 min

    Kaisariani Monastery

    Kaisariani Monastery is a Byzantine-era monastery on the wooded slopes of Mount Hymettus, east of central Athens. It combines a historic Orthodox religious complex with a peaceful mountain setting, making it a rewarding change from the city's archaeological centre.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Use the Acropolis as the central landmark. Plaka and Anafiotika sit on its northern and eastern slopes, Monastiraki and the Ancient Agora lie northwest, and Syntagma stands farther east. The National Garden links Syntagma with the Olympic and museum zone. Exarchia and the National Archaeological Museum are north of the centre, while coastal districts and Piraeus require metro, tram or bus connections.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk through the Acropolis-Plaka-Monastiraki core and use the integrated OASA network for longer journeys. Metro, tram, buses and trolleybuses cover Athens and its suburbs, with Line 3 connecting the airport and central city. The tram is useful for selected coastal routes, while Piraeus is best treated as a separate transport leg. Consult OASA for current routes and ticket products.

Checked 2026-08-26

More city guides

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Athens?

Suggested stay for a first visit: 2–3 days. Build the visit around the Acropolis core, central museums and neighbourhoods, then add the coast or Piraeus only when time permits.

Can I walk between the main ancient sites?

Yes. The Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki and the Ancient Agora form a practical central walking area. Use transit for the National Archaeological Museum, coast and Piraeus.

What public transport serves Athens?

The OASA network includes metro, tram, buses and trolleybuses. One integrated network connects the centre with suburbs, the airport corridor and major visitor districts.

How do I reach Athens from the airport?

OASA identifies Metro Line 3 and airport express buses as direct public transport options. Check the operator before travel because airport ticket products differ from ordinary urban journeys.

Is Piraeus part of the central Athens walking route?

No. Piraeus belongs to the wider urban area but is a separate port destination. Give it a dedicated metro or bus journey rather than adding it to an Acropolis walk.