Athens Travel Guide: The Complete Guide to Greece's Capital

Athens is one of the oldest inhabited cities on earth, with continuous settlement going back more than 3,000 years. For most visitors it is primarily the Acropolis, but the city rewards spending more time — the National Archaeological Museum is one of the world’s finest, the food scene has improved dramatically in the past decade, and the neighbourhoods below the Acropolis (Monastiraki, Koukaki, Exarchia) are genuinely interesting places to be.

The Acropolis and Acropolis Hill

The Acropolis sits on a limestone plateau 156m above sea level, dominating the city. The Parthenon (447–432 BC) is the centrepiece — a Doric temple to Athena, goddess of the city. Despite 2,500 years, two explosions (1687 and 1826), and decades of modern pollution damage, it remains remarkably intact.

Entry: Combined ticket (Acropolis + 6 other sites) is €30/adult, €15 reduced (as of 2026). Free entry on the first Sunday of each month (October to March) and several national holidays. Book online at etickets.tap.gr to avoid the gate queue.

Opening hours: 8am–8pm in summer (April–October), 8am–5pm in winter.

Getting there: Metro to Acropolis (Line 2/red) or Monastiraki (Line 1/green, Line 3/blue). The main entrance is on the south side via the Beulé Gate.

What to see beyond the Parthenon: The Erechtheion (with its famous Caryatid porch), the Propylaea gateway, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the spectacular views across the city and toward Piraeus and the Aegean.

The Acropolis Museum (€10 adult, open 9am–5pm Mon–Thu, 9am–10pm Fri–Sun) sits at the base of the hill and houses the original surviving sculptures and friezes. Worth 2–3 hours.

The Ancient Agora

The Agora was the commercial and civic heart of ancient Athens. It lies northwest of the Acropolis and is included in the combined Acropolis ticket.

The best-preserved building is the Temple of Hephaestus (c.450 BC), one of the most complete ancient Greek temples anywhere. The Stoa of Attalos, a reconstructed 2nd-century BC colonnade, now houses a museum with everyday objects from ancient Athenian life.

National Archaeological Museum

The finest collection of ancient Greek art and artefacts in the world. Highlights include the Mask of Agamemnon (found at Mycenae, possibly 16th century BC), the Antikythera mechanism (an ancient analogue computer), and the Bronze Poseidon of Artemision.

Entry: €12 adult, €6 reduced (as of 2026). Located in Exarchia (28 Oktovriou-Patision 44). Metro to Omonia, then 10 minutes’ walk.

Opening hours: 9am–4pm Mon, 9am–8pm Tue–Sun.

Where to Stay in Athens

Budget (up to €60/night): Athens Backpackers (Monastiraki, from approximately €20/dorm, reliable hostel with Acropolis views), City Circus Athens (Monastiraki, creative design hostel, from €22/dorm or €65/private).

Mid-range (€80–180/night): Hotel Athens Was (Monastiraki, good value with rooftop views, from approximately €110), O&B Athens Boutique Hotel (Monastiraki, design-focused, from approximately €140), Herodion Hotel (Koukaki, quiet location near Acropolis entrance, from approximately €120).

Upmarket (€200+/night): Hotel Grande Bretagne (Syntagma Square, Athens’s grandest historic hotel, from approximately €350), New Hotel (Filellinon, Philippe Starck design, from approximately €280).

Where to Eat in Athens

Monastiraki and Psirri: Thanasis (best souvlaki in the city, Mitropoleos 69, approximately €3 per skewer), Karamanlidika tou Fani (excellent deli-taverna specialising in charcuterie and mezedes, Sokratous 1, approximately €20–30 per person), Diporto (hidden taverna with simple, cheap traditional food, no menu, just what’s available that day, Theatrou Square).

Koukaki and Petralona: Steki tou Ilia (the city’s most famous lamb chop restaurant — tables on Thessalonikeon Street, approximately €18 per kilo for chops), Mavro Provato (modern Greek food using quality ingredients, Arrianou 31, approximately €30–40 per person).

Central Market (Varvakios Agora): The Athens Central Market on Athinas Street is one of the finest covered markets in Europe — fish hall, meat hall, herbs, and produce. Eat at the simple tavernas inside the market; lunch from approximately €8–12.

Getting Around Athens

The metro is the most useful transport for tourists — three lines, single ticket €1.40 (valid 90 minutes, includes transfers). The Airport Express (Line 3/blue) runs from Monastiraki/Syntagma to Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) in approximately 40 minutes; €10 single, €18 return.

Buses cover the wider city; tickets are the same €1.40 price. Taxis are metered — expect approximately €3.50–5 base fare, then €0.74/km within Athens. The app Taxibeat (Beat) allows you to book taxis and see the estimated price in advance.

Walking is the best way to cover the central area — from Monastiraki to the Acropolis entrance is 10 minutes, and most of Plaka, Monastiraki, and Psirri is walkable in under 20 minutes.

Day Trips from Athens

Cape Sounion (70km): The Temple of Poseidon sits on a dramatic cliff above the Aegean — worth visiting at sunset. KTEL buses from Pedion tou Areos depart regularly; approximately €7 single, 2 hours.

Delphi (180km): The ancient oracle site, arguably the most atmospheric ancient Greek site after the Acropolis. Bus from Liossion Bus Terminal (KTEL Fokidas), approximately €18 single, 3 hours.

Nafplio (145km): The most beautiful small city in Greece — Venetian old town, a clifftop castle, and excellent restaurants. Bus from Kifissos Bus Terminal (KTEL Argolidos), approximately €15 single, 2.5 hours.

Aegina (island): 40-minute ferry from Piraeus (approximately €8 single), a peaceful Saronic island with an intact ancient temple of Aphaia and excellent pistachios.

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