2-Day Athens Itinerary
If you are only in Athens for a few days and wish to explore its top monuments, museums and neighbourhoods, check out our 2-day Athens itinerary.
Since Greece is packed with picturesque places to discover, you will probably only want to spend a few days in its capital. This is why we have created this 48-hour itinerary of Athens.
We have written this circuit imagining you arrive in Athens on Friday afternoon and depart on Sunday evening. If you plan to visit the city another day of the week, we suggest you check the opening times of the various sights in case these vary.
Since the opening hours differ greatly between summer and winter, we have used the winter timetables, so you don't find any of the landmarks closed.
If you want to make the most of your time without getting too tired, you can explore the city on a tourist bus in Athens. You can purchase a ticket here:
Arrival Day
Once you drop off your luggage at your hotel, we recommend you spend the rest of the evening going for a walk in Plaka and Monastiraki, the most charming and traditional areas in Athens.
The fastest way to arrive at your hotel from the airport, worry and hassle-free, is a convenient transfer service. Check out our transfer services for smooth travels.
With the last few hours of sunlight left, take advantage and go on a tour of Plaka and Monastiraki, two iconic areas in Athens.
The best starting point is Monastiraki Square, a plaza in the historic centre of Athens and the hub of Athenian life. From there, stroll down Ermou Street to Syntagma Square, which is home to the Hellenic Parliament. Then take Adrianou Street. The west of Adrianou is full of fantastic restaurants with views of the Acropolis, and the east part of the street is home to dozens of souvenir shops.
If you want to discover the city’s nightlife, we recommend two neighbourhoods in downtown Athens: Thiseio, a traditional neighbourhood with trendy bars to the west of Adrianou Street (climbing up the steps), and Psiri, considered the nightlife district of the capital with hundreds of bars, clubs and cafés.
If you prefer your first venture out into the city to be alongside a knowledgeable guide, don't miss out on this night tour through Plaka and Monastiraki.
Day 1
On the first full day in Athens, we suggest you first visit the striking Acropolis, the world-famous complex located on a rocky hill. The best way to do this is to head to the lively Plaka district and wander up the steep and narrow streets of Anafiotika, a small and picturesque neighbourhood. This district does not have many direction signs to the “upper city”, so you might have to ask the locals. For this visit, we recommend you get up early to avoid the crowds of tourists, and this way, you'll also make the most of your weekend in this fascinating and chaotic city.
To skip the lines and make your wait shorter, we recommend booking your tickets to the Acropolis in advance:
The Acropolis is home to several striking ancient Greek monuments, including the majestic Parthenon, the large Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the beautifully preserved Temple of Athena Nike. Once you have explored all these sights, walk down the southern side of the outcrop to discover the Theatre of Dionysus, erected in the sixth century BC. It could seat up to 17,000 spectators.
If you want a comprehensive tour of the Acropolis, to make sure you don't miss a single inch, book a tour with one of our experienced guides to further enhance your experience.
You'll go around the hill of the Acropolis, pass by the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and arrive at Thiseio, the square that determines one of the ends of Adrianou Street. Taking this street you'll reach the Ancient Agora, the second most important sight of Classical Greece. The most important parts of the Ancient Agora are the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalus.
Continue by foot down Adrianou Street until you get to Hadrian’s Library, created in AD 132 and once a beautiful bibliotheca. Nowadays, there is practically nothing left of the ruins.
Very close to this landmark are the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds. This ancient spire once combined a sundial and a water clock. In the 6th century, it was transformed into a church and for this reason, is magnificently preserved.
By this stage, it will probably be time for lunch. Monastiraki and Plaka are some of the best areas to taste the mouthwatering Greek cuisine. You will also find numerous fast-food joints.
After topping up your energy level, the next stop is the Acropolis Museum. From your restaurant, find your way back to Adrianou Street (head east) until the end of the boulevard. Advance on Vyronos Street, pass by the Theatre of Dionysus until you locate the museum.
You can purchase tickets to the Acropolis Museum here: Acropolis Museum Ticket.
Once you tour the most-visited museum of Athens, we suggest you spend the rest of the afternoon meandering the streets of Athens to get a feel of the city. We recommend exploring Ermou Street from Monastiraki (walking back down Adrianou Street) till you get to Syntagma Square.
Stadiou Street and Panepistimiou Street are two popular shopping streets that branch out of Syntagma Square. If you want to discover the city’s high-end boutiques, then explore Voukourestiou Street which leads to Kolonaki, the classiest neighbourhood in Athens.
After a bit of shopping, head to Mount Lycabettus and have a drink in one of the numerous panoramic terraces. This hill is 300 meters (984 feet) above sea level and offers the best views of the capital. This attraction is extremely enjoyable both by day and by night, and you can either walk up or take the funicular.
The best areas to head to for dinner from Kolonaki are Plaka and Monastiraki.
If you want to take one last stroll around the city, we recommend booking the Athens Night Tour.
Day 2
The first stop of day two is the Hellenic Parliament, near Syntagma Square. You'll see the Changing of the Guard in front of the Greek Parliament at 11 am.
After admiring this popular tourist ceremony take Panepistimiou Street until you get to Omonia Square. Panepistimiou is flanked by beautiful buildings like the National Library.
Turn off on Patision Street to the National Archaeological Museum, the second most important museum of Athens. A visit to this gallery is a must!
To avoid queues, you can buy a ticket here:
At the exit of the museum, take the metro, a taxi or stroll to the next stop which is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, near the Acropolis metro station.
Then, continue down Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas until you get to the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were celebrated. The audio tour is quite interesting and explains the history of this world-famous sports competition.
Next, head to the National Garden, a great place to rest and switch off from the busy streets of Athens. Take the northeast exit and you’ll find yourself in Syntagma Square.
If your flight departs in the afternoon, you probably won’t have time to do anything else. We recommend you find a restaurant in Syntagma Square and its surroundings.
Over 2 days in Athens?
If you're staying in Athens for over two days, we suggest you explore the charming natural port of Piraeus and other attractive museums like Benaki and the Museum of Cycladic Art. Kerameikos, an ancient cemetery is also worth exploring.
If you prefer to visit the neighbouring towns, Greece is packed with stunning areas. Check out these popular day trips from Athens during your stay:
