The Absolute Best Things To Do In Athens (2026)

A comprehensive guide for the best things to do in Athens, with recommendations on where to go and what to see in the birthplace of Western civilisation.

The Greek temple of Erechtheion showing statues of female figures as columns surrounded by temple ruins and grass with a mountain in the back under clear blue skies, visiting here is one of the best things to do in Athens.

Greece is the cradle of democracy, the Olympic games and home of the most brilliant ancient philosophers in the world. The country attracts millions of tourists from around the world every year because of its jaw-dropping scenery, mild climate and delicious food.

As someone who really loves all things Greek, I say that you should visit Greece at least once to experience its unparalleled hospitality, incredible nature and rich history.

Athens is a perfect place to start your journey in Greece since it’s the center of the country’s political and cultural life. The Greek capital is a sprawling city that is strikingly different from some of the country’s most popular places.

A charming staircase street in Plaka adorned with green chairs, tables, and a wooden chair with wheels. The street is lined with orange and white houses featuring large windows covered in vines, complemented by an array of potted plants.

While many visitors simply use Athens as a starting point for their trip to the Greek Islands, I recommend setting aside at least 2 days to see some of the landmarks in Athens.

This itinerary covers the top places to visit in Athens that you should see whether it’s your first trip to Greece or not.

Where to stay in Athens

There are tons of places to stay in Athens, from more expensive options with a view of Acropolis to budget accommodations in areas such as Omonia.

While some areas may look a bit shabby because of graffiti and homeless people, Athens is generally a safe place, so don’t feel intimidated if you happen to walk in a neighborhood with a lot of street art.

Recommended hotels in Athens

Coco-Mat Athens Hotel

Boulevard Suite at Coco-Mat Athens Boutique Hotel

Located in the upmarket area of Kolonaki, Coco-Mat Athens is an understated yet super stylish designer hotel.

>Book Coco-Mat Athens here

The Zillers Boutique Hotel

Possibly the finest view in the whole of Athens. The Zillers Boutique Hotel is located in the district of Plaka, and has an open view to Mitropoleos Square and the Acropolis.

>Book The Zillers Boutique Hotel here

How to get around Athens

The best way to get around Athens is by metro. It’s very easy to navigate and relatively cheap.

Vallianeio Megaron, a neoclassical masterpiece with grand columns and elegant balconies. Its windows frame views of lush greenery under clear blue skies. Discover this architectural gem among the things to do in Athens.

However, if you want to spend more time sightseeing, I recommend buying tickets for Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus in Athens that will take you to some of the best places to visit in Athens.

Taxi in Athens

Another option is to take a taxi which starts around 1.5 Euros, and most of the time you need no more than 10-15 minutes to get to major touristy spots in Athens depending on where you are. Uber in Athens exists in the form of Uber Taxi, and is popular with locals and tourists.

Best time to visit Athens

Athens sees the highest visitation in summer when many travelers stop there before heading to the Greek Isles such as Corfu and Syros. Summer also brings some of the highest temperatures and most expensive lodging and airfare rates due to the high demand.

A stunning ancient amphitheater of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Its stone seating encircles the stage made of stone bricks with large arched windows under clear blue skies with a view of trees in the back.

If you want to skip the crowds and experience a more mild climate, I recommend visiting Athens between mid-March through May before the summer vacation season kicks off or from September through November when crowds recede.

Weather in Athens is relatively mild. Even if you choose to visit Athens in the winter season that lasts from November through March, you will still have a great time thanks to the warm Mediterranean climate of Greece.

Best things to do in Athens

Syntagma Square

One of the most culturally important places in Athens is Syntagma Square located in front of the Greek Parliament. Hundreds of tourists flock to Syntagma Square because of the ceremony that occurs there every hour.

The outdoor space with a wall pertaining the Monument to the Unknown Soldier with carved texts and two soldiers walking in different directions, watching this is one of the things to do in Athens. An orange building with Greek pillars in the the entrance can be seen in the back of the wall.

The two guards who stand in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier give the reins to the next two soldiers in a special ceremony where they march with a very specific type of a step.

The ceremony is also popular because of the soldiers’ distinct uniform that features intricate handmade details.

To get to Syntagma Square, catch the blue line train to Syntagma Station and cross the road toward the Greek Parliament building.

PRO TIP: The main shopping street of Athens, Ermou begins from Syntagma Square and goes through Monastiraki, Psiri and Thiseio toward the archaeological site that is called Kerameikos. If you want to do some shopping in Athens after visiting Syntagma Square, simply head toward Ermou.

Monastiraki Square

Monastiraki Square is a great place to get a cool souvenir for your friends or dine at an authentic Greek restaurant with live music and entertainment.

The Ottoman-era mosque of the Tzisdarakis Mosque showcases intricate exterior architectural details, a domed roof, and elegant arches. People can be seen walking in the outdoor space filled with stores; shopping here is one of Athens's best things to do.

Right near the square you will find several streets, tons of cafes, restaurants and various souvenir shops. In addition, Monastiraki Flea Market offers a good variety of vintage and old goodies that you can score at a bargain price.

To get to Monastiraki Square take a train to Monastiraki Station. As soon as you get out of the train station building, you will step onto the square.

The Athens Metropolitan Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Greek Orthodox Church is also called “Mitropoli”. It is the largest church of Athens and it often hosts important ceremonies attended by prominent politicians and other notable personalities.

The Holy Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary features a facade filled with intricate details and vibrant orange shade colors under clear blue skies and a square surrounded by small trees and lamp posts.

You can visit this Athens Metropolitan Cathedral for free.

The Church is located in close proximity to the Monastiraki Metro Station. After exiting at Monastiraki, simply head east on Mitropoleos Street until you reach the cathedral.

Acropolis

No other site in Athens sees as much tourist traffic as the Acropolis, the sacred place that represented an important religious center in ancient times.

The ruins of the Greek Temple of the Parthenon featuring large Doric columns and intricate marble ruins with a dirt path on the side with a couple of people walking under clear blue skies.

The Parthenon Temple is the most prominent feature of Acropolis. It’s perched on the rock that dominates the archaeological site that is officially called the Slopes of Acropolis, and it extends over 70,000 square miles around the surrounding area.

The temple is a truly amazing sight especially during summer months when its white monumental columns create a stunning view against a clear blue sky.

Other places to visit near Acropolis are Erechtheion and the Acropolis Museum located right underneath the Acropolis hill.

People walking on a wooden path with metal handles surrounded by pillars of the Athens Acropolis under clear blue skies and in the background shows trees and buildings.

PRO TIP: The Acropolis gets very busy, especially in the summer. To avoid waiting in line, buy a Skip the Line ticket in advance. It includes a guided tour that will give you more context of the area and its history.

> Buy your Skip The Line Ticket for the Acropolis here

Alternatively, I’d recommend buying a combo ticket that includes entry to the Acropolis and all major archaeological sites in the area.

> Buy your Athens Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket here

Athens Archaeological Sites

These archeological sites in Athens are all included in the combo ticket.

Ancient Agora

The former political and judicial center of Athens, the Agora was the epicenter of social and political life. Citizens came here to discuss important issues and interact with one another.

An old Roman structure of the Anciet Agora featuring its pillars under bright blue skies with some clouds surrounded by hedges and trees in the background.

Here you will find The Ancient Agora Museum, a two-story long rectangular building that boasts an impressive collection of archaeological artifacts.

Another most prominent feature of Ancient Agora is the well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus, the Greek God of smithing and metalworking.

Also on the site of Ancient Agora you will find the Church of Holy Apostles that was built in the 10th century. This church is representative of Byzantine architecture as its interior is adorned with frescoes and an ancient iconostasis.

If you don’t have a combo ticket, you can pre-book your ticket here.

> Buy your Pre-Booked Ancient Agora Ticket here

Roman Agora

Take a few steps away from the Ancient Agora and you will find yourself in the Roman Agora, the remains of the huge courtyard that served as an open market and was surrounded by commercial buildings in the ancient times.

The Roman Agora is located on the northern side of Acropolis and in close proximity to Monastiraki.

You can visit the Roman Agora with the archaeological sites combo ticket.

> Buy your Athens Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket here

Hadrian’s Library

The site was constructed around 132 AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to store important documents and provide reading space.

While there’s not much left from the library, you can get a glimpse by reading the extensive signage located on its premises.

Hadrian’s Library is included in the Athens archaeological sites combo ticket.

> Buy your Athens Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket here

Kerameikos

An area that was formerly inhabited by potters now houses the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos and the remains of the oldest and largest Attic cemetery.

Kerameikos is also included in the Athens archaeological sites combo ticket.

> Buy your Athens Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket here

Aristotle’s School ( Lykeion )

This is the former site of Aristotle’s school of philosophy, and it borrows its name from the Sanctuary of Apollo Lykeios that had been built here before the Gymnasium of Lykeion.

A glass table like structure is found in the foreground and other same structure can be found in some part of the archeological site protecting an excavation while surrounded by trees in front of modern buildings under bright blue skies with clouds.

Lykeion is also included in the Athens archaeological sites combo ticket.

> Buy your Athens Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket here

The Temple of Zeus

The Temple of Zeus is an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Zeus, the god of sky and lighting in Ancient Greek mythology and also the king of all gods on Mount Olympus.

A garden space with a couple of temple ruins, trees, and grass in the foreground with people walking in the background with a large pillars in the center of the Temple of Zeus, visiting here is one of the best things to do in Athens.

One of the largest temples remaining from the ancient world, it consists of the base and massive columns surrounded by the fence. Also on site you will find remains of urban structures including houses and the city’s fortification wall.

Another prominent feature of this site is the Arch of Hadrian that was built to celebrate the Roman Emperor Hadrian and connect the center of Athens with its eastern side.

The Temple of Zeus is included in the Athens archaeological sites combo ticket.

> Buy your Athens Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket here

PRO TIP: All of the spots included in the Athens Archaeological Combo ticket are within walking distance from one another and can be easily visited within a few-hour span.

Other important places to visit in Athens

The Philopappos Hill

The Philopappos Hill is the highest of three hills west of Athens that features panoramic views of the city. If you decide to climb the Philopappos Hill, you will find winding cobbled streets and the basilica of Agios Demetrios Loumbardiaris.

A structure in the middle filled with carvings protected by walls surrounded by dirt road and bushes under bright blue skies with scattered clouds.

Anafiotika Village

Nestled on the northeast side of the Acropolis is the Anafiotika Village.

An orange tree filled with fruits and potted plants beside a white buildings. A white with red windows surrounded by lush vegetations under dark clear skies.

Built in the traditional Cycladic style that is characteristic for the Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea, the village features narrow white streets with colorful roofs and doors and flowers hanging over them.

Take a stroll through Anafiotika and you might feel like you landed on one of the Greek Islands.

Plaka Neighborhood

If you continue to follow the streets of Anafiotika, they will lead you straight to Plaka, a neighborhood that gives visitors a glimpse into old-time Athens.

A staircase street in between rows of warm colored buildings covered by vines and potted plants under clear blue skies. Black chairs and circle tables with a wooden menu stand in the foreground.

Plaka has a lot of cafes, restaurants and stores, which makes it an ideal place to sit down and relax after a long day of sightseeing.

The Plaka Neighborhood is located about 5 minutes away from the Syntagma Metro Station. If you want to get to Plaka via Metro, you need to get off on either red or blue lines.

You can also get off at the red line of Acropolis Station or at the blue or green lines of Monastiraki Station.

Panathenaic Stadium

One of the most important historic sites in Athens, Panathenaic Stadium is made entirely out of marble. However, it’s not the only feature that makes it so important.

In 1896, this venue hosted the first modern Olympic Games, and to this day, it continues to host important cultural and sport events.

In the year of the Olympic Games, the torch with the Olympic flame travels all the way from Olympia to Panathenaic Stadium through the whole country before it’s handed to the country that will host the next Olympic Games.

General Admission Ticket to Panathenaic Stadium is 5 Euros. You can also join a work out at the Panathenaic Stadium and feel like one of the ancient athletes that competed here.

Benaki Museum

Athens has a lot of museums, however, if you are short on time, Benaki Museum is one of the best places you can visit to get a taste of Greek culture.

Here you will find artifacts whose age ranges from prehistoric times to the beginning of the 20th century.

After you walk through several floors of the Benaki Museum, you will have a good idea about how Greece evolved as a country over many centuries.

>Buy your Benaki Museum ticket in advance here

You can get to the Benaki Museum by metro. Take the blue line and get off at the 3 Evangelismos Station.

You can also reach the place by foot if you walk along Vasilis Sofias Avenue from Syntagma Square. The Benaki Museum is going to be on your left side after you turn on Koumbari Street.

The National Garden

If you are looking for a break from the crowded touristy sites, step into Athens’ National Garden located next to the Parliament building at Syntagma Square. Here you will find a lot of green space and trails.