If you have 3 days in Athens then you need to read this post to help you plan your time!
Are you planning a trip to Greece? Then Athens is the perfect starting point for your trip. Often considered to be the birthplace of Western Civilization, I found Athens wasn’t as overwhelming as I had expected, most people spoke English, and getting around was easy. You can easily spend 5 days in the capital, but for this post, let’s break it down in this 3 days in Athens itinerary.
As a history buff, I will never get over walking down the street and discovering ancient ruins, of which there were plenty in Athens. Wandering the cobblestones trying to choose just one restaurant to eat some delicious food at and then stumbling upon an ancient Roman library? Yes, please! Searching for the perfect rooftop bar to have a drink and discover you can see the Acropolis and Parthenon? Incredible!
Highlights of things you can’t leave Athens without doing:
- Visiting the Acropolis
- Monastiraki Square Flea Market
- Shopping in the Plaka
- Acropolis Museum
Table of Contents
3 Days In Athens Itinerary
There isn’t much I can say about Athens you haven’t heard of yourself; this city is ancient, being over 3,400 years old and one of the world’s oldest cities.
Have you ever wondered how Athens got its name?
The land was then known as Attica, and King Cecrops was the ruler.
Myths say that when the Olympians laid claim on the land, they wanted to name it after one of their Gods. Both Athena and Poseidon wanted it to be named after them. (If you don’t know, Athena was Poseidon’s niece and they hated each other.) A contest was created where they each had to give the city one offering, with Cecrops (or sometimes said the Olympians) choosing the winner.
Poseidon struck a rock with his Trident, creating a spring of water to show the people there will be no drought. The citizens didn’t want to drink the water though as it was salty.
Athena planted a seed which grew into an olive tree, symbolizing peace and prosperity. Cecrops and the citizens gladly chose Athena, and thus the city of Athens was named.
I will say, being in the birthplace of democracy you can feel the power of the city around you.
There really is nothing like standing in the street, looking down and seeing ancient cobblestones with figures drawn into the brick. Looking up to the Parthenon and thinking of the scholars and philosophers who stood up there, imaging the ancient Agora in action.
Just being able to immerse yourself in history is such a magical feeling. I hope you feel that with your own 3 days in Athens.
Today, Athens boasts the largest passenger port in Europe, Piraeus. Fun fact, Piraeus was the main naval base for Athens during it’s Golden Age, so I love how we still make use of it today!
Where To Stay in Athens
I think for your first time in Athens you should stay somewhere more central for easy access to the best Athens has to offer.
Stay somewhere close to either Plaka or Monastiraki Square so you can explore Athens most popular neighbourhoods while being close to the Acropolis and all the shops, excellent restaurants, and public transportation. For the same reasons I would also suggest Psyrri or Syntagma Square.
I stayed at the Moxy Athens and found this to be the perfect base for my first stay in Athens. In fact, I would happily stay here again because the rooms are clean and modern, the location is fantastic and I felt safe while there, and the walkability.
Some other options are
Go ahead and check out this map for places to stay in Athens!
Where To Eat in Athens
The food in Greece is so good its hard to have a bad meal but they do exist; I had a few myself. That’s what I get for being vegetarian in the Mediterranean.
But seriously, the food in Athens is great, and you can eat to your hearts content by strolling along the streets in Plaka, Monastiraki, Syntagma, and Anafiotika. Here you will find tavernas and bars lining the cobblestoned streets.
Just follow your nose!
What To Do With 3 Days in Athens Itinerary
A fantastic option to save money and see all you want to visit while in Athens is to purchase the Athens City Pass from MegaPass. You can choose from multiple passes and save up to 31%. This is so helpful to have while travelling! Having the hop on/hop off option is great to save on transit, and getting the Acropolis audio guide means you’ll be leaving with more knowledge!
Day One: Wander the streets of Athens while discovering its history. Stop at ancient sites, discover Plaka, get lost in the laneways, eat at tavernas, explore Monastiraki, and Athens Areopagus hill for the best views of the Acropolis.
If you’re staying in a centrally located hotel, let yourself catch up on some sleep and then get to discovering Athen’s history the first day!
The neighborhoods of Plaka, Monastiraki, and Anafiotika are very walkable, so put on some good shoes so you don’t trip over cobblestones and get to exploring! Anafiotika is known for the whitewashed buildings, giving you Santorini vibes.
Plaka is nicknamed the the Neighbourhood of the Gods due to the ancient streets and the way they hug the base of the Acropolis. There is history to be found everywhere here, from carvings in the cobblestones to stumbling upon Hadrian’s Library, an ancient Roman library built in 132 A.D.
Everyone who steps foot in Plaka falls in love with the neighbourhood, as there are plenty of shops, more bars and restaurants, and colourful streets with plenty of kitties.
I would recommend buying this combo ticket, which gives you access to the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Roman Agora, Aristotle’s School, Olympieion , and Kerameikos.
I would start at the Ancient Agora, which was built in the 6th century BCE. The Agora was used as a meeting place where all business, social and political activity would occur. Here Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle all gathered. Imagine the conversations that were spoken in this very spot!
At the Agora you will see the Temple of Hephaestus, Byzantine Church of the Holy Apostles, Stoa of Attalos, and many more destroyed buildings.
You’ll probably spend between an hour and a half to 2 hours here.
Just an 8 minute walk away is one of the most important, but not well-known sites, Kerameikos Cemetery, which is included in your combo ticket.
This space was originally used as a neighbourhood where potters and painters lived. In fact, the gorgeous Athenian vases were produced in many workshops here. Then it was turned into the cemetery of ancient Athens.
After Kerameikos, grab some lunch at a taverna along the way. There will be plenty in the area for you to choose from!
Once you’re finished filling your belly with some delicious Greek food, head to the Roman Agora.
The Roman Agora was built in the 1st century BCE using money from Augustus to fulfill a promise made by Julius Caesar. Just like the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora was used as a gathering place.
Next up, walk 2 minutes to Hadrian’s Library. I just stumbled upon this and had not been expecting it at all, which made it that much cooler!
Sometime during your day of wandering head to Areopagus hill. It’s less than a 10 minute walk from Monastiraki Square, and has incredible views of the Acropolis.
But Areopagus hill isn’t just a pretty photo spot. This is Greece, and everything has significance! This is the spot where Ares was tried by the council of Gods for the murder of the son of Poseidon, Halirrhothios.
The best time is for sunset, so check what time sunset will be that day and aim for then!
Afterwards, grab dinner and then head back to the hotel for an early night since you’ll want to be up early for what you’ve been waiting for, the Acropolis.
Day Two: A history day, with visits to the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, and shopping at Monastiraki Flea Market!
Now that you’re well rested, it’s time to see the historical sites!
The highest point in the city, walking up to the Acropolis and seeing the Parthenon sitting upon it is surreal.
For your second day in Athens, I would wake up early for a guided tour of the Acropolis. Yes, I firmly think this is something you should pay a guide for, as they are filled with knowledge for all of your questions, but they can navigate the lines better, speak Greek, and get you to the good parts quicker.
You’ll want to make sure to be there right at opening, and have your ticket already booked. This is the biggest attraction in Greece, so it sells out quickly!
If you’d prefer to go on your own though I would recommend purchasing this combo ticket I mentioned above.
What you can expect to see on your visit of the Acropolis:
- Propylaea, the gates to the Acropolis.
- Parthenon, this temple is dedicated to the Goddess Athena. Everyone knows the Parthenon.
- Erechtheion, my favourite there, is an Ionic temple dedicated to Athena. It features 6 (not original) caryatids, called the Porch of caryatids, in the place of beams. I found this quite beautiful.
- Theatre of Dionysus, built into the slope of the Acropolis hill, this theatre is said to be the birthplace of drama, and could hold up to 17,000 spectators.
- The Temple of Athena Nike, built around 420 BCE, this temple was dedicated to the Goddesses Athena and Nike, the Goddess of Victory. This temple is the earliest completely Ionic temple on the Acropolis.
- Altar of Asclepius, to honour the Gods Asclepius and Hygieia, for those in poor health.
Once finished, head to the Acropolis Museum to see the artifacts from where you just were, the Acropolis! I really liked this museum because getting to see what has been excavated is so cool! And underneath is a small open excavation.
I was told that if you were to excavate all that you can in Athens, the whole city would gone!
If you’re in the mood for a stroll, why not head to Philopappos Hill to get great views of both the sea and the Acropolis. Otherwise, head straight for the Monastiraki Flea Market to get in some shopping.
Afterwards, grab dinner and a rooftop drink somewhere in Monastiraki Square or surrounding areas.
Day Three: A Treasure Hunt around Athens, great views
A tour that I discovered while researching Athens, but not got to the time to do, is an Athens Treasure Hunt, where you meet the game master, get a backpack with tools and a treasure map, and do a treasure hunt around Athens! The reviews are great, so if you’re looking for a fun, unusual way to see the city this is it!
If I ever find myself back in Athens and this tour is still around, I would love to do this!
Head to Mount Lycabettus for epic views of the city! To get here, you can walk if you want to hike the steep path, take a taxi, or take the cable car.
Then, join a cooking class where you’ll whip up some traditional pies and moussaka, before enjoying your meal on a rooftop.
The perfect way to end your trip.
Go back to your hotel to pack up before your journey onwards tomorrow.
How To Get Around Athens
Did you know that Athens is the Southernmost capital on Mainland Europe and is home to over 3 million people? I live in Vancouver, with just over half a million permanent residents, yet Athens didn’t feel as busy. Now, I did visit Athens in May, before tourist season, but getting around on the train felt somehow less crowded than the trains in Vancouver do.
The airport, Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, is located 33 kilometers from the city center where you’ll likely be staying. Hop in a taxi for an efficient hotel drop off.
A taxi to the city center costs 40€/42$ during the day and 55€/58$ at night.
The drive to your hotel might take from 35-45 minutes, depending on traffic. When I was leaving, I left Hotel Katerina and due to traffic the drive was about an hour and a half.
The metro takes about 40 minutes and costs 9€/10$ day or night.
If you prefer the bus, that takes about an hour and costs 5.5€ /6.38$.
While exploring Athens you can take the metro, buses, trams, taxis, Uber or the suburban railway. Essentially you can take your pick!
You can use all forms of public transportation with the same ticket, which lasts for 90 minutes, barring trips to the airport.
While in Athens I made good use of Uber! You can also download Beat, which is the Greek equivalent to Uber. The pro is that it has more drivers than Uber, so take your pick!
Tips About Athens
Is Athens safe?
Athens, and Greece in general, is a very safe country. You don’t need to worry about being harassed the way you do in countries like Egypt, and people respect when you say no. However, Athens is pretty notorious for pick pockets.
When walking with my group, our tour guide for the Acropolis pulled me aside to make sure my backpack zippers were completely closed (spoiler, one of them wasn’t) and she told me that even the smallest backpack opening is big enough for seasoned pick pockets to get into.
When at restaurants, the staff will bring you a little table to put your purse on beside you. I was surprised that even in restaurants pick pockets are common, so don’t put your backpack on the chair. If you cannot see your bag at all times, you are at risk for pick pockets.
This brings me to another tip. Print out copies of all your important information (passports, visas, debit cards, etc). you never know when you may need them.
Don’t carry all of your money with you, just in case you do get your wallet stolen.
Make sure to look both ways and be very certain no cars or bikes are coming before you cross the street. The cars will not stop!
The Airport.
As mentioned above the airport, Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, is located 33 kilometers from the city center.
The airport was a personal nightmare for me and everyone around me. The airport is very busy (about 6.4 million tourists visit Athens per year, and in 2022 more than 22.7 million people went through that airport).
It what felt like ages to get through security, and everyone in the area was grouchy. There was an alarm that was high pitched going off, the lines were very slow, and it was very disorganized. And this was mid May, can you imagine how bad it must be in high season?
However, once you’re through security the airport itself is nice.
Now that you know what to expect from 3 days in Athens, what are you most looking forward to?!
