Ultimate Guide to One Day in Athens, Greece

Athens is not just Greek ruins or a stop over before island hopping. It is a destination all on its own. Athens is a gritty, artsy, vibrant, and bustling city you are sure to fall in love with. With our Ultimate Guide to One Day in Athens you can hit all the hot spots in a short amount of time leaving you wanting to come back for more!

Table of Contents

How to get to Athens?

Flying is going to be the best way to get to Athens if this is your first stop in Greece. For affordable flight prices I recommend looking at flights through Kayak, Going (used to be Scott’s Cheap Flights),Cheapoair, Wayaway (you can earn credit after buying flights), Aviasales, or Skyscanner. If you have availability to visit Greece in the shoulder season in the spring (April-June) or Fall (September- October) this will help keep both flights and accommodation prices down.

Traveling via a Ferry is easiest if you are coming from a Greek Island or taking a short domestic flight to Athens. If you are booking a ferry I would recommend booking through ferryhopper. You will LOVE ferry hopper, it is an app/website where you can search ferries, book a ferry, check into your ferry, and even track how far away the ferry is from your destination. This was the easiest way to use ferries in Greece.

If possible I would recommend flying into Athens and going straight to your next destination and ending in Athens. This will get you more days in Athens if possible or one day in Athens to end your Greece trip with a bang!

You can also sandwich your trip with Athens, having a day at the start of your trip when you arrive and then another day at the end of your trip. This is completely up to you. I always prefer having more days together and less moving around so we usually try to clump the days together at the end so we don’t have to stress about getting there in time for our flight home or to our next destination.

What is the budget in Athens?

Athens is going to be more affordable than popular Greek Islands like Santorini or Mykonos. You can find accommodations from anywhere 50-100 a night and on up depending how nice your taste is. For food, attractions, tickets, and day to day budget for Athens travel you will want around 100 a day on up depending on how tight your budget is. Food and drinks were pretty affordable outside of the rooftop views which are going to be a bit more due to the Acropolis views but also so worth every penny. More on that later.

How to get around Athens?

You can catch taxis on the street and uber taxis. Uber taxis are uber but driven by taxi drivers in taxi cabs. Finding a taxi on the street will be more affordable than booking an uber taxi through the app.

You can also get around on public transportation using the metro system and the tram. The metro system is sure to be the most affordable option outside of walking of course. We found Athens very walkable and walked for most of our trip with the occasional taxi.

How long to stay in Athens?

This guide is created for those who are looking for a jam packed one day of fun in Athens. If you have the flexibility to stay more than one day in Athens I would highly recommend staying for at least 2-3 days in Athens. If you can only squeeze in one day in Athens that is okay too, there are still tons you can fit into one day in Athens!

Where to stay in Athens?

The most lively and walkable areas to stay in Athens are hip and vibrant Syntagma Square or Monastiraki area. There is a ton to do in these area of town from markets, restaurants, bars, street art, shopping, people watching, and so much more. You will experience the vibrant energy that is Athens. Both areas are very walkable and only 11 minutes from one another.

What to do in Athens?

Athens is the largest city in Greece and the capital. It is a bustling city with so much to do and see! From 5th century BC Ancient Greek Ruins to street art and an amazing food and drink scene there is so much to do in Athens. It is a hip artsy city that is a joy to wander in and out of this ancient city.

Be sure to start your day early as this day will be a busy one! First, you need coffee. Check out Dope Roasting. It is an adorable coffee shop with fun tiling and great coffee and food to eat. Their baguette sandwiches were just soo good.

The Acropolis and the Parthenon

Okay now that you are fueled up let’s head to the Greek Ruins!

Acropolis– The Famous Acropolis the number one thing to do in Athens! The Acropolis is an ancient citadel or fortress built atop a cliff. Basically it is the entire area of Greek Ruins on the hill of slopes, including the Parthenon.

Best time to visit the Acropolis: If possible try to come early to beat crowds, especially if you are traveling in peak travel season. Another option is to come at sunset and see the Acropolis with the painted sky in the background and enjoy cooler temps.

There are an INSANE amount of people so prepare yourself for that. It is known as one of the most crowded tourist destinations in the world but there is a very good reason for it, it is incredible. Even so you will be able to walk around and explore the Acropolis once you have walked up to the top of the hill where the Acropolis is located.

You will want to bring water as it gets very hot up at the Acropolis and bring great walking shoes because you will be doing a TON of walking. Great way to burn off all the delicious food you’ve been eating.

Tickets: You can buy tickets online or in person. You can buy tickets just to the Acropolis for 20 Euros or the Acropolis and 6 other sites for 30 Euros. The 6 other sites include Handrian’s library, Ancient Agora, Keremeikos, Aristotle’s School, Olympieion, Roman Agora, and of course the Acropolis and Parthenon. I would highly recommend you get the combined ticket option, you get a lot of bang for your buck with all these extra cites! With one day though you will have to see how much time you want to devote to Greek Ruins. The absolute musts are the Acropolis and Parthenon.

Greek Ruins Hours

8 AM-8 PM April- August

8 AM- 7PM September 1st- 15th

8 AM- 7 PM September 16th-30th

8 AM- 6 PM October

You have to enter the site 30 minutes prior to closing time, of course give yourself way more time than that! For dates not listed check their site for more information.

Parthenon- The Parthenon is a temple that is dedicated to the Greek goddess, Athena during the 5th century. It is located next to the Acropolis. It is the most famous of the buildings at the Acropolis.

Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian’s Library (Hadrian Arch)– The Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Library are other great ruins if you have time. You will most likely see the library as you are buying tickets or walking by on your way to the Acropolis. They are both cool sites but if you are crunched for time and have to skip them it won’t be the end of the world.

Monastiraki Square & Monastiraki Flea Market

Monastiraki Square & Monastiraki Flea Market: Monastiraki Square is the heartbeat of Athens and the best place to see local life as well as to experience the vibrant energy that is Athens. Monastiraki Square is known as the meeting place for Athenians with so much to see and do. It is here you will have a ton of restaurants, bars, shops, and the famous Monastiraki Flea Market. You will also find Hadrian’s Library and the Ancient Agora close by if you want to explore some more impressive ruins.

Monastiraki Flea Market– The Market itself is an excursion. It is a wonderland of local goods, food, drinks, and souvenirs. It is a great place to get lost in. If you love a good market this will be a fun stop. It is right off the square and easy to find.

Acropolis Museum

Acropolis Museum– The Acropolis museum is not located by the Acropolis on the cliff but is ground level and is SO WORTH IT! And this is from a non museum type person but this museum is spectacular. It is built atop an ancient Athenian neighborhood. You get to walk below and see the Ancient Athenian neighborhood they discovered, which is a pretty cool concept.

Throughout the museum you see windows on the glass floors with more artifacts from the Acropolis. I loved how everything was so nicely displayed with information about the artifacts. It was a very visually pleasing museum making it easier for those who enjoy learning through images, artifacts, and videos as well. I would say this is a MUST stop for a day in Athens!

Rooftop Drinking and Acropolis Views

Eat or Drink at a Rooftop- When in Monastiraki you have to go to a rooftop bar or restaurant and enjoy a drink with a fabulous view of the Acropolis, it is just marvelous.

It was one of the most epic views we saw in all of Greece. If you are on a budget like us, just grab or split a drink. We ate at MS, a rooftop cocktail bar with incredible views. It was the perfect way to end our day of exploring ruins and markets with a great cocktail and view of the Acropolis. More on Athens Nightlife here!

Hours:

9 AM- 3 AM (Monday- Friday)

9 AM- 1:30 AM (Saturday-Sunday)

Athinas 1 &, Ermou, Athina 105 54, Greece

What are the best tours in Athens?

If you are looking for a guided tour to relieve some of the burden of planning an action packed day in Athens, here are a couple great options.

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Interested in a Travel Planner?

A travel planner can plan your day to day itinerary, help you book accommodations, food recommendations, reservations, get tickets for attractions, and even find tours to go on and so much more. A travel planner will take away the stress of planning a trip so you can just enjoy the adventure. I am a travel planner too and can help you plan your next trip! I plan trips for budget minded women who like going on trips that are authentic and ethical travel. I can help you plan your next solo trip, family trip, girls trip, or anything in between!

Traveling to Athens will be an adventure you will never forget. It is an awe inspiring experience seeing historical sites you have seen pictures of and learned about your entire life. They are just so much more spectacular than you can imagine. The city of Athens itself is a blast and is just such an interesting city that you will adore exploring.

More Greece Travel Guides

Traveling more in Greece? Check out our Ultimate 2-3 Week Greece Guide, Ultimate Santorini Guide, Oia or Fira Guide, Oia Things to Do Guide, Naxos Guide, Why Crete is the Best Island, Crete Guide, and Halki Village- The Best Day Trip in Naxos. Follow us on Pinterest and Instagram for more travel fun!

Have a wonderful trip in Greece and make all your Mamma Mia dreams a reality!

Happy Travels!

Want to have this guide on your phone to take with you while on the go?

Check out the Ultimate Greece Guide via an app! The guide includes Athens, Santorini, Crete, Mykonos, Naxos, and a Greek Village Day trip. It includes map locations, hours, important key information all created by me!

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Our love list of Travel Resources:

Here are our favorite places to search and purchase all things travel from flights, rentals, accommodations, tours, and so much more!

Accommodations:

Booking– our favorite way to search for hotels, rentals, and hostels. When you book enough through booking you will earn a discount on all bookings which adds up quickly!

Hostelworld– our go to when searching for hostels

Vrbo– our favorite place to search for apartment and home rentals, it is usually cheaper than airbnb and has less hidden fees

Agoda– My new favorite for searching for accommodations, they have huge discounts making it a great place to search!

Tours and Activities:

Viator– book great tours and activities for your next trip, my favorite place for booking tours or travel activities. I love that they have such an easy app to keep all my tickets after booking.

Tripadvisor– Great place to buy and search for travel activities and tours

Get Your Guide– another great resource for searching for a huge variety of tours and attractions for your next trip

Tripadvisor– Great place to buy and search for travel activities and tours

We go Trip– Self guided tours you can access from your phone and explore on your own! A game changer. You can explore at your own pace but still have an informational learning experience of the places you visit, all at your fingertips.

Thatch– search for your own personalized and premade itineraries, with map locations, information for each activity, and your trip all planned for you that you can access through their app and take with you! Check out our thatch guide for travel guides we have created that match our blog posts! There are tons of other great travel creators to explore their guides.