How To Spend an Incredible 3 Days in Athens, Greece
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Discover the best way to spend three days in Athens, Greece, with our itinerary highlighting the best of this ancient city. Read more now.
The breathtaking city of Athens attracts 6.4 million tourists every year. You could spend weeks exploring its streets, but how many days do you need? Three days in Athens is just perfect.
With the right three-day itinerary, you can fully explore this ancient powerhouse.
Read on for everything you need to know about what to do in Athens, Greece, in three days, including the best historical sites, the perfect locations to take in the views, and top tips for trips, tours and tickets.
What to Do in Athens for 3 Days?
Day 1: Seeing the City on Foot
Morning: A Slow Exploration
Once you have decided how long to spend in Athens, it’s time to explore!
Start your three days with a walking tour to soak up the city’s atmosphere. There are free and paid options available online. But this 2.5-hour free tour, which starts at 10 am or 5 pm, is a great place to start. Rise early and take in the bustling city as it starts a new day.
Then head over to Ermou Street for lunch before visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to watch the changing of the guard, which takes place on the hour.
Next, take a short walk to the Panathenaic Stadium. The impressive structure was originally built for the Olympics’ predecessor, the Panathenaic Games. The entry fee costs just €5 ($5.50) per person.
For a break from the sun, visit the National Archaeological Museum. The entrance fee is also €5 ($5.50), and the museum is home to one of the world’s most significant collections of antiquities.
Pro tip: It would take days to see it all, so pick your favorite period of history and dive in.
Evening: Sunset Views and Dinner
Once you have absorbed all the history, head to Lycabettus Hill to watch the sunset over Athens. You can take a cable car to the top, drive part-way up and walk the rest, or walk all the way to the top.
If you want to walk, get there about an hour before sunset to allow plenty of time to reach the peak. The cable car costs €15 ($16.50) for two people, and the vendor only accepts cash. At the top of the hill, settle in to watch the sunset illuminate the Acropolis and enjoy a quiet drink at the Sky Bar.
To get a taste of the city’s artistic side, take a 15-minute walk to Exárcheia, an area once home to Athens’s anarchists, revolutionaries, students, and artists. These days, it offers a mix of restaurants, bars, and bookshops to explore. It’s perfect for a quiet dinner and an evening drink to recover from a busy day.
Day 2: A Historical Feast
Early Morning: Climbing The Acropolis
Seeing Athens in three days is a big task. But it’s possible thanks to the Ancient Greeks clustering most key historical sites around the city center. You can tick most of them off in one day. Wear your comfiest shoes and stay hydrated.
Start the day by getting to the Acropolis as early as possible. It opens at 8 am, and you should avoid walking across the peak at the hottest time of the day. The Acropolis, home to many temples and buildings, has overlooked the city for over 2,500 years.
After climbing the hill, you’ll arrive at the Propylaia, the entryway to the famous site.
It’s also home to the Temple of Athena Nike, one of many manifestations of Athena.
Nike means victory in ancient Greek, and this is where Nike, the shoe company, got its name from. The temple’s marble structure is decorated with carved depictions of famous battles, such as the Battle of Marathon.
Mid-Morning: Exploring the Greek Classics
After entering via an ancient stairway, the first building you’ll come to is the Parthenon, arguably the most famous ancient ruin in the world. Ancient Geeks built the temple to honor Athena, the patron goddess of the city, between 447 and 438 BCE.
Because the temple is in a constant state of restoration, scaffolding often covers parts of it. Regardless of any steel jewelry, it is a stunning sight.
On the north side of the Acropolis, you’ll find the Erechtheion, known for its Caryatids—columns made of female figures. Preservationists store the originals in the Acropolis Museum, but the replicas are still beautiful.
Lunchtime: A Little Theater and a Cultural Cool Off
Next up, check out the world’s first theater—the Theatre of Dionysus. Some of Greece’s most famous playwrights, including Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles, tested out their plays here.
It has held performances of everything from Oedipus at Colonus—what inspired Freud’s Oedipus complex theory—to Lysistrata, which tells the story of women stopping a war by refusing to have sex with their husbands.
Afterward, stroll over to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a Roman-style structure. It can seat nearly 5,000 people and is still used today. Keep an eye out for events to attend in the summer.
As the sun heats up, head down to the Acropolis Museum to soak up its many treasures—and to make use of its air conditioning.
Pro tip: Avoid wearing a skirt or dress because many of the floors in the museum are see-through, meaning anyone who looks up could see a lot more than an ancient marble statue.
Eat lunch at the museum’s highly-rated restaurant before your afternoon adventures.
Afternoon Delights: Check Off the Must-Sees
At the foot of the Acropolis, you’ll find the Ancient Agora of Athens. The site is mostly in ruins, but with a little imagination, you can get a feel for Athenian life in the ancient city center.
If you want more information, visit the Museum of the Ancient Agora too.
Nearby, you’ll find the Temple of Hephaestus, or the Hephaisteion, one of the city’s best-preserved temples.
Once you have left the Acropolis, walk towards the Areopagus, which offers impressive views of the Acropolis. It is perfect for a photo op for Instagram.
To wrap up your day of time travel, check out Hadrian’s Library. Although Roman instead of Greek, the site is fascinating. It’s also home to three churches built on its ruins during the Byzantine Empire.
Lastly, walk over to the nearby Monastiraki Square for some sustenance and take in the view of the illuminated Acropolis in one of its many rooftop bars, such as MS Roof Garden.
Day 3: A Slower Pace to Tick Off the Must-Sees
Start your last day leisurely exploring the shopping delights of one of the most luxurious neighborhoods, Kolonaki.
Whether you have a luxury or backpacker budget, there is a shop to hit regardless of how many days in Athens you have.
Next, head over to the Kerameikos Cemetery for a little more history.
Some of the most famous figures are buried here, including Aristotle.
Nearby, The Pnyx, a monument located on Filopappou Hill, offers more stunning views of the Acropolis.
Lastly, check out Hadrian’s Arch on the way to the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes that line Kolonáki Square before exploring more Athenian museums and galleries.
The National Gallery is an excellent option for budding art critics, and the Byzantine Museum is home to a massive collection of items from the 3rd century AD to medieval times. If you’re tired of museums, spend the afternoon at the National Gardens instead.
Wrap up your three days in Athens with some nightlife and head to Iroon Square in the Psiri neighborhood, home to countless bars and clubs open until the early hours.
For Explorers with a Little Extra Time
Plenty of sites can be explored just outside the city limits for those who have time to do Athens in 4 days.
If you want to stay close to the city, take a day trip to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon on the Athenian coast.
Alternatively, visit the ancient port of Piraeus, which has a bustling city center and a range of restaurants and ancient sites.
A day trip to the Peloponnese is another incredible option. Start by visiting the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Dedicated to Asklepios, the god of healing, ancient Greeks used the sanctuary as a therapeutic and religious center.
While you’re in the area, stop by Nafplio. It is one of Greece’s prettiest towns and the country’s original capital.
If you want to get off the mainland, visit one of Greece’s many islands. Its most famous ones include Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and Corfu. These islands are beautiful but busy. For a quieter trip, try Paros, Kos, Milos, or Samos.
The Logistics:
Transport and Accommodation
Taxis in Athens are relatively affordable. The basic fee is €1.80 ($1.95), with an additional €0.90 ($0.99) charge per kilometer—0.62 miles.
The city center is also extremely walkable. You can walk from one end to the other in 20 minutes.
The high season is from April to November, so book early for the best deals, especially if you only have three days in Greece. For those who want a home-away-from-home experience, comfortable AirBnbs are scattered throughout the city.
For hotel lovers who want to stay in the heart of the city, the best districts for hotels are Plaka and Kolonaki. Most hotels in the area offer views of the famous Acropolis—a hilltop littered with buildings, temples and relics from Ancient Greece.
Tours and Tickets
If you are an independent traveler, try exploring on your own schedule without a guide. But, if you prefer the idea of an expert, there are plenty of guided tours available to educate you about the historical sites and fill up three days in Athens, Greece.
Not many historical sites have free access. Tickets are a necessity.
Prices increase between April 1 and October 31 and decrease between November 1 and March 31. If you’re only interested in the Acropolis and its slopes, opt for a single entry ticket, which most vendors sell for €20 ($22) in summer and €10 ($11) in winter.
A combination ticket is the best option for travelers visiting all the main sites. Various vendors sell it for €30 ($33), and it’s valid for five days from the day of purchase.
The ticket includes entrance to:
- the Acropolis and its slopes
- the Ancient Agora and its museum
- the Kerameikos cemetery and its museum
- the Temple of Olympian Zeus
- the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds
- Hadrian’s Library
- Aristotle’s Lyceum
It’s the perfect option for both history nerds and tentative explorers.
Packing List Essentials for 3 Days in Athens
Whether you are planning a trip to Athens in summer or winter, there are a few essentials you must throw in your suitcase for all trips to this wondrous capital city. Do not forget to pack:
Walking shoes with good grip: A trip is not the time to break in a new pair of shoes or to prioritize style over comfort. Pack a pair of walking shoes with traction because you will walk on both slippery and rocky terrain.
Cash: While plenty of vendors take cards, cash will help you to avoid any extra fees and makes it easier to dish out tips. Plus, it’s usually quicker than waiting around for a card machine.
Sunglasses and sunscreen: Even if you visit in winter, prepare for the sun! Sun protection is essential all year round, especially when spending whole days outside.
Theft-proof bag: Crime rates in Athens are relatively low, but, like in all tourist hotspots, pickpockets are around. Put away your dainty clutch purse—it’s too easy to snatch—and carry a theft-proof backpack or fanny pack instead.
Wrapping Up Your Athens 3-Day Itinerary
Whether you pick out your favorite bits or follow this itinerary to the letter, you’ll find magic everywhere after spending three days in Athens, Greece.
This stunning city blends modernity and ancient sites together perfectly. You will fall in love with its modern-day culinary delights and become a history nerd after just a few moments in its outstanding cultural offerings
Once you have completed your tour of the city, there are plenty of options for traveling around Greece, such as hiring a car, joining an organized tour, or traveling by bus or train.
FAQ
You can cover the core parts of Athens with a three-day itinerary. But, if you have more time, stay for longer. There is always more to see, and you can avoid rushing through the best parts.
With a relatively low crime rate, Athens is largely a safe city. Many solo travelers walk the streets without problems but stay aware of your surroundings. However, for female travelers, the Omonia area is best avoided. Although police presence has increased in recent years, it is a hotspot for street harassment.
While the city is beautiful and worth visiting in summer, you must deal with very crowded streets. Athens is equally beautiful in winter, and there are far fewer people to contend with, as well as lower entry fees and more affordable hotel deals.
