Things to do in Athens
Check out the capital city of Greece with our total breakdown of the very best things to do in Athens. Naturally, we enjoy Athens; however, there is a lot to see that it can, in some cases, be frustrating, particularly for a novice visitor. Nevertheless, if you follow these suggestions, you will see the very best of Athens in a fairly brief quantity of time.
To bring you the most extensive details on what you must see in Athens, we partnered with regional Athens local Marisa Feyen. We integrated our understanding to put together an Athens guide with popular destinations, ancient ruins, and some regional suggestions to take you off the beaten course.
The capital of Greece is the best location to get your dosage of ancient history while taking in the dynamic Greek culture. These are the best things to do in Athens, from visiting its ancient ruins to taking pleasure in Greek food and taking in a few of the city’s dynamic nightlife.
If you are trying to find where to make a base for Athens sightseeing, we have a whole post on Where to Stay in Athens. For novice visitors, we recommend Syntagma Square or the Plaka community. They remain in the center of Athens, strolling range to many of the leading Athens Attractions.
See The Acropolis
Athens is one of the world’s earliest cities, and the Acropolis has been standing high above Athens for more than 2500 years. It is the historic center of Athens and is one of the most popular websites. So naturally, a visit to the Acropolis is one of the most popular things in Athens.
The Parthenon is the most popular of the ancient ruins of Acropolis. You will likewise see The Temple of Athena Nike and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre on the premises.
The Temple of Athena Nike is my individual favorite. It is a temple committed to the Goddess Athena and Nike Goddess. Athena Nike might be the tiniest of the temples of the Acropolis; however, I like its place standing on the edge of a high cliff.
Other temples to check out are the Propylea Temple of Nike and the Erechtheion Temple, and you should see the Dionysus Theater. I discovered this theater while studying Greek Tragedies in theatre school, and it was remarkable to see this popular theater. Finally, do not miss out on seeing the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the sanctuary of Asclepius.
Acropolis Museum
Athens is complete in history, and there is no much better location to find out all about it than the Acropolis Museum. The 1 hour 15 minute assisted trip of the New Acropolis Museum goes through the modern-day structure that houses 4000 ancient antiques and artifacts from Ancient Greece.
Concert At The Odeon Of Herodes Atticus
Odeon in ancient Greece was a structure for singing and musical programs. In Athens, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is the theatre that sits at the base of the Acropolis.
It is an unbelievable experience to see a performance in the earliest locations of ancient ruins. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is not just historic, and intimate, and every seat uses fantastic views of the phase.
Ancient Agora And The Temple Of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus is among the best-preserved ancient ruins in Athens. Found within the walls of the Ancient Agora, some state this is much more excellent than the Parthenon. The complex information and towering fluted columns make the Temple Of Hephaestus a fantastic thing to see in Athens if you enjoy greek architecture.
This Ancient Agora Guided Tour takes you through the Hephaestus Temple from the 5th century B.C. consisting of the 12 Apostles, the Temple of Apollo Patroos, the Stoa of Zeus, the Altar of Zeus, and more.
The surrounding Agora was founded back in the 6th century B.C. when the Ancient Agora of Athens was initially utilized as a meeting point or a location to gather together. Like most of the temples in Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus is the finest to go to in the early morning. The light is much better, it is cooler, and you will prevent the masses of travelers that appear later on in the day.
Stoa of Attalos was brought back in 1953– 1956, and today it is a museum that houses sculptures and displays of Ancient Agora. There are likewise residues from the ancient ruins of the Temple of Hephaestus.
An assisted trip to Ancient Agora is among the very best methods to go to the Temple of Hephaestus. You’ll go to the Greek temple in addition to the church of the 12 Apostles, the Temple of Apollo Patroos, the Stoa of Zeus, and the Altar of Zeus. The trip ends at the Attalos Museum to visit its ancient artifacts.
The Roman Agora.
This is the most popular Agora (or conference location) in Athens. The Roman Agora was constructed between 19 and 11 B.C. this location is big with over 30 structures and ancient monoliths and needs a lot of strolling.
Cultural History At The Benaki Museum
The most special products are gilded ceilings, and wood paneling recuperated from 18th-century Greek estates and are shown as rebuilt spaces in the museum. I go to the museum to buy premium recreation and other presents for households and pals.
Hours: Closed Mon– Tue. Sunday 10:00 am– 4:00 pm.
Expense: long-term exhibit EUR9 (totally free Thursdays), unique exhibit EUR7
National Archaeological Museum
Real estate 11,000 displays of ancient Greek art from prehistory to late antiquity. It is likewise thought about as one of the world’s finest museums for ancient Greek art. It is worth the go to see this.
Ancient Greek Temple Of Olympian Zeus
Compared to many of the other ancient ruins in Athens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus might appear not to have a lot left of it. I envisioned how grand and huge this temple would have been in its splendor. Begun in the 6th century B.C., however, it was not finished till the 2nd Century Advertisement, this is most likely one of the temples that took the longest to construct.
One appearance at those columns, and you will see why. It avoids the line tickets to Acropolis Hill, the Temple of Zeus, and the Ancient Agora.
Walk The Streets Of Plaka
This is the earliest community in contemporary Athens. It feels like you have stepped back in time with the Neoclassical structures and verandas overruling with flowers. Plaka is all about family-run stores and dining establishments and is an excellent location to inspect some nightlife in Athens.
For an enjoyable trip to Plaka and other Athens communities, take this biking trip through the streets and backstreet of Athens without the crowds. Then, climb up the Hill of Nymphs to view the Acropolis and Mount Lycabettus. Plus, find the first contemporary Olympic Games website at the Panathenaic Stadium, which is a modern-day restoration of the arena developed for the Panathenaic Games.
Monastiraki Square.
Monastiraki Square is a busy conference location situated in the heart of Athens. Found underneath the Acropolis, Monastiraki Square is one of the earliest communities in Athens.
Hadrian’s Library
It’s an excellent set of columns in the heart of the city. It was likewise a location for philosophical strolls and mentors.
Take a walk along the strolling street of Mitropoleos Street to the Metropolis Athens Cathedral. You’ll cover a lot of ground to see Monastiraki Square and its Flea Market, Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, etc.
Athens Food Tour
An excellent method to go to the Monastiraki location in Athens is to take a food trip. This food trip takes you through Monastiraki and its popular Greek tavernas and dining establishments, plus its archeological destinations and ancient ruins of the city center consisting of Hadrian’s Library, the Ancient Agora, and the Monastiraki Flea Market.
Altering Of The Guard -Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier
The very first time we went to Athens, we remained at Syntagma Square and had the benefit of enjoying the altering of the guard without even understanding they did it! The Hellenic Parliament structure controls the location and is a popular location in Athens. The guards stand guard over the Tomb of the Uknown Soldier, and every day the guards modify; nevertheless, on Sundays at 11:00 am, the main event occurs.
This city trip not just consists of stops at Athens’s leading destinations to go including the Acropolis, Parthenon, Nike Temple, and more; however, you’ll likewise see other lesser-known websites. Meet in the town hall at your home of Parliament and see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National Garden, Zeus Temple, and Hadrians’s Arch. At the same time, you discover the very first Olympic Games and ancient Greek History.
Lycabettus Hill (Mount Lycabettus).
The Acropolis might be the high hill in Athens that everybody understands; however, Lycabettus Hill is the greatest point in Athens. The popular 277-meter hill that is noticeable from all over Athens is one of the finest views of the Acropolis.
A funicular can take you to the top of Mount Lycabettus, or you can take the stairs if you’re searching for some additional workout. At the top, you’ll discover Agios Georgios (St. George Church). There is a coffee shop if you wish to do something decadent; book supper at Orizontes for views of the Acropolis Piraeus and the Saronic Gulf.
Mount Lycabettus funicular info.
Area: corner of Ploutarhiou and Aristippou Streets.
Expense: EUR7 return (EUR5 one-way).
Hours: 9 am– 2:30 am (every thirty minutes). Details for funicular hours are here.
Another excellent location for sundown in Athens is Philopappos Hill. Go through this park filled with evergreen and strolling courses for views of the Acropolis, town hall, and the Saronic Gulf.
Take In The Neoclassical Architecture.
Ancient Greek history is obvious throughout Athens; however, there are likewise indications of its modern-day history. This history started when the capital of Greece was moved from the Peloponnese peninsula to Athens after Greece acquired self-reliance from the Ottoman Turks.
At that time, Athens was a town of 7,000 homeowners with a real couple of genuine homes. Wishing to recreate a grand capital city, the brand-new king of Greece commissioned a restoration. The staying neoclassical structures are an outcome of this effort.
To see some examples of Neoclassical, check out:
Zappeion Hall, the very first structure worldwide to serve the Olympic Games, the Athenian Triptych.
Three structures near Panepestimio.
National Library of Greece.
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
The Academy of Athens.
The structures house both the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Benaki Museum.
The Hellenic Parliament Building controls Syntagma Square.
The guides at Livin’ Lovin’ provide a wonderful trip covering neoclassical structures (or numerous other intriguing remarkable information about Athens).
Museum of Cycladic Art.
The Museum of Cycladic Art is not just a great example of Neoclassical Art; it likewise houses among the finest collections of Cycladic art. You’ll see vases, tools, weapons, pottery, and marble figurines from the bronze age (3000 BC). If you intend on going to the Greek Islands, the Museum of Cycladic Art is an excellent complement as The Cycladic culture thrived in the Aegean Sea in such locations as Santorini and Mykonos.
Check Out Athens Central Market.
Every day other than Sunday, you can experience the buzz of the biggest market in Athens. Athens Central Market encompasses both sides of Athinas Street, with veggies and olives sold on one side and meat and fish on the other.
This is not a location for those with a queasy stomach– animal heads and carcasses hang from hooks in front of passersby, and butchers sculpt the meat in open stalls. So instead, I suggest stopping by Miran to look into old Athens and sampling their exceptionally treated meats.
Hours: daily, other than Sunday, 7 am– 6 pm.
Area: Athinas 42.
Temple Of Poseidon.
Standing 60 meters above sea level, it is still the ideal place for a temple honoring Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. The Temple of Poseidon was built in 444– 440 BC and is 70 km outside of the city.
Take a trip to the marble temple, which dates from the 5th century B.C., and after that, have lunch or supper at a taverna on the beach listed below the temple. You can schedule day trips to Poseiden here.
Sounio for Sunset.
Sounio is another wonderful area in Athens to see sundown. Found on the sea about 70 kilometers from the town hall, you’ll require a cars and truck hire to reach it however it deserves it as it is among the coolest things to do in Athens. You can reserve sundown trips from Athens to Sounio’s conference at the Halandri Metro station, where you’ll take a bus to the Poseidon Temple.
To find out more, check out Odysseus’ Culture.
Hours: winter season: 9:30 am– sundown, summer season: 9 am– sundown.
Expense: EUR8/EUR4 decreased.
Check Out The Metro Station Mini-Museums.
Throughout the preparation for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, the city system was broadened, consisting of a brand new line linking the brand-new airport to the center (the blue line). Parts of this line needed to be dug basically by hand to maintain artifacts buried underneath the existing city.
These city stops now function as mini-museums showing a few ancient sculptures, gravestones, oil lights, and vases from the 5th century B.C. that were discovered throughout the dig. The most intriguing stations to look at are Syntagma, which likewise houses the burial place of the unknown soldier, and Monastiraki stations.
Hours: 5:30 am– 12:30 am.
Place: Syntagma and Monastiraki city stations.
Expense: complimentary.
Aeropagus Hill (Mars Hill).
Greece has strong ties to early Christianity. For example, the Apostle Paul wrote to early Christians in the Greek cities of Corinth and Thessaloniki and made popular preaching about the identity of “the Unknown God” on the Aeropagus Hill (likewise referred to as Mars Hill) beside the Acropolis.
It is referenced in Acts 17 of the New Testament. The place is marked by a plaque (in Greek). Go up the stairs and appreciate the amazing view where Paul had stood preaching to individuals of Athens.
Epidaurus Festival.
Athens provides lots of theater, music, and dance occasions throughout June, July, and August every summertime. The artists originate from all over the world; however, promoting Greek artists is the celebration’s main focus.
There are numerous websites in Athens (consisting of the Odeon) and two websites in the ancient Epidaurus on the Peloponnese peninsula, consisting of the spectacular ancient theater. The theater occasions normally consist of English subtitles; however, examine the occasion details to validate.
Where: numerous places around Athens & Epidaurus.
When: June 4– August 15 (2020 ).