Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Athens?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Athens?
Many travelers spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Athens during their visit. After all, the ancient city has plenty to explore such as the famous sights and museums, the historic old town, and the restaurant scene.
Athens is the capital city of Greece and it is a world class travel destination. It's filled with ancient historical landmarks and an amazing culture. The city's food and welcoming atmosphere make it one of the most fascinating and fun places to explore.
Do you have one or two days to visit Athens? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Athens?
Athens, a large city brimming with sights and attractions, holds immense popularity among tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the ancient city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have at least 3 or as many as 7 days to fully enjoy the city. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Athens
When visiting Athens, you absolutely can't miss the Acropolis as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.
The culinary scene in Athens is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Make sure you try the souvlaki, moussaka, and dolmades at any of the many local restaurants throughout the city.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Mercedes Private Tour Nafplio, Corinth Canal & Nemea Wine Tasting ($221)
- Athens Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours ($105)
- Athens Private Food Tasting Tour ($156)
Athens is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. You'll find the city's most walkable area's in the historical heart, where there are many pedestrian only streets and shopping areas.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Athens?
Since it's a large city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Athens. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great museums and landmarks and fun charming old town, visitors can enjoy the nightlife, big city activities, and beautiful scenery by staying for a weekend.
How to spend 2 days in Athens
With a weekend (two to three days) in Athens, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Athens is known for it's world-class museums and famous landmarks, so make sure you spend at least a day exploring at one or more of the most appealing. As a historical capital of the world, this city has countless museums and archeological sites including the famous Acropolis, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Agora.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Athens Small Group Tour with Acropolis,Parthenon,Museum and Greek lunch ($135)
- Athens Acropolis & Museum PRIVATE TOUR with a Local Private Guide ($178)
- "Athens Highlights Tour : Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and more." ($161)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There are all-night dance clubs as well as local bars and chill live music venues.
A few tour suggestions include:
- The NightCrawlers | Athens Bar Hopping | Pub Crawl ($17)
- Nightlife Athens Tour inc. rooftops, tastings & 3 drinks ($105)
The public transit in Athens is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The city's metro system has 3 lines that connect to bus, tram and commuter rail lines.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Athens, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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