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10 Must-See Historical Attractions in Athens

Athens: the birthplace of western civilisation. known for its expressive architecture, striking ruins, and picturesque landscape, there are a number of essential sites for any visitor to see..

Lucy Davidson

06 sep 2021, @lucejuiceluce.

Western Civilisation owes a great deal to Athens. Many intellectual and artistic ideas originated there, and great thinkers were drawn to what was once one of the powerhouse cities of classical antiquity. As the cradle of democracy, classical Athenian architecture reflected the influx of ideas, with sprawling villas, vast monuments, and epic amphitheatres being just a few of the sites that have been left behind.

Today, the city is still dominated by landmarks which date to 5th-century B.C. and are hugely popular attractions. Here’s our pick of 10 that you shouldn’t miss.

What are the Top Ten Sites to Visit in Athens?

1. The Acropolis

Of all the places to visit in Athens, the Acropolis is by far and away the most popular. However, there’s more to this site than just the Parthenon temple for which it is best known.

Indeed, the Acropolis contains a number of other fascinating things to see, including the Erechtheion, the Propylaia and the temple of Athena Nike. Usually pretty swamped with tourists and guides, it’s not a particularly peaceful experience, but you simply can’t visit Athens without seeing the Acropolis.

2. Temple of Poseidon - Sounio

For truly spectacular views you can’t beat a short half- or full day-trip down to Sounio to see the Temple of Poseidon.

This partially ruined Greek temple sits atop a coastal cliff, with the deep blue ocean below combining to make for one picturesque backdrop – certainly one of the most picturesque places near Athens to visit. If you can catch it at sunset, then the scene will be complete. It’s roughly an hour out from Athens and there are loads of tour options available.

3. Theatre of Herodes Atticus

This partially restored Greco-Roman theatre is visually stunning. If you forgive the fact that much of the site is probably more Greco-Modern than Greco-Roman then you’ll definitely enjoy your visit.

Built by an affluent Greek-born Roman senator in the mid-second century AD, the theatre is startlingly photogenic and offers some great shots of the city. Though it’s not one of the most well-known Athenian sites, it’s nevertheless one of the most appealing.

4. Temple of Hephaestus

Strangely ignored by many lists of the best things to see in Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus is actually the best preserved of Athens’ ancient temples, and by quite some margin. It’s remarkably good condition is due to its conversion for use as a church in the 7th century.

Today it largely stands in its original form; remarkable given it was built almost 2,500 years ago. Despite all its clear advantages however, it has been and remains overshadowed literally and figuratively by the larger and more famous temple on the hill, the Parthenon.

5. The Parthenon

Unmistakably perched atop the Acropolis, many people come to Athens just to visit the Parthenon. Indeed, it always ranks among the top 10 places to see in Athens, often sitting at number one.

While there’s no doubt the Parthenon is impressive and you simply can’t come to Athens without visiting it, it gets hot and jam packed in the tourist season and it’s not as well preserved as some of the other ancient temples in Athens. Visit as early in the day as you can and be aware that there is on-going preservation work underway.

6. Agios Eleftherios

One of the more tucked away places to see in Athens, the charming Byzantine church of Agios Eleftherios is definitely worth a visit.

Built in the 12th century, it’s a beautiful example of later-Byzantine architecture. Located alongside the far larger Cathedral of Athens, this small yet perfectly formed medieval church is a pint-sized hidden gem among the hustle and bustle of Athenian life.

7. Panathenaic Stadium

A visually stunning stadium and the site of the first modern Olympic games, the Panathenaic Stadium is well worth a visit. Built on the site of its ancient predecessor, the sporting history of this place stretches back 2,300 years.

Today the site is one of the most fun things to do in Athens – you can explore the stadium, find out more about Olympic history, and even hold an Olympic torch! Great for kids, the track is open for visitors, so you can follow in ancient footsteps and gain your own Olympic glory.

8. Ancient Agora of Athens

If you’re mulling over what to see in Athens, the Ancient Agora is an interesting and easy to reach option.

Once the thriving heart of the city, today it contains the remains of a number of important ancient buildings as well as the impressive Agora Museum, contained within the reconstructed building known as the Stoa of Attalos.

9. Kerameikos

A hidden gem that takes a little extra effort to discover, Kerameikos seems very much to be the most ignored archaeological park in Athens.

However, this quiet and peaceful place definitely ranks among the more interesting and rewarding things to do in Athens. Containing the remains an ancient cemetery, Kerameikos includes the ruins of a series of famous monuments and even what’s left of the old city walls. The small museum helps to bring a bit of context to the site and is also well worth a visit.

10. Athens National Archaeological Museum

One of the most prominent archaeological institutions in the world, this great museum is absolutely packed with ancient artefacts – far too many to discover in one go!

Like any museum of this type, it can be somewhat exhausting once you’ve explored several dozen collections, and with such a treasure trove on show the novelty can wear off after a time. That said, with permanent exhibitions ranging from the Neolithic and Mycenaean, right through ancient Greece and into the Romans era, the museum is full of fascinating artefacts and stories and certainly ranks among the most interesting places to visit in Athens.

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22 Top Tourist Attractions in Athens

Athens is a sprawling city established among seven historic hills and surrounded by remarkable mountains. Inhabited for more than 3,000 years, Athens is widely known as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Consisting of a large city center, an urban district and metropolitan area, Athens presents a confusing blend of historical and modern features.

The city is famous for its archaeological ruins and monuments. However, Athens is not just about ancient ruins. This bustling city is also an important center for culture, nightlife and sports. An overview of the top tourist attractions in Athens .

22. Theatre of Dionysus

Travelers who are mad about theatre won’t want to miss the Theatre of Dionysus, the oldest theatre in Greece. Many of the most famous ancient Greek comedies and tragedies debuted on the stage here. The theatre, originally a temple built in the sixth century BC, is dedicated to Dionysus, the god of merriment and wine.

Cut into a cliff on the Acropolis, the theatre could seat 17,000 people. It has been continuously remodeled over the centuries. The best views of the Theatre of Dionysus, usually credited as the birthplace of European theatre, can be seen from higher up on the Acropolis.

21. Byzantine and Christian Museum

The glories of Greek Orthodox Christianity await visitors to the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens. The museum is chock full of more than 25,000 artifacts relating to Grecian artifacts from approximately the third to the 20th centuries.

The exhibits include artifacts from regions where Hellenism took root, and covers the Byzantium, post-Byzantium, medieval and early Christian periods. Some of its holdings are rare, including collections of pottery, manuscripts, fabrics and frescoes. It has one of the largest collections of Byzantine art in the world. The museum has a collection of marble and limestone slabs and icons.

20. Roman Agora

Centuries ago, shoppers may have rubbed shoulders with the likes of Julius Caesar and Augustus since they helped fund the Roman Agora. In contrary to the Ancient Agora which it replaced, it had a purely commercial character. The Roman Agora was built during the waning years of the first century BC when Greece was part of the Roman Empire.

The new agora featured a large open space surrounded by colonnades and columns; shops were inside these borders. The 12-meter (40-foot) Tower of Wind, just east of the Roman market, features reliefs of the eight winds with a sundial underneath each.

19. Museum of Cycladic Art

What started out in the 1960s as two people acquiring artifacts associated with Greece’s Cyclades Islands resulted in a world-class collection of Cycladic art. The Museum of Cycladic Art opened in 1986 featuring more than 3,000 artifacts and figures created between 3300 and 1100 BC on the Aegean Sea archipelago.

Some of the marble figurines are lifelike in size. The statues feature nude people in an abstract or simple style and are said to have influenced 20th century artists such as Modigliani and Brancusi. Some artifacts are in groups such a heroes and gods to better give a picture of ancient Greek civilization.

18. Philopappos Hill

The Acropolis may be the most famous hill in Athens, but Philopappos Hill isn’t far behind. It also has an ancient history. Ancient Greeks believed the nine muses lived there and eventually named the hill after a monument to Philopappos, a Roman senator who is considered a benefactor of Athens.

At 147 meters (482 feet) high, it offers great views of the Acropolis and the rest of Athens. To the south, the Aegean Sea can be seen on a clear day. Philopappos is buried in a marble tomb in 115 AD at the highest point on the hill.

17. Temple of Athena Nike

There’s something indescribably graceful about the Temple of Athena Nike that has been standing in a prominent spot on the Acropolis since 420 BC. Athena was the goddess of war and wisdom. Nike is the Greek word for victory.

It was at this temple the ancient Greeks prayed for victory in a war against Sparta. The temple was destroyed in the 17th century during a war between the Venetians and the Turks, but was rebuilt. It’s famous for a “wet drapery” (a type of sculpture in which “fabric” drapes over a nude body) of Nike adjusting her sandal.

16. Anafiotika

Ruins aren’t the only things worth visiting in Athens. In-between the ancient and the sparkling new lies Anafiotika, an old neighborhood that is worth a wander. This picturesque slice of Athens can be found below the Acropolis and just north of the historic neighborhood of Plaka.

Anafiotika was built by workers from the Cyclade island of Anafi in the 1860s on the order of King Otto I. Many of the houses were destroyed in the 1950s for archeological digs, but 45 of the original houses remain. The houses feature Cycladic style architecture, reminiscent of that found on the Greek Islands. The modest houses are still inhabited and many are decorated with colorful bougainvillea.

15. Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum, housed in the Benaki family’s former mansion, is home to an outstanding collection of art representing various stages of Greek culture. Its holdings include 120,000 works of art starting in prehistoric times and ending today. With 181,000 books, it is Greece’s largest Muslim library, though they are housed in one of the museum’s four satellite facilities.

The museum also has an extensive collection of Asian art. The museum started in 1934 when the Benakis donated 37,000 Islamic and Byzantine objects. Other donations over the years have made the Benaki Museum one of Greece’s top museums.

14. National Garden

In the heart of Athens, the National Garden provides a green oasis for sunny afternoon trips. The Royal Garden has a private garden for the Royal Palace, which is now the Parliament Building. The Public Garden was established in 1923. This is a quiet and peaceful place away from the bustling city with a gorgeous green

Statues decorate the gardens as well as flowerbeds and small ruins of antiquity. The gardens of Zappeion can also be found here, which surround the ancient congress hall that was built in the 19th century.

13. Panathenaic Stadium

Though built by the ancients, Panathenaic Stadium holds a special place in sports history. This original stadium, which dates to around 300 BC and was rebuilt in 144, has hosted several Olympics. More importantly, the stadium is where the Olympic flame starts on its journey to the nation hosting that year’s athletic contests.

In ancient times, the stadium hosted a religious festival dedicated to the goddess Athena every four years. The current structure was restored in the 19th century for the first modern version of the Olympics Games after centuries of disuse. Panathenaic Stadium seats 50,000 spectators and is the largest stadium in the world made entirely of marble. The stadium is a major attraction in Athens.

12. Monastiraki

Travelers who like to shop ‘til they drop may enjoy a visit to Monastiraki, a huge market and neighborhood in the historic district in Athens. On weekdays, there is a normal marketplace with shops selling souvenirs.

On the weekends, it transforms into a huge flea market, with vendors carting in tables and carpets from which they sell junk, antiques and everything in-between.

One of Athens’ top shopping areas, Monastiraki is a good place to buy clothing, icons and souvenirs, and people watch from a sidewalk café. Haggling over prices is expected here, but be wary about paying antique prices for a fake made in another country.

11. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was – and is – a top music venue in Athens. Built in 161 by Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, the amphitheatre could seat more than 6,000 in steeply sloped tiers at the base of the Acropolis. Alas, it was destroyed by invaders a hundred years later, only to be resurrected in the 1950s.

It hosts the annual Athens Festival , an annual celebration featuring performances by international entertainers. The odeon also is a good place to take in classical Greek performances. Although a roof covered the theater in ancient times, everything takes place under the stars today.

10. New Acropolis Museum

A main stop on any Athens tour is the New Acropolis Museum, which resides near the base of the hill overlooking the city. It has the largest collection of Greek architecture and ancient sculptures including statues of the goddess Athena and “Kritios Boy.”

The museum was originally scheduled to be built in time for the 2004 Olympics, but its completion was delayed due to legal battles. The museum has five floors that showcase 4,000 artifacts. Permanent exhibitions here include the Parthenon Frieze, Athena statue, Color the Peplos Kore, Parthenon Gallery and Athena Nike.

9. Mount Lycabettus

For romantic evenings, gorgeous sunsets and an amazing panoramic view of Athens, Mount Lycabettus is an incredible adventure. As the highest point in Athens, it allows visitors to see all across the Attica basin and the Aegean Sea. Climbers can also see as the chapel of St. George from its peak.

A little cafe here will serve up a fantastic dinner for two. To start the hike, visitors go up the path that begins at the end of Aristippou Street in Kolonaki. The path continues to wind upwards around the mountain. Visitors can also take the funicular, which departs from Ploutarchou and Aristippou Street.

8. National Archaeological Museum

For visitors who love art exhibitions, there is no better place to visit in Greece than the National Archaeological Museum. Multiple collections can be found here from contemporary artists all the way back to antiquity.

The museum also has a large collection of artwork dating back to the Neolithic Age. The collections include small vases, working tools, clay vases and other small artifacts that are some of the oldest archaeological finds dating back to the 7th millennium. Over thirty rooms, sculptures from every century can be viewed including ancient Kouroi Egyptian sculptures.

7. Syntagma Square

A major point of interest for any traveler to Athens is the Syntagma Square. The most famous aspect of Syntagma is the changing of the guards by the Evzones in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Hellenic Parliament Building is located here as well as various buses, trolleys and tram stops.

A fountain, ancient statues and two large grassy areas offer the picture perfect place for photos and picnics. Most major events that occur in Greece have been celebrated at the Syntagma Square.

It’s also the site of various political functions, and it was also at this square that the Military Junta government was overthrown in 1974. Besides the Hellenic Parliament building, other interests include the historic hotels Grande Bretagne and George II.

6. Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus is known as the largest temple in Greece. The massive ancient complex took nearly seven centuries to complete. Building originally began in 515 BC by order of Peisistratos, but work stopped on the temple as it was seen as oppressive as Peisistratos and his son were seen as tyrants by the Athenians.

Work resumed in 175 BC but was halted 10 years later when the Roman architect Cossutius died. Under emperor Hardian in 132 BC, the temple was finally completed and dedicated to Zeus Olympios. The temple stands today mostly as a reminder of Greek history, but only 15 of 104 huge columns remain. The columns each rise 17 meters (57 feet) into the air and once surrounded a cella where two large statues were once placed.

5. Erechtheum

The Erechtheus or Erechtheion is a temple made from Pentelic marble. It’s located on the Acropolis, and it’s one of the legendary pieces of Greek architecture. Its construction dates back to c. 421 and 405 when the earlier temple to Athena was destroyed by the Persian invasion.

The Erechtheum was once a sanctuary dedicated to Athena Polias, Erechtheus and Poseidon. Visitors can access the shrine to Athena by going through the eastern portico. The northern portico leads to the western cella.

The Porch of the Caryatids can be found through the southern portico. The six draped female figures can be found here that support the entablature, which is the Erechtheum’s most defining feature.

4. Ancient Agora

Located to the northwest of the Acropolis, the ancient Agora of Athens was once a marketplace and civic center. The people gathered here to browse all kinds of commodities.

It was also a place to meet others and talk about politics, business, current events and the nature of the universe and divine. The ancient Greek democracy can actually be traced to this ancient spot. It’s a wonderful area to look at the cultural beginnings of Athens.

Overlooking the Ancient Agora from its elevated position on the hill of Agoraios Kolonos, the Temple of Hephaistos was built in the 5th century BC. Similar in style but smaller than the Parthenon, the temple consists of 34 Doric columns that support a still partially intact roof. It is the best preserved temple in all of Greece thanks to its conversion into a church in the 7th century.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Athens is the Plaka District, which resides under the Acropolis and spreads out to Syntagma. This village is almost like an island within the city, and it’s the perfect way to experience authentic Greek culture.

The area is quite private and boasts truly unique scenery with several cafes, ancient trees, green leaf canopies and stone walkways. The area is well-known for its food, boutique shops and cafes. Along Kydathineon Street, visitors find the Jewish Museum, Folk-Art Museum and Saita Taverna, which serves delicious bakalairo and other grilled meats.

2. Parthenon

The Parthenon is the most famous building in Athens and all of Greece. It stands majestically at the top of the Acropolis and is considered the epitome of Doric architecture, the simplest of Greek architectural styles.

The temple was built to honor the goddess Athena Parthenos, the patron of Athens, to thank her for protecting the city during the Persian Wars. Situated on the site of a former temple to Athena, the Parthenon was considered completed in 438 BC, when Athens was at its peak. The symbol of ancient Greece, the Parthenon is decorated with sculptures that are considered outstanding examples of Greek art.

1. Acropolis

No visit to Athens is complete without a visit to the Acropolis , the most famous hill in the Greek capital. It’s impossible not to visit this landmark since so many important Greek ruins are located here, including an old citadel for which

Though only 156 meters (511 feet) high, the Acropolis is considered the highest point in the spirit of ancient Greek culture. From the Parthenon at the summit, travelers can look down on monuments built on its sides as well as over a more modem Athens. The buildings on this hill are considered a great blending of architecture with natural surroundings.

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Reader interactions.

September 6, 2019 at 10:05 pm

I have been to Athens and Greece overall twice: 2010 & 2012. I studied Ancient Greece and Athens so I am partial to all of the things ancient. Of course, the acropolis with all the wonderful buildings on it and around it, along with the agora, is so fulfilling. But to get a true feeling of the ancient past, a visit to the National Archaeological Museum is a must. The Bronze Age portion is among my favorite parts that reflects much of what is described in Homer’s Iliad. However, when all is said, I truly love it all! Be sure to visit the many other great locations in Greece while your here: Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi, Thermopylae, etc!

October 5, 2016 at 9:53 am

We will be taking a Mediterranean cruise in July, 2017. Will end up in Athens. Want to spend a few days here, maybe two to three. Will that be enough and what would you recommend we do with this time to experience a little taste of Athens and Greece?

May 7, 2015 at 3:31 pm

Great tips, thanks! We also highly recommend The Monastiraki Square Flea Market…

October 2, 2014 at 4:32 pm

I highly recommend Greece. Go for the best way to get a new version of how life could be….Visit Glyfada, south of Athens. ., and Astir beach, also Voulagmeni because I have lived there. Further down you will find Lavrio and Then Sounio.

May 30, 2014 at 7:11 am

I want to go to these places someday

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Athens   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Jorg Greuel | Getty Images

18 Best Things to Do in Athens, Greece

Athens offers an endless number of experiences and attractions, from its ancient monuments and museums to medieval churches and high-end boutiques. You could easily spend several weeks wandering the city and exploring its best-preserved artifacts and

• All Things To Do

Acropolis Acropolis

While there are many more acropoleis (the plural of "acropolis") in Greece, it's this one in central Athens that garners the most attention. In fact, it's routinely referred to simply as " The Acropolis." The site is an elevated, flat-topped rock with an assortment of monuments and ruins built throughout the 5th century BC , including the Parthenon , the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion .

Travelers say the hike to the Acropolis is just as memorable as the sites it holds. If you're going to try it, many suggest beginning your trek in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak temperatures and crowds. For the best photos and views, arrive shortly before sunset. Visitors with mobility issues will have access to an elevator; however, some travelers noticed others struggling to move wheelchairs around the property, which lacks ramps and has gravel pathways, so allow extra time when using a wheelchair.

Acropolis Museum Acropolis Museum

U.S. News Insider Tip : Once you're inside the Acropolis Museum, look for the famous caryatids – a collection of marble statues that were replaced by copies on the Erechtheion for the purpose of their preservation. – Holly D. Johnson

As its name suggests, the Acropolis Museum – which resides in central Athens' Makrigianni district just below the ancient site itself – houses various archaeological findings from the Acropolis. Key exhibits include a relief of Athena Nike, several carved statues from Erechtheion , the head of a statue of Alexander the Great and a gallery with various Parthenon artifacts.

Parthenon Parthenon

U.S. News Insider Tip : If you're visiting during the scorching summer months, get up early and head to the base of the Acropolis before 8 a.m. Summer temperatures average in the high 80s and 90s, and the long lines can leave you standing in the heat for hours.  – Holly D. Johnson

An impressive example of ancient Greek architecture, the Parthenon is a cultural landmark like no other.

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Plaka Plaka free

The beautiful, historical neighborhood of Plaka, located under the Acropolis , is largely residential. Still, its assortment of restaurants and cafes keep it swarming with tourists each summer. You can also shop, especially if you're looking to bring home some gold or silver jewelry. 

Motor vehicles are not permitted on this neighborhood's winding streets, so make sure you have a street map (or access to maps on your phone) and a comfortable pair of shoes. Visitors say the Plaka offers a charming atmosphere and plenty of great shops for both souvenirs and one-of-a-kind finds. If you'd rather sip a drink once the sun goes down, travelers suggest visiting one (or several) of the area's vibrant clubs or bars. 

National Archaeological Museum National Archaeological Museum

The National Archaeological Museum contains some of the most revered artifacts of Greece, dating back to 5000 B.C., and is considered one of the world's best museums for ancient Greek art. For many recent travelers, this museum was the highlight of their trip.

Prior visitors said this museum is well laid out and offers informative and interesting displays. A few reviewers reported feeling overwhelmed by all of the artifacts on display, and recommended mapping out which exhibits you'd like to see ahead of time to maximize your visit. For many, seeing Agamemnon's gold death mask was a must. Several travelers recommend breaking up your visit with a stop at the on-site cafe. 

Temple of Hephaestus Temple of Hephaestus

One of central Athens' best preserved ruins is the Temple of Hephaestus. Nestled within Ancient Agora , this site was built between 460 and 420 B.C. and once served as a Christian church. Eventually, the building was transformed into an archaeological museum before undergoing excavations in 1930 and later opening to tourists.

According to prior travelers, the Temple of Hephaestus is "impressive" and "definitely worth a visit." In fact, some felt this ruin deserved more accolades than the Parthenon , despite its smaller size. Like most sights found in Ancient Agora and the Acropolis , the Temple of Hephaestus can only be viewed from the outside, so time your visit early in the morning to take in everything while temperatures are cooler. Also, consider visiting Ancient Agora first if you plan on seeing its attractions and those at the Acropolis within the same day. The Temple of Hephaestus and other Ancient Agora ruins are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 to 8 p.m., although hours vary by season

Ancient Agora Ancient Agora

The agoras of the ancient Greek city-states were open areas for people to assemble for everything from political gatherings to public debates. Ancient Agora is the most popular of its kind, thanks in part to its historical significance. Socrates used to lecture here, and it was also here that Saint Paul sought out converts for the then-fledgling religion known as Christianity.

Recent travelers, especially history buffs, loved visiting Ancient Agora. Though some wished the site offered more written information about its ruins, many felt the locale had a better atmosphere (and fewer crowds) than the adjacent Acropolis . Just be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes or allot extra time for moving around if you use a wheelchair since Ancient Agora's pathways are covered in gravel. Others raved about the views of the Acropolis that can be seen here, but warned that this site is a magnet for pickpockets.

Erechtheion Erechtheion

Located just north of the Parthenon high above the city within the Acropolis complex, the Erechtheion was constructed between 421 and 406 B.C. as a place for Athenians to worship Erechtheus, the mythical king of Athens, and various Greek gods. Though smaller than the Parthenon, this structure features a frieze made of Eleusinian gray stone, multiple sculptures (known as caryatids) and other unique details, making it one of the Acropolis' most eye-catching buildings.

This sight's attention to detail makes it one of Athens' most popular ruins to visit. Sightseers love the caryatids found on the south side of the building, adding that these copies – five of the six original statues are on display in the Acropolis Museum , while the sixth resides in London's British Museum – are so accurate that it's hard to tell they're replicas. Another plus: the stunning city vistas.

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Benaki Museum Benaki Museum

According to some recent travelers, this is the best museum in Athens. The Benaki Museum focuses on Greek art, from prehistory to the modern age. Its campus features several contemporary and historic buildings that house everything from Islamic art to art studios affiliated with Yannis Pappas and Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, two well-known Greek artists. Facilities like restrooms, restaurants, gift shops and a library are available as well.

Art enthusiasts love visiting this museum's collections and seeing a range of Greek cultural exhibits and historical artifacts all in one place. Note that Thursdays offer free admission after 6 p.m. for permanent exhibits, so this is a good time to visit if you have a Thursday evening in Athens with time to spare. Free admissions are also offered at the Yannis Pappas Studio and the MENTIS workshop, where visitors can see how costumes, military uniforms and more were made for centuries. The only negative, for some, is the museum's abundance of exhibits, which tend to be repetitive at times and are tough to squeeze into one visit.

Anafiotika Anafiotika

Anafiotika is another trendy neighborhood in Athens that is nestled just beside the Plaka , and it is known for its car-free winding streets and alleys as well as its adorable homes and churches. The area is small, yet not difficult to find due to its location just next to the Acropolis . You can easily spend several hours here enjoying coffee or a cocktail, or shopping at one of the local boutiques.

Visitors who have been to Anafiotika say it's one of their favorite parts of the city, and that it's beautiful and even romantic for some. Consider getting up early to capture some stunning photos of Anafiotika with the Acropolis towering in the background and few other travelers to interfere with your shots.

Herod Atticus Odeon Herod Atticus Odeon

Situated on the south slope of the Acropolis , the Herod Atticus Odeon was named after Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus, a wealthy Athenian who sponsored the building of this ancient outdoor auditorium between A.D. 160 and 174. Historically, the venue hosted a variety of music festivals, but today, the locale serves as the site for many theater, music and art festivals, including the Athens and Epidaurus Festival, an annual arts showcase.

Though some previous visitors said this attraction isn't as impressive as others found in the Acropolis complex, many highly recommended attending one of the venue's summer performances. If you do attend a show here, plan on wearing comfortable walking shoes , since steps at the Herod Atticus Odeon are steep. You can also visit during nonevent days, so long as you purchase an Acropolis ticket, which is generally cheaper than event tickets at 20 to 30 euros (around $22 to $32.50) per person.

Monastiraki Monastiraki free

U.S. News Insider Tip : Monastiraki is an exceptional place to enjoy an incredible meal or shop for souvenirs at a great price. You'll also find lower pricing for vacation rentals and hotels in Monastiraki than you will in the Plaka . – Holly D. Johnson

Monastiraki is a popular neighborhood within the ancient city of Athens similar to the Plaka, yet it's intensely grittier and a better representation of the local vibe than more touristy areas of town. Monastiraki is the place you'll find locals selling their wares on the street, with graffiti and street art covering nearly every building in sight. Delicious eats and drinks are found in this areas of Athens, and at a good price. For example, you can find the best of Greek cuisine here, from moussaka to souvlaki and gyros. The central gathering area in Monastiraki is Monastiraki Square, which is a lively and buzzing city square filled with small shops, food stands and locals enjoying the weather. This square is also a great place to begin walking Ermou Street, which is one of the city's biggest shopping streets when it comes to clothing, jewelry and souvenirs to take home. 

Museum of Cycladic Art Museum of Cycladic Art

Founded in 1986 as a place to display Aegean and Cypriot artifacts owned by Nikolaos and Aikaterini (Dolly) Goulandris, two Athenians interested in preserving Greek culture, the Museum of Cycladic Art features various sculptures, jewelry, pottery and weapons. Permanent collections are housed in the Main Building, while temporary exhibits are showcased at the adjacent Stathatos Mansion.

History buffs and art lovers rave about the high-quality exhibits offered inside this small museum. What's more, all of the displays include English translations, making it easy for Americans to learn about each item. This attraction is also popular with families, thanks in part to its complimentary admissions for children 17 and younger, as well as its kid-friendly activities. Additionally, the museum offers complimentary Wi-Fi access, a gift shop and a cafe, which serves tasty homemade pastries, brunch and light meals and snacks.

Athens All Included: Acropolis and Museum Guided Tour with Ticket

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Cape Sounion and Temple of Poseidon Half-Day Small-Group Tour from Athens

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Panathenaic Stadium Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium held the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, and it was built on the site of a former stadium used for the Panathenaic games that dates back to 566 B.C. The unique marble stadium is in great condition and draws in tourists from around the world. What's more, it still hosts a range of sporting events and competitions to this day. 

Visitors to the stadium love its historical significance, but this seems especially true among those who love the Olympics or watch the games every few years. Many also agree the entry fee is reasonable for all you can see and learn in a few hours. Note, however, that you can get decent photos and a look at the stadium from outside the gates without actually paying to go inside.

Athens Bus Tours Athens Bus Tours

Like other major cities in Europe, Athens has its share of bus tours. Options include hop-on, hop-off bus tours with open air seating on an upper deck and inside seating below, but you can also book bus tours that last a half day or full day. While a range of companies offer their own unique bus tours and sightseeing options, some of the most popular providers include City Sightseeing , Key Tours and Sights of Athens .

Reviews for Athens bus tours vary by company, but many travelers agree that bus tours in general offer an affordable and convenient way to see the city. Note that many hop-on, hop-off bus tours cost less than 20 euros (about $21) per ticket, yet they give you the chance to see all around Athens without having to walk on foot, and you can get off and on as you please. Some hop-on, hop-off bus tours even offer free Wi-Fi on board. Cruise travelers in particular find the bus tours an efficient way to see the city’s top sights in a short amount of time. Booking a bus tour can also be an efficient way to see archaeological sites outside of Athens, such as Delphi.

Athens National Garden Athens National Garden free

The National Garden of Athens is a beautiful natural garden that sits south of the Benaki Museum and east of the Acropolis . The garden is brimming with flowers, trees, trellises, several lakes and natural vegetation, and it also offers something the city center of Athens often lacks – some natural shade and protection to keep you out of the sun and heat.

The garden is free to visit and open from sunrise to sunset, and you can enter and exit from each side depending on the direction you're headed (there are seven entrances in total). You'll also find public restrooms, a conservatory, a children’s library and a small cafe on-site, although past visitors have said the cafe is overpriced. 

Athens Food Tours Athens Food Tours

People from all over the world love Greek cuisine, and it's easy to see why. From local favorites like saganaki (fried and melted cheese) to fresh Greek salads, gyros and baklava (a dessert made with pastry and honey), there's no shortage of delicious foods to try throughout the country.

Whether you're a foodie or not, you may want to consider booking a Greek food tour to try out all the local favorites with the help of an expert guide. Companies that offer four tours in Athens vary widely, but popular options include Food Around Athens , Greekality , Truevoyagers and Athens Walking Tours . Most tours do require walking and a certain level of physical fitness since you're going from place to place to try new food and drink, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes and be ready to get your steps in.

Temple of Olympian Zeus Temple of Olympian Zeus

Located near the Acropolis and the Benaki Museum , the Temple of Olympian Zeus is a tall and impressive marble structure that dates back to the 6th century B.C. The site has a long and storied history, as it was dedicated to Zeus, the patriarch of all Greek gods and the ruler of Mount Olympus. While only 15 of the original 104 columns of the temple are still standing, this landmark is one of the most common associated with Athens and worth a look and a few photos.

Visitors to the Temple of Olympian Zeus seem to agree the site is worth a stop even if there's not a lot to see. That said, ongoing restoration work and scaffolding could damper the experience, along with the potential for heat and crowds during a good part of the year. Several reviewers recommended reading up on the site prior to your visit as there isn’t much information on display here.

4 Hours - Athens & Acropolis Highlights Private Tour

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Athens Day Cruise: 3 Islands Tour in the Saronic Gulf with Lunch

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Things to do in Athens: attractions & sights

Top 20 what to do in athens greece: sightseeing & tourist attractions.

Athens sights Top 20, an overview of the tourist attractions, activities, sightseeing, tourism, famous landmarks and best things to in Athens Greece. What are the top places to visit in Athens?

Top 20 Things to do in Athens - Attractions & Landmarks

Athens is a great city with a rich history. So there is a lot to see and visit. You may already be familiar with the most famous sights such as the Acropolis and the National Archaeological Museum , but there is much more to experience in Athens Greece. In this list you will therefore find the top 20 Athens sightseeing . These are both the well-known tourist attractions and places that you really have to see and the hidden gems. The list is full of fun day trips, neighborhoods, landmarks, sights and attractions . What are the things to do in Athens Greece?

Popular things to do in Athens Greece

Need more inspiration for things to do in the capital of Greece ? What to do in Athens Greece? In addition to the above sights and places to visit in Athens , here are some popular tours and activities in Athens Greece:

Where are the attractions in Athens?

FAQ Athens sightseeing and landmarks

The main attraction of Athens is the Acropolis, the central hill that houses the Parthenon temple. Furthermore, in the city are several archaeological excavations such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora. The districts of Pláka, Anafiótika and Monastiráki are popular (tourist) districts in the center and museum lovers will find what they are looking for in the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum. In this article you can read all about the Top 20 Athens attractions .

No, without tickets you can only see the Acropolis hill from a distance. To visit the archaeological area on top of the Acropolis, you must purchase a ticket that allows you to visit the Parthenon and the Erechtheion, among other things. Learn more about Acropolis tickets .

The most famous museum is the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the hill of the same name. Other popular museums include the National Archaeological Museum of Athens Greece, the Benaki Museum and the Byzantine Christian Museum. In this article you can read all about the Museums in Athens .

Partner of: Reykjavik sightseeing , Edinburgh sightseeing and Venice sightseeing

Most visited attractions

Top 20 Things to do in Athens

Acropolis: Tours & Tickets

Must-see attractions in Athens

Acropolis Museum

Acropolis Area

This dazzling museum at the foot of the Acropolis' southern slope showcases its surviving treasures. The collection covers the Archaic period to the Roman…

Designed to be the pre-eminent monument of the Acropolis, the Parthenon epitomises the glory of Ancient Greece. Meaning 'virgin's apartment', it's…

The Acropolis is the most important ancient site in the Western world. Crowned by the Parthenon, it stands sentinel over Athens, visible from almost…

Gazi, Keramikos & Metaxourgio

This lush, tranquil site is named for the potters who settled it around 3000 BC. It was used as a cemetery through the 6th century AD. The grave markers…

Ancient Agora

The Agora was ancient Athens' heart, the lively hub of administrative, commercial, political and social activity. Socrates expounded his philosophy here;…

Byzantine & Christian Museum

This outstanding museum, based in the 1848 Villa Ilissia, offers exhibition halls, most of them underground, crammed with religious art. The exhibits go…

Benaki Museum of Greek Culture

In 1930 Antonis Benakis – a politician's son born in Alexandria, Egypt, in the late 19th century – endowed what is perhaps the finest museum in Greece…

National Archaeological Museum

Housing the world's finest collection of Greek antiquities in an enormous neoclassical building, this museum is one of Athens' top attractions. Treasures…

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Syntagma & Plaka

A can't-miss on two counts: it's a marvellous temple, once the largest in Greece, and it's smack in the centre of Athens. Of the temple's 104 original…

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Sitting beneath a man-made slope above Faliron Bay, and shaded by a 'Magic Carpet' roof covered with solar panels, this stunning Renzo Piano building,…

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

This large amphitheatre was built in AD 161 by wealthy Roman Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife Regilla. It was excavated in 1857–58 and completely…

Roman Agora

This was the city’s market area under Roman rule, and it occupied a much larger area than the current site borders. You can see a lot from outside the…

Museum of Cycladic Art

The 1st floor of this exceptional private museum is dedicated to the iconic minimalist marble Cycladic figurines, dating from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. They…

Church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris

At the foot of Filopappou Hill, this 16th-century church may not be the oldest in Athens, but it is certainly one of the loveliest, with a heavy timber…

Hadrian’s Arch

The Roman emperor Hadrian had a great affection for Athens. Although he did his fair share of spiriting its Classical artwork to Rome, he also embellished…

Museum of Islamic Art

While not particularly large, this museum houses a significant collection of Islamic art. Four floors of a mansion display, in ascending chronological…

National Garden

The former royal gardens, designed by Queen Amalia in 1838, are a pleasantly unkempt park that makes a welcome shady refuge from summer heat and traffic…

Museum of Greek Popular Instruments

A single avid ethnomusicologist collected almost 1200 folk instruments; the best are on display in three floors of this house-turned-museum. Headphones…

Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation

Opened in October 2019, this new museum showcases the collection of modern and contemporary artworks belonging to shipping magnate Basil Goulandris and…

Panathenaic Stadium

With its serried rows of white Pentelic marble seats built into a ravine next to Ardettos Hill, this ancient-turned-modern stadium is a draw both for…

Whether you want a shot of art, a clever design morsel or a refreshing drink, stop in at TAF, a just-barely updated complex of 1870s brick buildings. The…

Stavros Niarchos Park

Athens is short on green spaces, so this vast seaside park is a blessing. Covering a man-made slope that incorporates the roof of the Stavros Niarchos…

Temple of Athena Nike

The small but exquisitely proportioned Temple of Athena Nike sits at the southwest edge of the Acropolis, jutting in front and to the right of the…

Theatre of Dionysos

The tyrant Peisistratos introduced the annual Festival of the Great Dionysia during the 6th century BC, and held it in the world's first theatre, on the…

Tower of the Winds

This Pentelic marble tower within the Roman Agora, likely built in the 2nd century BC, is both beautiful and functional. Devised by Andronicus, a…

Temple of Hephaistos

On the western edge of the Ancient Agora, the Temple of Hephaistos, god of the forge, was surrounded by foundries and metalwork shops. It was one of the…

Lykavittos Hill

The 277m summit of Lykavittos – 'Hill of Wolves', from ancient times, when it was wilder than it is now – gives the finest panoramas of the city and the…

National Library of Greece

In 2018, the National Library shifted more than 720,000 items from its collection to this stunning new building that is part of the Stavros Niarchos…

Industrial Gas Museum

It's fascinating to follow the walking route that runs through the old gasworks in Gazi, in operation from 1862 until 1984. The preserved complex of…

The Propylaia formed the monumental entrance to the Acropolis. Built by Mnesicles between 437 BC and 432 BC, it ranks in architectural brilliance with the…

Agora Museum

Within the Ancient Agora, this museum is packed with archaeological finds, but can get uncomfortably crowded if a tour group is cycling through. It is set…

Jewish Museum

This small museum traces the history of the Jewish community in Greece – starting with the deeply rooted Romaniote community established in the 3rd…

Clinging to the north slope of the Acropolis, the tiny Anafiotika district is a beautiful, architecturally distinct subdistrict of Plaka. In the mid-1800s…

Benaki Museum at 138 Pireos St

While the main Benaki Museum of Greek Culture displays the classical and traditional, this annexe focuses on modern and inventive. Apart from a few…

Presidential Guard

Get a close-up look at the evzones, the traditionally dressed Greek soldiers, standing in front of their main barracks and, further down Irodou Attikou,…

Athens' First Cemetery

Under Ottoman rule, Greeks buried their dead at their local church. Only after independence in 1821 was this city cemetery established. It's a peaceful…

Erechtheion

Although the Parthenon was the most impressive monument of the Acropolis, it was more showpiece than working sanctuary. That role fell to the Erechtheion…

Areopagus Hill

This rocky outcrop below the Acropolis has great views over the Ancient Agora. According to mythology, it was here that Ares was tried by the council of…

Moni Kaisarianis

Nestled on the lower slope of Mt Hymettos east of the city, this beautiful 11th-century working monastery is maintained as a well-restored archaeological…

National Sculpture & Art Gallery

While the National Gallery is being rebuilt, a small portion of the collection is on display at the National Sculpture Gallery, in the former royal…

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Home » Travel Guides » Greece » 25 Best Things to Do in Athens (Greece)

25 Best Things to Do in Athens (Greece)

If you’re like us then coming to the cradle of civilisation is like being a child in a candy shop. There’s no limit to the amount of Doric and Ionic temples, statues, vases and Archaic figurines we could devour before we get tired.

In museums you can see the ballot disks from Ancient Greek courts, and you can step into the Theatre of Dionysus, the very place where Euripides and Aristophanes staged their plays, or walk the Agora, knowing that your path will be the same once trodden by Plato and Socrates.

But Athens is far more than an archaeological site, from the jungle of concrete towers in the modern city to Plaka, a warren of alleys built over ancient Athens residential quarters. Punctuating the cityscape are hills like Mount Lycabettus and Philopappos Hill where you can get the lie of the land and see the Acropolis on its rocky throne.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Athens :

1. Acropolis

There’s nothing we can tell you that hasn’t been said many times about Athens’ ancient citadel.

The Acropolis is on an abrupt rocky outcrop above the city and has world-renowned Classical landmarks that people spend whole lifetimes waiting to see in the flesh.

The pinnacle of these is of course the Parthenon, but The Propylea, the Erectheion and the Temple of Athena Nike are indispensible, and you can skip the queues and get enthralling inside facts and titbits about ancient Greek democracy and philosophy with a registered guide.

The going is steep and slippery on timeworn marble, until you reach the flat summit, and be prepared for cranes and scaffolding, which are an understandable necessity for a World Heritage Site.

Recommended tour :  Athens Mythology Highlights Tour

2. Parthenon

Seen as the greatest achievement of the Doric Order and Classical Greece’s most significant building to make it to the 21st Century, the Parthenon is a symbol of western civilisation and Athenian democracy.

The Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena and begun in 447 BC, when the Athenian Empire was the dominant force in the Aegean.

Co-designed, by Ictinus and Callicrates, at that time it was a city treasury before becoming a church in the 6th century and then a mosque in the 1460s.

Notoriously, some of the Parthenon’s sculptures were plundered by The Earl of Elgin at the start of the 18th century and were later sold to the British Museum where they remain.

The remainder of the original frieze and pediment sculpture is the highlight of the Acropolis Museum, which follows.

Recommended tour : Acropolis, Parthenon, & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

3. Acropolis Museum

The work of Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, the Acropolis Museum in on the southeast slope and was unveiled in 2009 to present the many thousands of artefacts discovered on the archaeological site of the Acropolis.

Smartly oriented to give you constant views of the Parthenon, the museum is built over ancient ruins and much of the ground floor has glass panels and open spaces, showing the foundations below.

On three levels visitors are sent on a chronological trip through the centuries, starting with the hill’s archaic discoveries in a large trapezoidal hall that also has findings from the Erechtheion, the Propylaea gateway and the Temple of Athena Nike.

After this you go up to wonder at the marbles from the frieze (including metopes) and the pediments of the Parthenon in a hall with the same dimensions, column spacing and orientation as the temple.

The tour then continues back down, through Roman and early Christian Athens.

Skip the line :  The Acropolis Museum Skip-The-Line Ticket

4. Erechtheion

On the north side of the Acropolis is a temple to Athena and Poseidon, built in the Ionic Order from 421 to 406 BC. After antiquity this monument had all sorts of uses, as a Byzantine church, a palace in the Frankish period and much later a residence for the Ottoman commander’s harem.

The thing you have to see, and the Erechtheion’s defining image, is the southern Porch of the Maidens.

This has six magnificent caryatids supporting its roof, carved by Callimachus or Alcamenes.

The current caryatids are casts, and five of the originals are now in the Acropolis museum and a sixth is at the British Museum.

5. National Archaeological Museum

A veritable wonderland of ancient art, it’s fitting that Athens’ National Archaeological Museum should be one of the largest and richest in the world.

The galleries are jammed with star exhibits that have been beguiling scholars for generations.

Take the finds from the Atikythera wreck, identified in 1900 and dating back to the 4th century BC. This yielded the Atikythera Mechanism, the world’s oldest analogue computer and the contemplative Philosopher’s Head.

Then there’s the Mask of Agamemnon, a gold funerary mask from the 16th century BC , most likely made for Mycenaean royalty, though too early for Agamemnon.

See also the Eleusinian relief from the 5th century BC, as well as Bronze Age frescoes from the islands of Santorini and Thera and the Jockey of Artemision, a beguiling statue of a racehorse from 150-140 BC.

6. Temple of Hephaestus

Atop the 65-metre Agoraios Kolonos hill on the northwest side of the Agora of Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus is a Doric peripteral temple in an amazing state of preservation.

It was built in the second half of the 5th century BC and construction was delayed for three decades because funds and labour were redirected towards the Parthenon.

Designed by Ictinus, the temple was dedicated to Athena and Hephaestus who was the ancient god of fire, metalworking, forges, sculpture and stonemasonry, and has six fluted columns on its west side and 13 on its north and south.

You can also make out plenty of sculpted elements, from the Labour of Hercules on the meotopes on the east side, to the pronaos and opisthodomos, which show Theseus with the Pallantides and the battle of Centaurs and Lapiths.

7. Museum of Cycladic Art

Beginning in the 1960s the couple Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris amassed the world’s largest collection of prehistoric art from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean.

By the 1980s this was enough to fill a museum, which opened in 1986. There are more than 3,000 pieces of Cycladic, Ancient Greek and Cypriot art at the museum, dating from 3,000 to the 4th century BC. But it’s the Cycladic marble figurines that draw the most acclaim.

If you love modern art you may notice uncanny similarities between their minimal, abstract lines and works by the likes of Giacometti and Henry Moore.

Book online : Museum of Cycladic Art Entry Ticket

8. Temple of Athena Nike

In a commanding position, raised on a bastion on the southeast slope of the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena Nike is from 420 BC and was the first complete Ionic Order temple on the hill.

It’s the most recent of a number of temples dedicated to Athena Nike at the Acropolis, the previous of which was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. Conceived by Callicrates, this edifice is a tetrastyle Ionic temple with four elegantly narrow columns on its front and rear porticos that have the hallmark Ionic volutes or scrolls.

Fragments of the frieze and relief around the parapet below are on display at the Acropolis Museum, including the sublime wet drapery sculpture of the goddess fixing her sandal.

An antidote to both the silent ancient temples and traffic-heavy modern city, Plaka lies on top of ancient Athens’s residential quarters in the shadow of the Acropolis.

It’s a district of tight, twisting alleys with 19th-century facades garlanded with flowering bougainvillea in summer.

Plaka is jam-packed with family-run shops, each with something alluring, from ceramics, musical instruments, handmade jewellery to specialty food shops stacked high with olives and spices.

And whether you want to pick up a gyro or sit down to a meze Plaka is a go-to for dining and nightlife.

Below the rocky notheastern slope of the Acropolis is Anafiotika, a steep whitewashed neighbourhood settled in the 19th-century reign of Otto of Greece when workers moved here during the renovation of King Othon’s Palace.

Recommended tour :  Early Morning Acropolis & Plaka Guided Walking Tour

10. Temple of Olympian Zeus

Now, not much of this temple east of the Acropolis has been left standing, but what remains is more than enough to tell you that it used to be vast.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus had an extremely long construction period, started in the 6th century BC but not completed until the rule of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd Century AD. In that time the prevalent order had switched to Corinthian, and the 15 surviving columns of an original 104 have scrolls and acanthus patterns.

The temple was pulled down during the Herulian sack of Athens in 267, little more than a century after it was completed , and its stone was quarried for other buildings around the city.

11. Benaki Museum

A near-complete chronology of Greek history and culture, the Benaki Museum was founded by the art collector Antonis Benakis in 1930. He set up the institution in memory of his father Emmanuel who had died the year before and was a prominent politician.

On three floors you can follow the course of Greek art from prehistoric times to the present.

The ground floor has surprisingly sophisticated Neolithic vases, as well as Archaic ceramics and figurines and Classical sculpture.

The first floor leads you through the late Byzantine period and Ottoman rule, and is endowed with religious icons and examples of folk costume.

Then after the cafeteria on the 3rd, the top floor has paintings, documents and weapons from the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire from 1821 to 1829.

12. Ancient Agora of Athens

Reserved for trade and public gatherings, the Agora was the centre of Classical Athens and is cushioned by the Acropolis to the southeast and the Agoraios Kolonos hill to the south.

It was drawn up in the 6th century BC and is a wide-ranging site with the ruins of more than 30 buildings and monuments.

Download a map, go slow and let you imagination wander.

Or hire a guide who will explain the ancient customs that once took place where you stand, like ostracism, in which potential threats to the state were preemptively forced into exile.

13. Museum of the Ancient Agora

One of the monuments in the Agora, the Stoa of Attalos, was totally reconstructed in the 1950s.

This covered walkway was first built by Attalos II in the mid-2nd century BC but was wrecked by the Herules in 267. The new building was as faithful as possible to the archaeological knowledge of the day and hosts the Museum of the Ancient Agora, showing off the artefacts brought to light during excavations in the area by the American School of Classical Studies.

Awaiting you are Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Geometric period figurines, weapons and vases recovered from tombs and wells.

You can also see some thrilling pieces relating to Athenian democracy in the Classical and Late Classical periods, like an official bronze weight, shards of pottery used in ostracism ballots (ostracons), clay measuring devices, bronze and lead ballot disks once used in trials.

Available tour: Athens : Guided Tour of Ancient Agora and Agora Museum

14. Panathenaic Stadium

Erected for the 1896 Olympics, the Panathenaic Stadium is a modern reconstruction of an ancient stadium built for the Panathenaic Games in 330 BC. Two hundred years later that ancient monument would be rendered in marble by the Athenian Roman senator Herodes Atticus.

With a U-shape layout, the Panethenaic Stadium is an almost exact replica of the construction from the 2nd century BC, and like its ancient ancestor is composed completely from marble.

It was seen around the world during the 2004 Athens Olympics when it staged the archery events and was the finish line for both the men’s and women’s marathon.

The stadium can hold 45,000 spectators and from its highest tiers you can see the Acropolis and the National Garden.

15. Mount Lycabettus

Unlike Athens’ most famous summit, Mount Lycabettus is free to climb on foot, but you can also take a funicular to the summit.

Northeast of the city centre, this cretaceous limestone peak rises to 300 metres and its lower slopes are decked in pine trees, which become sparser as you approach the rocky summit.

The walk is best saved for winter and not the searing Athens summer, while the funicular runs on the hour and half-hour.

At the top you’ll be bowled over by the best panorama of the city and can take your time to pick out the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Piraeus Coast and peaks like Pentelicus, which yielded the marble for the Acropolis, and the soaring Parnitha in the north.

16. Odeon of Herodes Atticus

This Roman-era concert hall was raised in 161 AD on the orders of the Athenian Magnate Herodes Atticus, most likely in memory of his wife Aspasia Annia Regilla.

At that time it had a roof made from cedar wood and could seat 5,000 until it was razed by the Herules in 275. Over the next 1,700 years, the monument faded into the earth, and visitors in the Medieval period had no idea what the ruins meant.

The first excavation took place in 1848 by archaeologist Kyriakos Pittakis and the man of letters Alexandros Rizos Rangavis, and witnessed by Otto of Greece.

The theatre was restored in the 1950s when the stone tiers were rebuilt using the same marble from Mount Pentelicus.

Get a seat for an evening concert to experience the Odeon as the Athenians would have done 2,000 years ago.

17. Philopappos Monument

The pine-clad elevation neighbouring the acropolis to the southwest is known as Hill of the Muses, but also the Philopappos Hill.

That name comes from Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, a prince of the Kingdom of Commagene in the 1st and 2nd centuries.

His death in 116 is said to have caused a great deal of grief to the citizens of Athens and not least his sister Julia Balbilla, who erected an lasting monument in his memory.

Two storeys high the monument has a frieze on its lower level showing Philiopappos as a Roman consul, on a chariot and preceded by lictors (bodyguards). The damaged upper section has sculptures of Antiochus IV, the last King of Commagene, and Philoppapos with an inscription in a niche below his image.

18. Byzantine and Christian Museum

By now you might be an expert on Archaic and Classical Greece, but the Byzantine period from around the 200s to the 1400s has a lot of wonders in store.

Housed in the neo-Renaissance Villa Ilissia from 1848, the Byzantine and Christian Museum opened in 1914 and was refurbished in time for the Olympics in 2004. There’s a bewitching assortment of sculptures, icons, frescoes, jewellery, architectural fragments, religious vestments, manuscripts, books and mosaics.

You’ll get to know its landmark events, like when Christianity was made legal by Constantine, and Roman power shifted from Rome to Constantinople in the 4th century.

The museum also studies the decline of Byzantine power, and how Venetian-controlled territories with cosmopolitan populations helped lay the path for the Renaissance in Europe.

19. Kapnikarea

A neat follow-up to the Byzantine Museum is this 11th-century church on Ermou Street, Athens’ poshest commercial artery.

Kapnikarea is among the oldest churches in the city and was consecrated around 1050. As was often the way with early Christian churches, Kapnikarea was built over an ancient Greek pagan temple, most likely to Demeter or Athena.

The colourful iconography in the interior is recent and was composed by the painter Photis Kontoglou in the mid-20th century, but there’s also older decoration in the church’s friezes and the sculpted column capitals inside.

20. Areopagus

There’s another hefty white outcrop amid the pines and cypress trees just northwest of the acropolis.

After taking care on the slippery marble steps, you’ll be able see the Port of Piraeus, the Acropolis and Athens Northern quarters from the Areopagus.

And being part of the Classical city there are plenty of myths associated with this rock.

One is the trial of Ares for the murder of Poseidon’s son Halirrhothius.

In the real world Areopagus was the place where the city council sat before the 5th century BC, until Ephialtes introduced reforms that stripped the council of its power.

After that time it remained Athens’ chief homicide court.

21. Theatre of Dionysus

European drama was born at the Theatre of Dionysus, which was first used for performances in the 6th century BC. Carved into the rocky southern slope of the Acropolis, it was the first theatre ever constructed.

The current design is from the middle of the 4th century BC, when the statesman Lycurgus oversaw the city’s finances, although a lot of changes were made later in the Roman period.

This monument is charged with meaning: The Theatre of Dionysus hosted the Dionysia Festival, entered by dramatists like Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides, Menander and Aristophanes.

It can be dumbfounding to realise you’re looking at the same stage where all of the Classical masterpieces were performed, many for the first time.

While Plaka is for sightseeing and shopping, Psiri has taken up the mantle of best nightlife quarter in Athens, with streets full of revellers until daybreak on weekends.

Psiri wasn’t always a place for outsiders, as from the foundation of the modern Greek state in 1828 to the 1990s the area had a fearsome reputation.

In the 19th century it was the haunt of Koutsavakides, a law unto themselves, with long moustaches, coats down to their ankles (for hiding their guns) and high-heeled pointed boots.

The last 20 years has rounded off Psiri’s edges, and there’s an endless choice of music tavernas, bars, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs for all tastes.

Related tour : Food and Wine Tasting Tour at Night

23. National Garden

In touching distance from Psiri and Plaka, the National Garden is a welcome green buffer between ancient Athens and the modern sea of concrete.

The National Garden was formerly the Royal Garden, opening up to the south of the Old Royal Palace and ordered by Amalia of Oldenburg at the end of the 1830s.

Come for a few minutes of repose, idling below the pergolas and avenue of lofty palm trees and bringing children to the two ponds to meet the turtles and ducks.

The park also has a small zoo with peacocks, birds of prey, wolves and monkeys, as well as a botanical museum.

And this being Athens, don’t be surprised to bump into some traces of the ancient city, like mosaics and columns.

24. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Under the facade of Old Royal Palace on Syntagma Square is a cenotaph for all Greek soldiers to have fallen during war.

The monument was sculpted in the early 1930s, blending French Empire design and Athens’ own ancient architecture, but also contemporary Art Deco which is particularly visible in the relief.

The tomb is watched by the Evzones (elite infantry) of the Presidential Guard and there’s a small changing of the guard ceremony on the hour every hour.

On the steps and wall flanking the monument are inscriptions recording battles in the First and Second Balkan War, the Greco-Turkish War, the First World War and the Second World War.

25. Eating on the Move

If you need to squeeze in a meal as you jump to the next temple or museum, Athens has something from morning to night.

Early in the day bakeries sell pastries like tiropita (cheese and egg) and spanakopita (spinach, feta and onions). Also big in the mornings is koulouri, a circular bread coated with sesame seeds and eaten fresh out of the oven, and bougatsa, another filo pastry filled with minced meat, semolina custard or cheese.

And if you need something more substantial there’s always the tried and trusted souvlaki, which is usually pork meat garnished with onions, tomatoes and tzatziki and wrapped in a pita.

Cheap and cheerful is the old-school staple patsa, a soup made with pig’s offal served at devoted patsa joints across the city.

25 Best Things to Do in Athens (Greece):

• Acropolis Museum
• Erechtheion
• National Archaeological Museum
• Temple of Hephaestus
• Museum of Cycladic Art
• Temple of Athena Nike
• Temple of Olympian Zeus
• Benaki Museum
• Ancient Agora of Athens
• Museum of the Ancient Agora
• Panathenaic Stadium
• Mount Lycabettus
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus
• Philopappos Monument
• Byzantine and Christian Museum
• Theatre of Dionysus
• National Garden
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• Eating on the Move

19 Incredible Things to do in Athens: Discover Greece’s Ancient Capital

All the best things to do in Athens. Get ready to explore this mystical city – from the remnants of ancient Greece to exquisite Mediterranean cuisine.

I’m a big fan of Greece . But, admittedly, I often forget quite how much I love the capital, instead declaring my love for its islands instead (though can you blame me?)

But, no more. It’s time to discover Athens, the birthplace of democracy and Western culture. 

This magical city represents over 3,000 years of knowledge and history – and you can see this magic pretty much everywhere you go in the city. 

From the sprawling Acropolis complex to hidden enclaves dotted with cosy cafes and plenty of delicious places to dine, these are the things to do in Athens you need to add to your itinerary.

Wondering where to stay in Athens? The renowned Hotel Grande Bretagne has everything you’ll need for a luxury stay in Athens.

Top 5 Things to Do in Athens

Discover the acropolis of athens.

I’m sorry to say, but if the Acropolis isn’t one of the first places you visit in Athens, you’re doing it wrong. Just kidding (well, not really). 

This historical landmark overlooking the city was once home to Kings and Gods. Today, it’s a beautiful archaeological resource and a reminder of great human innovation.

The Acropolis includes monuments such as the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Propylaea. These monuments were essential to the advancement of Western civilisation and contemporary architecture, so forgive me for nerding out about them.

Top Tip: For anyone interested in delving deeper, I recommend taking this fantastic self-guided Acropolis audio tour with a skip-the-line entry ticket.

Marvel at the Parthenon

Inside the Acropolis is the Parthenon, the most famous structure in Greece. No, I’m not being dramatic – it’s the first thing many think of when visualising the city.

The temple is dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, and is awe-inspiring in size and beauty. 

You’ll find the finest details on the face of the temple with embellishments of Greek myths, warriors and noble horses. Sitting right at the top of Acropolis Hill, you’ll appreciate the centuries-old architecture.

Top Tip: Take an Acropolis and Parthenon walking tour with an expert guide to discover everything there is to know about this slice of ancient history.

Explore the Acropolis Museum

Also sitting atop this crumbling complex is the Acropolis Museum – a must-visit for people who have always wanted to see the remains of this impressive structure. 

After the Propylaea (gateway) got damaged by explosives in 1645, many of the artefacts were moved to the museum for safekeeping. But that’s not all: the museum houses hundreds of artefacts from the Bronze to the Roman Ages. 

It’s arguably one of the best museums in the world and one of the most impressive tourist attractions in Athens. It’s unlikely you’ll be visiting the Acropolis just for a museum tour, so why not take a full Acropolis-guided tour ?

Admire the Panathenaic Stadium

Lace-up your running shoes as you enter the Panathenaic Stadium. Greece used the stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

This multi-use stadium, made entirely of marble, has a capacity of 50,000 seats. You can imagine the enormity of the structure as 80,000 people managed to squeeze into it for the first Olympic Marathon.

Top Tip: Fancy training like an Olympian? Why not race other tourists in the Olympic Games workout tour ?

Dine at Kir Aristos

For the best food in the city (a bold claim, but one that’s totally warranted) you need to eat at Kir Aristos. This adorable eatery is as fun as it is incredible – it looks like you’ve stepped foot in a traditional grocery store.

But the food? Stellar. Kebabs of all forms are the name of the game here, accompanied by the likes of roasted tomatoes, freshly toasted pita, hummus, chips… the lot. DROOL. 

Make sure to wash it all down with a glass of Greek wine – the list is pretty long, so you might want to make your way through it slowly.

Brilliant Things to See & Do in Athens

Relax at the athens national garden.

Another place not to miss when in the Greek capital is The National Garden . It’s one of the city’s most scenic spots (which makes it perfect for an Athens Instagram tour , if you ask me).

View 38 acres of tall trees, rare plants and beautiful flowers nestled between Syntagma Square and the Panathenaic Stadium. With free entry, you can spend hours walking through shaded walkways as you inspect the vast collection of Mediterranean plant species.

Indulge in Dinner at To Kati Allo

When visiting Athens, not delving into the food scene would be criminal . And, if you’ve only got time to dine at one restaurant (and, even if you haven’t) you need to visit To Kati Allo.

If you’re longing for home-cooked food, no-nonsense service, no menus and vegan options, this restaurant is for you. Tucked behind the Acropolis Museum, To Kati Allo serves only the best authentic Greek cuisine.

Visit the Hellenic Parliament

The Hellenic Parliament building has a fascinating history. 

Don’t believe me? It was once home to the Greek monarchy. However, after the monarchy ended for the first time, it became a hospital and museum. Now this historic building remains the House of Parliament.

You can tour the interior of the building and see the amphitheatrical layout, main chamber and stained glass windows. However, the main attraction has to be the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the hourly changing of the guards that takes place outside.

Traverse Lycabettus Hill

Unsure of what to see in Athens? Why not see all of it at the top of Mount Lycabettus? The hill is the highest point of Athens at 277 metres above sea level. You can climb it via a circular path to the mountain’s top.

Though, it can be quite the test of endurance for most people. Instead, you can relax in one of the cable cars that can take you to the hilltop. You’ll find Saint George’s Church there, and beneath it, you’ll discover plenty of options for food and drinks.

Sightsee at the Temple of Olympian Zeus

If you’re looking for things to do around Athens, why not take a detour to the Temple of Olympian Zeus? 

Located near River Ilissos, the area may not be as flashy as the nearby Acropolis but it’s just as famous (and equally as impressive, in my humble opinion). 

The temple’s construction lasted several centuries, but Roman emperor Hadrian completed it in 131 AD. It’s one of the largest temples ever built, with unusually tall columns. When you visit the site, you’ll see that only 15 of the enormous columns remained intact.

Stand Beneath Hadrian’s Arch

Hadrian’s Arch is a formidable Roman triumphal arch made to celebrate the Roman emperor Hadrian. Within walking distance of Syntagma Square, the arch consists of Pentelic marble and is a whopping 18 metres high.

Peer closely and you’ll notice that the design is symmetrical and has inscriptions on both sides. Hadrian’s Arch symbolised the transition from ancient Greek ideals to a new Roman-led society – it’s also another reminder of the layers of change embedded in Athens.

Appreciate the Odeon of Herodes Atticus 

Yet another site with mythological influence is the Herodes Atticus, a semi-circular structure with 35 rows paved in black and white marble. This Roman-style Odeon or amphitheatre opened in 161 AD and was once a place of entertainment.

Before its destruction in the invasion of Erouloi in 268 AD, ancient Greeks hosted music contests there. Though it’s now restored and is used as a venue for events like the Athens and Epidaurus Festivals. 

Try Everything at the Warehouse Wine Bar

Do you love coffee, cocktails and wine? Welcome, pals, because Warehouse Wine Bar serves all three. 

In terms of food, the menu includes street food and gourmet dishes, though there are a few vegan and vegetarian options to satisfy any hungry diner.

But the main attraction is the high-quality coffee, 200 types of wine from Greece and around the world and their speciality cocktails. Set in a dimly-lit but super-stylish warehouse space, I guarantee you won’t be having just one.

Unique Things to See & Do in Athens: Hidden Gems That Are Off the Beaten Track

Climb philopappos hill.

I’ll let you in on a secret that’s hidden in plain sight: Philopappos Hill.

It was previously known as Muses Hill until Prince Philopappos’ death. His sister and the community loved him so dearly that they erected the Philopappos Monument. Today, you can easily climb the hill in about 15 minutes and entry is free 24/7.

It’s located near the Acropolis, so you can imagine that the views are spectacular. You’ll get to see the whole of Athens, the Aegean Sea and you’ll find the prison of Socrates atop the hill. 

With such gorgeous views of the city, the area is ideal for picnicking – pick yourself up a bottle of something sweet and some fresh pastries and make the climb to the top. It’ll be worth it.

Eat at the Iconic Souvlaki Kostas’

Excuse me for being a cliche, but there is nothing more authentically Greek than eating souvlaki at Kostas. 

This small shop has been in business since the 1950s and is still run by a third-generation family member today. Not only is the souvlaki affordable, but the food is top notch (all too often, the tourists traps are really oily and of terrible quality – not here).

The simplicity of hearty, real food is what gives Kostas its charm – and its long queues. Aim to visit earlier in the day to scoff a fresh gyro without the wait.

Visit Monastiraki Square and Flea Market

Looking for non-touristy things to do in Athens? Visiting Monastiraki Square counts. Hear me out; if locals love going there for the food, the flea markets and the rooftop bars, it can’t be that touristy. Right?

Yes, you can buy knick-knacks and antiques there, but that’s not all Monastiraki is about. The area is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city’s heart. Layered by decades of change, you’ll find a blend of historical eras, cultures and architecture within its cobbled streets.

There’s no guide, no entry fee and you’re pretty much on your own when it comes to haggling in Greek. To me, that is the essence of getting off the beaten track and trying something new.

Unwind in an Al Hammam Traditional Bath

Looking for something unusual to do in Athens? Well, taking a traditional Turkish-inspired bath at Al Hamman may be the way to go. Though inspired by Ottoman bathhouses, Greek hammams include spa treatments to create a feeling of tranquility and rejuvenation.

This hammam includes a myriad of bathing and spa treatments. For an authentic Turkish experience, you’ll get a chance to scrub, soak and polish yourself in a steamy marble room. Just what you need after traipsing to the top of Philopappos Hill.

Uncover the Sights of Anafiotika

For those looking for secret things to do in Athens, visiting the tiny neighbourhood of Anafiotika should be on your list. This scenic area hides behind the Acropolis in the area of Plaka.

Some of its best features include narrow cobblestone paths, Cycladic architecture and views of Mount Lycabettus and the Acropolis. As you stroll along the pathways, take in the views of the gorgeous whitewashed homes and transport yourself back in time. 

Make sure you stop for a coffee at a café – you won’t go far wrong with Xenious Zeus.

Taste the Finest Liquor at Brettos Bar

Established in 1909, Brettos Bar is the oldest distillery in Athens. This hidden gem located in Plaka is a local favourite (and mine, too).

Michail Brettos, the original owner of the distillery, produced a selection of liqueurs using recipes from ancient Smyrna as well as ouzo and brandy.

Fancy yourself as a liquor connoisseur? With a huge menu and tasting options, you can easily spend a day enjoying the distillery’s finest. Make sure to snap photos of the bar adorned with hundreds of colourful glass bottles while you’re there.

Things to Do in Athens, Greece: Practical Tips for Your Trip

With all of the cool things to do in Athens, I recommend spending upwards of five days there. If you’re interested in other things to do in Greece , three days should be enough to see the main attractions before you head out island-hopping .

The shoulder months of April to June and September to October are the best for avoiding crowds and high prices. If you want to know more about when to visit the country, read my guide on the best time to visit Greece .

Where Should I Stay in Athens? 

The modernist (mid-range).

Located in a quiet corner of Kolonaki, The Modernist sits in the old home of the Canadian embassy. The hotel is central to most of Athens’ tourist attractions and less than a mile from the Museum of Cycladic Art. This four-star hotel has fantastic facilities wrapped in superb and modern designs.

Check Rates and Availability for The Modernist 

Hotel Grande Bretagne (Luxury) 

The iconic Hotel Grande Bretagne never disappoints with its endless list of luxury services and facilities. Beyond free-wifi and an excellent breakfast, the interior features opulent designs with marble inclusions and spectacular views of Athens. 

In addition, the hotel is less than a mile from the Acropolis, making it a perfect hub for exploration.

Check Rates and Availability for Hotel Grande Bretagne

Recommended Tours in Athens

• Mythology Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour
• Athens Half-Day Private City Tour
• Athens Instagram Tour of the Most Scenic Spots
• Olympic Games Workout Tour

Things to Do in Athens, Greece: Map

Things to do in Athens: Read Next

• When’s the Best Time to Visit Greece?
• What to Pack for Greece: A Handy Packing List
• Greece Travel Guide: Top Tips Before You Go
• The Best Things to do in Greece

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I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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19 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Greece

Written by Michael Law and Jane Foster Updated Sep 29, 2023

Home to some of the world's most important historical sites, along with some 6,000 islands, Greece is known for its natural beauty and fascinating culture. Ancient archaeological sites, cliffs tumbling into sparkling blue water, sand and pebble beaches, and a balmy Mediterranean climate make Greece one of Europe's prime places to visit for tourists .

Besides Athens, some of the top things to see on the mainland include Ancient Delphi and the monasteries of Meteora. But most people come here to catch a ferry or a flight to the islands: Santorini, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Corfu, and Crete are the most popular. Plan your trip with our list of the top attractions in Greece.

1. Acropolis, Athens

2. acropolis museum, athens, 3. santorini, 6. the towns and beaches of crete, 8. metéora monasteries, 9. rhodes town, 10. zákynthos, 11. samaria gorge, 12. nafplio, 13. thessaloniki, 14. corinth canal, 15. mount olympus, 16. palace of knossos, 17. mycenae, 21. víkos gorge.

Considered the symbol of Athens and Greece, and indeed of Western civilization, the Acropolis is a rocky mound rising in the heart of modern Athens, crowned by three magnificent temples dating from the 5th century BC. The best known and most distinctive is the Parthenon , originally made up of 58 columns supporting a roof and decorated by ornate pediments and a frieze.

Although the Parthenon steals the show, other highlights on the Acropolis hilltop are also spectacular. The ornate Temple of Athena Nike, the Porch of the Caryatids, and the Propylaea are not to be missed. Tear yourself away from the historic sights and wander over to the edge, panoramic views of the seven historical hills of Athens and the city are laid out below you.

Skirting the foot of the Acropolis and connecting it to the city's other major ancient attractions — the Ancient Agora , the Roman Forum , Kerameikos , and the Temple of Olympian Zeus — is a 2.5-kilometer walking path known as the Archaeological Promenade .

Author's Tips: For a fantastic nighttime view of the Acropolis, make your way to one of the rooftop restaurant patios on the pedestrian-only Apostolou Pavlou . Plan on getting to the Acropolis early to avoid ticket lineups, bus tours, crowds, and the heat if you are visiting in summer.

• Visiting the Acropolis in Athens: The Essential Guide
• Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Athens

The Acropolis Museum is one of Athens' most-visited tourist attractions. Designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, it is an ultra-modern glass and steel structure with light and airy exhibition spaces, built specifically to display ancient finds from the Acropolis.

Top things to see here include the 6th-century-BC Moschophoros (statue of a young man carrying a calf on his shoulders), the Caryatids (sculptures of female figures that held up the Erechtheion), and the highly controversial Parthenon marbles . From the museum's cafe-restaurant terrace, you can enjoy amazing views of the Acropolis itself.

• Read More: Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Athens

Stunning Santorini is the most dramatic of all the Greek isles. It is best known for the west coast cliff-top towns of Fira and Oia , which appear to hang over a deep, blue sea-filled caldera. Made up of typical Cycladic whitewashed cubic buildings, many of which have been converted into boutique hotels with infinity pools, both Fira and Oia are considered romantic destinations, popular for weddings and honeymoons.

Things to do in Santorini include sunbathing and swimming at the black volcanic-sand beaches on the south and east coasts and visiting the archaeological site of Akrotiri , an Ancient Minoan settlement buried below lava following the volcanic eruption that created the caldera, some 3,600 years ago. The island has an airport and is served by ferries and catamarans from Athens' port, Piraeus.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions on Santorini

Many people consider Greece's most glamorous island destination to be Mykonos. After-dark activities center on Mykonos Town, noted for its chic boutique hotels, classy seafood restaurants, and live music venues. Other attractions include Paraportiani (a whitewashed church in Mykonos Town) and numerous sandy beaches along the island's south coast (served both by bus and taxi-boat from Mykonos Town).

The island is particularly popular with international celebrities. Mykonos has an airport and is connected by ferry and catamaran to Athens' port, Piraeus, and Rafina.

On the Greek mainland, Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built on the lower slopes of Mount Parnassus, overlooking a dramatic ravine, the site was sacred to the ancients, who came here on pilgrimages to worship Apollo (god of light, prophecy, music, and healing) and to ask advice from the mythical Oracle.

It is made up of the crumbling ruins of numerous temples, a theater, and a stadium, dating from between the 8th century BC and the 2nd century AD. Nearby, stands the Delphi Archaeological Museum , displaying an impressive collection of finds from the site. Delphi lies 180 kilometers northwest of Athens.

Delphi is about a 2.5-hour drive from Athens. It can easily be done as an overnight trip from the city, or even a day trip if you don't mind a long day.

• Read More: Visiting Delphi from Athens: Highlights, Tips & Tours

The massive island of Crete is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Greece. Blessed with some of the best beaches in Greece , the island draws visitors from around the world. Some of the most popular beaches on Crete range from small arcs of sand backed by restaurants and promenades to wide-open natural stretches lapped by incredibly clear waters and endless views across the sea.

But Crete is not all about beaches. It has its fair share of notable archeological sites, including the impressive Palace of Knossos, located near the pleasant city of Heraklion . The historical city of Chania and the laid-back town of Agios Nikolaos have wonderful old waterfront areas perfect for spending long afternoons on a café terrace getting lost in the views.

Get away from the bigger communities, and head to smaller towns like Plakias or Matala on Crete's south coast to find more remote beaches and beautiful mountainous backdrops.

If archeological sites, beaches, and historical towns weren't enough, the island has one of the most impressive hikes in the world : the Samaria Gorge.

One of Greece's top tourist destinations, Corfu sits in the Ionian Sea off the west coast of the mainland. The capital, Corfu Town , is a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its elegant Italianate architecture — it was ruled by the Venetians for several centuries. Explore its romantic pedestrian-only streets to discover two 16th-century fortresses and the arcaded Liston, lined by old-fashioned cafes.

Away from the main town, the island is lushly beautiful, with rugged limestone rocks tumbling into the sea in its north and velvety green hills in its south. The most popular beach area is Paleokastritsa , on the west coast, about 25 kilometers from Corfu Town. Here, you'll find a collection of deep, curving bays sheltering sand and pebble beaches stretching into a clear blue sea. Corfu is served by an airport and ferries from Igoumenitsa and Patras on the Greek mainland. In summer, ferries sailing from Ancona and Venice also stop here.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do on Corfu Island

One of the most unusual things to see in Greece has to be the Thessaly Plain, where bizarre rocky outcrops are capped by the centuries-old monasteries of Metéora. On the UNESCO World Heritage list, six of the monasteries are open to the public. You need to climb up several flights of stone steps carved into the rocks to reach each monastery, and inside, you'll find flickering candles, religious icons, Byzantine frescoes, and burning incense.

Opening hours vary, and to see all six monasteries, you need to spend at least one day in the area. The nearest town is Kalambaka . Consider staying here, as it's a pleasant and relaxed place to visit, with small hotels and family-run restaurants serving traditional fare.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Metéora

Lying on the Aegean Sea, close to Turkey, Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands. Its capital, UNESCO-listed Rhodes Town, is one of Greece's top tourist destinations. It is enclosed by an impressive fortification system, including monumental towers and gates built by the Knights of St. John after they took control of the island in the 14th century.

The car-free cobbled streets of the old town are a joy to explore on foot. Nearby attractions include the pretty hillside coastal town of Lindos, and Marmaris on the Turkish coast, which can be visited by excursion boat. Rhodes is served by an airport, as well as regular ferries from Athens' port, Piraeus.

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Rhodes Town

Home to gorgeous scenery both above and under the sea surrounding it, Zákynthos (Zante) island is another top tourist destination in Greece. It is also easy to access, located just 16 kilometers off Peloponnese's west coast in the Ionian Sea.

Two of the biggest boasts on this geographically intriguing island are its pebble and sand beaches — Shipwreck Beach is the most famous — and stunning sea caves like the Blue Caves , off the island's northern tip. Inside, the sparkling water reflects the color of the blue sky on the cave walls to create a magical glow. The Blue Caves are only one of the many watery attractions around this island. There is also excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.

• Read More: Top Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Zakynthos

On the island of Crete, the Samaria Gorge is a top attraction for lovers of the great outdoors. Measuring 16 kilometers in length and, at its narrowest point, only four meters wide, it runs from Omalos (1,250 meters) in the White Mountains down to Agia Roumeli , on the Libyan Sea.

Depending on your level of fitness, it will take five to seven hours to walk. It is steep in parts and rocky, so you should wear good hiking shoes and carry plenty of water. The gorge lies within the Samaria National Park , and is on the UNESCO tentative list. Through summer, organized tours depart from Chania and Réthymnon .

• Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Chania

Often cited as Greece's most beautiful city, Nafplio is a popular weekend destination for wealthy Athenians. Built on a small peninsular on the east coast of the Peloponnese, it became the first capital of modern Greece in 1828 before Athens took over in 1834.

Take an afternoon or a day to wander through the old town, this car-free area is filled with Neoclassical mansions and proud churches and overlooked by the 18th-century Palamidi Fortress . Nearby attractions include Tiryns , Epidaurus Theater , and Ancient Corinth .

Thessaloniki doesn't seem to mind not being on most people's touring list. The locals are happy to have the place and all its sights to themselves. The main sightseeing attractions are its UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches , but worth investigating are several Roman monuments (including the Triumphal Arch of Galerius and the 4th-century Rotunda ), the 15th-century White Tower on the seafront, and an excellent Byzantine Museum .

Overlooking the Aegean Sea in northern Greece, Thessaloniki (Salonica) is the country's second biggest city after Athens. Founded in 316 BC due to its position close to both Bulgaria and Turkey, it has always been a crossroads of various cultures and religions.

One of the top day trips from Thessaloniki is to Mount Olympus , the highest mountain in Greece. Only 80 kilometers away on good roads, this impressive natural sight is well worth visiting. The most popular hiking trails depart from near the town of Prionia.

As you drive along the relatively flat highway 8 approaching the Peloponnese Peninsula, be sure to stop in at the lookout over the Corinth Canal. This canal, first dreamed about and attempted in 1 CE, was finally brought to fruition in 1883. Unfortunately for the builders, the canal was never particularly profitable or successful.

Park your car and walk out onto the bridge and give some thought as to how the original builders managed to dig down through the solid rock to carve out the canal.

Mount Olympus, famous home of the god Zeus, lies about halfway between Athens and Thessaloniki. Towering over the surrounding countryside at an impressive 2,918 meters, this mountain is a top recreation destination in the summer.

Three hiking trails lead to its summit, although most people take the two-day, one-night Priona trail. From the top, the views are unparalleled and well worth the effort expended to get here. You do not need any special equipment to do this hike, just a good assortment of clothing, sturdy hiking boots, and a taste for adventure.

One of the top archeological sites here in Greece, the Palace of Knossos is a must-see when visiting Crete. The site dates from the Late Minoan time period and has been very well restored. Although the standing buildings give you a real sense of what this place once looked like, as with many archeological sites in Greece, some portions require a bit of imagination.

The site is well laid out, with walking trails that wind their way past the main buildings and plazas. Be sure to check out the colorful paintings on some of the major structures near the end of the walkway.

The Palace of Knossos is located just outside of Heraklion , one of the main gateways to Crete. Tours can be easily arranged.

The impressive citadel of Mycenae is one of the top archeological sites south of Athens and well worth a visit for those interested in Greek history. Set impressively on a hill, Mycenae dates from around 1350 BCE, the peak of the Mycenaean civilization.

One of the key sights at Mycenae is the impressive Lion Gate. Set into the side of the hill, the gate is composed of perfectly inlaid stones over a rectangular doorway. This is the site where the famous gold mask was found by the explorer Heinrich Schliemann in the late 19th century. If the sun is getting to you, step inside the impressively domed Treasury of Atreus and enjoy some shade.

The island of Paros is sometimes overlooked by ferry travelers exploring the Cyclades, intent on visiting the more popular Santorini. However, this is a mistake. This laid-back island has everything that the busier islands offer farther south and north. The same whitewashed towns perched on the waterfront with patios full of laughing and smiling patrons are what you'll find here, but without the crowds.

Paros also has a fine selection of beaches and historical sites to explore. It's also a good spot to go if you are watching your costs; accommodation is cheaper here.

Another popular destination, Naxos is one of the largest Cycladic islands. This huge island is a fun place to explore, and with fewer tourists than places like Santorini or Mykonos. A couple of must-sees when exploring include the small towns of Filoti, Halki, and Apiranthos.

Take some time to wander through the main town, Chora of Naxos, especially the Kastro district. Here, you'll find a variety of shops selling all manner of souvenirs, along with cute restaurants with inviting patios.

If you want to hit the beach, Naxos does not disappoint. A couple to check out include Paradise Beach, Agia Anna, or Agios Prokopios. If you are into kiteboarding, the windswept Mikri Vigla is the place to go.

For a taste of quintessential Greece that's only a two-hour ferry ride from Athens , consider the delightful island of Hydra. Home to old mansions and white-washed houses adorned with bougainvillea and cobblestone streets the town has been attracting the creative set for decades.

The island is wonderfully car-free so walking is a pleasure, stroll the busy port area and be sure to check out the early 19th-century cannons along the waterfront. Should you need to get anywhere on the island, donkeys are the main mode of transport on land, and water taxis will be more than willing to take you to a secluded beach lapped by crystal-clear water.

Cat lovers will especially enjoy Hydra, it's known for its feline residents who are generally very friendly and always open for a tasty morsel of seafood.

Another one of Greece's premier natural attractions is the Víkos Gorge. Lesser known than the above profiled Samara Gorge on Crete, this incredible natural phenomenon is commonly known as the Grand Canyon of Greece. The gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the larger Vikos–Aoös National Park.

An astounding 1,000 meters deep the canyon is one of the most amazing and easily accessible natural sights in the northwest area of Greece. If you want to just see the gorge from a lookout, one of the best is located at Oxya Viewpoint , where you'll be treated to views into the deepest part of the gorge.

For the more adventurous, a well-signposted 13-kilometer hiking trail takes you down into the gorge and back up the other side. The trail starts at Monodendri and ends at Vikos. Halfway through you can go for a dip in the icy cold Voidomatis Springs to cool off. The trail is considered moderately difficult and takes most people 4.5 to 5 hours to complete.

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Athens Attractions

Look no further than Athens attractions! From towering temples to bustling markets, Athens offers a unique blend of ancient history and modern culture. Discover the top must-see sites and hidden gems that make Athens the ultimate destination for your next adventure.

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Athens Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing

Wherever you look, Athens is full of monuments of ancient and newer culture. Athens is a city full of contrasts and always has something new to discover behind its touring showcase. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, or if you are just passing through Athens to a destination in one of the Greek islands, our entertainment guide in Athens aims to offer you the best choices for making the days and Your nights in Athens, more interesting.

Explore the ancient ruins of Athens and discover the secrets of the Acropolis. Walk through the winding streets of the Plaka district and experience the culture and history of this timeless city. Taste the delicious food of Greek cuisine, from fresh seafood to sweet pastries. Enjoy the nightlife of the city and find yourself in the lively bars and clubs of the city center. Visit the National Archaeological Museum, to learn about the fascinating history of the city. Shop for souvenirs at the vibrant Monastiraki Flea Market, or explore the nearby islands of Aegina and Poros. Visit the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, to take in the stunning views of the Aegean Sea. Climb to the top of Lycabettus Hill and experience the beauty of the city from a unique perspective. Soak up the sun at one of the many beaches around Athens and enjoy a relaxing day. Immerse yourself in the stories of Ancient Greece in the open-air theatre of Herodes Atticus.

Visit the birthplace of democracy and experience the beauty of Athens, Greece. Check out our ultimate Athens bucket list of 35 essential things to do and see, from the Acropolis and Parthenon to the picturesque Plaka district and the bustling Monastiraki flea market. Explore the city’s ancient ruins, its vibrant culture, and its stunning Mediterranean coastline. Discover the ultimate Athens adventure today!

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Top 35 attractions in athens.

Athens is a historic city with many tourist attractions and sightseeing opportunities. The most popular attraction is the Acropolis, which includes the Parthenon and is located on a hill 156 meters high. Other popular attractions include the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeology Museum, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Visitors can also explore the Plaka and Anafiotika neighborhoods, Syntagma Square, and the Temple of Hephaestus. Additionally, there are opportunities to visit the island of Hydra and ancient Delphi. The Plaka area is recommended for shopping and dining with great views of the Acropolis.

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Map Of Athens Attractions

Visit the sacred rock of the Acropolis, one of the most photographed sights in the world! This unique destination every year is a pole of attraction for millions of visitors from all over the world. See unique beauty and architectural masterpieces such as the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena, Nike and the Propylaea. Enjoy the ancient marbles and the impressive views of the city.

Parthenon is the emblem of Athens and probably of Greece as well. Parthenon is considered the most perfect Doric temple ever built, and one of the most known and recognizable monuments in the world. The temple of Parthenon is known for its imposing position on the Acropolis, its architectural refinements and the reflection of the ancient Greek culture throughout the centuries.

Ancient Agora

The Ancient Agora of Athens was the heart of the ancient city: a large, open square that constituted the seat of justice, the political, economic, administrative, social, religious and cultural center of the city, where all citizens assembled to carry out any kind of activity. At the beginning of the 6th century BC, at the time of the great Solon legislator, the area was transformed into a public gathering place for citizens.

Panathenaic Stadium

Walk to the white marble stadium, the home of the first Olympic Games of 1896. The Panathenaic Stadium was built between 330 and 329 BC. Between 140 and 144 AD, the Stadium was repaired by Herodes Atticus. During antiquity, it was used for the Olympic Games where they honored the goddess Athena. The Panathenaic Stadium is today a tourist attraction and is used only in special cases.

Odeon of Herodes

The famous Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built during the 2nd century BC. AD, by Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herod, a well-known son of a great Athenian family and benefactor, in memory of Rilglas’ wife, who died in 160 AD. The conservatory, mainly used for musical events, was roofed and had a total capacity of 5,000 people. The conservatory was destroyed in 267 AD by Hercules and was never rebuilt.

Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square is located in the heart of the city, in front of the Greek Parliament. Until 1843, it was called the Palace Square, as in the present House there were the palaces of King Otto. Access: Syntagma Square is a transport hub, with many bus lines, trolleybus, metro and tram stops, while it is also connected to the airport Eleftherios Venizelos.

Monastiraki Square

Monastiraki is a district of Athens around Monastiraki Square, which extends to the south side of Ermou Street, from the height of the Mitropoleos Square to the Thissio Square. Its name comes from the old church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, located on the square. In Monastiraki Square dominates the old Tzistarakis Mosque, which today houses an annex of the Folk Art Museum.

Hadrian's Arch

The Adrian’s Gate (or the Arch of Adrian) is a monumental gate from Roman period. It covered an ancient road from the center of Athens to a complex of settlements on the eastern side of the city, including the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It was believed that this gate was constructed to commemorate the adventus of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and to be honored for his many benefacts in the city.

National Archaeological Museum

One cannot visit Greece without exploring rich history it carries within itself so make sure not miss chance visit National Archaeological museum which holds more than 11000 artifacts dating back centuries ago giving perfect overview about past civilizations lived throughout region. The museum is home to a vast collection of sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and other objects,

Central Market

It is a unique structure of a well-organized district market where many food traders, such as meat, poultry, seafood, agricultural products, and more are housed. With a history of 130 years and architecture influenced by architecture in central Europe, Varvakios Market has every reason to be considered ασ one of the ornaments of Athens. The market was completed in 1886.

Paved alleys, uphill streets on the edge of the Acropolis, neoclassical houses, make up a unique setting that enchants the visitor and travels. Plaka is a charming historic district in the center of Athens under the Acropolis. After WWII, Plaka’s buildings were preserved as a whole. In the area, there are museums, taverns, restaurants, cafes and tourist shops, and buildings of famous citizens of old Athens.

Athens Metro

The Athens Metro consists of 3 lines with a total length of 72.3 km. Building the Athens Metro is perhaps the largest archaeological excavation project ever undertaken! The metro network of Athens is one of the most modern in Europe and has been described as an underground modern day museum. It also offers access to the Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” in eastern Attica.

City Sightseeing Bus

If you have a limited time in Athens this is probably the best way to get to know the sights of a city. According to the City Sightseeing Hop on – Hop off the system, the route lasts 90 minutes, and the passenger can board and disembark as many times as he wishes, at any of the 15 stops on the route. The buses are clean, the tour very informative and the view … magical!

Zoological Park Tour

The Zoological Park lies on 19 hectares of land and features thirty species of reptiles, 238 species of birds and 46 species of Mammals. Monkeys, tigers, horses and farm animals from the Greek fauna live together with animals from the African Savannah. There are interactive programs especially for kids that aim at raising awareness on the significance of the preservation of the natural habitat.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

It is one of the most important sanctuaries in ancient Athens, whose fate coincided with the state changes that took place in the city over the centuries. In a large, rectangular walled area stand 15 huge Corinthian columns, which once surrounded the magnificent Temple of Olympian Zeus (“Olympion”). The construction of the great temple began by Peisistratos in 515 BC.

Planetarium

The new Digital Planetarium of the Eugene Foundation is the largest and best-equipped digital planetarium in the world. The new Eugenides Planetarium offers the visitor the chance to make a unique virtual trip to the stars. Among the most spectacular projective systems are three three-dimensional virtual reality systems covering the entire screen.

Flisvos Marina

Located only 6 km from the center of Athens Flisvos Marina provides easy access to many cultural and entertainment attractions available in the rejuvenated Olympic city. The newly constructed Athens ring road and the extensive and modern public transportation system allow easy and convenient access to all historical sites. Flisvos Marina provides a diversity of recreation and relaxation opportunities.

Piraeus Municipal Theatre

The Municipal Theater of Piraeus is a neoclassical building built by the architect Ioannis Lazarimos and was opened on April 9, 1895. Its main stage is in baroque style, while the square of the theater could accommodate up to 1,300 spectators. Recently renewed, theatre is ready to move to a new era with the most sophisticated technological, lighting and sound instruments.

Vouliagmeni Lake

Lake Vouliagmeni is a lagoon located 16 kilometers northwest of Loutraki, very close to the archaeological site of Heraion and the settlement of Perachora. It has a sandy beach as opposed to the beach of Loutraki. According to research, the lake’s water heals rheumatic, gynecological diseases, rheumatism and sports injuries. Lake Vouliagmeni has the largest underground tunnel in the world.

The National Library

The National Library of Greece is located in the center of Athens. The building housed is designed by the Danish architect Theophilos Hansen -brother of Cristian Hansen as part of the famous Athenian Trilogy of neoclassical buildings, including the Academy of Athens and the first building of the University of Athens. The library was founded by Ioannis Kapodistrias.

National Garden

The National Garden has a total area of 154 acres and its formation began 175 years ago, in 1939 with the planting of 15,000 ornamental plants.  In the National Garden, there is a large number of rare plants and trees that can not be found anywhere else in Greece. It is opened 365 days a year, from sunrise to sunset, and entrance is, of course, free of charge.

Tour to Cape Sounion

Driving along the wonderful coastal road that connects downtown with the splendid southern suburbs of Athens, you can see the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni and the small picturesque settlements and seaside resorts of Palea Fokea, Lagonissi, and Saronida. The Temple of Poseidon is one of the major tourist attractions in this historical city.

Climb Mount Lycabettus

For a different view of Athens, head to the top of Mount Lycabettus. This limestone hill is the highest point in the city and offers stunning views of the city below. There is a funicular railway that takes visitors to the top, or you can get your workout in and climb the hill on foot. The climb itself is an adventure, as you’ll pass through beautiful forests and take in the natural beauty of the hill. 

See the Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard is a ceremony that takes place every Sunday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square. The Changing of the Guard ceremony in Athens involves a highly choreographed sequence of events that lasts approximately one hour. The ceremony is a popular tourist attraction and a great way to experience a little bit of Greek culture.

Athens Riviera

The Athens Riviera is a stretch of coastline that spans from the southern suburbs of Athens to Cape Sounio. It is home to some of the most beautiful beaches, landscapes, and historic sites in Greece. The Athens Riviera boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. From organized beaches with sunbeds and umbrellas to secluded coves accessible only by boat, there is something for everyone.

Technopolis

Located in the heart of Athens, Technopolis is an industrial museum and an important cultural center that showcases the history of Athens’ industrial revolution. The museum, which is set in a former gasworks factory, spans over 30,000 square meters and comprises numerous exhibition halls, performance venues, and cultural spaces.

Pnyx Hill is a hilltop location that played an essential role in the development of democracy in ancient Greece. In the 5th century BC, the Athenians gathered at Pnyx Hill to hold their assemblies, where they would debate and vote on important issues. This unique location was chosen because it could accommodate a large number of people and provided excellent acoustics for public speeches.

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center is a cultural and educational complex that has become a top destination for tourists. The center is a hub for art, music, and education, offering a range of activities and events that cater to all ages and interests. Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, the center boasts a modern and innovative design that seamlessly blends into its natural surroundings. 

Kaisariani Monastery

Built in the 11th century, the Kaisariani Monastery has a long history and a unique architecture that impresses visitors. The monastery was originally built as a Christian orthodox monastery dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Over the centuries, it has been used as a refuge for many people, including monks, nuns, and civilians. The Gazi Flea Market is a must-visit, with its wide range of vintage clothing, antiques, and handmade crafts.

Gazi is a neighborhood full of life, culture, and history, with something to offer to everyone. Whether you’re interested in exploring the local culture and history, or simply want to enjoy the vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene, Gazi has it all. The Gazi Flea Market is a must-visit, with its wide range of vintage clothing, antiques, and handmade crafts.

Kerameikos Cemetery

This cemetery was used for burials from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman period. The Kerameikos Cemetery is a fascinating archeological site that offers a unique glimpse into ancient Greek culture and history. Its historical significance and impressive structures make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in ancient civilizations.

Anafiotika Athens

Anafiotika was established in the mid-19th century by settlers from the island of Anafi, hence the name. These settlers were primarily skilled craftsmen who came to Athens to help with the construction of King Otto’s palace. They built their houses on the slopes of the Acropolis, using the leftover marble and stones from the palace’s construction.

Philopappos Hill

Filopappos Hill is a hill located in the city of Athens, Greece. It is situated southwest of the Acropolis and is part of the larger Hills of the Muses, which also includes the Pnyx and the Hill of the Nymphs. The hill is named after the Roman consul Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos, who built a monument on the hill in 114 AD.

Lycabettus Theatre

Lycabettus Theatre is an open-air amphitheater located on the hill of Lycabettus in Athens, Greece. It was built in the 1960s and has a seating capacity of approximately 4,000 people. The theater is known for hosting a variety of performances, including music concerts, theatrical productions, and dance performances.

Byzantine and Christian Museum

The Byzantine and Christian Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich history and cultural heritage of the Byzantine Empire, one of the most influential empires in human history. With a vast collection of art and artifacts spanning over a thousand years, the museum offers visitors a glimpse into the complex and fascinating world of Byzantine art and culture.

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Speaking of dinner, Athens is an excellent destination for gourmands, as well as classicists. You can take a walking tour of Athens which includes the chance to sample Greek specialties and delicacies. There are also Greek wine tasting tours on offer, which are perfect if you’re interested in finding out more about the local vineyards.

If you are interested in sightseeing in Athens but are interested in the modern as well as the ancient city, then there are walking tours available around Plaka and Monastiraki, as well as contemporary Greek highlights like the Parliament building and the main shopping areas.

Athens’ museums are another of the city’s many highlights. The New Acropolis Museum and the Benaki Museum have some of the world’s best collections relating to ancient civilizations. They can get very busy at peak times, but it’s possible to buy a pass to allow you to jump the queue and maximize your time in the museum.

If you’re interested in traveling around at your own pace rather than going on a walking or coach tour, then consider buying a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus. Tickets include discounts on some sites, and buses stop off at all major tourist sites in Athens. There are two routes available, and this is a very good option if you want to combine sightseeing with leisurely lunches and plenty of pit stops!

There are also plenty of excursions on an offer outside the city, at sites both near and far. The clifftop monasteries of Meteora, one of the highlights of Greece, can be visited on a 2-day excursion. There are cruises to nearby Greek islands, including Hydra, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and much more – perfect if you either want to see historical sites in locations that are further out of Athens or just want to travel to some of the most famous holiday islands in Greece.

However, if you only have a short time in Greece but still want to travel outside the city, then you should consider a trip to the Temple of Poseidon, to Corinth or to Marathon. Going on an organized coach tour is the most efficient way to get around these sites and maximize the use of your time in Athens.

Bus Tours around Athens

Athens and its suburbs are beautiful and dotted with art galleries, museums, exhibitions, parks, gardens, ruins, and natural beauty. Guided bus yours are one of the best ways to see Athens and its periphery any day of the year. Zipping through the countryside in an air-conditioned bus with an English (or whatever your language is) tour guide who explains all the sights, the history and the people who created it, one can almost feel how it felt to cruise around Greece a long time ago. Along with Monuments, landmarks and ancient churches, there are so many attractions that compete for our attention, we could spend days touring Greece.

Getting around the city

Athens is a sophisticated and cosmopolitan European city; revamped hotels, stylish restaurants, and shops, elegant and cozy cafés pop up everywhere in Athens, a city that never sleeps.

Athens is probably one of the most contradictory cities you will see. The cradle of European civilization, one of the most historical capital cities of the world has been experiencing the most significant changes in the historic center, re-establishing, these last few years, the cultural and social life as it once was.

Featuring one of the most stunning pedestrian promenades in Europe and high traffic in the downtown, Athens can be the source of frustrations if you are a resident but is still irresistibly seductive.

The oldest city in Europe, the richest in history and culture is full of trend-conscious residents and visitors; hedonism and enjoyment are the main themes here, as Athenians value their night outs and their festivals as nothing else.

Athens is one of the safest and liveliest cities in Europe, a colorful mix of history, antiquity, and grace, with a lusty urban soul.

Athens is a modern Western city; no dress code or any other restrictions are implemented. Featuring a rich nightlife, with hundreds of bars, beachside restaurants, and clubs all over, and a well-appointed GLBT scene, Athens can meet all needs and requirements, whether you are up to wild night out, or a relaxing and cozy dining out the evening.

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Top 10 Places to Visit in Athens, Greece

Here are the landmarks, archaeological sites, and neighborhoods that no one should miss during their trip to Athens.

There is a rumor circulating around flight crews that the most beautiful city from above is no other than Athens. Its hilly landscape features vast olive groves, palm tree-lined coastal avenues, and urban neighborhoods sprawling across the Attican peninsula. The sight is breathtaking. Upon landing, however, visitors are met with a surprising realization: this European capital is profoundly different from the slow-paced, traditional Greek countryside.

There are so many things to see and countless more events to attend. The quirky architecture and urban planning, the growing population that exceeds three million people, and the wide list of “must-sees” can be overwhelming. To save you some time, here is a curated list of the top ten places to visit in Athens (also read this article for our list of Athens’ must-visit museums).

1. The Acropolis Hill

Although Athens has at least seven hills of historical significance, the most prominent is the Acropolis — the acro (high) of the polis (city). The limestone rock is more than a citadel. Since antiquity, it has been a major religious site and the epicenter of the infamous Periclean building program.

Taking place during Greece’s classical era , the program involved the construction of marvelous temples made of Pentelic marble. The temples were dedicated to ancient Greek deities, with the most prominent one, the Parthenon , being associated with the goddess Athena , the patroness of the city. Other temples include but are not limited to the Erechtheion, the Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus, and the Temple of Athena Nike.

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Today, the Acropolis Hill is one of the most popular archaeological sites in Greece. Although it is no longer an active site for religious ceremonies, it stands as a symbol of Greece’s Classical Era. After all, Athens is known as the “cradle of Western civilization”, and its main landmark, the Parthenon, stands as a universal symbol of the ideas and values of the West.

Situated at the heart of the city, the Acropolis Hill can be reached by following the iconic Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, near the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis metro station. Children under five and young European citizens can enter the site for free, whereas regular tickets cost around 20€, depending on the season. On certain Sundays and selected dates, all visitors can enter the sight for free.

2. Plaka and Anafiotika 

Surrounding the Acropolis Hill, visitors can find two of the most picturesque neighborhoods of Athens. The streets and low-rise houses of Plaka and Anafiotika are commonly found on postcards from Athens. Thanks to the limited car access to the area, both neighborhoods offer a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Although their names are often used interchangeably to describe the northeastern area surrounding Acropolis Hill, the two neighborhoods have their own distinct character and charm.

Plaka is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Athens, recognized for its neoclassical buildings , iconic art cafes, outdoor cinemas, and numerous souvenir shops. Visitors are encouraged to walk around its narrow pathways and explore what the neighborhood has to offer. Through doing this they can discover various galleries and lesser-known museums, such as the Frissiras Museum .

Due to the large number of tourists that gather around Acropolis Hill, it is not uncommon to come across various tourist traps in Plaka. However, exploring the neighborhood is a must when visiting Athens for the first time.

Anafiotika is a distinct neighborhood within Plaka that can be reached via Prytaneiou Street, right behind the Byzantine Church of St. Nikolaos Ragavas . Contrary to the elegant neoclassical buildings of Plaka, with their distinct ornate pediments and symmetrical facades, the houses of Anafiotika exude a rural ambiance. After a long walk up and down the alleyways leading to the neighborhood, visitors often feel as if they entered a portal to the Cyclades.

Constructed in the late 19th century by the builders of the Royal Palace of Athens (currently known as the Hellenic Parliament), Anafiotika is an islanding enclave within Athens. Locals and visitors distinguish it from its white-washed cube houses, outlined flagstone alleyways, and vibrant bougainvillea planters, all characteristics of the Cycladic architecture. That is because its first residents originated from the island of Anafi — hence the name “Anafiotika.”

3. Syntagma and 4. The National Gardens 

After visiting the Acropolis Hill, Plaka, and Anafiotika, travelers often find themselves in the less touristy parts of Athens. Just one subway stop away from Akropoli, there is Syntagma Square, one of the most common meeting places for Athenians. Right there, visitors can admire the Hellenic Parliament and the former Royal Palace of Athens. They can also witness the change of the guards in front of the Monument of the Unknown Soldier that stands nearby.

A few steps away from Syntagma Square, a green oasis awaits those who seek a break from the concrete jungle that is the center of Athens. You will recognize it by the tall palm trees that invite the visitor to enter its green iron gates. The National Gardens of Athens were designed by the German agronomist Friedrich Schmidt in 1840, following the request of the first queen of Greece, Amalia of Oldenburg . Known initially as the “Royal Gardens,” the park includes ponds, a zoo with small animals, and a great variety of plants from all around the world. Those who are lucky can witness non-endemic birds, such as exotic green parrots, flying from tree to tree. It is not clear whether those birds were released there by Schmidt himself or if they somehow found their way to the Gardens by other means. The sighting, however, is truly remarkable.

The park is open to the public from sunrise to sunset and entry is free of charge. Since the area is guarded by security, the National Gardens are considered a very safe place for locals and tourists alike.

5. Zappeion

Right next to the National Gardens, visitors can see one of the oldest conferences and exhibition centers of Greece. Zappeion (Megaro) is a palatial building following the neoclassical architectural movement. It was used as the main fencing hall during the 1896 Summer Olympics and as an Olympic Village in 1906.

Apart from the palatial buildings, visitors can admire the beautiful Zappeion Gardens that surround the area. The park includes a playground for children and 2400 square meters of atriums and patios. Contrary to the National Gardens, the Gardens of Zappeion are less dense and people can freely enter and exit at any time of the day. For this exact reason, it is advised to avoid visiting the area late at night.

6. Temple of Olympian Zeus  

Another important landmark of the city of Athens is the Temple of Olympian Zeus , or simply, Olympieion. Situated right next to the southwestern part of Zappeion, its remains stand as a reminder of the city’s rich past. The temple was laid by the Athenian tyrants in the 6th century BCE on the site of an older outdoor sanctuary of Zeus . More than 600 years later, the Roman emperor Hadrian extended the structure by adding 104 colossal columns. Today, visitors can see 16 of them, since the original structure was hit by barbarian invasions and natural disasters.

7. Panathenaic Stadium 

Less than ten minutes on foot from Zappeion and the Olympieion, there is another important Athenian landmark. The Panathenaic Stadium, or Kallimarmaro, is an open-air U-shaped stadium that has been hosting several athletic competitions and cultural events for centuries. Made entirely out of marble, it is distinguished for its impressive design. Initially, it was made out of limestone and was later reconstructed by Herodes Atticus in 144 CE, who envisioned it as a marble structure. In modern times, the stadium held the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1896 Olympic Games, as well as several more athletic competitions.

8. The Ancient Agora of Athens

Moving away from the Panathenaic Stadium towards the northwestern part of central Athens, visitors can enter the ancient market (agora) of the city. The Agora was in fact more than a business area. Athenians would discuss politics, and many great ideas were born in this exact location. The Agora was also the meeting point of sculptors and marble workers, such as Phidias , Alcamenes, and Praxiteles.

Today, visitors can enter the Agora and its Museum from 8 AM to 6 PM from Adrianou Street, just a few minutes away from Monastiraki Square. The temple of Hephaestus and other important landmarks are enclosed within the archaeological site of the Agora. Ticket prices vary from 5€ to 10€, while there are many free admission days during the year.

9. Kerameikos Cemetery 

Within a short walking distance from the Ancient Agora, there is the archaeological site of Kerameikos and the homonymous Museum. Dating back to the early bronze age, it showcases part of the ancient necropolis of Athens, bringing forgotten rituals to light. At first glance, the site resembles a regular park. Upon paying close attention, visitors will notice monumental graves, statues, and wall ruins.

Moreover, the Museum of Kerameikos sheds more light on the religious beliefs of ancient Athenians. For example, recent archaeological findings from the area stand as proof that the local population would use the dead in occult practices even during the Classical Era. Curse tablets would be buried in freshly dug tombs with the hope that the deceased would carry them to Hades , where the goddess of witchcraft, Hecate , resided.

The entrance to Kerameikos is in close proximity to Thision metro station, right at the pedestrian part of Ermou Street. Ticket prices vary from 4€ to 8€, while there are many free admission days during the year, including the 28th of October.

10. The Pnyx

Although Athens has many historical hills, most travelers are unable to visit all of them during their trip. Apart from the Acropolis, another important Athenian Hill is the Pnyx . Since 507 BC, ancient Athenians would gather on this rocky hill to attend the ekklesia (assembly) and discuss politics. Important figures such as Pericles and Demosthenes have delivered historical orations on that site, which visitors can freely access by following different alleyways in the historical center.

Visiting the site does not only offer a breathtaking view of Athens and the Acropolis, but it also allows travelers to see the first bema (speaker’s platform) to have ever existed at the birthplace of Democracy . The hill is open to the public at all hours of the day and night and there are no admission fees. The easiest and fastest way to get there is by following the alleyway that starts from the Doridis Observatory all the way up to the Nymphs Hill. The exact spot of the bema can be reached within 15 minutes from the train station of Thisio.

13 Facts You Did Not Know About the Acropolis of Athens

By Marialena Perpiraki MSc. Media & Convergence, BA Communication, Media & Culture Marialena is a journalist and content writer with an interest in comparative mythology and folklore. She holds a BA in Communications, Media & Culture from Panteion University of Athens and an MSc. in Media & Convergence Management from AAU, Austria. She is the creator of the cross-media platform Helinika.

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Must-Visit Attractions in Athens, Greece

From hilltop temples to ancient marketplaces and world-beating museums, Athens is a city-sized historical theme park. Here are the must-visit sights for both first- and second-timers.

A trip to Greece is not complete without a visit to the capital city. There are few cities with as much history as Athens; after all, it is the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Where else can you walk the same streets and paths as some of the greatest philosophers, leaders and minds that have ever lived? Everywhere you look you’ll find traces of the past and a history lesson, even in the Subway stations. To get the most out of your visit to Athens, you must see these famous attractions.

1. Acropolis of Athens

Ruins, Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

You simply cannot go to Athens without visiting the Acropolis. Beckoning you from its rocky plinth that towers over the city, the Acropolis is home to the most iconic surviving structures of Ancient Greece: the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena, the theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, to name a few. If, for nothing else, come for the views of rooftops, temples and mountains – they’ll be imprinted on your memory forever.

2. Parthenon

Building, Church, Mosque, Ruins

4. The Ancient Agora

Historical Landmark

The Ancient Agora of Athens was the busiest and most important gathering place for the Athenian people. It served as a commercial, social and administrative centre as well as a courthouse. It is beautifully maintained and surrounded by lush green shrubs, trees and plants. Walk around the gardens, and you’ll stumble across marble statues of the gods and magnificent classical architecture. The museum holds artefacts that range in age from the Neolithic period to the 19th century.

5. National Archaeological Museum

Museum, Library

6. Temple of Olympian Zeus

Archaeological site, Ruins

7. Lykavittos Hill/Mount Lycabettus

Natural Feature

8. Stavros Niarchos Park

Building, Library, Opera House, Architectural Landmark, Park

This is a rewrite of an article originally written by James Taylor.

You’ll need somewhere to lay your head during your Athenian adventure – check out the best hotels in the Greek capital , or pick one of the best boutique options , available now with Culture Trip. There won’t be a dull moment with all the impressive historical sites throughout Athens – you can even head to the beach after a morning of walking around ruins – and be sure to try all the gyros and souvlaki you can get your hands on at the best authentic Greek restaurants .

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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The Top 21 Tourist Attractions in Athens, Greece

Athens, Greece, is a city with a rich history and culture. It is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in the world, including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Athens also offers a vibrant and lively atmosphere, with bustling markets, charming neighbourhoods, and delicious cuisine.

If you are planning a trip to Athens , you are in for a treat. There are many tourist attractions to choose from, each offering its own unique experience. Here is a brief overview of some of the most popular tourist attractions in Athens :

1. The Acropolis: A Must-See Destination in Athens

Get ready for an adventure! The Acropolis in Athens is the city’s most famous landmark. A must-see for any visitor! But that’s not all; there’s a whole world to uncover.

Perched high on a hill , the Acropolis is a collection of ancient ruins that trace back to 5th-century BC. Among them, you’ll find the incredible Parthenon , the enchanting Erechtheion, and the remarkable Propylaea. It’s like stepping into a time machine.

The story of the Acropolis goes way back. In ancient times, it was the heart of religious and cultural life in Athens, a symbol of power and prestige . Over time, it’s been through a lot – wars, earthquakes, and looting. But the surprise is that it’s been restored and preserved , still standing tall in all its former glory.

When you explore the Acropolis, there’s more than meets the eye. The most famous gem in the crown? The Parthenon . It’s like an architectural marvel from ancient Greece. Built as a temple for the goddess Athena, the city’s patron deity, it’s famous for its impressive Doric columns and intricate sculptures. But this is just the beginning of the journey.

2. The Parthenon: A Symbol of Ancient Greek Civilization

Prepare to be captivated by the iconic Parthenon in Athens, a symbol of ancient Greek civilization. This temple, constructed in the 5th century BC, is a tribute to Athena, the city’s patron goddess. But there’s much more to this masterpiece!

Dive into history , where the Parthenon’s roots are intertwined with the tale of Athens. It emerged during the Golden Age, an era of astounding cultural and intellectual achievement. Renowned architect Phidias crafted its design, and the temple’s ethereal beauty arose from the marble of Mount Pentelicus.

This isn’t just a temple; it’s a key player in Greek history. It served as a treasury , a testament to Athenian might , and a spiritual haven. The sculptures adorning it are like a glimpse into Greek mythology, immortalizing the Athenians’ triumphs. But the story doesn’t end here!

3. The National Archaeological Museum: A Treasure Trove of Greek Artifacts

Calling all history enthusiasts! The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is an absolute must-visit. It’s not just any museum; it’s a colossal treasure trove, one of the world’s largest and most significant archaeological museums. Get ready for an adventure into the depths of ancient Greece.

The museum’s collection is a journey through time, spanning over 5,000 years of Greek history. From the prehistoric era to the Roman period, you’ll find an astonishing array of artifacts. Sculptures, pottery, jewelry, and more await, offering a rare glimpse into the daily life, art, and culture of this remarkable civilization.

Hold your breath for the highlights! The Mask of Agamemnon , a glistening gold death mask believed to belong to the legendary king of Mycenae, is a true gem.

There’s also the Antikythera Mechanism , an ancient analogue computer used to predict celestial positions and eclipses. And don’t miss the Bronze Statue of Poseidon , a testament to ancient Greek sculpture’s grandeur.

4. The Ancient Agora: A Center of Athenian Life and Politics

Prepare to step into the heart of ancient Athens, the Ancient Agora. It’s a top-tier destination that takes you back in time, where the pulse of the city’s political, commercial, and social life once throbbed. A bustling marketplace, a stage for political discourse, and the cradle of democracy – it’s all right here!

The journey begins in the 6th century BC when the Ancient Agora was born as a public space. Through the ages, it swelled in significance , evolving into the epicenter of Athenian democracy. It’s a place that witnessed the dreams and debates of the citizens.

Key landmarks include the Stoa of Attalos , the remarkable Temple of Hephaestus , and the crucial Bouleuterion . To make the most of your visit, consider prebooking your attraction ticket to skip the lines and dive straight into the experience.

As you explore the Ancient Agora, keep your eyes peeled for these gems. The reconstructed Stoa of Attalos now doubles as a museum, showcasing precious artefacts from the Agora.

The Temple of Hephaestus is a testament to Greece’s ancient architectural mastery and offers breathtaking views of the surroundings. Last but not least, the Bouleuterion , the Athenian Council’s meeting ground, holds the key to understanding the democratic workings of ancient Athens. The adventure has just begun!

5. The Temple of Olympian Zeus: A Monument to the King of the Gods

Get ready to stand in awe of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, one of Greece’s grandest ancient temples. This monumental structure, dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, is nestled in the heart of Athens, and it’s an essential stop for any city explorer.

This tale takes us all the way back to the 6th century BC when the ambitious Athenian tyrant, Peisistratos, first commissioned the temple. But here’s the twist: it took several centuries, not until the 2nd century AD, during the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian, for its construction to reach completion.

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As you set foot in this temple’s presence, you’ll be struck by its astonishing architecture. The towering columns, soaring up to a staggering 17 meters in height, leave you breathless.

Originally, there were a whopping 104 columns, but today, only 15 stand tall. Yet, even in its incomplete state, the temple remains a magnificent testament to the grandeur of ancient Greek architecture. The Temple of Olympian Zeus played an important role in Greek mythology. It was believed to be the dwelling place of Zeus and was a site of religious worship and festivals. The temple also served as a symbol of power and prestige for the Athenians, showcasing their wealth and influence.

6. The Panathenaic Stadium: A Historic Venue for Athletic Events

The Panathenaic Stadium is a historic venue for athletic events and is a must-visit destination for sports enthusiasts. It is located in the heart of Athens and is one of the oldest stadiums in the world. The history of the Panathenaic Stadium dates back to ancient times when it was first built in the 4th century BC. It was originally used for the Panathenaic Games, a festival held in honor of the goddess Athena. The stadium was later renovated and expanded by the Roman Emperor Herodes Atticus in the 2nd century AD. The Panathenaic Stadium is known for its distinctive horseshoe shape and its white marble seating. It can seat up to 50,000 spectators and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. The stadium has hosted several important events throughout history, including the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. When visiting the Panathenaic Stadium , there are several key sites to see. The stadium itself is a marvel of ancient engineering and offers a glimpse into the athletic traditions of ancient Greece. The Olympic Museum, located within the stadium, showcases artifacts and memorabilia from the history of the Olympic Games.

7. The Plaka: A Picturesque Neighborhood with Traditional Greek Architecture

Get ready to explore a slice of Greek paradise, the Plaka, a charming neighborhood in Athens known for its traditional Greek architecture and captivating ambiance. Nestled at the foot of the Acropolis, it’s one of the city’s oldest and most picturesque areas.

The Plaka’s history stretches back to ancient times when it was the posh residence of Athens’ aristocracy. Through the centuries, it absorbed the influences of various cultures and civilizations, from the Romans and Byzantines to the Ottomans.

Today, it’s a sought-after destination for tourists, offering narrow cobblestone streets, vibrant houses, and delightful shops and cafes.

8. The Monastiraki Flea Market: A Shopper’s Paradise for Souvenirs and Antiques

The Monastiraki Flea Market is a shopper’s paradise for souvenirs and antiques and is a must-visit destination for any visitor to Athens. It is located in the Monastiraki neighborhood, near the Ancient Agora, and is one of the oldest and largest flea markets in the city. The market is a bustling and vibrant place, with hundreds of stalls selling a wide variety of goods. Visitors can find everything from clothing and accessories to jewelry, artwork, and antiques. The market is also a great place to sample traditional Greek street food, such as souvlaki and loukoumades. When shopping at the Monastiraki Flea Market, there are several tips to keep in mind. Bargaining is a common practice, so be prepared to negotiate prices with the vendors. It is also a good idea to arrive early in the morning when the market is less crowded and the best items are still available. Finally, be sure to bring cash, as many vendors do not accept credit cards.

And here’s an insider’s tip: If you’re looking for a convenient way to explore the city without the burden of luggage, Athens offers a range of luggage drop services . Store your bags securely, so you can move about the city freely, unencumbered by your belongings. Athens has thought of everything to make your journey as seamless as possible. Your adventure begins here!

9. The Lycabettus Hill: A Panoramic View of Athens from Above

Prepare to soar above the city at Lycabettus Hill, the tallest peak in Athens that offers a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the entire city. This is a must-visit for anyone looking to take in the awe-inspiring beauty of Athens from a whole new perspective.

Found in the Kolonaki neighborhood, Lycabettus Hill is accessible via a thrilling funicular railway or by conquering a steep, rewarding path. At the summit, you’ll discover a quaint chapel dedicated to Saint George, along with a cozy restaurant and café for refreshments.

The view from Lycabettus Hill is nothing short of breathtaking, especially during the golden embrace of a sunset. Gaze out over the city, where the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and other iconic landmarks unveil themselves, all while the sprawling cityscape of Athens stretches before you.

For an uninterrupted experience, consider prebooking your tickets, ensuring a seamless journey to this elevated paradise. Your adventure begins here!

10. The National Garden: A Green Oasis in the Heart of Athens

The National Garden is a green oasis in the heart of Athens and is a must-visit destination for nature lovers. It is located behind the Greek Parliament and is one of the largest public parks in the city. The history of the National Garden dates back to the 19th century when it was first established as a royal garden. Over the years, it has been expanded and transformed into a public park that is open to all visitors. The National Garden is home to a wide variety of plants and trees, as well as several ponds, fountains, and statues. It offers a peaceful and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and is a great place for a leisurely stroll or a picnic. When visiting the National Garden, there are several key sites to see. The Zappeion, a neoclassical building located within the park, is a popular venue for exhibitions and events. The Botanical Museum, located near the entrance of the garden, showcases a collection of plants and flowers from all over Greece.

11. The Cape Sounion: A Scenic Drive to the Temple of Poseidon on the Aegean Sea

Embark on a breathtaking journey from Athens to Cape Sounion, where the Temple of Poseidon reigns majestically over the Aegean Sea. This is an absolute must for anyone craving the beauty of the Greek coastline.

Located around 70 kilometres southeast of Athens, Cape Sounion is accessible by car or through organized tours, both offering a scenic coastal drive. Along the way, you’ll be treated to mesmerizing views of the sea and the surrounding landscape.

The Temple of Poseidon, perched on a cliff with an unrivalled view of the Aegean Sea, gifts visitors with awe-inspiring sunset views . Built in the 5th century BC as a sanctuary for Poseidon, the god of the sea, this temple is known for its magnificent Doric columns and its commanding position on the cape.

As you explore Cape Sounion, the Temple of Poseidon takes centre stage, but there are more historical treasures to discover. The area hosts several other ancient ruins, including the Temple of Athena Sounias and the Sanctuary of Artemis.

Beyond history, the cape is a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing, with pristine beaches just a stone’s throw away. To make the most of your journey, consider pre-booking your tickets, ensuring a smooth ride to this coastal marvel.

12. Visit Benaki Museum

The Benaki Museum is one of the largest and most important museums in Greece. It houses a vast collection of artifacts from Greek culture, including art, furniture, textiles, and ceramics. The museum is located in a beautiful 19th-century building in the Plaka neighbourhood.

13. Byzantine and Christian Museum

The Byzantine and Christian Museum is home to a collection of Byzantine and Christian art and artifacts from Greece and the surrounding region. The museum’s collection includes mosaics, icons, sculptures, and textiles. The museum is located in a former mosque in the Plaka neighborhood.

14. War Museum of Athens

The War Museum of Athens tells the story of Greece’s military history from ancient times to the present day. The museum’s collection includes weapons, uniforms, vehicles, and other artifacts. The museum is located in a former military camp on the outskirts of Athens.

15. Jewish Museum of Greece

The Jewish Museum of Greece tells the story of the Jewish community in Greece. The museum’s collection includes artifacts from Jewish life in Greece, such as religious objects, household items, and photographs. The museum is located in the Plaka neighborhood.

16. Technopolis

Technopolis is a former gas factory that has been converted into a cultural center. It hosts a variety of events, including concerts, exhibitions, and festivals. Technopolis is located in the Gazi District.

Quick Tip: Wondering weather you should buy the Athens Pass or not then you can read our in-depth review of the Athens pass.

17. Gazi District

The Gazi District is a former industrial area that has been transformed into a trendy neighborhood with bars, clubs, and restaurants. It is also home to a number of historical sites, including the Technopolis cultural center and the old gasworks.

18. Anafiotika

Anafiotika is a charming neighborhood located on the slopes of the Acropolis. It is known for its narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and stunning views of the Acropolis.

19. Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square is the main square in Athens. It is home to the Greek Parliament Building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is also a popular spot for protests and demonstrations.

20. Head to the Museum of Illusion on Rainy Day in Athens

Museum Of Illusions Athens: Step into a world where perception is tested, and reality is questioned. This captivating museum offers a mind-bending experience filled with optical illusions, puzzles, and interactive exhibits.

Get ready to challenge your senses and see the world in a whole new light. Don’t forget to consider prebooking your tickets for a hassle-free adventure in the world of illusions!

Conclusion: Tourist Attractions in Athens

For history and culture enthusiasts, Athens, Greece is an absolute must-visit. This city is a treasure trove of iconic landmarks that rank among the world’s finest, including the legendary Acropolis and the Parthenon. These ancient ruins stand as living witnesses to the city’s rich past, offering a window into the grandeur of ancient Greek civilization.

But that’s just the beginning. Athens isn’t just a city of history; it’s a city of life. The atmosphere is vibrant, with bustling markets, charming neighborhoods, and delectable cuisine. As you roam the streets, you’ll encounter the heart and soul of Greece.

Athens also boasts a lineup of world-class museums, with the National Archaeological Museum leading the pack. Here, a vast collection of Greek artifacts awaits, ready to transport you through the annals of history. To ensure you make the most of your visit, consider prebooking your tickets, avoiding any waiting and diving straight into the cultural wonders of Athens. Your adventure begins here!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the best time to visit Athens?

The best time to visit Athens is during the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is pleasant and the tourist crowds are smaller. The average temperature during these months ranges from 15°C (59°F) to 25°C (77°F), making it ideal for exploring the city’s outdoor attractions. Additionally, visiting during these shoulder seasons allows you to avoid the scorching heat of summer and the chilly winters.

• How can I get around Athens easily?

Athens has a well-developed public transportation system that makes getting around the city easy and convenient. Here are some options:

• Metro: The Athens Metro is a reliable and efficient way to travel within the city. It connects major tourist attractions, neighbourhoods, and the airport. The metro operates from 5:30 am to midnight on weekdays and until 2 am on weekends.
• Buses: Athens has an extensive bus network that covers the entire city. Buses operate from early morning until midnight, and some routes offer 24-hour service. It’s advisable to check the bus schedules and routes in advance.
• Trams: The tram system is another convenient mode of transportation, especially for reaching coastal areas like Glyfada and Voula. Trams operate from early morning until midnight.
• Taxis: Taxis are widely available in Athens, and they can be hailed on the street or found at designated taxi stands. Make sure the taxi has a working meter, and it’s always a good idea to ask for an estimated fare before starting the journey.
• Are there any day trips from Athens worth considering?

Athens serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding areas, and there are several day trips that are worth considering. Here are a few popular options:

Delphi: Located about 180 km (112 miles) northwest of Athens, Delphi is an ancient archaeological site that was once considered the center of the world in Greek mythology. Visitors can explore the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the Delphi Theatre, and the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts from the site.

Meteora: Situated approximately 350 km (217 miles) northwest of Athens, Meteora is a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its monasteries perched atop towering rock formations. The stunning natural landscape and the spiritual atmosphere of the monasteries make it a must-visit destination.

Aegina: Aegina is a picturesque island located just a short ferry ride away from Athens. Known for its beautiful beaches, charming villages, and pistachio orchards, Aegina offers a relaxing escape from the city. Visitors can explore the Temple of Aphaia, enjoy water sports, or simply unwind by the crystal-clear waters.

These are just a few examples of the many day trips available from Athens. Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or island hopping , there is a day trip that suits your preferences.

• Can you recommend any local dishes to try in Athens?

Athens is a food lover’s paradise, offering a wide range of delicious dishes that showcase the flavors of Greek cuisine. Here are some local dishes that you must try:

• Moussaka: A classic Greek dish made with layers of eggplant, minced meat (usually beef or lamb), and béchamel sauce. It’s a hearty and flavorful dish that is often considered a comfort food.
• Souvlaki: Grilled meat skewers, typically made with pork, chicken, or lamb. Souvlaki is often served with pita bread, tzatziki sauce, and a side of Greek salad. It’s a popular street food option and a must-try for meat lovers.
• Spanakopita: A savory pastry filled with spinach, feta cheese, onions, and herbs. Spanakopita is a delicious vegetarian option that can be enjoyed as a snack or as part of a meal.
• Greek Salad: A refreshing and healthy salad made with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta cheese. It’s typically dressed with olive oil and a sprinkle of oregano. Greek salad is a staple in Greek cuisine and pairs well with many dishes.
• Are there any specific dress codes to keep in mind when visiting religious sites in Athens?

When visiting religious sites in Athens, it’s important to dress modestly out of respect for the religious and cultural traditions. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

• Both men and women should avoid wearing shorts, sleeveless tops, or revealing clothing when visiting churches, monasteries, or other religious sites.
• It’s recommended to wear clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. For women, a shawl or scarf can be used to cover the shoulders if necessary.
• Comfortable shoes are advisable as there may be uneven surfaces and stairs to climb.
• It’s also important to maintain a respectful demeanor and avoid loud conversations or disruptive behavior.

Sankalp Singh is the Founder and Author of Chasing Whereabouts. He is passionate about travel, photography, and food. He has travelled across Europe extensively to experience its quirks, culture, and diversity. He is a self-taught traveller and he has been exploring the world since the age of 25. When he is not travelling, you can find him at work being a Software Engineer in 9-5 Job.

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• Top Attractions

Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Athens

If you are interested in Classical antiquity , Athens is an open-air museum packed with archaeological sites. These are the main tourist attractions to visit in Athens.

Top monuments and tourist attractions

Ancient agora, syntagma square, panathenaic stadium, temple of olympian zeus, theatre of dionysus, odeon of herodes atticus, roman agora, hadrian's library.

Athens also has beautiful and typical neighborhoods to explore, not to mention its renowned museums .

You may also be interested in

The Panathenaic Stadium was made entirely of white marble in 144 AD. In the nineteenth century, it was dug up and rebuilt. It hosted the first contemporary Olympics in 1896.

The Acropolis of Athens, meaning “high point city” in ancient Greek is a rocky hill in the city center, home to numerous temples and other important buildings.

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WHERE TO STAY in ATHENS in 2024

Eleni Gimouki Last Updated: September 26, 2023

There’s much more to Athens than its history, museums, and archaeological sites. This all-time classic destination has interesting neighborhoods, great entertainment, and is close to the Aegean Sea. It’s a quintessential stop on your island vacation. In this guide, written by a local Athenian, we share our top recommendations for where to stay in Athens.

Pro Tip : Heading to Athens? It’s easier to organize your trip when all your resources are in one place. Bookmark this post along with our Athens Guide , our top Athens and Acropolis tours , and how to visit the Acropolis .

The Best Hotels in Athens at a Glance

• 5-Star Excellence: Divani Palace Acropolis
• 4-Star Bliss: A77 Suites
• Perfect Family Pad: Gallery Suites and Residences
• Romantic Getaway: The Modernist
• Boutique Splendor: The Alex
• Budget Savvy: InnAthens

Where To Stay in Athens: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods

Athens is not a small city, and narrowing down where to stay can be a challenge. In this guide, we’ve broken the city into three areas—each with its own charms and perfect for different types of travelers. Read on to discover which area is best for you and recommendations for accommodation options in Athens.

• Center of Athens

Plaka District

• Piraeus neighborhood

Our Partnership with Booking.com . If you like our content, please book by clicking on our Booking.com links. The price is the same for you, and we get a small commission that helps support our helpful blog content. We’ve partnered with Booking.com because they have the most options, great prices, and a solid loyalty program.

The Center of Athens

Above all, Athens is known for its ancient history. Thousands of people visit the center of Athens every year to soak up the history of its museums and archaeological sites. But the Greek capital is by no means stuck in the past. It’s an incredible destination where the past converges with the present.

With modern markets offering you luxury shopping and a nightlife that never stops, this vibrant city has a lot to offer the modern traveler. You just have to know where to go and where to stay. Athens has many beautiful neighborhoods—large and small—that will give you plenty of opportunities to get to know the Greek way of life today.

Of course, don’t hesitate to talk to the friendly local people—they will be happy to help you out with any information you may need, even if they can’t speak English very well. It’s what we call “The Greek Filoxenia” or “friend to a stranger.” Without further ado, here are our recommendations for where to stay in Athens’ city center.

The Best Tours and Attractions in the Center of Athens:

• Skip the Line Acropolis, Parthenon, and Acropolis Museum
• Essential Highlight Tour
• Wine Tasting Under the Acropolis
• Classical Athens E-Bike Tour
• Ancient Agora
• National Museum of Contemporary Art

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  Athens Guide for more resources.

Best restaurants in the Center of Athens:

See our comprehensive article on the best restaurants in Athens and bookmark it in your browser so you can circle back to it.

Best hotels in the Center of Athens:

Below are the best hotel choices in the center of Athens.

Divani Palace Acropolis

€€ €€ | 5 Star | Acropolis view | Classic Decor

This luxury hotel has a prime location close to Acropolis Hill with incredible views. Enjoy your breakfast by the pool and indulge in gourmet Greek cuisine. Also, it’s really close to the new Acropolis Museum and to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Location, photos, and booking

Royal Olympic Hotel

€€ € | 5 Star | Decadent Rooms | Traditional Cuisine

At the Royal Olympic Hotel, you can explore traditional Greek dishes in the hotel’s roof garden, cool off in the heat of summer in the swimming pool, and retreat to the decadence of your beautiful hotel room. From your room or the roof garden, you’ll have a stunning view overlooking the temple of Zeus. It’s a luxurious experience of the Greek capital.

NJV Athens Plaza

€€ € € | 5 Star | Modern Decoration | Family Friendly

Opposite Syntagma Square, the NJV Athens Plaza is one of the best luxury hotels. It offers comfortable rooms with cool decor and the chance to taste Mediterranean dishes at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We love the location in the Kolonaki area where you’ll find luxury shopping and delightful cafes.

Divani Caravel

€€ €€ | 5 Star | Rooftop Pool | Spa | Three Restaurants and Two Bars

Divani Caravel Hotel offers unique rooms and suites, a spa on the hotel terrace, and a rooftop pool with Acropolis views—you’ll be mesmerized by the exceptional views while you enjoy evening cocktails on the rooftop. The hotel is located in a very central part of Athens, just meters away from the National Gallery.

AthensWas Design Hotel

€€ €€ | 5 Star | Modern Greek Cuisine | Rooftop Bar

AthensWas Design Hotel is a modern hotel with impeccable design and comfortable suites for both families and couples. Moreover, you have the opportunity to try modern Greek cuisine at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant. Every room or suite has a balcony for a relaxing morning breakfast. The hotel is located in the heart of the city—right opposite the Acropolis and the New Acropolis Museum.

Electra Metropolis

€€ €€ | 5 Star | Luxurious | Rooftop Pool | Fantastic Views

If you need a luxury vacation right next to the great Parthenon monument, then Electra Metropolis is the place to stay in Athens. You can indulge in spa treatments, cool off in the rooftop pool, or take a sunset yoga session. This hotel is located in the very center of Athens, near the metro station.

The Modernist Athens

€€ €€ | 4 Star | Ultra Modern | Urban Club Vibes

Housed in the former embassy of Canada, this urban hotel is one of the most luxurious spots in Athens, near hip Kolonaki. The rooms come in many sizes, including family rooms, and have an urban club feel with custom lighting and furniture. The hotel has a restaurant, and they love to use local goods and food as often as possible too. There is even a 24-hour fitness center for anyone looking to keep up with their workouts on vacation.

Check Out Our Best Athens Tours

Top Rated Tour

Skip the Line Acropolis Tour with Parthenon and Museum

Towering above the modern city of Athens, explore the ancient forum home to the relics of Classical Greece. From the world’s oldest theatre to the iconic Parthenon, the Acropolis is a beacon of civilization and philosophy. Head back in time to the time of Plato and Socrates on this Skip-the-Line tour.

Starting at €80

Likely to Sell Out

Athens “Locals” Food Tour in Monastiraki

Explore the gastronomic world of Athens through the city’s central market. Enjoy homemade pastries, authentic wines, cheeses, honey-soaked donuts and much more. Your local guide will lead you through the best spots in the lively Monastiraki neighborhood for a delicious experience in Athens.

Starting at €68

Plaka District is a hip neighborhood in the center of Athens and the place to be. Locals love it for its Greek-island vibes with beautiful cobblestone streets and picturesque alleyways. It’s where you’ll find some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, and affordable hotels, not to mention some of the best views of the Acropolis. Need I say more?

Attractions near Plaka:

• Acropolis of Athens
• Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus
• Athens National Garden
• Syntagma Square
• Roman Forum of Athens
• Holy Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary

Best restaurants in Plaka:

Check out our comprehensive article on the best restaurants, cafés, and bars in Plaka .

Best hotels in Plaka:

€€ | 3 Star | Restaurant with Terrace | Bar | Family Friendly

InnAthens has stylish rooms in a variety of configurations, a relaxing interior courtyard, and a fantastic breakfast. It’s in the heart of the city but is set in a quiet location near the Athens National Garden. It’s a great place for a relaxing stay close to the top attractions with great amenities.

A77 Suites by Andronis

€€€ | 4 Star | High End Suites | Acropolis Views

Set in a restored neo-classical building, these high-end suites offer guests a luxurious and modern home away from home in the heart of Athens. The five suites are all different. Fancy a quiet courtyard, a private Jacuzzi, or killer Acropolis views? This is the spot.

Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel

€€€€+ | 5 Star | Luxury | Great Pool | Rooftop Restaurant | Breathtaking Views

If you’re looking for opulence, look no further. This hotel has welcomed stars and it looks the part. You’ll enjoy luxurious rooms, incredible views, and world-class amenities. The views from the rooftop Garden Restaurant and the pool are incredible.

Plaka Hotel

€+ | 3 Star | Acropolis Views | Family Friendly | Close to Metro

This simple yet modern hotel gives you a bang for your buck. It offers guests a variety of room configurations, making it a great choice for families and solo travelers. You’ll love the Acropolis views and central location all at an affordable price.

Piraeus is the central Port of Greece. Also, it’s at the center of Athens’s history, having been first inhabited in 3,000 BC! It is amazing to walk in a region with such historical importance. Nowadays, Piraeus is a busy city where you can go shopping, have coffee or lunch, and enjoy its lively nightlife.

If you decide to spend your holidays in Piraeus, you’ll have a great time with plenty to do. You’ll find the famous Piraeus Municipal Theater—a neoclassical building from 1895, which is the highlight of Piraeus and a popular meeting point. However, if you want to visit some other places, you have easy access thanks to the train station.

Why I love Piraeus:

• It is a lively city
• Ideal for shopping
• A lot of options for lunch, dinner, and a night out
• It’s next to the sea

Attractions in Piraeus:

• Piraeus Municipal Theater
• Mikrolimano
• Nautical Museum of Greece

Best restaurants in Piraeus:

• Varoulko Seaside Restaurant : €€€ | Michelin Star —Explore a unique Greek seafood culinary experience in a beautiful seaside setting.
• Arlekinos Restaurant : €€ | Traditional Food —A popular local spot to stop for a bite to eat while walking around the center. Try some pita bread, tzatziki, and a kebab.
• Istioploikos : €€ | Great Location —This casual and hip restaurant right by the water is a great place to spend an evening and try typical Mediterranean cuisine.

Best hotels in Piraeus:

Below are our recommendations for where to stay in Athens in the Piraeus area.

€€ € | 4 Star | Modern | À La Carte or Vegetarian Breakfast | Pet Friendly

This modern hotel in Castella Hill is certainly one of the most beautiful hotels in Piraeus. It offers guests a seaside view in a glamorous area. The exterior may not look like much, but the rooms, service, and view make up for it.

Gallery Suites & Residences

€€€ | 3 Star | Modern | Terrace | Fitness Center

This a modern and minimally designed hotel that offers guests the perks of a sauna and gym, as well as a continental breakfast. Above all, it is located close to the center of Piraeus and Mikrolimano and to the port.

Lilia Hotel

€€ | 2 Star | All-Day Bar | Marina Views

We love this hotel in the Mikrolimano area for its warm and friendly environment and beautiful views of the marina. It’s located near the shopping center of Piraeus, which is the ideal place to go for a great night out. Every room has a private balcony too.

Scorpios Sea Side Hotel

€€ | 2 Star | Sea View | Budget Friendly

The Scorpios Sea Side Hotel is an ideally-located hotel because it sits on the edge of the Themistokleous coast. It’s a great option for anyone who wants to spend their evenings walking along the seafront. It’s not the flashiest hotel on our list, but it’s great for budget travelers who want a lovely view of the sea.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  Athens Guide for more info.

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Where to fly on a budget this summer

Airfare experts share their forecasts for summer vacation destinations that won’t break your budget.

This summer is shaping up to be another scorcher , and the demand for summer travel is piping hot, too. If early 2024 trends are any indication of what’s to come, “it’s looking to be busier than 2023,” said Katy Nastro, spokesperson for the flight booking site Going . Recent airport passenger volume numbers have regularly exceeded last year and pre-pandemic levels.

Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com , says airline capacity has rebounded from pandemic complications, but strong travel demand means summer flight prices can be high, depending on when you’re hoping to go. Flying in June, July or early August will be more expensive than later in the season, according to the company’s summer forecast .

“And it’s not just the airfare,” Klee said in an email. “Expensive hotel rates and crowds everywhere make Western Europe tricky for the summer.”

Despite the price tag, “people are going to go,” said Melanie Fish, the head of global public relations for all Expedia Brands, including Vrbo, Expedia and Hotels.com . “When we look at searches for destinations, they are definitely up year over year.”

For popular destinations like Europe , Klee and Fish say to push trips later into August, September or even October. Not only will prices soften, but you’ll alleviate some of the strain of overtourism .

“My number one tip is go ahead and take that summer vacation, but maybe hold on to take that big, big trip in September,” Fish said.

According to Expedia’s summer 2024 travel outlook , we’re currently in the sweet spot for shopping for early summer flights at the best rates, as Fish says lower fares tend to pop up 21 to 60 days out. It doesn’t hurt to start your search even earlier, setting up price alerts to flag when airfare drops. If you can swing it, look to fly on a Monday for international trips or a Tuesday for domestic trips to save up to 15 percent on fares, Fish added.

It’s not impossible to find good deals on airfare, whether you’re looking for a tropical beach trip , a mountain adventure or a vibrant city. Here are places that are trending cheaper — and the destinations you’ll want to avoid.

Go to Mexico

Sun, surf, culture, chilaquiles — Mexico is always a good idea , but particularly so this summer. With the opening of the new airport in Tulum , U.S. airlines have been adding gobs of new flights to Mexico, particularly to beach regions. “We’ve seen a healthy amount of deals down to Mexico resort areas like Cancún,” Nastro said.

Laura Lindsay, global travel trends expert at Skyscanner , says three Mexican cities — Cancún, San José del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta — are among the top 10 destinations offering travelers the best bang for their buck in 2024.

To escape the summer heat, Phyllis Stoller, president of the Women’s Travel Group , recommends high-altitude destinations like Mexico City or Ixtapan de la Sal, a town near Mexico City with thermal springs.

Avoid European port cities

If you’re considering a visit to a popular European city that’s also a cruise hub, beware. Not only will you be battling the usual summer crowds, you’ll be joined by thousands of day-trippers flooding into the ports — meaning Barcelona, Venice , Athens and Santorini.

Sandra Weinacht, who co-owns the tour company Inside Europe Travel Experiences , says you can avoid some of the madness in these hot spots by staying in neighborhoods away from the typical tourist zones. You can also visit top sites in the late afternoon or evening, after cruise travelers have returned to their ships.

Better yet, wait to visit until the shoulder season

Go to Colorado

Epic hiking, breathtaking nature and more craft beer than you could ever try in a lifetime: The Centennial State is a domestic gem. Ashlee Collins of Inspirato , a luxury travel and lifestyle subscription service, says Vail is popular among members this summer. Not only is the ski resort beautiful sans snow, it’s drivable for many, cutting a significant cost for travelers.

Airfare to Colorado is looking more reasonable than other domestic vacation hubs. Nastro recently spotted a Miami-to-Denver, round-trip fare over the July Fourth holiday for just $199. She says an average round trip from major U.S. cities is running between $173 and $250, but those prices are expected to climb upward of $350 the closer we get to summer.

Avoid places at risk for wildfires

Wildfires have become an unfortunate fixture of summers in the Northern Hemisphere. Last year’s fires in Europe — including those in Cyprus and Greece — were among the worst so far this century, the European Commission reported .

Stoller says fire risk has been a factor in her summer travel planning; she nixed a New England cruise after remembering how bad smoke was last year because of the fires in Canada . “None of us can predict everything, but that would be something I would be aware of,” she said.

Extreme heat is also an issue. Last July, Southern Europe experienced excessively high temperatures from a “heat dome.”

“There’s a concern about heat,” Stoller said. “Last summer was really painful.”

Go to the Caribbean

The Caribbean has its peak tourist season during the winter, when Americans flock to warmer waters. That means summer trips to the region tend to be quieter and cheaper.

“You can go under $300 to pretty much all of the islands: Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Aruba, Dominican Republic,” said Lindsay Schwimer, a consumer travel expert at Hopper . She’s seen similar price point flights to Colombia.

Lindsay of Skyscanner also said Puerto Rico and the Bahamas offer some of the most affordable flights from the United States this summer.

Avoid Paris

Unless you’re going for the Olympics , skip the French capital this summer.

“Paris is always a top destination in the summer, but this summer … it’s going to be on another level,” said Madison Pietrowski, head of U.S. brands at GetYourGuide .

Not only are hotel prices high, “we’re seeing that some of the top attractions like the Louvre have raised their ticket prices,” Pietrowski said.

Nastro says the crowds are going to be “bananas” during the Games, and not just in Paris. Olympic travelers are likely to add on other French destinations to their trip, like Nice — which will host soccer games — or the Côte d’Azur, which already gets popular in the summertime.

Even if you try to get ahead of the rush by visiting before the July 26 start date, you may still have some Olympics-related headaches in the French capital. As the city races to finish prep, “you might find that there’s going to be eyesores and scaffolding and loud noises early in the morning,” Nastro said.

Go to rural Europe

Interest in Western Europe has not slowed down, and Americans are expected to surge back en masse this summer. If you’d like to avoid them, put rural European destinations on your radar.

Weinacht is bullish on Spain’s Rioja region , the Basque countryside and the central Italian region of Umbria, which borders Tuscany but does not see the same levels of tourism. She’s also a fan of Carinthia, the least-populated state of Austria. “It is castle- and lake-dotted, doesn’t get too hot, and oh, the food and stories the cities and villages can tell,” Weinacht said in an email.

Weinacht says she’s been getting more requests from Americans for trips to her homeland, Germany. The country is easy to navigate with its high-speed trains, and offers a mix of small and big cities spread across powerhouse wine regions, UNESCO World Heritage sites and many food festivals . According to Skyscanner, airlines in the United States have been increasing their flights to Germany — namely, Frankfurt, an international business hub — meaning you may be able to find more deals.

Avoid Sicily and Amalfi

If your dream Italian destination has been featured on TV lately, that’s a red flag. The last season of “The White Lotus” spurred an interest in already popular Sicily ; the same is happening to the Amalfi Coast thanks to the new Netflix miniseries “Ripley.”

“They’re really going to be the most expensive and they’re going to be pretty crowded for the summer,” Schwimer said.

Where to go

Our favorite destinations: These 12 destinations are at the top of our wish list for where to go this year, without crowds. In 2023, we explored an Alaskan bear paradise, Brooklyn’s famous pizzerias and a hidden gem in Italy, among other highlights .

Travel like a local: Residents share their favorite places in our top city guides: New Orleans , Rome , Tokyo and Mexico City .

National parks: This comprehensive guide has details on all 63 U.S. national parks. For a deep dive into five of the most well-known, you can listen to the Field Trip podcast . Then explore tips from locals for visiting Yosemite , Glacier and Everglades .

Tales from the road: Dolly Parton has opened a new resort at her theme park complex in Tennessee, while “Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have a new hotel in Waco . Road-trippers may be just as excited to see the cartoon beaver at Buc-ee’s , and bargain-hunters should consider a stop at the Unclaimed Baggage store in Scottsboro, Ala.