How many days in Athens? Plans for 1–5 days

Athens is often treated as a stopover on the way to the islands – one night, the Acropolis, and on to the ferry. That is a pity, because the city has more than one hill to offer: the best archaeological museums in Greece, lively neighbourhoods and a coast within easy reach. The short answer: 2 days are enough for the essentials, 3 days are ideal with Cape Sounion, and with 4 or 5 days Delphi or an island day fit in.

How many days in Athens? The overview

The most important thing to plan: tickets for the Acropolis are sold with an entry time on the official ticket site of the Greek Ministry of Culture, and the early slots go first in spring and summer. Book before you travel and go as early as you can – there is little shade on the hill, and in recent summers the site has closed at midday during heatwaves.

One day in Athens: the Acropolis and Plaka

One day is enough for ancient Athens if you start early. Be at the Acropolis for the first slot and walk up past the Theatre of Dionysus to the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. Afterwards climb the rocky Areopagus next door for the view, then go down to the Ancient Agora, the old marketplace, with the well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus. Lunch in Plaka, the old quarter below the hill. In the afternoon, when it is hottest, the Acropolis Museum – its glass floors show the excavations underneath, and the top floor displays the Parthenon frieze in the same orientation as on the temple. For sunset, Philopappos Hill looks straight across at the Acropolis.

What does not fit into this day: the modern centre, the National Archaeological Museum and the coast.

Two days in Athens: add the centre and Lycabettus

The second day belongs to the city around the ruins. Start at Syntagma Square with the Parliament and the changing of the guard, walk through the National Garden to the Panathenaic Stadium, built of marble and the venue of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, and on to the columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Around noon, the Central Market on Athinas Street with its meat and fish halls, then the flea market and the square of Monastiraki. In the evening, take the funicular or walk up Mount Lycabettus, the highest point in the centre, for the view over the whole city to the sea.

Tickets for the Acropolis Museum, guided walks and food tours^* can be booked on Tiqets.

Three days in Athens: our ready-made plan

Three days are ideal, because the third combines the best museum with the most beautiful sunset. Our plan:

• Day 1 – The Acropolis, the Agora and Plaka: the Acropolis, the Areopagus, the Ancient Agora, Plaka, the Acropolis Museum, Philopappos Hill.
• Day 2 – The centre, the market and Lycabettus: Syntagma Square, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Central Market, Monastiraki, Mount Lycabettus.
• Day 3 – The National Museum and Cape Sounion: the National Archaeological Museum with the gold mask known as the Mask of Agamemnon and the bronze statues, Exarchia, the Pedion tou Areos park, and in the late afternoon the coast road to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion for sunset.

Four days or more: islands and Delphi

From day four, the sea is close. Ferries leave Piraeus, the port of Athens, for the Saronic islands: Aegina is the nearest, with a harbour town and the Temple of Aphaia; Hydra has no cars and a beautiful harbour. Both work as a day trip. Ferry timetables change by season, so check them a few days before.

Delphi, once the sanctuary of Apollo and the seat of the oracle, lies on the slopes of Mount Parnassus: 177 km and about 2 hours 50 minutes of pure driving from Athens. With a car or on a day tour it is a long but rewarding day – day tours from Athens^* can be compared on Viator.

Driving times: route calculation based on OpenStreetMap from Syntagma Square, without traffic; allow about a third more, especially when leaving Athens in the afternoon.

Where to stay in Athens

Two areas suit a short stay:

• Plaka and Makrygianni: right below the Acropolis, with everything important on foot. Ideal for a short visit, but touristy.
• Koukaki: a residential area behind the Acropolis Museum with cafés and places to eat, quieter and close to Philopappos Hill.

The centre between the Acropolis, Plaka and Syntagma is walkable. For longer distances there are three metro lines, buses and a tram. From the airport, metro line 3 and the express bus to Syntagma run to the centre; a transfer from Athens airport to your hotel^* can be booked with Welcome Pickups. If your ferry or flight leaves late, you can use luggage storage in central Athens^* (Radical Storage).

Best time to visit Athens

April to June and September to October are the most pleasant: warm, long days, and the ruins are bearable at midday. In July and August it often climbs above 35 °C – sightsee early in the morning and in the evening, and rest in the afternoon. Winter is mild and much quieter, a good time for the museums, although it can rain. YesTrip shows you the weather for your actual travel days.

Athens compared: how many days for other cities?

If you are choosing between cities: this is how many days we recommend in this series for a first visit.

Base map: Natural Earth

More in our articles how many days in Rome and how many days in Istanbul, and all cities of the series in the overview how many days in each city.

How YesTrip helps you plan

YesTrip has a ready-made three-day plan for Athens with times, walking legs and a map for each day, the trip to Cape Sounion included. With one tap you copy it into the app and adjust it – for example to put the Acropolis at the time of your booked slot. The app shows the weather for your travel days, the packing list suggests a sun hat and water when the forecast is hot, and with the offline package you have the map without a connection. YesTrip is free.

Athens trip planDay by day, with map and tips

If you want to see more of the country after Athens, our Greece mainland itinerary takes you round the Peloponnese to Delphi and Meteora in 12 days.

For Delphi, Hydra and Sounion, see our day trips from Athens.

* Ad – Partner link: if you book there, we earn a commission. Your price stays the same.