City guide · Greece
Athens
Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece.
4 ready itineraries · 3, 5, 7, 10-day plans
Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica region and is the southernmost capital on the European mainland.
With its urban area's population numbering over 3.6 million, it is the eighth-largest urban area in the European Union (EU). The Municipality of Athens, which constitutes a small administrative unit of the entire urban area, had a population of 643,452 in 2021, within its official limits, and a land area of 38.96 square kilometres.
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want Athens without a car. The 3-day plan stays inside walking range of Acropolis.
- Skip if
- Skip Athens if you only want a beach week or an airport layover. This cluster is for people who will walk most days.
Pick a trip length
One plan per length — open it and walk the days in order.
- 3days3-day itineraryA long weekend walking Athens.Open plan →
- 5days5-day itineraryPopularA first visit to Athens with room for one extra neighborhood.Open plan →
- 7days7-day itineraryA slower week in Athens, with one day outside town.Open plan →
- 10days10-day itineraryFirst-time visitors who want a full Athens trip with day trips.Open plan →
5-day preview
Skim the walking days, then open the full plan.
- 1
Museums and galleries
Walk Museums and galleries in Athens. Start at National Archaeological Museum of Athens, then Kanellopoulos Museum and Benaki Museum of Greek Culture. Stay on foot.
National Archaeological Museum of Athens · Kanellopoulos Museum · Benaki Museum of Greek Culture · Museum of Cycladic Art · …
- 2
Archaeological sites
Walk Archaeological sites in Athens. Start at Pnyx, then Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus. Stay on foot.
Pnyx · Ancient Agora · Temple of Hephaestus · Stoa of Attalus · …
- 3
Acropolis
Walk Acropolis in Athens. Start at Acropolis of Athens, then Propylaea and Parthenon. Stay on foot.
Acropolis of Athens · Propylaea · Parthenon · Erectheion · …
- 4
Modern sites
Walk Modern sites in Athens. Start at Panathinaiko Stadium, then Lycabettus Hill and Olympic Stadium. Stay on foot.
Panathinaiko Stadium · Lycabettus Hill · Olympic Stadium · National Theatre · …
- 5
Day trip toward Piraeus
Leave Athens for the day. Come back to the same bed.
Piraeus · Rafina · Italy
Where to stay
Bases that fit the walking plan.
Acropolis
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Acropolis of Athens, Propylaea, Parthenon on foot.
Archaeological sites
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Pnyx, Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus on foot.
Modern sites
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Panathinaiko Stadium, Lycabettus Hill, Olympic Stadium on foot.
Further away
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Daphni Monastery, Kaisariani Monastery and Gardens on foot.
Getting there & when to go
Lock timing and airport basics early.
Best time
Athens works year-round for a walking trip. Shoulder months are easier on crowds and hills.
- Shoulder months
- High season
- Low season
- Rain days
Airport
Athens International Airport (ATH)
Transport for Athens (OASA) operates public transportation in Athens. Its subdivisions include STASY and OSY. A single ticket allows you to travel on any types of transport, metro, trams, buses, with unlimited transfers anywhere time within Athens for 90 minutes. If you do not read Greek, signs on Athens transit always have a transliteration into Roman letters.
- Public transit from ATH30 to 60 minutes · Local ticket price. Check the operator the week you fly.
- Taxi or licensed ride hail20 to 45 minutes · Treat any number you see online as an estimate, not a quote.
Practical notes
Short reads before you book.
Understand
thumb|The reconstructed Stoa of Attalos, in the Ancient Agora According to mythology, the Greek Gods Poseidon and Athena wanted to claim the city for their own. To persuade the people to accept them, they granted gifts.
Poseidon struck his spear into the ground and produced running water. Athena gave the city olive trees, which provide food and economic prosperity through trade.
Get in
, located east of the city centre near the suburb of Spáta ( ), is a major hub in the Aegean, Balkan and East Mediterranean regions. American, Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta, Emirates, Norwegian Air Shuttle and United maintain non-stop flights from North America (some are only seasonal), while a large number of European carriers fly direct into Athens.
ATH was opened in 2001 as part of the infrastructure improvements in preparation for the Olympics. It is now one of the more attractive and efficient major European airports, though some old Athenian hands say they miss the messy atmosphere of the old Hellenikon.
Get around
Transport for Athens (OASA) operates public transportation in Athens. Its subdivisions include STASY and OSY.
A single ticket allows you to travel on any types of transport, metro, trams, buses, with unlimited transfers anywhere time within Athens for 90 minutes. If you do not read Greek, signs on Athens transit always have a transliteration into Roman letters.
Stay safe
Athens is generally a safe city. There are many police officers and security guards around the city.
Many places have CCTV. Street crime is rare.
Related guides
Helpful next pages for Athens.