See & Do
Acropolis €30, Agora €10, Acropolis Museum €20 — book timed slots on hhticket.gr (odysseus.culture.gr, Aug 2026).
Explore the sights
Visit Athens · Visit Greece
Visit Athens
Your practical guide to visit Athens — and the best base to visit Greece from. Plan before you land, use it on the ground.
The cradle of Western civilisation: the Acropolis, world-class museums, walkable neighbourhoods and the gateway to Delphi, the islands and the Peloponnese.
€30Acropolis ticket
€1.2090-min metro/bus
33 kmairport to centre
90 minferry to Hydra
Start here
Four pages that plan your whole trip
Tickets first, then the fares — everything you need before you land.
Eat & Drink
Souvlaki, moussaka and taverna dinners €15–30 — coffee €2.50–4 in Plaka and Monastiraki (checked Aug 2026).
Taste Athens
Airport → centre
ATH is 33 km east. X95 bus €5.50, Metro Line 3 €9, taxi €40 flat by day (aia.gr / oasa.gr, Aug 2026).
Transfer guide
Day trips
Delphi ~2.5 h · Cape Sounion ~90 min · Hydra ferry ~90 min from Piraeus — check opensea.gr locally.
Leave town
Orientation
Why Athens is worth your time
Most visitors anchor in Plaka, Monastiraki or Koukaki — all within 15 minutes on foot of the Acropolis south slope. OASA metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 link Syntagma, the Acropolis station and Piraeus port; a single urban ticket costs €1.20 for 90 minutes on metro and bus (oasa.gr, checked Aug 2026).
Book Acropolis entry on hhticket.gr — timed slots are mandatory and the combined archaeological pass ended in April 2025, so budget per-site tickets: Acropolis €30, Ancient Agora €10, Acropolis Museum €20 (official ministry and museum sites, Aug 2026). Allow one full morning for the hill, then the museum the same day while legs still work.
Athens is also the mainland hub for ferries from Piraeus to the Saronic islands (~90 minutes to Hydra — confirm schedules on operator sites) and for KTEL coaches to Delphi, Nafplio and Cape Sounion. See Getting Around and Itineraries for how the pieces fit together.
Unmissable
The sights you should not skip
Acropolis of Athens
Summer 08:00–20:00. South entrance at Dionysiou Areopagitou is often quieter (odysseus.culture.gr, Aug 2026).
Acropolis Museum
Closed Mondays. Summer 09:00–20:00 — pair with an early Acropolis visit (theacropolismuseum.gr, Aug 2026).
Ancient Agora
Classical marketplace below the Acropolis — best-preserved Doric temple in Greece (odysseus.culture.gr).
Panathenaic Stadium
All-marble 1896 Olympic stadium — run the track or climb upper tiers (panathenaicstadium.gr, Aug 2026).
National Archaeological Museum
Greece's largest collection — Mycenaean gold and the Antikythera mechanism (odysseus.culture.gr).
Plaka & Monastiraki
Neoclassical lanes, flea market and metro hub — walkable core, no ticket required.
Self-guided walks
Ready-made routes — no backtracking
Three loops from Syntagma and Monastiraki. Summer hours — check winter closing times locally.
What's on
Coming up in Athens
Every guide
The complete Athens guide index
Every page on this site, in the order you will need them.
See & Do
The sights that matter, with the hours and prices to plan around.
Eat & Drink
What to order, where to find it, and what it should cost.
Getting Around
Metro, buses, taxis and when you still need Piraeus for the islands.
Day Trips
Where to go, how long it takes, and how to get there without a car.
Areas
What each district is actually for, and how they join up on foot.
Events
Confirmed dates only — every entry links to the official source.
Essentials
The boring page you will be glad you read.
Itineraries
Routes built around walking distance, opening hours and meal times.
City Map
Every landmark, food stop and viewpoint, plus four self-guided walks.
Best Time to Visit
Weather, crowds and prices month by month.
Family Guide
Stroller routes, shade, playgrounds and the museums kids actually like.
Where to Stay
Pick the area first, the hotel second. Here is how the areas differ.
Nightlife
Where it happens, what time it starts, and how to get home.
Trip Cost
Real daily numbers for three travel styles, itemised.
Airport Transfer
Every way into town, with current fares and journey times.
Acropolis of Athens
Hours, tickets, what is actually inside, and when the light is best.
Saronic Islands (Hydra, Aegina, Poros)
Which part to choose, how to get there, and what a day costs.
Athens vs Thessaloniki
An honest comparison — including when Thessaloniki is the better call.
Ancient Ruins
What survives, what it cost to build, and what you can actually see.
Clubs & Stadiums
Who plays where, how to get a ticket, and what a matchday is like.
Islands
Routes, crossing times and how to book ferries properly.
Before you go
Numbers worth saving
- Emergency — 112
- Tourist police — 1571
- Single transit fare — €1.20
- Airport taxi — €40 (night €55)
- Currency — EUR (€)
- Dialling code — +30
Plan your trip
Athens travel questions
Is Athens worth visiting?
Yes — the Acropolis (€30), Ancient Agora (€10) and Acropolis Museum (€20) sit in a walkable core, and Piraeus ferries reach Hydra in about 90 minutes. ATH is 33 km from Syntagma (metro €9 or bus €5.50). Start with things to do and itineraries.
How many days do you need in Athens?
Two full days cover the Acropolis, Agora and one major museum. Three days add the National Archaeological Museum or a Cape Sounion half-day. Four days add Delphi or a Saronic island. Book Acropolis slots on hhticket.gr — May–October fills early.
How do I get from Athens airport to the centre?
Metro Line 3 costs €9 (~40 min to Syntagma), X95 express bus €5.50 (~60 min, 24h), or taxi €40 flat by day / €55 from 00:00–05:00 (aia.gr / oasa.gr, Aug 2026). Full guide: ATH airport transfer.
What are the best things to do in Athens?
Acropolis (€30), Acropolis Museum (€20), Ancient Agora (€10), Panathenaic Stadium (€10) and a walk through Plaka and Monastiraki. Details: See & Do.
What is the best time to visit Athens?
May–June and September–October: warm enough for the hill, fewer peak crowds than July–August. The Athens & Epidaurus Festival runs June–October (greekfestival.gr). Month-by-month: best time to visit.