3 days in Athens

Day by day

1. Day 1: Acropolis and Parthenon and Areopagus Hill

   Acropolis and Parthenon, Areopagus Hill and Acropolis Museum, then Psyrri in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Acropolis and Parthenon

      The rocky citadel above the city holds the Parthenon, completed in 438 BC for Athena, the Erechtheion with its Caryatid porch, the Propylaea gateway and the small Temple of Athena Nike.

   2. Late morning

      Areopagus Hill

      Use the metal staircase rather than the ancient rock-cut steps; the marble is polished and slippery, especially after rain.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Souvlaki and gyros

      Souvlaki counters on Mitropoleos Street at Monastiraki and neighbourhood grills (souvlatzidika) across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Acropolis Museum

      Bernard Tschumi's glass-and-concrete museum stands about 300 metres from the Acropolis over excavated ancient streets, visible through glass floors.

   5. Evening

      Psyrri

      Dense streets of bars, mezze places and live-music tavernas just north of Monastiraki, busy every night of the week.

2. Day 2: Panathenaic Stadium and National Archaeological Museum

   Panathenaic Stadium, National Archaeological Museum and Changing of the Guard at Syntagma, then Gazi in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Panathenaic Stadium

      The audio guide comes with the ticket; children love sprinting down the track, and the top rows give a view to the Acropolis.

   2. Late morning

      National Archaeological Museum

      Greece's largest archaeological museum runs from prehistory to Roman times: the gold Mask of Agamemnon from Mycenae, the bronze god from Cape Artemision, the Antikythera mechanism — an ancient geared astronomical calculator — and room after room of Cycladic figurines and painted vases.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Greek salad

      Every taverna; it is at its best in summer when tomatoes are in season.

   4. Afternoon

      Changing of the Guard at Syntagma

      Stand at the top of the steps on the square opposite for the clearest view, and arrive a few minutes before the hour.

   5. Evening

      Gazi

      Clubs and bars around the old gasworks, now the Technopolis cultural centre, with a younger crowd and late hours.

3. Day 3: Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus and Plaka and Anafiotika

   Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus, Plaka and Anafiotika and Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, then Kolonaki in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus

      The marketplace and civic heart of classical Athens, where Socrates taught, is now a shaded archaeological park.

   2. Late morning

      Plaka and Anafiotika

      Go early in the morning or around sunset, and keep voices down: Anafiotika's houses are still lived in.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Moussaka

      Traditional tavernas and mageiria, the cook-shops that display the day's trays at the counter.

   4. Afternoon

      Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch

      Fifteen of the original 104 Corinthian columns still stand from what was the largest temple in ancient Greece, finished under the emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD.

   5. Evening

      Kolonaki

      Smart cocktail bars and wine bars with a well-dressed local crowd around Haritos and Skoufa streets.

Before you go

• Acropolis and Parthenon: Entry is by timed ticket and morning slots sell out in high season; buy online from the official Hellenic Heritage e-ticket service.

If it rains

• Swap in Benaki Museum (Kolonaki): Combine it with the Museum of Cycladic Art, a few minutes' walk away along Vasilissis Sofias Avenue.
• Swap in Museum of Cycladic Art (Kolonaki): It is compact enough for an hour; start with the Cycladic gallery on the first floor.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Plaka keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Monastiraki and Psyrri ($$) suits nightlife, budget, food lovers and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–15 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.5 hours in December to 14.8 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Athens
• 2 days in Athens
• 4 days in Athens
• 5 days in Athens

Questions travellers ask