4 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

      Allow 2–3 hours (mid-priced). Enter at opening or in the last two hours of the day; in summer the midday heat on the exposed rock is intense and there is almost no shade.

   2. Late morning

      Areopagus Hill

      It gives a close view of the Acropolis walls and across the Ancient Agora, and it costs nothing to climb.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Souvlaki and gyros

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

   4. Afternoon

      Acropolis Museum

      Allow 2 hours (mid-priced). Visit after the Acropolis, when you can match the sculptures to the places you have just seen, and have a drink on the café terrace facing the Parthenon.

   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

      You can walk or run the track, sit in the royal seats and see a small exhibition of Olympic torches and posters. It is still the finish line of the Athens Marathon.

   2. Late morning

      National Archaeological Museum

      Allow 2–3 hours (mid-priced). Allow half a day, or focus on the Mycenaean hall, the bronzes and the Antikythera gallery if time is short.

   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

      The guard changes every hour in a slow, high-stepping ceremony, and a larger ceremony with a band takes place on Sunday mornings.

   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: National Garden and Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus

   National Garden, Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus and Plaka and Anafiotika, then Kolonaki in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Garden

      Allow 45 minutes (free). Use it as a shady route between Syntagma and the Panathenaic Stadium on hot afternoons.

   2. Late morning

      Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus

      The Doric Temple of Hephaestus on its western hill is one of the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere, and the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos houses a museum of everyday finds, from voting shards to a child's potty.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Moussaka

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

   4. Afternoon

      Plaka and Anafiotika

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). Go early in the morning or around sunset, and keep voices down: Anafiotika's houses are still lived in.

   5. Evening

      Kolonaki

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to Cape Sounion

   About 1.5–2 hours by coastal bus each way. Getting there: KTEL bus from central Athens, tour or hire car.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Cape Sounion

      About 1.5–2 hours by coastal bus (KTEL bus from central Athens, tour or hire car); about 70 km.

   2. Day

      Cape Sounion

      The marble Temple of Poseidon stands on a cliff at the southern tip of Attica, where Lord Byron carved his name into a column. The coast road down from Athens passes the Riviera beaches, and sunset over the Aegean from the temple is the main draw.

   3. Evening

      Back in Athens

      Dinner: try Koulouri.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Acropolis and Parthenon before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 4 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
• 3 days in Athens
• 5 days in Athens

Questions travellers ask