History · Athens · Greece
8 historic sites to see in Athens
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: George E. Koronaios, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Acropolis and Parthenon, Acropolis Museum and Panathenaic Stadium. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 11–13 hours across 8 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 11–13 hours
- Areas
- Acropolis, Makrygianni and Pangrati
Historic sites in Athens
Historic site · Acropolis
1.Acropolis and Parthenon
Restoration work and scaffolding are a permanent part of the site, and the marble paths are polished smooth, so wear shoes with grip.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Museum · Makrygianni
2.Acropolis Museum
The top-floor Parthenon Gallery lays out the surviving frieze in the same orientation as the temple, with plaster casts marking the pieces held in London, and five of the original Caryatids stand together on the first floor.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
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Landmark · Pangrati
3.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Iconic
- Active
Museum · Patission Street
4.National Archaeological Museum
It is a 15-minute walk north of Omonia.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Experience · Syntagma
5.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.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Iconic
- History
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Historic site · Thiseio
6.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.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Kids
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Historic site · Olympieion
7.Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch
Hadrian's Arch, beside the busy avenue, marked the boundary between the old city and Hadrian's new quarter.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Koukaki
8.Philopappos Hill
Stone paths laid out by architect Dimitris Pikionis in the 1950s lead past the little church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris and the Pnyx, where the ancient assembly met.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Acropolis | Acropolis and Parthenon | 2–3 hours |
| Makrygianni | Acropolis Museum | 2 hours |
| Pangrati | Panathenaic Stadium | 1 hour |
| Patission Street | National Archaeological Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Syntagma | Changing of the Guard at Syntagma | 20 minutes |
| Thiseio | Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus | 1.5–2 hours |
| Olympieion | Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch | 45 minutes |
| Koukaki | Philopappos Hill | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 3 low cost, 3 mid-priced. Book ahead for Acropolis and Parthenon. The longest visit is Acropolis and Parthenon; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- 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.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Acropolis and Makrygianni): Acropolis and Parthenon → Acropolis Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Pangrati, Patission Street and Syntagma): Panathenaic Stadium → National Archaeological Museum → Changing of the Guard at Syntagma, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Thiseio, Olympieion and Koukaki): Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus → Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch → Philopappos Hill, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 14°C (57°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool but often sunny; almond trees blossom and the archaeological sites are at their quietest.
- November: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild, with the first autumn rains; a good month for museums and low hotel prices.
- January: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild and sometimes rainy, with crisp, clear days that are ideal for walking the ruins without crowds.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Koukaki and Makrygianni — Residential streets with cafés beside the Acropolis Museum
- Syntagma — Parliament, the National Garden and the main transport hub
- Pangrati — Local squares and tavernas behind the Panathenaic Stadium
- Thiseio — A pedestrian promenade with Acropolis views and an open-air cinema
More of Athens
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Athens?
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.
+Which of these are free in Athens?
Changing of the Guard at Syntagma and Philopappos Hill.