Plan the Perfect 3-Day Athens Itinerary in 2024

If you’re looking for a European city break that offers endless beauty, history, and culture, look no further than Athens.

This ancient city has something for everyone, from awe-inspiring ancient ruins to lively nightlife. And this ultimate 3-day Athens itinerary is the perfect way to see all of the sights and more in only 72 hours.

You’ll be able to explore ancient ruins, wander through the most stunning areas, and view some of the best views in the world. Not to mention, you’ll even get to experience some of the hidden gems in Athens and take awesome day trips from Athens.

So, if you’re looking for a jam-packed adventure, be sure to use this Athens itinerary as your map.

Let’s get started, I can’t wait to tell you the perfect Athens in 3 days itinerary!

3 Days in Athens Itinerary – Overview

• Day 1: The Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki
  • Explore the Acropolis Museum
  • Discover the Agoras and Hadrian’s Library
  • Have Lunch in Plaka
  • Spend the Afternoon in Monastikari
  • Enjoy the Sunset Views of the Acropolis
• Day 2: All Acropolis, All the Time
  • Head Over to the Acropolis
  • Aeropagus Hill
  • Philapappos Park
  • Lunch at Varvakeios Central Market
  • Take the Cable Car to Mount Lycabettus
  • Spend the Night in Psyrri
• Day 3: Take a Day Trip from Athens
  • OPTION 1 – The Meteora Monasteries
  • OPTION 2 – The islands of Aegina, Poros, and Hydra
  • OPTION 3 – Delphi
  • See the Sunset at Aeropagus Hill

Athens Itinerary Day 1: The Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki

Get ready for a deep dive into the world of Greek ancients. It is best to be prepared for the wealth of knowledge the ancient Greeks had and the heritage of incredible cuisine in Athens.

Before jumping into the details, make sure to prebook your tickets and tours – they sell super fast, especially during the peak season.

Also, if you are visiting the port of Piraeus on a cruise ship, you can easily cover these attractions in a day, which is a bonus.

Visit the Acropolis Museum

When spending 3 days in Athens, Greece, the Acropolis Museum, which houses more than 3000 famous artifacts is a must. Open from 9 am to 5 pm, the museum is located in the most significant sanctuary of the ancient city. Enjoy a diverse program of activities such as:

• Presentations of Museum conservators at work,
• Watching the famous Caryatid sculptures being cleaned delicately with lasers,
• 3D projections about the Acropolis in ancient times plus family-focused activities with backpack materials provided.

You can see everything from sculptures and pottery to jewelry and coins, all of which provide insight into the everyday lives of the ancient Greeks. The museum also has an excellent audio guide that gives you a comprehensive overview of the exhibits.

With its convenient location and informative displays, the Acropolis Museum is a must-visit and definitely a great start for your Athens itinerary. I highly recommend coming here before visiting the Acropolis to understand its history better.

You have 2 options: Visit the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis in one day or visit them separately in 2 days.

Since you have three days in Athens, I recommend coming here in the morning to avoid the crowds and doing the same for the Acropolis on day 2.

However, if you have limited time or prefer combining them both at once, it is definitely possible, and you’ll want to go with a tour guide to make the most of your time here and see the best view of the Acropolis. Check out the top-rated tour below.

---

Stop by the Temple of Olympian Zeus

After visiting the Acropolis, be sure to visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus, located only 5 minutes away from the Acropolis Museum. This incredible temple is one of the largest in Greece, and it’s steeped in history.

Built over 2,000 years ago, the temple was commissioned by Zeus himself (or so the legend goes). It took nearly 600 years to complete, and even today, it remains an impressive sight.

The temple is located just a short walk from the Acropolis, so you can easily combine both attractions into one day. When you’re done exploring the temple, be sure to grab a bite to eat at one of the nearby cafes.

All in all, when you have 3 days to spend in Athens, you just can’t skip the Temple of Olympian Zeus, as it’s one of the most impressive sites in town.

Ancient Agora and Hadrian’s Library

Discover the Roman Agora and Hadrian’s Library, and marvel at the awesome level of knowledge and education that existed 2000 years ago.

Built in 132 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian, the library had reading rooms and lecture halls dedicated to discussions on philosophy and the progress of ancient Greece.

The ancient agora of Athens was the center of public life in the city for centuries. Located to the northwest of the Acropolis, it was the site of many political, economic, and social activities.

The most notable structures in the agora were the stoa of Zeus Eleutherios, the tholos of Theseus, and the temple of Hephaestus.

In the 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian commissioned a library to be built near the agora. The library was one of the largest in the ancient world and housed over 200,000 scrolls.

It was destroyed by a fire in 267 AD but was later rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Although both the agora and the library are now in ruins, they remain an important part of Athens’ history.

I’ll be honest, it makes sense to visit them only if you join a tour. In fact, you’ll get to know all the stories that happened here in ancient times and only the expert guides know the smallest details.

Have Lunch in Plaka

Have Lunch in Plaka, a romantic and pristine part of Athens, which may be old, but still packs a vibey punch. As you walk through you can sniff out restaurants and cast your eyes on flashy jewelry stores and tourist shops.

A great place to eat out is Daphne’s Restaurant if you are a lover of seafood caught fresh and delicately prepared. The upscale restaurant has a great variety of options, such as seafood meze, plates of pasta, and ouzos served with fine wines.

For meat lovers, how about a feast at To Kafeneio with their Kessaria Pie, traditional Mezedes, delicious salads, and some more of the best Greek food in Athens?

If you are here during the weekend, know that it can get very festive, therefore, make sure look up the restaurants you want to try and book beforehand.

Also, don’t forget to try the Greek desserts while in Athens, from Galaktoboureko to Baklava to Halvas, they’ll surely satisfy your sweet tooth!

Spend the Afternoon in Monastiraki

After a delightful feast at Plaka, head to Monastiraki which literally means little monastery. Use a metro station or taxi to Monastiraki Square to get here. The Monastiraki train station is quite central as you will be able to get to other areas from it.

This grand bazaar of neat shops is a great place to find souvenirs that are handmade or commercially produced. If you are in this area over the weekend, it transforms into a flea market where you may find some antiques and eclectic pieces.

This place is great for artsy people who don’t mind the visual stimuli of artisans at work, trinkets shining under the Greek sun and religious icons dotted around the area.

Have Dinner at GB Roof Garden

With a menu that boasts contemporary Greek and Mediterranean cooking and an expansive list of local and international wines, GB Roof Garden is the perfect place for a night out in Athens. And it’s definitely one of the best rooftop bars in town.

What sets it apart even further is its location on the 8th floor of the luxurious Grande Bretagne hotel, with unparalleled views of Acropolis Hill, Syntagma Square, and Parliament.

While you can have lunch here, dinner is a totally different experience as the Acropolis gets illuminated at night and it will make by far the most romantic and impressive rooftop bar dinner you’ve ever had.

A word of caution – get ready to spend more than average, this stunning view comes with a cost, and you should be prepared to spend around 100 euros per person. If you ask me, that’s definitely worth it.

2nd Day in Athens: Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, and More

Architecture, site-seeing, religion, and mythology all wrapped in one day. Today, explore the Acropolis, Mount Lycabettus, and end the day in the most vibrant area of Athens.

With stunning views of the cityscape below, these spots are not to be missed on your visit to Athens! Plus, there are plenty of other great sights and activities in Athens waiting for you to discover them.

Start the Day at the Acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, and it is a must-see for any visitor to Athens. The site includes the remains of several ancient Greek buildings, including the Parthenon, the Propylaea, and the Erechtheion.

The Acropolis was built on a hilltop overlooking the city of Athens, and it served as a fortress and a sanctuary for the city’s residents. Today, the Acropolis is open to the public, and it offers stunning views of the city.

You can explore the ruins of the ancient buildings, or you enjoy the view from atop the hill.

The Acropolis is accessible and a great place to start your day as the ancient Greeks did some 2500 years ago. What is great is that the Acropolis is located right next to Areopagus hill and Filopappou hill. Have your hiking shoes on as you move comfortably from hill to hill.

I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance to be guaranteed a spot – Plus, tours start early in the morning, allowing you to avoid crowds.

Lunch at Varvakeios Central Market

Lunch at Varvakeios Central Market is a great place to recharge your batteries. There is a meat market, a fish market, and even an open-air fruit and vegetable market). 

Unique flavors and aromas abound here. You can find a variety of Greek cheeses, nuts, herbs, traditional sausages, portions of pasta, and much more. If you want to buy some cheese, salami, olives, and other delicacies, ask the merchants if you can taste the different varieties to help you make a decision on what you want.

The market opens early in the morning and closes around 6 pm, but the restaurants and cafés will still be open. What’s nice about this market is that you can either eat local, delicious food inside, or have a more sophisticated meal right outside.

Can you think of a better place to have lunch?

Take the Cable Car to Mount Lycabettus

Take the Cable Car to Mount Lycabettus to get to the highest point in Athens. See Athens from a height of 908 ft (277 meters) and visit the Chapel Agios Georgios (Chapel of st George).

The cable car is open every day from 9 am to 1:30 am at €10 per person for a roundtrip or €7 per person for a one-way trip.

The last stop of Day 2 of 3 in Athens is a night in Psyrri. However, if you like the views, you can stay here after sunset and have a delicious dinner at Orizontes Lycabettus restaurant. Highly recommended!

Spend the Night in Psirri

Spend the Night in Psirri and feel the eclectic energy all around you. The nightlife in Psyrri is easygoing and imaginative. Go to the famous alley Pittaki Street to see lamps and artifacts donated by citizens to give new light to the city.

The different light fixtures shine like no other. Find street art sprawled on the walls leading to bars and buzzing nightclubs.

The Little Kook tea house and To Koulouri Tou Psirri bakery are great places to grab a bite to eat. Alternatively, Lithos Tavern is a great place for a nice Greek dinner.

And to top it up, end the night at 7 Times Dance Club to see what the nightclubs in Greece are made of! That being said, don’t come back too late, the 3rd day is full of action!

Athens Itinerary Day 3: Take a Day Trip from Athens

Day three is filled with the luxury of choice. The luxury to choose one of the three options on what to dedicate your time to.

All three options appeal to the need to zoom into an interest of yours, be it, breathtaking monasteries, calm island life, or mysterious ancient ruins. Tours around either option are available for pre-booking, which is highly recommended.

Option One – The Meteora Monasteries

Meteora monasteries are known as the miracle of Greece. The name “Meteora” means suspended in the air and it describes the remarkable Greek Orthodox Monasteries perched on the steep hills.

Located in the town of Kalabaka, the spectacular landscape reveals the Byzantine monasteries that house priceless artifacts and wall paintings.

Meet the small number of monks who live there. Only six of the monasteries are active and they were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.

There are rare species of birds and flowers and as you approach the town of Kalabak you will see the picturesque village of Kastraki and a complex of giant sandstone pillars.

While you can get there on your own, the best way is to sign up for a day tour, and that’s a great to meet other travelers while learning lots from a guide, and that is priceless!

Option Two – The islands of Aegina, Poros, and Hydra

The three Saronic Islands on the Aegean sea are a nautical lover’s dream. The Islands scattered around offer extremely diverse activities to do, wildlife to see and memories to create.

To get to the Aegina, Poros, and Hydra islands, I recommend joining a day tour from Athens, which includes lunch, hotel transfers, and the sightseeing cruise, for the ultimate experience.

The Aegina Island has the temple of Aphaea, dedicated to a goddess of the same name who was associated with fertility and agriculture. This makes sense since ⅔ of the island is an extinct volcano, making its soils very futile especially North and West of the island.

Find pistachio, almond, fig, and olive trees dotted around and buy from the local market. You can find jars of butter, tinctures, chocolate bars, ice creams, and much more. 

The island of Poros is smaller and more mellow. It is definitely a break from the party atmosphere of mainland Greece. Check out the old clock tower and walk around till you get to the beach on the South side of the island.

The island of Hydra is clean and picturesque, with views of yachts owned by wealthy Athenians. Be prepared to meet lots of mules and donkeys as the island banned the use of cars and bicycles.

Take in the old-world charm of the island which has a calm color scheme and no modern architecture.

Option Three – Delphi

Joining a guided day trip to Delphi is the perfect way to explore the stunning scenery and the city’s ancient history. The ancient Greek ruins of Delphi have an otherworldly grace in a stunning natural setting between two craggy peaks of Mount Parnassus. An oracle offered guidance and prophecies in this famed location during the ancient Greek period.

Start your day at the Temple of Apollo, one of the most well-preserved ancient sites from classical Greece. Then explore the Delphi Archaeological Museum, where you can see artifacts from the city’s long history.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Delphi’s Archaeological Site, is one of the most significant Greek religious sites from the 6th century BC. Pilgrims traveled to Delphi to hear the oracle of Apollo (a prophetess who was said to channel the words of Apollo) speak at its Temple of Apollo.

Delphi is a unique site to behold, and you will certainly not regret spending the day here. That being said, it’s a 2.5-hour trip from Athens and I recommend booking a tour from Athens.

Besides learning everything about Delphi, the driver will go through the most beautiful scenery, the village of Arachova, and you’ll have incredible memories to take back home.

See the Sunset at Aeropagus Hill

Areopagus Hill is just as historic as Acropolis hill. Historians state that the Areopagus was the location of the supreme court for ancient Athens for homicide in the 7th or 8th century BC. Later in Roman times, it was used for religious and administrative purposes.

In 51 AD the Apostle Paul visited Greece and today you can see a bronze plaque with his words written in Koine Greek on his sermon about the one true God.

It offers just as good a view of the city with the ancient Citadel and the Athenian Agora on site. The hill is free to visit and is open 24/7. You can also opt for a guided tour.

If you visit on the 3rd of October expect to see religious ceremonies and festivities celebrating St Dionysius, the city’s patron saint. The most convenient metro stations to use are the Acropolis and Thissio stations. Using a taxi is also viable.

Travel Tips for 3 Days in Athens

When you stay in Athens in 3 days, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the most of it – for transportation, to save money, and to make the most of it. Let me tell you everything you need when taking a trip to Athens.

Get the Hop On Hop Off Bus

While it’s definitely possible to spend 3 days in Athens on your own, there’s no need to make things harder than they have to be. That’s why I recommend getting the Hop On Hop Off bus.

Not only will this save you time and energy, but it will also give you a chance to sit back and relax while taking in the different sights.

Plus, you’ll get an up-close and personal look at all the major attractions, which is very nice when you have limited time in the city.

Book Your Tickets in Advance

3 days in Athens isn’t much, despite giving you enough time to see the main attractions. And for this reason, you will want to buy tickets online for the main attractions.

The lines can get very long, and it’s not worth spending hours in line when you could be enjoying the city. Second, be prepared for the crowds. Athens is a popular destination, and some attractions often refuse guests as no spots are left.

So when planning your Athens itinerary, always book your tickets and day tours in advance. I recommend getting this pass, which covers not only the Acropolis but also 6 other archaeological sites, which is convenient and cheaper as a whole.

Get to the Acropolis Early

That’s right, go to Acropolis early as it gets crowded quickly, and you’ll want to be able to enjoy the atmosphere without being jostled by the crowds.

That’s for this reason that tours leave early as the Acropolis gets crowded very quickly.

Get Outside of Athens

Athens is a beautiful city, but it can be quite crowded and touristy. If you want to escape the crowds and experience some of the best the region offers, I recommend getting outside of Athens.

Delphi, Meteora and the islands of Aegina, Poros, and Hydra are lovely places that are worth a visit. With its dramatic coastline and rich history, taking a day trip from Athens is a perfect idea to relax and enjoy the Greek countryside.

So when spending 3 days in Athens, be sure to venture outside the city limits and explore. You won’t be disappointed!

3-Day Athens Itinerary – FAQs

Now that you know what to do in Athens for 3 days, let’s go through some questions that first-timers have and that you may find helpful too.

How to Get Around Athens?

There are multiple ways to get around Athens. You can walk around to sites that are in close proximity to each other. Buses are very convenient and a cheap way to get around. The metro is very popular however can be very crowded and pickpockets lurk about.

The tram, public buses, and taxis are also great ways to get around, however, taxis and buses are not the best at peak hours due to traffic jams.

What is the Best Time to Visit Athens?

March and May, as well as September and November, are the best months for visiting Athens. The weather in the spring and autumn is pleasant, and you’re almost guaranteed to have nice weather.

Of course, that there are fewer tourists and cheaper prices compared to the summer months.

Where to Stay in Athens?

Apart from knowing how to plan your 3 days in Athens, you should also know the accommodation options. These are the best properties for each budget, from a boutique hotel to more affordable options.

Luxury: Hotel Lozenge

In Athens’ upscale Kolonaki area, Hotel Lozenge offers modern, air-conditioned rooms and suites with free WiFi, balconies, and a coffee machine. It features a Mediterranean bar-restaurant and is a short walk from the city center and other restaurants and bars.

Amenities include a 24-hour front desk and airport transfers (extra charge). It’s near Zappion National Garden and Kolonaki Square, with Elefthérios Venizélos Airport 38 km away.

Mid-Range: Arethusa Hotel

Arethusa Hotel, next to Athens’ Old Town and 50 meters from Syntagma Metro, provides air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi, TV, and fridge. It offers an American breakfast buffet, a bar, and a roof garden with Acropolis views.

The 24-hour front desk assists with car rentals and local information. Near Ermou Street’s shops, it’s a 15-minute walk to the Acropolis.

Budget: Elikon

Elikon in central Athens is just a 3-minute walk from Omonoia Metro Station, close to shops and restaurants. It offers simple, balcony-equipped rooms with free WiFi, TV, and wardrobe.

Early check-in and late check-out facility for shower and toilet use is available. Near the National Archaeological Museum, Syntagma Square, Acropolis Hill, and Ermou shopping street. Private parking is available nearby at an extra charge.

Conclusion – Athens Itinerary 3 Days

Athens City is a glorious city filled with architectural wonder and bustling with people and exotic foods, artifacts, and incredible weather. Try to have fun and enjoy yourself as you use our itinerary.

I hope this 3-day Athens itinerary has given you some ideas for your own trip! Whether you want to hit all the highlights or take it easy and just enjoy the city, Athens has something for everyone.

And don’t forget to try some of the delicious food while you’re here – Greece is known for its great Mediterranean cuisine!