Most visitors give Athens a day and a half between islands, and most visitors are wrong. Five days lets you climb the sacred rock before the coaches arrive, wander an ancient marketplace where the best preserved Greek temple anywhere still stands, eat your way through a working meat market, swim off the Riviera, and still keep an evening free for a rooftop with the Parthenon glowing above the rooftops. Here is how to spend them. For seasonal planning, see our guide to the best time to visit Greece, and if this is your first trip, start with first time in Greece.
Itinerary at a glance
| Day | Area | Signature experience |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acropolis and Plaka | The rock at opening, then the Acropolis Museum in daylight |
| 2 | Ancient and Roman Agora | The Temple of Hephaestus, standing almost intact |
| 3 | Museums and neighbourhoods | The National Archaeological Museum and Varvakios market |
| 4 | Athens Riviera and Sounion | The Temple of Poseidon at sunset |
| 5 | Day trip | Delphi, or Nafplio and Mycenae, or the islands by boat |
Day 1: The Acropolis and Plaka
Be at the Acropolis gate when it opens, ideally first thing, before the heat and the tour groups. Wear proper shoes: the marble underfoot is worn smooth and slippery. A combined archaeological ticket that covers several sites costs somewhere in the region of 30 euros in high season, less in winter, but confirm current pricing at the official ticket office before you go. Afterwards, walk the pedestrian promenade around the base of the rock, one of the loveliest strolls in the city, then descend to the Acropolis Museum, where the Parthenon marbles are displayed in natural daylight on the top floor.
Lunch in Plaka calls for a classic taverna and, for dessert, loukoumades, warm honey dough balls dusted with cinnamon (they contain dairy and honey). For something more considered nearby in Thisio, Makris Athens does modern Greek plates, or grab a relaxed bite at Ergon House Agora near Syntagma. Wow moment of the day: slip up into Anafiotika, the tiny whitewashed island village hidden on the north slope of the Acropolis, built by Cycladic stonemasons in the nineteenth century and easy to miss entirely. Optional guided tour: a licensed guide for the Acropolis genuinely earns their fee here, decoding what is otherwise a field of columns. Finish with a first rooftop cocktail at 360 Cocktail Bar or A for Athens, both facing the lit rock. More options in our Athens nightlife guide.
Day 2: Ancient and Roman Athens
Spend the morning in the Ancient Agora, the civic heart of classical Athens. Wow moment of the day, and the reason to come: the Temple of Hephaestus, the most completely preserved ancient Greek temple standing anywhere, quietly intact a few minutes from a Parthenon that draws a hundred times the crowd. From here it is a short walk to the Library of Hadrian and the Roman Agora with its Tower of the Winds.
Monastiraki is souvlaki country: expect to pay only a few euros for a wrapped skewer (pork is standard, chicken is widely available, and vegetarian gyros with halloumi or mushrooms turns up too). Then take a coffee in a Psyrri courtyard, or settle in for a proper meal at Klimataria or Taverna Manari, both in Psyrri. For cured meats and pastourma with real character, Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani is a short stroll away. Optional guided tour: a small group ancient Athens walk stitches the Agora, library and Roman market into one story.
Day 3: Museums and neighbourhoods
The National Archaeological Museum deserves half a day on its own: the Mask of Agamemnon, the bronze jockey, the Antikythera mechanism. Entry runs roughly 12 euros, less off season, but confirm on arrival. Afterwards wander the cafe culture of Exarchia (Taf Coffee, Coffee Brewers) or the low key charm of Koukaki.
For lunch, dive into the Varvakios central market, a loud, brilliant hall of butchers and fishmongers. Wow moment of the day: Diporto, a near hidden cellar taverna beneath the market with no sign, no menu and a handful of dishes cooked that morning, a genuine Athens institution. Nearby, Lefteris o Politis is a beloved spot for gyros. A vegetarian mezze lunch is easy to assemble here from gigantes beans, dolmades and grilled vegetables.
Day 4: The Athens Riviera and Cape Sounion
Head for the coast. The tram runs down the Riviera towards Glyfada and Vouliagmeni, where you can swim in the sea or in the warm, spring fed Vouliagmeni Lake (a small entrance fee applies, and swimming is supervised in designated areas: follow the signs). Alternatively, drive or take a coach out to Cape Sounion, southeast of the city, for the Temple of Poseidon at sunset. Wow moment of the day: find Lord Byron’s name carved into the temple marble, left by the poet in 1810.
For a seafood lunch or dinner, Varoulko Seaside in Piraeus is a standout for refined Greek fish cookery, while Ristorante Atlantikos in the centre is a lively, well loved seafood table. Note that shellfish and raw sea urchin feature on Greek fish menus, so ask if that matters to you. Optional guided tour: a late afternoon Sounion sunset trip handles the timing so you arrive as the light softens.
Day 5: Day trip out of the city
Pick one. Delphi, the mountain sanctuary of the oracle, is spectacular and doable in a long day. Or head into the Peloponnese for Nafplio, around two hours away by car or bus, with the Palamidi fortress above the town and Ancient Mycenae about forty minutes further inland. Or take a boat to Aegina and Hydra, the car free island of stone mansions and donkeys. See more ideas in day trips from Athens.
Start early with coffee at Ciel Athens, and book dinner back in town on your return: Taverna Virinis in Pangrati is a warm neighbourhood classic, or Spondi for a special final night. Optional guided tour: for Delphi and Mycenae a guided day trip removes all the logistics. Honest note: the boat option to Aegina and Hydra depends on the weather, and sailings can be cancelled in strong winds, so keep it flexible.
Practical tips
- When to go: spring and autumn are ideal. July and August are hot, so do outdoor sites early. See best time to visit Greece.
- Getting in from the airport: read Athens airport transfers for your options.
- Tickets and hours: prices and opening hours change often, so confirm the combined archaeological ticket, museum entry and site hours with the official sources before each visit.
- Food: browse our Greek food guide and our Athens restaurants picks. Vegetarian and vegan eating is easy across the city; flag gluten and shellfish needs when you order.
- Coast safety: swim in supervised areas, respect flags, and at Sounion mind the low walls near the cliff edge.
- If Athens is one leg of a longer trip: our ten days in Greece plan opens with two days here and then carries on into the Cyclades by ferry, which is the shape most first trips take.