Since Greece is packed with picturesque places to discover, you will probably only want to spend a few days in its capital. This is why we have created this 48-hour itinerary of Athens.<div></div><div>We have written this circuit imagining you arrive in Athens on Friday afternoon and depart on Sunday evening. If you plan to visit the city another day of the week, we suggest you check the opening times of the various sights in case these vary.</div><div>Since the opening hours differ greatly between summer and winter, we have used the winter timetables, so you don't find any of the landmarks closed.</div><div></div>

<p>Athens, the capital of Greece, is a city with a rich history and culture. Visitors can explore the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Temple of Poseidon, or relax on one of the many beaches along the Aegean Sea. Sample the country's delicious cuisine, from moussaka to souvlaki, and enjoy a night out in one of Athens' many lively tavernas and bars.</p><p>Athens is a great place to learn about Greek history and culture. The Acropolis is a must-see for any visitor, and the Parthenon is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Visitors can also explore the Temple of Poseidon, the Agora, and the National Archaeological Museum.</p>

Athens

Once you drop off your luggage at your hotel, we recommend you spend the rest of the evening going for a walk in Plaka and Monastiraki, the most charming and traditional areas in Athens.

The best starting point is Monastiraki Square, a plaza in the historic center of Athens and hub of Athenian life. From there, stroll down Ermou Street to Syntagma Square, which is home to the Hellenic Parliament. Then take Adrianou Street. The west of Adrianou is full of fantastic restaurants with views of the Acropolis, and the east part of the street is home to dozens of souvenir shops.

If you want to discover the city’s nightlife, we recommend two neighborhoods in downtown Athens: Thiseio, a traditional neighborhood with trendy bars to the west of Adrianou Street (climbing up the steps), and Psiri, considered the nightlife district of the capital with hundreds of bars, clubs and cafés.

Arrival day

Acropolis of Athens

Plaka

Anafiotika

Theatre of Dionysus

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Ancient Agora of Athens

Hadrian's Library

Roman Forum of Athens (Roman Agora)

Acropolis Museum

Plateia Syntagmatos

Kolonaki

Mount Lycabettus

The first stop of day two is the Hellenic Parliament, near Syntagma Square. You will see the Changing of the Guard in front of the Greek Parliament at 11am.

After admiring this popular tourist ceremony take Panepistimiou Street until you get to Omonia Square. Panepistimiou is flanked by beautiful buildings like the National Library.

Turn off on Patision Street to the National Archaeological Museum, the second most important museum of Athens. The visit to this gallery is a must!

At the exit of the museum, take the metro, a taxi or stroll to the next stop which is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, near the Acropolis metro station.

Then, continue down Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas until you get to the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were celebrated. The audio tour is quite interesting and explains the history of this world-famous sports competition.

Next, head to the National Garden, a great place to rest and switch off from the busy streets of Athens. Take the northeast exit and you’ll find yourself in Syntagma Square.

If your flight departs in the afternoon, you probably won’t have time to do anything else. We recommend you find a restaurant in Syntagma Square and its surroundings.

Hellenic Parliament

Omonoia, Athens

National Archaeological Museum

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Panathenaic Stadium

National Garden

On the first full day in Athens, we suggest you first visit the striking Acropolis, the world-famous complex located on a rocky hill. The best way to do this is to head to the lively Plaka district and wander up the steep and narrow streets of Anafiotika, a small and picturesque neighborhood. This district does not have many direction signts to the "upper city", so you might have to ask the locals. For this visit, we recommend you get up early to avoid the crowds of tourists, and this way, you will also make the most of your weekend in this fascinating and chaotic city.

The Acropolis is home to several striking ancient Greek monuments, including the majestic Parthenon, the large Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the beautifully preserved Temple of Athena Nike. Once you have explored all these sights, walk down the southern side of the outcrop to discover the Theatre of Dionysus, erected in the sixth century BC. It could seat up to 17,000 spectators.

Circle the Acropolis to get to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and then down to Thiseio, on one extreme of Adrianou Street. Walk down this street until you come upon the Ancient Agora, one of the most famous ancient Greek agoras. The most impressive buildings in the Agora are the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos.

Continue by foot down Adrianou Street until you get to Hadrian’s Library, created in AD 132 and once a beautiful bibliotheca. Nowadays, there is practically nothing left of the ruins.

Very close to this landmark is the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds. This ancient spire once combined a sundial and water clock. In the sixth century, it was transformed into a church and for this reason, is magnificently preserved.

By this stage, it will probably be time for lunch. Monastiraki and Plaka are some of the best areas to taste the mouthwatering Greek cuisine. You will also find numerous fast-food joints.

After topping up your energy level, the next stop is the Acropolis Museum. From your restaurant, find your way back to Adrianou Street (head east) until the end of the boulevard. Advance on Vyronos Street, pass by the Theatre of Dionysus until you locate the museum.

Once you tour the most-visited museum of Athens, we suggest you spend the rest of the afternoon meandering the streets of Athens to get a feel of the city. We recommend exploring Ermou Street from Monastiraki (walking back down Adrianou street) till you get to Syntagma Square.

Stadiou Street and Panepistimiou Street are two popular shopping streets that branch out of Syntagma Square. If you want to discover the city’s high-end boutiques, then explore Voukourestiou Street that leads to Kolonaki, the classiest neighborhood in Athens.

After a bit of shopping, head to Mount Lycabettus and have a drink in one of the numerous panoramic terraces. This hill is 300 meters above sea level and offers the best views of the capital. This attraction is extremely enjoyable both by day and by night, and you can either walk up or take the funicular.

The best areas to head to for dinner from Kolonaki are Plaka and Monastiraki.

2-Day Athens Itinerary

2-Day Athens Itinerary

Bookable Tours and Experiences - Athens

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