Acropolis of Athens
2 h 30All ages, no pushchair
The Parthenon, the Erechtheion and Athena Nike on the rock above Athens: a €30 ticket with a date and time, bought at hhticket.gr.
From €30
Book
From the airportMetro, train or X95 bus
Transport90-minute ticket · €1.20
AcropolisTimed entry
Best timeMar–May · Oct–Nov
Minimum time2 days
Overall difficultyEasy
In July and August, no ruins at midday. In heatwaves it goes above 38 °C. Go to the Acropolis at opening time, keep the museum for the middle hours and go out again at sunset.
What to do
What to do in Athens
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Acropolis Museum
2 hAll ages
The Parthenon sculptures and the caryatids next to Akropoli station, with an ancient neighbourhood beneath the glass floor. €20 admission.
From €20
How to do it
Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus
1 h 30All ages
The public square of classical Athens, with the Temple of Hephaestus and the museum in the Stoa of Attalos, in the shade next to Monastiraki.
From €20
How to do it
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Getaways from Athens
Plan the trip
Athens, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Athens
In spring and in October and November: pleasant walking temperatures and the Acropolis without the crush. In July and August it goes above 35 °C at midday and it is best to see the ruins at opening time. In winter it rains on some days, but the museums and ruins stay open.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Athens your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
The natural way to see Athens
Everything essential fits into a walk from Plaka, and the metro takes you to the airport, the port and the Archaeological Museum. A car just gets in the way.
90–150 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepPlaka and Makrygianni, at the…
- Getting aroundOn foot between the Acropolis…
- EatMezedes and cured meats next…
- ServicesMetro line 3 or X95…
Sleep
- Plaka and Makrygianni, at the foot of the Acropolis
- Hotels with rooftops and views, such as the Plaka Hotel or the Herodion
Getting around
- On foot between the Acropolis, the Agora, Plaka and Syntagma
- Metro with a contactless card: cap of €4.10 a day
- Line 1 to Piraeus to carry on by ferry
Eat
- Mezedes and cured meats next to the central market
- Loukoumades as an afternoon snack in Agia Irini
Services
- Metro line 3 or X95 bus from the airport
- 3-day tourist ticket with return to the airport, €20
A hostel in Psirri and the city on foot
Athens is cheap if you get around on foot and by metro and eat on the go. What costs money is the tickets: choose the sites carefully.
40–60 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepCity Circus, in Psirri, with…
- Getting aroundX95 bus from the airport…
- EatSouvlaki and pitas in Monastiraki
- FreeSunset on Filopappou Hill
Sleep
- City Circus, in Psirri, with bunks and a rooftop
- Athens Backpackers, in Makrygianni, at the foot of the Acropolis
Getting around
- X95 bus from the airport, €5.50
- 5-day ticket for €8.10
Eat
- Souvlaki and pitas in Monastiraki
- Loukoumades at Lukumades, for little money
Free
- Sunset on Filopappou Hill
- Changing of the guard at Syntagma, every hour
- National Garden, in the shade
Rooftops with the Parthenon in front of you
Luxury in Athens is sleeping and dining looking at the illuminated Acropolis, and having someone take you to the port or to Sounion.
300–600 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepElectra Palace, in Plaka, with…
- Getting aroundFixed-fare taxi from the airport…
- EatSpondi, Michelin-starred, in Pagrati
- ExtrasThree-hour Greek cooking class
Sleep
- Electra Palace, in Plaka, with a pool facing the rock
- Electra Metropolis, next to Syntagma
Getting around
- Fixed-fare taxi from the airport: €40, €55 at night
- Chauffeur to Sounion at sunset
Eat
- Spondi, Michelin-starred, in Pagrati
- Dinner on the Electra Roof Garden rooftop
Extras
- Three-hour Greek cooking class
- Private transfer to the port of Piraeus
Direct flight to Athens and the metro to the centre
Athens is Greece's gateway from Spain: there are direct flights all year from Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga, and in season from other cities. Eleftherios Venizelos airport is about 30 km from the centre, and the metro, the express bus and the fixed-fare taxi leave you at Syntagma or Monastiraki without needing a car. If you then continue to the islands, Piraeus and Rafina are one metro or bus ride away.
- ArrivingAthens airport (ATH), with direct…
- Getting aroundOn foot and by metro…
- Where to sleepElectra Metropolis, beside Syntagma, where…
- ServicesAirport to centre: metro, X95…
Arriving
- Athens airport (ATH), with direct flights from Spain all year
- Metro line 3, the blue one, to Syntagma and Monastiraki
- Express bus X95 to Syntagma, 24 hours, and X96 to Piraeus
Getting around
- On foot and by metro in the centre: you do not need a car
- Hire car only to leave, to Sounion or the Peloponnese, collected on the last day at the airport
- Fixed-fare taxi if you arrive at night or loaded with luggage
Where to sleep
- Electra Metropolis, beside Syntagma, where the X95 stops
- Plaka or Makrygianni, at the foot of the Acropolis, for the first morning
Services
- Airport to centre: metro, X95 and taxi
- Private transfer if you arrive late or with children
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Athens for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Ruins in the morning, park in the afternoon
With small children, Athens works in short doses: a visit in the cool, shade at midday and a stroll at sunset. Children under 6 travel free on the metro and bus.
- What works bestThe Acropolis Museum, with a…
- SleepHotels in Plaka with connecting…
- EatLoukoumades as an afternoon snack
- Bear in mindAt the Acropolis, a baby…
What works best
- The Acropolis Museum, with a glass floor and no problem for pushchairs
- The changing of the Evzones, every hour on the hour
- The National Garden, with ducks, swings and shade
Sleep
- Hotels in Plaka with connecting rooms
- Near a metro station, to get back for the nap
Eat
- Loukoumades as an afternoon snack
- Plaka tavernas with a pedestrian terrace
Bear in mind
- At the Acropolis, a baby carrier: there are steps and the marble is slippery
- In summer, nothing outdoors between 12:00 and 17:00
- Water and a hat for everyone: there is no shade on the rock
What to do with young children
The history of the books, on foot
The pieces that appear in textbooks are less than 2 km from each other. With children of different ages it works to alternate open-air ruins and an air-conditioned museum.
- What works bestThe Acropolis in the first…
- SleepPlaka Hotel, with two connecting…
- EatMezedes to share next to…
- Bear in mindBuy your timed Acropolis ticket…
What works best
- The Acropolis in the first slot of the morning
- The Agora, with trees and the Temple of Hephaestus intact
- Sounion at sunset, as a mid-afternoon excursion
- A cooking class where everyone makes their own pita
Sleep
- Plaka Hotel, with two connecting rooms for four
- Hotels with a pool if you go in July or August
Eat
- Mezedes to share next to the central market
- Loukoumades for dessert
Bear in mind
- Buy your timed Acropolis ticket before you go
- Shoes with grip for the marble
- The 3-day ticket with airport is worth it if you arrive by metro
What to do as a family
From the Parthenon to the Mask of Agamemnon
A teenager likes the Acropolis more if they have first seen a film or a comic about myths. Athens also gives them a little independence: the metro is easy and the centre is pedestrian.
- What works bestThe National Archaeological Museum: the…
- SleepCity Circus, with private rooms…
- EatPastirma and soutzouki at Karamanlidika
- Bear in mindThey can't stand more than…
What works best
- The National Archaeological Museum: the Mask of Agamemnon and the Artemision Jockey
- Going up Filopappou at sunset and coming down through Plaka
- The cooking class: making gyros does interest them
- The Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, above the sea
Sleep
- City Circus, with private rooms for four
- Hotels with a rooftop in Plaka
Eat
- Pastirma and soutzouki at Karamanlidika
- Loukoumades with ice cream
Bear in mind
- They can't stand more than two hours in a row of museum
- A contactless card belonging to an adult can't be used by them: each needs their own
- In August, the midday heat ruins any plan
What to do with teenagers
Athens with Friends: Cooking Class, Sunsets and Meze
Athens splits well for a group: the rock and the museums in the morning, a pine-covered hill with the Parthenon in front of you in the afternoon and a table full of small plates at night. Two things make it different from other capitals: a cooking class where everyone cooks and the trip to the Temple of Sounion at sunset.
- What works bestAcropolis
- Where to sleepAthens Backpackers
- Where to eatFanis' Karamanlidika
- Keep in mindThe Acropolis is visited with…
What works best
- Acropolis: general ticket of €30 with a day and time, bought at hhticket.gr.
- Greek cooking class: three hours with Alternative Athens, at 10:30 or 17:30, for €95 per person; then you eat what you have cooked at the table.
- Philopappos Hill: a 20-minute climb along the Pikionis paths and the Parthenon in front of you at sunset; free.
- Cape Sounion: the Temple of Poseidon above the cliff, a good hour from Athens along the coast, best at sunset.
- Acropolis Museum: €20 next to Akropoli station, with an ancient neighbourhood beneath the glass floor.
- Ancient Agora: €20 per adult, with the Temple of Hephaestus in the shade, next to Monastiraki.
Where to sleep
- Athens Backpackers: veteran hostel in Makrygianni, between the Acropolis Museum and Plaka.
- City Circus Athens: in Psirri, with dormitories of 4, 6 and 8 beds, private rooms for two to four people and a rooftop open from 7:00 to 23:30.
- Plaka Hotel: hotel in Plaka for those who prefer their own rooms.
Where to eat
- Fanis' Karamanlidika: meze and cured meats beside the central market, from 12:00 to 23:00 and closed on Sundays.
- Lukumades: Greek doughnuts with honey and cinnamon, five minutes from Monastiraki.
- Electra Roof Garden: dinners from 19:00 with the rock lit up; booking is required on 210 337 0000.
Keep in mind
- The Acropolis is visited with a day and time: buy all in the same slot.
- Karamanlidika is closed on Sundays; leave another dinner for that day.
- The cooking workshop has two fixed times a day: book it before you arrive.
What to do with friends
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carif you're backpackingin styleif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
City Circus Athens Hostel
Why we like it: At 16 Sarri, in Psirri, 300 m from Thissio and Monastiraki metro. It has dormitories of 4, 6 and 8 beds and private rooms for two to four people, and a rooftop open from 7:00 to…
Athens Backpackers
Why we like it: A long-established hostel in the Makrygianni district, between the Acropolis Museum and Plaka: at the foot of the rock to catch the first slot of the morning.
Plaka Hotel Athens
Why we like it: On the corner of Kapnikareas and Mitropoleos, between Monastiraki and Syntagma. For families it has two connecting rooms for four, and the rooftop terrace looks onto the Acropolis.
Herodion Hotel
Why we like it: At 4 Rovertou Galli Street, 100 m from the Acropolis Museum. The rooftop has olive trees, two hot tubs and the rock opposite.
Electra Palace Athens
Why we like it: A five-star neoclassical building on Nikodimou Street, in Plaka. It has a seasonal outdoor pool with the Acropolis as a backdrop, an indoor pool all year and a rooftop restaurant.
Electra Metropolis Athens
Why we like it: Five stars and 216 rooms at the start of Mitropoleos Street, a few steps from Syntagma, with a rooftop garden facing the Acropolis.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Athens
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Lukumades
What to order: loukoumades with honey and cinnamon, or filled and with ice cream on the side.
For an afternoon snack or a dessert on the go
Fanis' Karamanlidika
What to order: mezedes from Karamanli cooking and the house's cured meats, with a tsipouro or an ouzo.
Delicatessen and meze house in one · 1 Sokratous · from 12:00 to 23:00, closed on Sundays
Electra Roof Garden
What to order: creative Mediterranean cooking on the rooftop, with the Acropolis in front of you at dinner time.
On the roof of the Electra Palace hotel, Nikodimou Street · lunch from 13:00 to 17:00 and dinner from 19:00 to 00:00 · book on 210 337 0000
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Athens
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Pay with your card at the turnstile
The metro and bus accept contactless Visa and Mastercard, and you never pay more than €4.10 a day. Each person needs their own card.
- 2Combine the Acropolis and its museum in the same morning
They are 400 m apart on foot. The rock first, in the cool, then the museum, with air conditioning.
- 3Look at the Acropolis from Filopappou
The hill opposite is free and open. At sunset you see the Parthenon head-on in golden light.
- 4Wear shoes with grip
The marble of the Acropolis has been polished by millions of footsteps and is slippery, especially going down.
- 5One day to get out of Athens
Sounion, 69.5 km away, or an island in the Saronic Gulf by ferry from Piraeus. Two full days is more than enough for the city.
Local tip
Sleep in Plaka, Makrygianni or Koukaki, at the foot of the Acropolis: you walk out for the first slot of the morning and go back to the hotel to rest at midday.
We'd skip it
The double-decker tourist buses: the essentials are less than 2 km from each other, and the metro reaches the rest for €1.20.
How do you buy a ticket for the Acropolis?
At hhticket.gr, the official portal of the Ministry of Culture, choosing a day and time slot. Buy it before you go: in season the first morning slots sell out, and at the ticket office there is a queue in the sun. Go in at opening time or in the last slot of the afternoon: at midday in summer the rock has no shade and the marble burns.
How do you get from the airport to the centre?
The airport is about 30 km away by road. You have three options:
- Metro, line 3 (blue): to Syntagma and Monastiraki. The ticket to the airport costs €9; the 3-day tourist ticket (€20) includes one outward and one return journey.
- X95 bus: 24 hours, to Syntagma in about 60 minutes. It costs €5.50 and is bought at the booth between exits 4 and 5.
- Taxi: fixed fare of €50 from 5:00 to 24:00 and €65 at night (raised in September 2026), from exit 3.
From Spain, Aegean flies direct (Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Bilbao and more), Vueling from Barcelona and Iberia from Madrid.
Do you need a car?
No. The historic centre is covered on foot and the metro reaches everything else, including Piraeus for the ferries (line 1, green, from Monastiraki or Thissio). Within the city, a car gets in the way: there is nowhere to park and the traffic is slow. It only makes sense for getting out to the coast or the Peloponnese.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Athens?
Two full days for the Acropolis, its museum, the Agora, Plaka and the National Archaeological Museum. Three if you want to go to Sounion or take a cookery class.
Can you go up the Acropolis with a pushchair?
Better with a baby carrier. The path has steps and slippery marble. The Acropolis Museum, on the other hand, is easy with a pushchair.
How do I get from the centre to the port of Piraeus?
On metro line 1 (green) from Monastiraki or Thissio, with no change. From the airport, the X96 bus takes about 90 minutes.
Does the metro run at night?
From 5:00 to 24:00. On Fridays, lines 2 and 3 keep running until 2:00, and on Saturdays all night.
How much does it cost to get around by metro?
€1.20 for the 90-minute ticket, €4.10 for the 24-hour one and €8.10 for the 5-day one, not counting the airport. Children under 6 travel free.
What should I see if I only have one day?
The Acropolis at opening time, its museum, lunch in Plaka, the Agora in the afternoon and sunset from Filopappou. All on foot.