Standing proud as the historical capital of Europe, Athens has more than a few stories to tell. Millennia ago, this alluring city introduced the rest of Western civilization to sophisticated science, breathtaking art, modern democracy, and insightful philosophy.

From antiquated street markets and iconic temples as old as time itself to enormous art galleries bursting with prehistoric pieces and museums preserving venerable artifacts, Athens is absolutely brimming with things to see and do. 

Summers can get remarkably hot here (often up to 30°C/90°F), which can sometimes be a bit too much for sightseeing. On the other hand, winters can be surprisingly cold, with temperatures dropping down to 7°C/45°F. Because of this, it’s best to travel to the city of Athena in spring or fall, when the weather is still wonderfully warm and sunny but not too hot to leave you constantly seeking out air conditioning. 

To help you get the most out of your 3 days in Athens, we’ve created a travel itinerary for you. It covers the best ways to explore the city so you can save time, as well as the best attractions you’ve absolutely got to check out. We’ve also included our favorite places to eat and a few extra recommendations if you’ve got some spare time on your hands. Enjoy!

If you’re still deciding where to stay then make sure to check out our article on the cool boutique hotels in Athens!

How to Spend a Weekend in Athens, Greece

Getting Around Athens

Athens is one of the largest cities in Europe, so you’ll need to be smart when it comes to getting around if you want to see as much as possible. We recommend you stay in the center of the city. This way, you’ll be able to spend most of your weekend in Athens moving from place to place on foot.

If all the walking is too much for you, you can easily hail a cab in the city center. While ridesharing apps (Uber, MyTaxi, and Taxiplon) do work in Athens, they’re only available for registered taxis, so they won’t save you any money in comparison to riding in a cab. For a fun alternative, you can buy a ticket for one of the hop-on, hop-off buses. The red route covers the city’s main historical sites and also passes by the beach. 

To check out sites and attractions beyond downtown Athens, your best option is to use the metro. There are three different lines:

• Line 1 (green line): Kifisia – Piraeus
• Line 2 (red line): Anthoupoli – Eliniko
• Line 3 (blue line): Airport – Douk. Plakentias – Dimotiko Theatro (Piraeus)

The metro runs from 5:30 am until 12:30 am during the week. On Fridays and Saturdays, line 2 continues running until 1:30 am, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the city’s nightlife scene. 

Athens Weekend Itinerary – Day 1 

The Acropolis

Begin your Athens itinerary by exploring the magnificent Acropolis. This iconic landmark is visible from almost every inch of the city and is so huge that you’ll need at least half a day to explore it.

We suggest you arrive first thing in the morning to have enough time to discover the different temples. The Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, Arrhephorion, Propylaea, and Parthenon are all worthy of a visit. If you’d rather let someone else take the lead, you can sign up for one of the guided Acropolis tours. 

While you’re standing high above the city, don’t forget to look far away in the distance. The views from up here are spectacular and stretch all the way out to sea. When you’ve seen all there is to see, take a break and go shopping along the street that leads down from the Acropolis. It’s dotted with stalls selling cute souvenirs and icy drinks. 

Stop by Liondi for a traditional Greek lunch. If this is your first proper meal in the city, order a few different starters and share them with your travel buddy so you can have a little bit of everything. We suggest saganaki cheese, zucchini patties, eggplant dip, and grilled pita bread. If you’re hungry for more, order the moussaka, too. It was voted the best moussaka in Athens by Restaurant Guru!

Acropolis Museum

While everything is still fresh in your mind, move on to the Acropolis Museum. The fascinating gallery guards thousands of genuine artifacts that were uncovered from the Acropolis. Here you can admire impressive relics rescued from the temples of Athena Nike, Propylaea, and Erechtheion and a remarkably detailed replica of what the Parthenon looked like in its prime. 

Make sure you take the time to explore the ground floor of the museum. Here you can stroll through a genuine ancient Athenian neighborhood that dates back to the 4th millennium BC. The neighborhood is mostly in ruins, so you’ve got to use your imagination, but it’s pretty easy to imagine what the place was like in its heyday. 

If you need a break, the museum has an excellent cafe on the ground floor, next to the gift shop. You can choose from all kinds of delicious cool juices and sip while admiring the views.

Plaka

Use whatever energy you have left to take a walk around Plaka. This dazzling neighborhood is the oldest in Athens and definitely one of the most beautiful. 

A must on your Athens itinerary, Plaka is entirely pedestrianized and is known for its labyrinthine alleyways, al fresco restaurants, and quaint souvenir stores where you can pick up everything from freshly-cut flowers to artisan jewelry. There are plenty of gorgeous places here where you can grab a drink and watch the world go by.

A for Athens Cocktail Bar 

End your first day with a cocktail or two at A for Athens Cocktail Bar. This cool hotspot boasts unbelievable views of the Acropolis. Especially at night, when the Parthenon is illuminated with warm, glowing lights.

Here you’ll find a fantastic selection of creative cocktails available for surprisingly reasonable prices. If you like things a little hot, we recommend ordering the Spicy Margarita. 

Haven’t had time for dinner yet? A for Athens Cocktail Bar offers a great dinner menu. Start with the traditional Breaded Eggplant Rolls for an appetizer then order the Lamb Gyros for your main. You won’t have room for dessert!

Athens Weekend Itinerary – Day 2

Start day 2 of your weekend trip to Athens with a hearty breakfast at Underdog. This cool restaurant specializes in creative brunch dishes, but it opens at 8:30 am, so you can get an early start. You can only reserve on the restaurant’s website. But if you forget, they always accept a small number of walk-ins, so you can just show up. 

Here you’ll find a massive selection of yogurt and porridge bowls, pancakes, salads, burgers, and eggs done every single way you could ever imagine. We recommend ordering the Goat Cheese Fries. This unique dish is made of homemade fries topped with two fried eggs and fresh mushrooms, all drizzled in the most amazing goat cheese sauce. 

Ancient Agora

Now you’ve got enough energy for the rest of your day! The first sightseeing stop is the Ancient Agora. Located in the heart of ancient Athens, this remarkable attraction lets you walk through the ruins of a historic marketplace and imagine what it was like to shop there centuries ago.

Make sure you seek out the Temple of Hephaestus. This prominent structure was created around 460-415 BC and is one of the best-preserved temples of its kind in Greece. It was built to honor Hephaistos (the patron of metal workers) and Athena Ergane (the patroness of crafts and potters).

Be on the lookout for Greek tortoises. You can often find them wandering around the grassy lawns surrounding the temple!

An extra tip: the Ancient Agora offers free admission on certain holidays. Check the website to see if any of those days fall during your visit. 

Benaki Museum

Next, it’s on to the Benaki Museum. Here you’ll discover an impressive collection of Greek art that ranges from prehistoric times all the way up until today. The priceless wonders are spread throughout the four floors that make up the neoclassical mansion, some of which date back to 3,000 BC.

More than 6,000 works of art by European and Greek artists, historical family heirlooms donated to the museum by some of the most important families in the world, and astounding sculptures of Roman gods are just some of the things you can expect to see here. This is all just in the main building!

To discover more, visit the museum’s new building. Here you can trawl through architectural archives dating back to 1828, as well as an extensive photographic archive. There are around 25,000 photographs and more than 300,000 negatives to view here. 

Mount Lycabettus

Now it’s time for some fresh air. Take a gentle stroll and walk to the bottom of Mount Lycabettus. If you’re feeling energetic, you can hike to the top of the mountain. This will take 30-90 minutes, depending on how fast you go. If you’d prefer something a little less challenging, you can ride the funicular railway to the summit instead. This takes just 3 minutes.

When you reach the top, you’ll discover a peaceful, green park that feels worlds away from the rest of dusty Athens. Take a walk around and see if you can spot any cicadas. You’ll definitely be able to hear them, but spotting them can be a little tricky, despite their considerable size. 

It’s worth keeping your phone in your hand because there are loads of stunning views here that stretch across the city for miles. As you explore, you’ll come across a number of different viewpoints, each of which offers a new perspective of the ancient city.

Before you head back down the mountain, grab a drink at the cafe. It’s called Prasini Tenta, and it serves up some delicious iced coffees and frappuccinos. If you time your trip for sunset, you’ll be in for a real treat watching it from up here! 

Athens Weekend Itinerary – Day 3

Athens National Garden

Your 3-day Athens vacation is coming to a close! You’ve already packed loads of activities into days 1 and 2, so we’ll keep the final day a little simpler and more relaxed. Grab breakfast anywhere that catches your eye, then head to the Athens National Garden. Here you’ll find plenty of charming pathways that lead you to all sorts of hidden wonders and magical spots.

A lot of the gardens are covered by a thick canopy of trees. So no matter how much the sun is beating down, you’ll still be able to stay cool. Despite being located just steps away from one of the busiest streets in Athens, this garden is surprisingly peaceful and guaranteed to help you relax. 

The garden was built between 1838 and 1840 and initially contained more than 500 species of tropical plants transported from all over the world. Not all the plants could handle the Mediterranean climate, but there are still plenty of stunning examples scattered throughout the park. 

Air Lounge Bar & Restaurant

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? So swing by Air Lounge Bar & Restaurant and enjoy a cocktail al fresco. Located at the top of the Fresh Hotel, this casual rooftop bar boasts plenty of comfy sofas where you can chill out as you browse the extensive cocktail menu. The place is decorated with aromatic olive trees and fresh flowers – you won’t even know you’ve left the National Garden!

Here you can choose from classic, sparkling, tiki, and signature cocktails – all of which are incredible. Or, if you feel you’ve been overdoing it the past couple of days, there’s a fantastic choice of healthy juices, smoothies, and coolers available. 

Monastiraki Square

When you’re ready to move on, take a walk over to Monastiraki Square. This is one of the busiest spots in Athens that always has a fantastic atmosphere. From here, you can spot a Greek Orthodox church, a mosque, the pillars of Hadrian’s Library, and a handful of shops selling all sorts of interesting knickknacks.

If you visit Monastiraki Square on a Sunday, you’re in luck! On this day every week, the square becomes even more bustling as a flea market opens up. You probably won’t have much room to take things back with you, but it’s always fun to have a look at the stalls and see what’s for sale. 

Don’t worry if you’re not visiting on a Sunday. Every other day of the week, the square is lined with stores selling everything from souvenir t-shirts to gold jewelry. 

Retiré at the ERGON House

Make your final night in Athens one to remember by making a reservation at Retiré at the ERGON House. One of the most mesmerizing rooftop restaurants in Athens, this restaurant is guaranteed to stay in your mind long after you board your flight. It may have incredible views of the Acropolis (time your visit for sunset to take amazing pictures), but that’s not what it’s known for.

Retiré is so popular because it has a captivating atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re at a private party in the sky. From the hanging twinkling lights and the relaxed swinging seats to the food truck restaurant and little bits of greenery dotted all over, this restaurant is truly magical and stands out among all the others in the city. 

We recommend starting with one of the delicious frozen cocktails while looking at the menu. Then it’s totally up to you. Retiré prides itself on using fresh, seasonal ingredients that it either grows itself or procures from local farmers and producers. You really can’t go wrong. 

More Places to Eat & Drink in Athens

Looking for more cool places to eat to fill your 3-day Athens itinerary?

Check out Little Kook:

Like the name suggests, this restaurant is on the quirky side and is always extravagantly decorated. Depending on when you visit, you could be dining with tap-dancing penguins, unicorns sipping tea, or even Father Christmas himself! The menu is just as flamboyant as the decor, so make sure you go with an open mind and an empty stomach. 

Treat your sweet tooth to a traditional Greek donut at Lukumades:

This tiny cafe boasts a huge range of bite-sized desserts that most people would call donut holes. The regular ones are plain on the inside and drizzled with Greek honey and cinnamon. But there are plenty more creative and inspiring combinations if you want to go wild. There’s also a superb coffee list to choose from.

Keep things local by ordering a glass of Greek beer or wine at the Foundry Rooftop Garden & Cocktail Bar:

This stunning piece of paradise really does feel like a fairytale garden that’s been picked out of a book and placed on the top of a building. The menu is just as dazzling as the views, with a fantastic selection of drinks made by local producers. 

What to do if you have more than 3 days in Athens

Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour

If you prefer to get your bearings when you arrive at a new place for the first time, buy a ticket for one of the city’s hop-on, hop-off buses. Not only does this bus pass by most of the biggest landmarks so you don’t have to walk, but it also gives you a pleasant way to explore the city without getting lost. You can even ride it to the beach for a chilled afternoon in the sunshine.  

Aegli

Visiting Athens in the summer? Then you’ve got to check out Aegli. The city’s oldest and most popular outdoor theater, this cool hangout is a great place to spend an evening. Movie listings and times are advertised at the venue, and most movies are shown in English with Greek subtitles. Don’t worry about grabbing dinner beforehand – there’s a cute bar at the back where you can order drinks and snacks throughout the screening.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Stop by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at some point during your visit, and you’ll be treated to a little show. Every 30 minutes (on the hour and every 30 minutes past the hour), the changing of the guard ceremony takes place. The guards all wear their traditional Greek uniforms, which look spectacular. If you can, watch the ceremony on a Sunday. This is when the soldiers have their most extravagant outfits on and the show is at its most impressive. 

Psiri

If you need to work off some steam, spend an evening in Psiri. This neighborhood boasts the very best nightlife in Athens and offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for trendy cocktail lounges, cool wine bars, homey pubs, rustic tavernas, or dynamic nightclubs, you’re guaranteed to find just what you’re looking for here. On weekends, places stay open well into the early hours, so don’t plan much for the morning after! 

There you have it! The perfect 3-day Athens itinerary. How will you spend a weekend in Athens? 

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