Athens in a day – The Best 1 Day Athens Itinerary

See Athens in a day with this easy to follow 1 day Athens itinerary. I'll show you what to do in Athens in one day so you don't miss a thing!

1 Day in Athens: The perfect one day Athens itinerary

One Day In Athens Greece

With one day in Athens, you can easily visit the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, see the Changing of the Guard at Syntagma square, and enjoy Greek cuisine in charming Plaka. Depending on how many hours you have, you could add on a few more places of interest like the Ancient Agora, Anafiotika, and markets as well.

Most of the main attractions in Athens are located within the historic center, and they are all within walking distance of one another. If you're coming into Athens from Piraeus or the suburbs you can take a metro to Syntagma Square or Akropoli and begin your tour of Athens in a day from there.

There will be things you miss out on though. The incredible National Archaeological Museum for example might take 3 or 4 hours to explore. As a result, it's perhaps not worth adding to your one day Athens itinerary. Not to mention the other 80 odd museums and art galleries in Athens!

One day in Athens is enough time to see the highlights such as the Acropolis and Parthenon

I've been living in Athens since 2015, and have put together this Athens one day itinerary to help you make the most of your time in the city. It's based on how I visit the Athens monuments and historic center myself when I'm not sunning myself on a Greek island! 

It's a good guide for spending one day in Athens from cruise ship, or if you want to see a little of Athens before or after you go Greek island hopping.


Places to see in Athens in a Day

So, is one day enough to see Athens? It's a question I'm often asked, but it's so difficult to answer. On the one hand, yes you can see most of the essential Athens attractions in 24 hours. On the the hand, it's not exactly a deep-dive into what Athens is all about.

While there are some excellent day tours of Athens which might be perfect if you only have a few hours in Athens, you can also pick and choose sections from my suggestions and do it yourself.

Whether you've got a layover in Athens before you jet off to the Greek islands, or will spend one day in Athens from cruise ship, this itinerary should prove useful. It includes all the main things to do in Athens, as well as a few extras to give you a taste of the contemporary side of the city.

Looking for even more things to do in Athens? Take a look at my guide on how to spend 2 days in Athens. That one is the exact same Athens 2 day itinerary I use when family and friends come over to visit!

Athens 1 Day Itinerary

Let's leap straight into the Athens 1 day city guide. A step by step guide on how to see Athens in one day, with estimated times. Visit historic sites, see awesome street art, indulge in tasty food, and relax at the end of it all with a drink at a rooftop bar for that perfect day in Athens.

I've included a map of historic Athens below. You'll find that Google Maps works excellently on your phone when you arrive.

1. Syntagma Square, the Parliament and the Evzones – An Athens must see 

Arrive at 08.00. Allow 20 minutes.

Make sure to see the changing of the guards in Athens during your one day Athens tour

If you only have 24 hours in Athens, you need to make the most of your time here! Have an early breakfast and try to get to the centre of the city, Syntagma square, by 8am. The city is already alive by then, and you will see plenty of Athenians walking around on their way to work.

Just across the street from Syntagma square, you will see the Parliament. A Neoclassical building constructed between 1836 and 1847, the Parliament was originally the residence of King Otto, who was the first king of modern day Greece after its liberation from the Ottoman Empire. Since 1929, this magnificent building has been home to the Parliament of Greece.

Get to the Parliament by 8am, in order to see the changing of the Guards in Athens. The Guards, called Evzones, are full-time soldiers who have a very special task – to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Parliament. The changing of the Guards happens every hour, on the hour. You are allowed to take pictures with them, but please show respect.

2. Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens

Arrive at 09.00. Allow 30 minutes if going inside.

The Temple of Zeus is a must see in Athens, Greece

After you have seen the changing of the Guards, head towards Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. You can either walk on Amalias Avenue, if you don’t mind the noise, or stroll through the Plaka area, through Nikis, Kidathineon and Lisikratous streets. Don’t worry if it all looks a little complicated on the map – Googlemaps works great in Athens Greece!

The Temple of Zeus is one of the biggest ancient temples of the Greek – Roman Empire, and one of the most impressive historical places in Athens Greece. Visiting the temple would be a must-see if you had two days in Athens Greece, but it’s best to skip it and move on to the next stop if you're short on time. If you still want to visit, the entry ticket costs 6 euro.

3. Must see in Athens – The Acropolis 

Arrive 10.00. Allow 1.5 hours inside.

Visiting the Acropolis is a must-do when spending one day in Athens, Greece

No list of things to see in Athens Greece would be complete without the Acropolis. This ancient complex comprises of several temples, of which the most famous is the Parthenon, dedicated to the Goddess Athena.

The Acropolis does get busy, especially during the summer months, so it might be a good idea to get your ticket in advance. This skip the line Acropolis ticket with audio guide might be of interest. Also look here: Skip the Line Acropolis and Acropolis Museum Tickets

The Acropolis of Athens opening hours as well as the entry fee vary between seasons.

In winter months, normally from November to March, the Acropolis is open from 8.00-17.00, and a single entry ticket costs 10 euro, while entrance is free on the first Sunday of each month.

In the summer months, usually from April to October, opening hours are extended until 20.00, but the single entry ticket costs 20 euro. Various discounts apply for students, seniors etc, so make sure you get the correct ticket.

Allow at least an hour and a half for the Acropolis, and make sure you’ve caught the views of Athens from up there.

4. The Acropolis Museum – One of the best things to do in Athens Greece?

Optional extra. Allow at least 1.5 hours

Visiting the New Acropolis museum during a 1 day in Athens itinerary

If you are especially interested in history and archaeology, your one day in Athens itinerary should definitely include one museum. The National Archaeological museum, which is the most comprehensive museum in Athens, is not very close to the Acropolis, plus it takes a good four hours to see properly. Therefore, you can visit the New Acropolis museum, which is located across the street from the Acropolis.

Although several people will disagree, I wouldn’t include the Acropolis Museum in a 1 day Athens itinerary, for reasons I have explained here. However, that’s just my personal opinion, and most people’s lists of the top ten things to do in Athens will definitely highlight the Acropolis Museum. The choice is yours!

If you go, allow at least an hour and a half. The best part are the marbles at the top, although many are in the British Museum. Make sure you visit the café / restaurant – the meals are good, and the view is hard to beat. In fact, even if you weren’t planning to visit the Museum itself, you will enjoy visiting the café.

Visit information to the museum can be found here. Entrance to the café / restaurant is free, and you will need to obtain a free admission ticket from the counter.

5. A walk on Areopagitou Street 

Start 11.30. Allow 2 hours

After leaving the Acropolis, it’s time for a stroll on one of the most picturesque areas of Athens, Areopagitou Street. You will have probably realized by now that you can’t really see Athens in 1 day – however, this walk is one of the absolutely must do things in Athens Greece.

As you head towards Thisseio metro station, the road changes name to Apostolou Pavlou. At this point, you will see a large green space on your left hand side. This is Filopappou hill, the area where Socrates’ prison can allegedly be found and where many modern Athenians bring their dogs for a walk.

Areopagus Hill, Athens

How to see Athens in one day - Enjoying the view on Areopagus hill in Athens

Instead of going left, turn right on a paved, unnamed road, and head towards Areopagus Hill, one of the best viewing points of the city when visiting Athens.

In Ancient Greece, the Areopagus was the court of justice for many cases, including homicide and anything to do with olive trees. Areopagus also is the spot where Apostle Paul chose to preach Christianity in 51 AD. The view of the Acropolis from up here is really great, which explains why it can get crowded at times.

Unless you stopped at the Acropolis Museum, this is definitely time for lunch! Backtrack to Apostolou Pavlou street and continue heading towards Thisseio. You will find plenty of places for snacks, coffee or beer, overlooking the Acropolis. You will see plenty of locals sitting there, so just pick your favourite spot and enjoy the views.

If it’s not the views, but great food that you are after, Athenians seem to like Iliostasio Thisio and Καφενείο Σκάλες, on Herakleidon street.

6. Things to do in Athens Greece – A stroll to the markets

The Temple of Hehpaistos in the Ancient Agora of Athens.

Start 14.00. Allow 2 hours.

Time to hit the markets! Although there are still plenty of things to do in Athens in terms of archaeological sites, chances are that you might now want to see something slightly different. And as you are approaching the markets area, nothing would be more suitable.

Continue walking until you have reached Thisseio metro station, and then turn right on Adrianou street, where you will see plenty of eateries on your right hand side, and the Ancient Agora on your left hand side.

Although it’s one of my favourite historical places in Athens Greece, it would take a good two hours to see the whole Ancient Agora and the Museum properly, so it will probably not fit in your 1 day in Athens itinerary.

7. Monastiraki Square in Athens

Monastiraki Square in Athens: Pass by here when following the best one day itinerary Athens

Head up Adrianou, left on Kinetou and then right on Ifestou street, walking towards Monastiraki metro. This is a street where you can buy clothes, souvenirs, old vinyl records, army and camping equipment and other random items.

You will soon reach bustling Monastiraki square, where you are likely to see street musicians and people selling random stuff, but also lots of locals hanging around. Although it's one of the essential focal points of the city, and a must when looking for things to see in Athens in one day, there's no need to spend too long on the square itself.

8. Visit the Athens Central Market

Athens market is a great place to see colourful and fresh fruit and veg

Walk across the square, heading towards Athinas street. This is where Athenians do their produce shopping, in Varvakios Central Market.

Although you will be rather unlikely to want to buy any meat or fish, you will definitely find this market one of the more interesting places in Athens. If you were planning to buy any herbs, spices, olives or olive oil, this is the place to get them. Opposite, you will find the fruit and veg market, which is very colourful.

Parts of the market start closing at 15.00, but others are open until 18.00 or 19.00, so you will have plenty of time to look around. Note that haggling doesn’t work here and that the market is closed on Sundays.

9. Check out the street art in Athens – Psirri neighbourhood

Start 16.00. Allow 2 hours.

Street art in the Psiri area of Athens

This is Psirri or Psiri or Psyrri or Psyri, you have to decide, all spellings work on googlemaps

From Varvakios market, backtrack on Athinas street, and turn right on Evripidou street, which is the beginning of the tiny Chinatown and little India areas of Athens. Some people have found those areas a little intimidating, so you might want to take this into account.

From Evripidou street, turn immediately left on Agiou Dimitriou, and head straight to Psirri square, marked on Googlemaps as Pl. Iroon. Turn around and look up, and you will see one of the most iconic pieces of street art in Athens.

The whole area of Psirri is one of the best places to visit in Athens for street art. The top streets for street art in Athens are Aristofanous, Sarri, Riga Palamidou, Ag. Anargiron, Louka, Nika and Agatharchou.

10. Food and drink on Psirri Square

Start 18.00. Allow whatever you like!

Try a Greek salad when you visit Athens for a day

Once you are done with street art hunting, head back to Psirri square. You can have a dessert at Serbetospito – watch out as the portions are huge, so two people can most likely share one dessert. You can also have a beer at nearby Beertime – they have imported beers but also Greek craft beers, so you will get a chance to taste something apart from the famous Greek ouzo.

Alternatively, if you are hungry, one of the best restaurants in this area is Mavros Gatos on Navarchou Apostoli Street. In fact this is one of the best places to eat in the centre of Athens, and there is no single dish I can recommend as everything is really good!

11. Things to do in Athens at night

With just 1 day in Athens Greece, you won’t have many opportunities for nightlife, so this is your chance to make the most of it. And nothing is better than some mingling with the locals and checking out the real culture.

Rembetiko music rarely features on “one day in Athens what to see” guides, but in my opinion it’s a very unique activity – especially if, like me, you like local music.

A great choice in the wider area is Kapnikarea, on Christopoulou 2, no more than a ten minute walk from Psiri. They have live music sessions on all days of the week, but times differ from day to day and season to season.

A pretty safe window is 18.00-22.00, apart from Sundays when they might close earlier. The food isn’t the best food in Athens, but it’s ok, or you can have a beer or a drink instead. The music, on the other hand, is great – the rembetiko musicians really put their soul into it.

12. Rooftop Bars in Athens

If you feel like another drink but you don’t really want to change areas, you can finish off your Athens sightseeing day either at 360 Degrees or at A for Athens rooftop bar / café, both near Monastiraki metro.

They have some of the best views of the Acropolis, and they are more affordable than other rooftop hotel bars in the area.

As these places are quite popular with locals and tourists alike, walking up the stairs might be quicker than using the elevator! Or if you want a tried and tested franchise bar and restaurant, you can always walk to Hard Rock Athens, on Adrianou street.

If you still have energy and you want to make the most of your 24 hours in Athens, don’t worry – the night is still very young. Walk or take the metro or a taxi to Gazi / Kerameikos area, where the young Athenians go for drinks. There are plenty of bars in the area, and you will definitely find something that suits you.

How to spend half day in Athens

Because of some people's timetables, particularly if arriving by cruise ship, your time in the city may be limited. If that's the case, I would suggest a day tour of Athens. There are many available, and the one that makes most sense for people who visit Athens for just a half day, is the guided Acropolis and Acropolis museum tour.

One Night In Athens Where To Stay

First-timers to Athens who want to stay a night and also spend some time exploring the city should look for hotels in the historic center. In particular, areas to consider include Plaka, Syntagma Square, and Monastriraki.

I've an in-depth neighborhood guide to hotels for you here: Where to stay in Athens

Must do things in Athens Greece

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Athens in a day: Only have one day in Athens, Greece? This guide will help you see the best of Athens in one day.

There you have it! This is my guide on how to spend 24 hours in Athens Greece. I hope this helps you plan your Athens itinerary, and you can take out any activities that you are not interested in. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

And if someone you know is going to visit Athens soon and asks you “what can you do in Athens Greece”, make sure you point them this direction.

What to see in Athens travel blog posts

If you are planning a trip to Athens and Greece, you might also find these other travel blog posts useful. They go into more detail on what to see in Athens and other parts of the country.

Visiting Athens In 1 Day FAQ

Readers who want to experience Athens to its fullest with the time they have often ask questions such as:

Is one day enough in Athens?

One day is enough time to explore Athens and see the most important historic places such as the Acropolis site in what is one of the world's oldest cities. Extend your Athens break to 2 or 3 days, and you'll be able to see all the impressive ruins of Ancient Athens, a few museums, and get a taste for delicious Greek food in the fabulous restaurants of the Greek capital.

What are the most significant cultural monuments in Athens?

The collection of temples and buildings on the Acropolis hill are among the most important historical sites in Athens. The National Archaeological Museum and Acropolis Museum house some of the most culturally significant artefacts in Greece.

Is Athens a walkable city?

Athens city centre is easily walkable, and most of the ancient sites are within walking distance of one another. There is also a long pedestrianized area surroundings the Acropolis which is a lovely place to stroll around.

How is Athens in 2 days?

With two days to discover Athens, you'll get to know the city center and its attractions well. In addition to sightseeing, make sure to take a coffee break or two in the local coffee shops to watch the world go by!


Dave Briggs visiting an island in GreeceDave Briggs
Dave is a travel writer living in Greece since 2015. In addition to writing this guide on which main attractions to visit during 24 hours in Athens, he's written hundreds more itineraries and travel guides to destinations all over Greece. Follow Dave on social media for more inspiration from Athens and beyond:

19 thoughts on “Athens in a day – The Best 1 Day Athens Itinerary”

  1. Hi Dave!

    Thank you for the great read! My partner and I (from New Zealand) want to book tickets in advance for the end of May. We are looking at getting the combo ticket – 6 archaeological sites. Would we be able to fit in visiting all of these sites in one day? We head to Delphi the following day and maybe won’t have time to explore the rest.

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Hi Sarah,
      You would be able to see all 6 ancient sites in Athens in one day (ok, a pretty long day!).
      However, they are talking of changing the ticket rules and removing the combined ticket for ancient sites in Athens in April 2024.

      Reply
  2. We will have a full day in Athens before going to our cruise ship. This sounds like a very doable itinerary for us. Do you have any idea how much actual walking time is involved to do the whole day? (Like is it 4 hours of walking?) One of our group is 72 and is a little limited in mobility and endurance. Thanks for such great ideas!

    Reply
    • It would be less than 4 hours of walking. However, don’t underestimate the heat, especially if visiting the Acropolis.
      The good news is, there are plenty of coffee shops all along the pedestrian path that goes around the Acropolis, so plenty of places to take a quick break when needed.

      Reply
  3. Hi! We have a layover in Athens on our way to Istanbul. We arrive at 1:25 am and fly out at 630 pm the same day. We were thinking of just trying to see the Acropolis again (we’ve been to Athens once before) but would you have any other recommendations working with our short amount of time and logistics of sights? Also what would be the most time efficient mode of travel for 3? I’d appreciate any insight!

    Reply
    • Hi Tracy,

      A taxi to and from Athens airport for sure is easiest for you, and with 3 people cost effective.
      The Acropolis and the Ancient Agora would be a good match. You’d probably have time for lunch and a stroll around Plaka as well.

      Reply
  4. Thank you for your time creating this one day itenerary. I will be traveling to Athens in the upcoming weeks for one day before heading to the islands. I love that your tour is pretty walkable, but I am curious to know how safe it is to take the metro there? thinking of taking it from the airport to the city center where i will be renting an airbnb for the night.

    Reply
    • The Athens metro is generally safe, however pickpockets do work the lines from time to time.
      The vast majority of travelers get from A to B on the Athens metro without any issues.
      Some people do prefer to pre-book a taxi from the airport to their AirBnB in Athens centre though. Here’s where you can do that: Athens Taxi

      Reply
  5. Thank you for this great itinerary! Do you recommend using the metro for part of the itinerary or just walk from one site to the other? We are traveling to Athens this summer with two kids.

    Reply
    • Glad you found it useful!
      All of the historic center is walkable. You’d only need the metro if you are staying outside the center really.
      Enjoy your time in Athens!

      Reply
  6. Thank you Dave for a most helpful itinerary! We will have only one day, really only about 13 hours, in Athens, as we are traveling on a cruise ship to Greece May 2021. Do you have a local tour group/individual that you would recommend? Someone who could offer something like this itinerary in a private guided tour? We’ve used companies in France, Italy, and Spain but I’m having a hard time with recommendations for Greece.
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Hi Casey,
      Because you’re traveling so far ahead, it would be difficult to recommend someone right now. For the most part though, I tend to use Get Your Guide when I travel. You may find something nice on there.

      Reply
  7. We want to use a portable mobility scooter walking around athens. It only weighs 16kg and can be carried up a few stairs quite easily, but obviously not to the top of the acropolis! Bearing this in mind, how practical will it be to follow your 1 day walking tour of athens with modification where necessary?

    Reply
    • Hi Alison,
      If you stick to the pedestrianised area that circles the Acropolis you should have no issues.
      The problem as you mention is stairs, and the Acropolis itself.
      Take a look here for more info: Walking in Athens

      Reply
  8. Thank you Dave for a most helpful itinerary! We will have only one day in Athens, given we are traveling on a cruise ship to Greece next May 2020. Do you have a local tour group/individual that you would recommend? ….one who would offer this itinerary in a guided tour?
    Thank you

    Reply
  9. Thank you so much for this itinerary! Our flights got rescheduled and we had to scramble to make do with 1 day in Athens. Will surely look this up over and over when we reach!

    Reply
    • I hope all goes well, and you get to see as much as you can in Athens. This will give you the city highlights for sure.
      Have a great time in Greece!

      Reply

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