Athens Travel Blog: Insider Tips For A Great Trip To Athens In 2024

In this Athens travel blog you'll discover all the insights you need to plan a perfect trip to Athens in Greece.

Athens Travel Blog Posts

Hi! My name’s Dave, and I’ve been living in Athens, Greece since 2014.

From almost day 1 of living in Athens, I’ve been writing Athens travel blog posts and guides to help people better explore this amazing city. There’s probably enough insights and information about Athens to fill a book by now – maybe I’ll write one soon, who knows?!

In the mean time though, this particular Athens blog post more or less acts as a sign post to specific guides about visiting the capital of Greece.

It’s divided into useful section, like things you need to know before you visit Athens, Athens itinerary suggestions, exploring Ancient Athens and other important attractions, where to stay in Athens, day trips from Athens, and much, much more.

As people visit Athens for different reasons, I’ve got guides that cater to a broad range of people. So, if you’re just in Athens for a day before you head off on a cruise, my 1 day itinerary will be ideal. If you want to spend longer in the city, my 4 day Athens guide will be better suited.

By the way, if you’re reading this Athens travel blog on the desktop version, there’s also a search bar at the top of the page (on mobile, it’s at the bottom). Use the search function to see what else there is on the site – I’ve got around 1400 articles all told!

Ok, let’s dive in…

Travel Planning Before You Visit Athens

Before you visit Greece, you might want to find out a bit more about Athens and what to expect. These guides will help:

Athens Itinerary Suggestions

No matter how long you plan to spend in the city center, these itinerary ideas for Athens have you covered:

Exploring Ancient Athens

Athens was the epi-center of the Golden Age of Ancient Greece. There are many ancient ruins you can visit in Athens center, and these blog posts go into them in detail:

Other Major Tourist Attractions

While many people associate Athens with the ancient landmarks, the city centre has a thriving contemporary vibe that makes it an interesting places to explore:

Day Trips and Tours

By basing yourself in Athens, you can take a variety of day trips to surrounding places of interest. Here's some of the best day trips from Athens to consider:

Getting Around Athens Public Transportation

Public transport in Greece is a great way to get around. Here's some Athens specific blog posts about how to get to various points of interest.

Where to Stay in Athens

For stays of just a few days downtown Athens or the historic center are the best areas to choose a hotel. These Athens blogs have more:

Where to go after Athens

If you're going Greek island hopping after seeing all the sites of Athens, these guides will help:

FAQ About Going to Athens for the First Time

Reader planning a trip to Athens for the first time often ask similar questions to these:

What are the must-see attractions in Athens?

The Acropolis and Parthenon, the Ancient Agora, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Plaka district.

How do I get from Athens airport to the city center?

Options include the metro, bus, or a taxi. The metro offers a direct route to Syntagma Square.

Is Athens safe for tourists?

Athens is generally safe for tourists, though it's wise to take usual precautions against petty crime.

What is the best time to visit Athens?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

Can I visit the Acropolis without a guide?

Yes, you can visit independently, but a guided tour can provide valuable historical context and insights.

What should I eat in Athens?

Try local specialties like moussaka, souvlaki, and Greek salad.

Where is the best place to stay in Athens for first-timers?

Staying near the historic center, such as in Plaka or Monastiraki, is convenient for sightseeing.

How many days do I need in Athens?

Two to three days are typically enough to see the main sights, though more time allows for a deeper exploration.

What should I know about visiting museums and archaeological sites?

Many sites offer combined tickets for savings, and museum hours may vary by season, so check in advance.

What are some tips for getting around Athens?

The metro is efficient for major attractions. Walking is best for exploring central neighborhoods.

Dave Briggs: Writer at Dave’s Travel Pages creating Greece travel guides, Greece travel planning tips

– Dave Briggs
Dave's travel writer from the UK who's been living in Athens since 2015. As well as writing this Athens travel blog, he's also created hundreds of other travel blog posts and itineraries for travel destinations all over Greece. Follow Dave on social media for travel inspiration from Greece and beyond:

14 thoughts on “Athens Travel Blog – City Guide To The Greek Capital”

Hello, we are coming to Athens in two weeks, staying in Pireaus for a few days and then going to Syros. Is cycling on Syros a bad idea? We are mountain bikers, we dont mind the hills. Are there any bicycle rentals on Syros or do you recommend bringing them on a ferry? Thanks.

Dave Briggs

August 1, 2024 at 10:50 am

HI,
Syros is quite hilly (all the Cyclades are really!). Whether cycling in the middle of August is good is going to depend on the heat and the winds at the time.
I believe some of the car rental places on Syros also have limited bicycle rentals. This is one I found: https://www.malenarent.gr/index.php/en/vehicle-en/bicycles-en
Reply

Dear Dave, thank you for your blog. What a find for someone like us looking to visit Greece for the first time. We are on an organised tour of Ancient Greece but arrive day early, late ish on Monday evening in April, we thought to stay at Sofitel, somewhat costly but perhaps easiest option. Next day we need to arrange transfer to Hotel Fedriades in Delphi, where we will eventually meet with our group. Do you have any suggestion as to a taxi company to book such transfer with?
Regards
Moni

Dave Briggs

January 27, 2024 at 12:38 pm

Hi Moni,
You can pre-book taxis from Athens Airport to Delphi with Welcome Pickups.
It not going to be the cheapest ride in the world though!
An option is to get them to pick you up from the flight and drive to Delphi the same night. A very long day I know, but then you’d be in your Delphi hotel for a long lay in the next day and it’s not as expensive as the Sofitel. You can find the prices and availability here for: Fedriades Hotel in Delphi
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- Moni
  
  January 29, 2024 at 6:20 pm
  
  Thank you very much, that’s helpful and kind of confirmes what we were thinking.
  Owe you a drink, when in Athens
  Reply

Hi Dave! We will be cruising thru! Can you tell which day you would recommend for a beach day: Mykonos, Corfu, or Santorini? Thanks!

Dave Briggs

January 23, 2024 at 6:19 pm

If you are on a cruise boat and looking for a beach day, the best place would be Mykonos for sure.
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Hi Dave
Thank you for these posts, they are really helpful!
We are finishing our greek island hopping trip in athens and have a 1 night stay here (arriving at Pireus Port, then leaving from Athens Airport the day after)
Where would you reccomend getting accomodation for one night to make the most of our time here and be conveniently located? Any advice would be much appreciated! Many thanks

Dave Briggs

May 11, 2023 at 11:35 am

Hi Mollie.
Best to be located in the historic center so everything is in walking distance.
The map on this page is useful for finding hotels near the Acropolis in Athens: Athens central hotel guide
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Hi Dave, very accurate infos about Athens, i suggest for an article about Athens Riviera by local Tram or by bike from Alimos or Center of Athens to Glyfada town. It is a nice idea for your last day in Athens especially after afternoon .
Regards

Loving your site Dave, thanks so much for all the info. Does an ordinary airport taxi cater for 4 adults and 4 cases do you know please? eg. a maxi taxi. You recommend Welcome Taxis which sounds even better but do they cater for 4 adults and 4 cases or do I go the Mercedes hire?

Thanks so much.

Dave Briggs

September 25, 2022 at 9:44 am

Hi Jill,

I just had a look at the Welcome site, and if you input 4 adults and 4 cases it accepts the booking and describes the car as ‘sedan’.
I’d personally go with that option as you don’t need to negotiate with the driver about how to fit it all in!
You could wait in the taxi queue and try as well. Most of the cars used as taxis in Athens are the same.
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Hi Dave,
Thanks for all the great information! Would love to get your opinion….
We are staying 3 nights in Athens starting June 5th. Trying to find the best hotel/area to stay. I have looked at several places including A for Athens, Royal Olympic Hotel, Divani Palace Acropolis and Urban Frame Hotel. We prefer and area close to all the sites, not on the noisy side, possible has a fitness area, and great restaurants nearby. Just curious your thoughts on a room with an Acropolis view, seems nice but wondering if worth it with all the rooftop views and just being there.

We are also planning to drive to Delphi/Meteora on a two day trip, any hotel recommendations there?

Thanks in advance.
.

Dave Briggs

April 27, 2022 at 11:44 am

Hi,
It’s always difficult to answer these types of questions! There’s so many things to take into account such as budget etc. For example CoCoMat BC would tick most of your boxes, but does come with a more expensive price tag.
If you’re taking the Delphi/Meteora road trip, I’d suggest seeing Delphi, and then driving on to Meteora and spend the night there rather than staying in Delphi. A look here at where to stay in Kalambaka(Meteora).
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