This Ultimate Guide to Athens reveals the best of the city. From where to stay near the Acropolis, to sightseeing in Athens, plan the perfect city break.
Ultimate Guide to Athens
I've been living in and writing about Athens for 2 years now. During this time, I've created a lot of content! To make finding it all easier, I created this Ultimate Guide to Athens. Hopefully this can help you plan the perfect trip to Athens. The guide includes:
- Best Time to Visit Athens
- Where to Stay in Athens
- How to get from Athens Airport to the center
- What to See in Athens
- The Best Places to Eat in Athens
- Athens Walking Tours
- The Best Museums in Athens
- Day Trips from Athens
Best Time To Visit Athens
Picking the best time of year to visit Athens is no easy task! In this article, I break the year down month by month. The short version, is that I think May and September are great times to visit Athens. Read the full article here – Best time to visit Athens.
Here, I go into more detail about why I think September is a great month to visit Athens, and Greece in general.
Now, I will be the first person to say that Athens is HOT in August! There is one advantage to visiting at this time though – the city empties as Athenians head to the beaches for their vacations. You can check out the article here – Athens on Vacation.Where To Stay In Athens
This article features the Best Hotels Near The Acropolis. I think staying in this central location makes the most sense when visiting Athens on a short break. It means you can maximise your time spent sightseeing in Athens, without wasting hours on public transport.
This article features Budget Hotels in Athens. This is aimed at backpackers, long term travellers, and budget travellers interested in the cheapest accommodation in Athens. It goes without saying that this selection sacrifices comfort for budget, but every saved Euro helps if you are on a long-term trip!
Athens airport is located some distance away from the historic center, and so I would not recommend it for most tourists. These hotels near Athens airport do have their uses though, especially when either arriving late or departing early.
How to get from Athens Airport to the Center
Now you've planned your trip, you need to know how to get from Athens Airport to city center. This guide goes into your options, which are using the bus, metro, or taking a taxi.
What To See In Athens
This guide on what to see in 2 days in Athens is almost an ultimate guide to Athens in itself! It has proven to be my most popular article about the city so far. Basically, it is a realistic guide on what to see and do with 2 days in Athens. If you follow this sightseeing guide to Athens, you can easily see all the highlights and a few off the beaten track places at a relaxed pace over a couple of days.
Inside tips for making the most out of your visit to Athens. This includes the best time to see the changing of the guards, and how to visit the Acropolis for free!
Without doubt, most people visit Athens so that they can see the historic sites. This guide to Ancient Athens includes details about the most famous ancient sites in the city, and a few more you probably didn't know about.
Some tips on how to make the most of your visit to the Ancient Agora in Athens. Includes areas you shouldn't miss, and how to get a free guide to the Ancient Agora!
With so much to see and do in Athens, the Panathenaic Stadium sometimes gets overlooked. Spare an hour and add it into your itinerary though. The views from the top are amazing, and the museum's memorabilia fascinating!
This interesting archaeological site and museum is another one that gets overlooked. It's certainly worth an hour of your time though, and you can see the remains of the Ancient Athenian walls as well as burial mounds.
Walking tours in Athens
If you would prefer a guided tour around Athens, then these Athens Walking Tours might be just your thing. Each one has a theme, from walking tours focusing on neoclassical buildings, tours centred around Ottoman buildings, and medieval Athens walking tours. A guided tour gives you the benefits of a knowledgeable guide who can help you get a deeper understanding for the city you are visiting.
The Best Places To Eat In Athens
No ultimate guide to Athens would be complete without mentioning the best places to eat! Food is such an essential part of Greek culture, that missing out on the best would be a massive shame! This is a very brief guide to the best places to eat in Athens. I intend to write a few more articles at a later date.
The Best Museums In Athens
Athens has nearly 100 museums, and I have a personal project to visit them all! If you want to check out my regularly updated list, here is a complete guide to all the museums in Athens!
With over 100 museums to choose from, selecting the best can be a tough job! I've saved you the trouble, and listed here the Top 5 Museums in Athens.
Whilst many people cite the Acropolis Museum as the best in Athens, I disagree. The National Archaeological Museum is by far the best and most complete museum. You will need between 2 and 4 hours to make the most of your time here, but it's worth it!Day Trips From Athens
Finally, if you are planning on spending longer in the city, here are the best day trips from Athens. Most of these you can do on a tour if you wish, or you could hire a car in Athens and drive yourself. I think a road trip is a great way to explore this fascinating country!
I hope you've enjoyed this ultimate guide to Athens. If you are planning a trip, and have any questions or would like to leave me a message, please comment below. I would love to hear from you!
My hubby has been to Greece many times before in a previous life and I haven’t been yet. We have been talking about going in the near future and I would love to see all the highlights. This is a really great guide and I will definitely use it when we make our final plans!
I’m sure you will love it if you visit Athens and Greece!
This is a great guide for those who have never been to Athens before. So much to explore there, but my fave spot is of course the Acropolis 🙂
Sounds like you have enjoyed visiting Athens before!
I haven’t had the opportunity to go to Greece or Athens yet, but would absolutely love to! Thanks for the comprehensive guides 🙂
I am going to hold on tight to this post because I really want to get to Athens and other parts of Greece sooner rather than later.
I am sure you will love Athens when you do visit!
You are the expert on Athens! Great and clear options for my next visit. Thanks for all the resource links too.
I have not yet been to Athens but would certainly scope out these great guides if I do go. Great advice about staying near the Acropolis as well.
Athens has always been somewhere I have wanted to visit ever since studying classics in high school. This is a great ultimate guide for travellers heading for Athens!
Very good guide indeed, mate! Such a pity people think Athens is unsafe at the moment, which is totally untrue. 🙁
There’s so many great resources you linked here! Thank you! I’ve been to the Greek Islands but I have yet to visit Athens. It looks like a fascinating city. Bookmarking this for the future!
Hi Dave
I’ve read a lot of your guide and think I will find it very useful in about a week. Could have used more resto or taverna stuff but that’s ok. Last time I was in Greece it was under the Colonel’s so I guess a lot has changed. In those days you could sit on Minos’ throne in Knossos and walk the Parthenon unrestricted. Still, I’m looking forward to it and I want to thank you for your info. Especially like how to get to Athens from the Airport. When I last landed there it was terrifying — a soldier every twenty feet with a Kalashnikov. I met a fiend and as we were walking to the bus I heard two guys arguing (in Greek) with a verbal violence you seldom hear. I asked my Greek friend what the problem was and she said: “Oh, they’re talking about the weather and agreeing that it’s nice. Greek passion for life.
Cheers
Hi – Glad you like the information!
I am aiming to add some taverna and restaurant guides later in the year. They change so much, it might be a long process though!
If you are interested in finding out more about Greek food, I have another blog which has a couple of useful posts. Please check them out! –
http://realgreekexperiences.com/food-in-greece/
http://realgreekexperiences.com/greek-food-simply-need-taste/
I think you will find things very much changed from your last visit! If you need any guidance when you are on the ground, just drop me a line. I hope you enjoy your stay in Greece!