Looking to spend 3 days in Athens but not sure where to begin? You are in the right place. Despite what most people say about Athens, that it is ugly, or that it's not as pretty as other European cities, I found Athens to be lovely and authentic. It is a well-lived-in city that doesn't sugarcoat itself like the rest, which I think is a breath of fresh air, to be honest.
Within this itinerary, I will take you to all the awesome tourist attractions the city is known for as well as visiting some lovely neighborhoods, a day trip to Delphi, and more. Without further ado, here is a complete 3-day itinerary for Athens.
- Athens 3-Day Itinerary Map
- 3 Days in Athens Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Athens?
- When to Visit Athens?
- How to Get to Athens?
- How to Get Around Athens?
- How Much Money Do I Need for 3 days in Athens?
- Is it Safe in Athens?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Greece?
- What to Pack for Athens?
- Further Reading for Greece
Athens 3-Day Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1: | Exploring the Ancient Greek Ruins |
| ☀️ Day 2: | A Day Trip to Delphi |
| ☀️ Day 3: | Hang Out at Koukaki Neighborhood |
3 Days in Athens Itinerary
Day 1: Exploring the Ancient Greek Ruins
Athens, Greece's most populous city and the birthplace of democracy, is home to some of the best well-preserved ruins as well as one of the liveliest food and nightlife scenes in Europe. On the day of your arrival, spend the first evening getting your bearings before we begin the first day with a full-on exploration.
One of the first places I recommend you check out on your first day in Athens is the Parthenon, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. The temple was built over 2,000 years ago in the 5th century BC as a dedication to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos, who was regarded as the protector of Athens.
Other than all the beautiful ruins and statues you can see up here, you will also be rewarded with an incredible panoramic view of Athens's cityscape and its surroundings, thanks to its location right at the top of Acropolis Hill.
- Museum of Modern Art Rooms (Budget)
- Central Hotel (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Altar Suites (High-End)
- Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour (4 hours)
- Athens: Acropolis and Parthenon Guided Walking Tour (105 minutes)
- Athens: Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon Sunset Tour (5 hours)
Due to the popularity of the Acropolis, expect the place to be overrun by tourists at all times. I went there in the morning and it was incredibly crowded right from the get-go, especially at the staircase leading up to the Acropolis.
Although the crowd dissipated after passing through the entrance, as people fanned out around the temple ground, so it isn't as bad as it seems. Also, the crowd control is done quite well here, with people continuously flowing through the temple from one entrance, which was then funneled through another exit.
You can buy the ticket online from here, which will also include tickets to the Acropolis Museum and the Archaeological Museum, or you can buy it at the entrance of the park right at the entrance on the south slope of the Acropolis for around 20 EUR.
As you enter the Acropolis hill from the south slope, you will also encounter another awesome structure from the Ancient world, the Theatre of Dionysus, an ancient Greek theatre built in the 5th Century BC, named after the Greek god of wine, Dionysus, who was also the patron of the theatre.
This theatre was the birthplace of Greek drama, where famous playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides staged their plays during the classical period of Athens. The theatre could seat up to 17,000 spectators and was considered the largest theatre in Greece at the time.
Another impressive structure you should check out while you make your way up to the Parthenon from the southern slope is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a historic amphitheater built in the 2nd century AD by the wealthy Roman politician Herodes Atticus.
The place is so extremely well-designed that it remains a prominent cultural landmark and is still in use to this day by the Athenians to host numerous concerts, operas, and other performances. The place is even larger than the Theatre of Dionysus and in a way, better-preserved condition than I expected.
After you are done with the Parthenon, you will be ushered down the northern slope as you exit the park. Right after the exit, be sure to check out the Areopagus Hill, a prominent rock outcropping named after the Greek god of war, Ares, which offers a nice viewpoint of the Parthenon and the Acropolis Hill from below.
While you are around the Acropolis Hill, you can also spend some time exploring the Roman Forum, located just below the Parthenon. Although not on the same scale as the one found in Rome, the one in Athens is still a nice place to stroll around as you dive even deeper into the history of Athens.
Other notable attractions in Athens you should check out while you are in Anafiotika, a nice charming little neighborhood with narrow streets and colorful houses, Acropolis Museum, a vast collection of artifacts excavated from the acropolis over the centuries, on full display, and the Panathenaic Stadium, an ancient stadium considered to be the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games we all know and love to this day.
Now, if you are looking for the ultimate viewpoint of Athens to experience the sunset over the city from above, there is no better place to be than Philopappos Hill.
The hill is around 147 meters (482 feet) high, which offers an incredible vantage point over the city as well as the Acropolis Hill without obstruction, making it the best viewpoint to witness the incredible sunset over Athens. The hill is also home to several important archaeological sites, including the Philopappos Monument, a 2nd-century AD marble tomb built in honor of Philopappos that you can check out.
From up here, you can see Athens in its entirety from both sides of the hill, but for the best view over the Acropolis Hill, I highly recommend you find a nice spot around this area and wait it out until the golden and blue hours, which is when the light is best for photography.
To get to the top of Philopappos Hill, you are going to have to hike up from one of the many entrances around the hill, and you should be able to follow the unpaved track all the way to the top, taking about 15 - 20 minutes.
The trail gradually climbs until you are almost at the top, before it becomes a little steep, but not too much. Any able body should be able to reach the top without problems. Just make sure you plan your visit in time for the sunset. Be there a little earlier to secure a spot, as the place does attract quite a bit of people.
After spending the entire day exploring Athens, it is time to retreat for the night and prepare for a day trip to visit Delphi the next day. Do not forget to book the tour for the next day before you sleep.
Day 2: A Day Trip to Delphi
One of the best day trips you can make from Athens is to go visit Delphi, an ancient Greek sanctuary located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, only a few hours away from Athens. The place was one of the most important religious and cultural centers in ancient Greece and was believed to be the center of the world by the ancient Greeks.
Delphi was dedicated to the god Apollo and was home to the famous oracle of Delphi, where visitors from all over the ancient world would come to seek advice and guidance from the god. The oracle was known for its cryptic and ambiguous responses, which were interpreted by the priests of the temple.
This story and the legends surrounding this ancient town should be enough of a reason for you to want to visit Delphi and see all the important landmarks that are considered some of the most well-preserved landmarks in the country.
One of the most impressive features of Delphi is the amphitheater, which is carved into the side of a hill and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The scale of the amphitheater is best appreciated from above, so be sure to hike a little further up the trail to see it from up there.
If you hike further up the mountain enough, you will find the ruins of the ancient stadium and the gymnasium, which were used for athletic competitions during the ancient Olympic Games. You can just imagine all the fanfare the place must have gotten from the audience during Delphi's sports competitions.
Since there is no train access to Delphi, the best way to visit Delphi from Athens is via an organized tour that will take you there and back without having to worry about the logistics.
The tour usually lasts around 10 hours and they will also take you to places like Arachova, a charming village nestled in the foothills of Mt. Parnassus, Delphi's Archaeological Museum, and stop at all the awesome viewpoints along the way.
After spending the second day exploring Delphi and its neighbors, it is time to head back to Athens and retreat for the night. You can check out Monastiraki Square and its rooftop bars, and enjoy your night away as we are going to have a bit of a rest day on our last day in Athens.
Day 3: Hang Out at Koukaki Neighborhood
On your third day, we are going to take it a little slow, so feel free to wake up whenever you like. You can spend today shopping or relaxing in one of the many cozy neighborhoods in Athens. My favorite one is Koukaki, a vibrant neighborhood full of awesome hipster cafes and restaurants for you to indulge yourself throughout the day.
For a nice, cheap restaurant and bars to hang out, I highly recommend Sfika, a small hipster bar and restaurant decorated with colorful murals and furniture with tables outside on the street which is perfect if you wish to dine while enjoying the lively vibe of the city.
The staff isn't as smiley as at other places, but they do serve excellent local food at an affordable price of around 7 - 10 EUR, making it a great place to dine, have a drink, and hang out with friends. If you are looking for such a place, be sure to check out Sfika. The restaurant is open from 1 PM to 2 AM every day.
If you don't mind paying a little more, you can also check out Koukatsi, a local restaurant in Koukaki that serves Cretan cuisine, a local cuisine that originated from the Cyclades island of Crete in the south, known for its healthy, simple, and flavorful dishes, using fresh and seasonal ingredients grown on the island.
Other neighborhoods you might want to check out in Athens are Anapafseos Street, a street full of awesome eateries, Petralona, a residential area with cool old-time taverns and cafes, and Agios Georgios Square, a night out hub, home to the oldest bar in town, Au Revoir. And that is it for an epic 3-day itinerary for Athens!
Where to Stay in Athens?
When to Visit Athens?
The best time to visit Athens is between late April and early September when the weather is nice and warm, increasing the chance of clear days. This allows you to enjoy all the outdoor activities and events the city has to offer.
That said, between June and August, it can get pretty hot outside. So, if you can't handle the European summer heat, you might want to stick to the shoulder seasons and visit in April or September when the weather is a little milder, crowds a little thinner, and things get a little cheaper as they settle in for the low season.
How to Get to Athens?
From the US, there are several direct flights from the US to Athens, the capital city of Greece, operated by airlines like Delta and Emirates from big cities like New York but you can also find plenty of transit flights that will take you to Greece at a cheaper price. You can browse through great direct flights from here.
From Europe, you can find plenty of flights flying from major European hubs to Athens International Airport (ATH) via either Aegean Airlines or low-cost airlines like Ryanair that will take you to Athens in no more than 4 hours.
From Asia, you can either fly into Europe via local airlines and then fly to Athens via low-cost airlines, or you can go with Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar, Turkish, and Emirates and transit in their countries before heading to Greece. The journey can take between 16 - 20 hours depending on the transit time.
To find a cheap flight to Athens, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Athens?
By Walking: Within the city center, you can pretty much visit most tourist attractions on foot. For further away attractions, you can rely on the metros.
By Metros: Athens has quite an extensive metro system and you can use it to easily move around the city. Depending on where you choose to stay, you might not even need it unless you are going to and from the airport. The metro regular single-trip ticket is 1.40 EUR for a 90-minute ride. For the airport, you need to get a different ticket that costs 9 EUR one way. You can get a 3-day pass that also includes trips to and from the airport for 22 EUR, if you want, but you do not need it for this itinerary.
By Tours: For day trips to places like Delphi, I highly recommend you go with an organized tour as it will save you not just time, but also money as you will not have to stay overnight to see the ruins. You can find day trips and tours here.
How Much Money Do I Need for 3 days in Athens?
From this 3-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 4 nights in Athens, you can expect to pay around 96 EUR for accommodation at a minimum, considering you are staying in hostels.
Food: For 3 days, with 3 meals a day in Athens, you can expect to pay around 63 EUR for food, considering you eat out for every meal. It will be cheaper if you cook it yourself.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 20 EUR for transportation, including a roundtrip ticket to the airport.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary, you can expect to pay around 70 EUR for activities, including the Acropolis ticket, the museum ticket, and a day trip to Delphi.
Total Budget for 3 days in Athens: 249 EUR
Is it Safe in Athens?
In general, Athens is pretty safe, but just like other big touristy cities in Europe, you will have to be extra careful with your belongings, especially in crowded places like the metros and the train stations. Petty theft and pickpocketing are quite prevalent there.
It is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended and always, ALWAYS keep an eye on your belongings at all times. Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places like a metro or a train station and make sure you are holding your phones and wallets tightly.
Other than that, you should be fine traveling around Athens. I didn't have any problems in Greece when I was there. Keep your wits with you and you will be fine.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Greece?
There are 3 major carriers in Greece, Cosmote, Vodafone, and Wind, that offer prepaid SIM cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Greece. Unfortunately, with the rise of eSIMs, having to be in the country to buy a SIM card at a store is quite inconvenient and not ideal.
If you have a smartphone that supports eSIMs, I highly recommend you take a look at these eSIMs. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.
The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local SIM card with 4G speed across the entire country.
Or if you are traveling to Greece as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend that you get the regional Eurolink eSIM which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this eSIM on my 3-month trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.
For more information on eSIMs in Greece, click here: Check Greece's Available eSIM.
What to Pack for Athens?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Athens, Greece:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Greece
I hope you found this Greece travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Greece, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- For a complete itinerary of Greece, check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Greece Itinerary.
- Most journeys in Greece begin in Athens. For a complete travel guide to the capital city of Greece, check out: 13 Best Things to Do in Athens.
- One of the best day trips you can make from Athens is to visit Delphi, an ancient Greek sanctuary that was considered to be the center of the world by the ancient Greeks. To visit this historical site, check out our Complete Guide to Backpacking Delphi.
- Have 3 days but want to see the Greek Islands? Check out this itinerary: 3 Days Backpacking Greek Islands Itinerary.
- Looking for things to do in Thessaloniki? Check out: 16 Best Things To Do In Thessaloniki.
- My favorite place out of all of Greece is Meteora, with its incredible towering rock formations and stunning monasteries perched atop. If you plan to visit Meteora, be sure to check out: A Complete Guide to Backpacking Meteora.
- Want to explore the Greek Islands but not sure where to base yourself? Naxos is the best island for that. Here are the 10 Best Things To Do In Naxos.
- Santorini, despite the crowd, is a place you have to see once in your life. If you plan to visit Santorini, the best place to base yourself is Fira, the capital of the island. For a complete travel guide, check out 10 Best Things To Do In Fira, Santorini.
- Renowned for its picturesque streets and crystal-clear water, Mykonos is another great island to visit in Greece. Here are the 8 Best Things to do in Mykonos.
- One of the most interesting islands in the Cyclades that you shouldn't miss is Delos, home to stunning ruins of an ancient Greek city of commerce. Want to visit Delos? Check out the Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Delos.
- Want to visit Santorini but not sure where to begin? Check out our 3-Day Backpacking Santorini Itinerary.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Greece, visit the Greece Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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