Greece & ancient Greek history have fascinated me since I was a child (thanks Disney's Hercules)! From the Greek gods, to the architecture, grilled lamb, and spanakopita, Greece truly has so much to offer. I originally started planning to visit in 2022 but finally made it a reality in April 2024! Athens and mainland Greece were the first stop on my 10 day adventure of which I spent three days. Here are sixteen recommendations for visiting Athens!

Archaeological Museum of Athens

This museum holds a lot of ancient pieces from around Greece including statues, weapons, currency, pottery, and more. I stumbled into this museum as a way to help kill some more time before I could check into my hotel (I landed at 9am and check-in was at 2pm...I hate that system). It's not massive but there are many rooms, two floors, a cafe, and a gift shop. Some of the statues were so old it was before Greece was actually good at sculpting and almost looked Egyptian as they were from the Minoan period. Entrance was around €15 a person but there's a discount if you're under 25 years old. Highly recommend for any history buffs!

Enjoy a Glass of White Wine at Frog's Guesthouse Bar

We stumbled upon this spot while looking for dinner and decided to come back for a glass of wine. The bartender recommended white as she said Greece is more known for that than their red. It was really pleasant and came with complimentary nuts and dried berries (like a trail mix but better). They also appear to serve breakfast and are part of a hotel! 

Acropolis

This will be on every list you find on the internet, but that's simply because if you don't see it you might as well say you didn't go to Athens. The acropolis is THE HIGHLIGHT in terms of attractions as it quite literally sits up on a hill looking down on the city. It's also important to clarify this is made up of multiple buildings and structures, not only the Parthenon, which is what most (including myself) go to see. Athens also does have free entry days which I was lucky enough to be there for. You're given a ticket for a specific time in order to minimize the crowds, so grab that first and go kill time before your slot so you don't miss it. My ticket was for three hours after I got it! Otherwise, for normal days you can grab a ticket online to skip the lines! 

Parthenon 

This is the main building at the Acropolis people go to see & did I tear a bit at it's magnificence? Yes. It's amazing and I'm a sucker for some good ruins. 

Hadrian's Library

This is a very simple ruin & part of what makes getting a combo ticket so appealing because otherwise it's €8 or so by itself & I don't think that's worth it. Still pretty but it's mostly open outdoor space.

Ancient Agora of Athens

I stumbled in here as part of a way to kill time before my time slot for the Acropolis but it's actually a really nice site! It's about €10 on its own which I think is fair because it's a large area & that includes the museum!

Agora of Athens Museum

This is inside of the Ancient Agora grounds and holds many interesting artifacts and even has an upstairs which can be accessed from the outside. It's a small museum but worth a walk through if you're already there. 

Try Classic Greek Dishes in Monastiraki Square

This area is a tourist hot spot but there's a lot to see and do and is a great place to grab a bite to eat! I always recommend reading a few menus before making a decision. The workers outside of restaurants are very good at getting you to come in but it's alright to walk away and come back. Some great items to try are grilled lamb, souvlaki, and mousaka!

Visit the Monastiraki Flea Market

This is in the same area as the square but is also a fun place for some more unique souvenirs! You can find homemade jewelry, clothes, honey, and so much more!

Plaka Neighborhood

This is a very popular neighborhood not too far from Monastiraki square with a ton of cute restaurants and shops! I actually bought two necklaces here at a jewelry shop which are my new favorites and I even got them tax free! Feel free to walk around but do expect higher prices due to the area's popularity. If you want to sit for a meal I recommend Arcadia Restuarant! The staff were super friendly, food was lovely, and their English was great if you don't speak Greek!

Day Trip to Delphi & Arachova

If you're near Athens, you must take a day trip to Delphi! It's only about two hours away by car. The ancient Greeks believed Delphi was the center of the world and was home to the oracle who was consulted on major events throughout the time the area was in use. Today it's home to the archeological site and part of of Parnassos National Park. Arachova is a small town right by Delphi that's home to scenic views, great food, and gives you a nice idea about smaller town life in Greece.

Delphi Archeological Site

This is the main attraction at Delphi whose first excavation began in 1880. Here you can walk around to see sites such as the theatre and the Treasury of the Athenians. The entrance fee was around €12.50 a person & does include entrance into the archeological museum up the road.

Delphi Archeological Museum

This museum is included in the entrance fee to the archeological site. When you arrive simply show them the same ticket. The museum is filled with statues and other artifacts that were excavated from the area giving you a firmer idea of how the people during this time lived. You could spend about 45 minutes to an hour here as it's not too large. Areas can become crowded when tour groups are being guided through.

Tholos of Athena Pronaia

This area is part of the ancient area of Delphi but is outside of the archeological site. It's free to enter, which is great! However, it's a decent walk from the other areas. You want to walk back down the road in the opposite direction of the museum, past the archaeological site, past the gymnasium, and beyond once the sidewalk ends. Don't worry there are signs! It's about a 15 minute walk from the museum. You have to walk down a bunch of stairs to get to the site and it's not a huge area, but is very beautiful! Emphasized by being surrounded by the mountains it's breathtaking. I wouldn't skip this!

Ancient Gymnasium of Delphi

Quite literally an ancient outdoor gym! Unfortunately, it was undergoing restoration during my visit, but I was able to see some of it while passing by and it looks cool. Check it out if it's open while you're there!

Lunch in Arachova

Before you head back to Athens, stop in Arachova to look around have some lunch. The town is very quaint but beautiful! You're still surrounded by mountains and is a good spot to pick up a Delphi souvenir if you'd like. Our bus driver recommended to us to try the grilled saganaki cheese, braised lamb with local pasta, & local wine. All were fabulous so I'm definitely passing down this recommendation! Careful with the wine as the restaurant I went to (whose name I forgot to note) served it in a large metal mug so it was almost like getting two glass for the price of one. Sounds like a good deal, but it can hit you quickly if you're not paying attention!

How to Get Around?

The metro or taxi! Don't bother renting a car as parking would be an absolute nightmare and the prices vary. The metro is cheap and efficient, just watch your surroundings. If you want to take a taxi you can use the FreeNow app or Uber!

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