The Perfect Guide to Athens, Greece
It was our first time visiting Greece together and we had such an amazing time exploring the country! Most people’s first glimpse into Greece is the city of Athens, and while we believe you can do it all in 2-3 days, we think it’s definitely a must see. There is so much ancient mythology, historic temples, amazing food, and who can forget about the Greek coffee? Athens is super walkable which is one of the reasons why we loved it so much, we could walk to and from anywhere and felt totally safe. But if you’re looking for the best things to do in Athens, then we got you covered. Continue reading to see our perfect Athens itinerary!
What You Need to Get Into Greece (as of 2021)
To enter Greece as an American, you need to be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days or have proof of a negative COVID-19 test no older that 72 hours. You also need to fill out a Passenger Locator Form. For more information on how to enter Greece from other countries, please visit this link.
Where to Stay in Athens
There are a bunch of hotels you can choose from, but we chose to stay in a vacation rental. It was super affordable and only about a 15 minute walk from all the historic sites & areas! We stayed near Lycabettus Hill and there was also amazing food & shops in that area as well.
Find other Athens accommodations here on Expedia!
How to Get Around Athens
We recommend walking (need we say again the city is super walkable?!), but Uber works there as well! Uber was super convenient getting to and from the airport, and getting to and from the ferries to other islands. The Ubers were also very affordable in our opinion!
Best Things to Do in Athens
One of the Temples on The Acropolis
Freddo Espresso with a view
Visit the historic Acropolis & Parthenon. Tip: Get a combination ticket which is about €30 and gives you access to a few different ancient sites for 5 days!
Walk the streets of Plaka where you can find tons of shops & restaurants
Explore the Temple of Zeus
Try some traditional Greek coffee, freddo espresso
Hang around at Monastiraki Square — there is a market and even sometimes live music
Have sunset drinks with a view of the Acropolis — Greeks don’t have dinner till after sunset so it’s best to grab some drinks before hand! The best street for sunset drinks with an Acropolis view is called Aiolou, but you can also try the Plaka area as well!
Snap a photo on the picturesque street Anafiotika
Try some ouzo (a local Greek liquor) at Athen’s oldest distillery - Brettos
Pet the stray kitties! Athens (and Greece in general) has a stray cat problem, but that doesn’t mean these kitties don’t deserve some love! You can find a lot of them by the Acropolis area but they are all over the city as well.
Book other activities & tours for Athens on Expedia!
Where to Eat & Drink in Athens
Vegan Moussaka at Mama Tierra
Greek Salad at Taverna Saita
Loukoumades at LUKUMAADES
Mama Tierra - here they have vegan versions of traditional Greek dishes
LUKUMAADES - a typical Greek sweet treat
Taverna Saita
Falafellas
Brettos
six d.o.g.s
Ice Queen Gelato
We had a great time in Athens but we definitely think you only need 2-3 days to see the whole city. After that you will find yourself walking through the same areas & shops. To see more of what we did during our time in Athens, make sure you watch our Athens Travel Guide below!
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