Smart Self-Managed Tours

City guide · Greece

Athens

A photograph of Athens
Photograph · Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Athens combines an ancient pedestrian core with a much larger modern city. The Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki and the Ancient Agora form the central visitor cluster. Syntagma and Kolonaki extend east, while the National Archaeological Museum lies north and the coast runs far to the south. Piraeus is a separate port city within the wider urban area and needs its own journey.

Practical information

Language spoken
Greek
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+30
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No single verified statement covers the mainland and all islands

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk, metro, tram and bus
  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Parthenon
    02 2 hours

    Parthenon

    The Parthenon is the Doric temple that stands on the summit of the Acropolis rock, dedicated by the Athenians to Athena Parthenos, the patron of their city.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  2. Roman Agora of Athens
    03 45 min

    Roman Agora of Athens

    The Roman Agora is an archaeological site in central Athens, located to the north of the Acropolis. It was constructed during the Roman period and served as a commercial and administrative centre, distinct from the earlier Classical Agora.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  3. Syntagma Square
    04 45 min

    Syntagma Square

    Syntagma Square is the central plaza of Athens, Greece, serving as the political and geographic heart of the capital. It derives its name from the Greek constitution (syntagma) granted in 1843.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  4. Odeon of Herodes Atticus
    05 45 min

    Odeon of Herodes Atticus

    The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone Roman theatre structure on the southwest slope of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  5. Temple of Hephaestus
    06 45 min

    Temple of Hephaestus

    The Temple of Hephaestus stands in the Ancient Agora of Athens, a well-preserved Doric temple dedicated to Hephaestus, god of fire and metalworking. Constructed largely of Pentelic marble, it dominates the western side of the agora.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  6. Monastiraki Square
    07 45 min

    Monastiraki Square

    Monastiraki Square is a public square in central Athens, Greece. It serves as a meeting point between the old city and the modern commercial district.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  7. Arch of Hadrian
    08 45 min

    Arch of Hadrian

    The Arch of Hadrian, known locally as Πύλη του Αδριανού, is a monumental gateway in Athens, Greece. Erected in the second century CE, it stands on the ancient road between the Athenian Agora and the Olympieion.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  8. Kerameikos
    09 45 min

    Kerameikos

    Kerameikos is an ancient cemetery and archaeological site in Athens, located northwest of the Acropolis along the Eridanos River. The area served as the primary burial ground for the city from the 12th century BC through Roman times.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  9. Ancient Agora of Athens
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Ancient Agora of Athens

    The Ancient Agora is the flat ground below the north slope of the Acropolis, hemmed in by the Areopagus to the south and the low hill of Kolonos Agoraios to the west.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  10. Panathenaic Stadium
    11 1 hour

    Panathenaic Stadium

    The Panathenaic Stadium is a horseshoe of white Pentelic marble sunk into the hollow between the hills of Ardittos and Agra, about a kilometre south-east of Syntagma Square.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  11. Temple of Olympian Zeus
    12 45 min

    Temple of Olympian Zeus

    The Temple of Olympian Zeus stands inside the archaeological site of the Olympieion, the sanctuary of Olympian Zeus that occupied the low ground between the Acropolis and the hill of Ardittos, on the banks of the Ilissos.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  12. Hadrian's Library
    13 45 min

    Hadrian's Library

    Hadrian's Library is a walled Roman enclosure in the middle of Athens, a few minutes north of the Acropolis and immediately east of Monastiraki Square.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  13. Philopappos Monument
    17 45 min

    Philopappos Monument

    The Philopappos Monument is an ancient funerary monument situated on Mouseion Hill, southwest of the Athenian Acropolis.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  14. Pnyx
    20 45 min

    Pnyx

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  15. Areopagus
    26 45 min

    Areopagus

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  16. Lyceum
    30 45 min

    Lyceum

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
  17. Dipylon
    44 45 min

    Dipylon

    • High
    • Historic monument

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Use the Acropolis as the central landmark. Plaka and Anafiotika sit on its northern and eastern slopes, Monastiraki and the Ancient Agora lie northwest, and Syntagma stands farther east. The National Garden links Syntagma with the Olympic and museum zone. Exarchia and the National Archaeological Museum are north of the centre, while coastal districts and Piraeus require metro, tram or bus connections.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk through the Acropolis-Plaka-Monastiraki core and use the integrated OASA network for longer journeys. Metro, tram, buses and trolleybuses cover Athens and its suburbs, with Line 3 connecting the airport and central city. The tram is useful for selected coastal routes, while Piraeus is best treated as a separate transport leg. Consult OASA for current routes and ticket products.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I spend in Athens?

A fixed duration is not recorded. Build the visit around the Acropolis core, central museums and neighbourhoods, then add the coast or Piraeus only when time permits.

Can I walk between the main ancient sites?

Yes. The Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki and the Ancient Agora form a practical central walking area. Use transit for the National Archaeological Museum, coast and Piraeus.

What public transport serves Athens?

The OASA network includes metro, tram, buses and trolleybuses. One integrated network connects the centre with suburbs, the airport corridor and major visitor districts.

How do I reach Athens from the airport?

OASA identifies Metro Line 3 and airport express buses as direct public transport options. Check the operator before travel because airport ticket products differ from ordinary urban journeys.

Is Piraeus part of the central Athens walking route?

No. Piraeus belongs to the wider urban area but is a separate port destination. Give it a dedicated metro or bus journey rather than adding it to an Acropolis walk.

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Athens