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. Benaki Museum
    02 1 hr 30 min

    Benaki Museum

    The Benaki Museum is a museum of Greek culture in Athens. It was founded by Antonis Benakis and opened in its present form. The museum occupies a neoclassical building near Syntagma Square.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  2. Museum of Cycladic Art
    03 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Cycladic Art

    The Museum of Cycladic Art is a private museum in Athens dedicated to ancient Aegean cultures, with particular emphasis on Cycladic art of the Early Bronze Age.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  3. Byzantine and Christian Museum
    04 1 hr 30 min

    Byzantine and Christian Museum

    The Byzantine and Christian Museum is a major museum in Athens, Greece, dedicated to the preservation and display of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art and culture.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  4. Museum of the City of Athens (Foundation Vourou-Eutaxia)
    05 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of the City of Athens (Foundation Vourou-Eutaxia)

    The Museum of the City of Athens occupies the neoclassical residence of King Otto, Greece's first monarch following independence. Located on Klafthmonos Square, this historic mansion represents a significant period of Athenian urban development.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  5. Numismatic Museum of Athens
    06 1 hr 30 min

    Numismatic Museum of Athens

    The Numismatic Museum of Athens is a museum dedicated to the study and display of coins, medals, and related objects. It occupies the former mansion of Heinrich Schliemann, the German archaeologist who excavated Troy and Mycenae.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  6. National Historical Museum
    07 1 hr 30 min

    National Historical Museum

    The National Historical Museum occupies the Old Parliament House on Stadiou Street in central Athens. The neoclassical building served as the seat of the Greek parliament from 1875 to 1935.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  7. Hellenic Motor Museum
    08 1 hr 30 min

    Hellenic Motor Museum

    The Hellenic Motor Museum is an automobile museum located in Athens, Greece. It presents a collection of vehicles spanning multiple decades of automotive history.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  8. Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments
    09 1 hr 30 min

    Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments

    The Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments occupies a historic townhouse in the Plaka district beneath the Acropolis. Established through private initiative, it preserves and displays the sonic heritage of Greek regional traditions.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  9. Jewish Museum of Greece
    10 1 hr 30 min

    Jewish Museum of Greece

    The Jewish Museum of Greece is a museum in Athens dedicated to preserving and presenting the history and culture of Greek Jews. It documents the long presence of Jewish communities in Greece, which spans over two millennia.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  10. Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
    11 1 hr 30 min

    Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum

    The Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum is a specialized museum in Athens dedicated to the art of jewelry and decorative arts.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  11. Frissiras Museum
    12 1 hr 30 min

    Frissiras Museum

    Frissiras Museum is a museum located in Athens, Greece. It is listed among tourist attractions in the city. The museum's specific founding date, architectural history, and institutional background are not recorded in available sources.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  12. Herakleidon Museum
    13 1 hr 30 min

    Herakleidon Museum

    The Herakleidon Museum is a private museum in Athens, Greece. It occupies a neoclassical building in the historic Thiseio district, near the Acropolis and the ancient Agora.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  13. Athens University Museum
    14 1 hr 30 min

    Athens University Museum

    The Athens University History Museum is a museum dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, founded in 1837.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  14. Epigraphical Museum
    15 1 hr 30 min

    Epigraphical Museum

    The Epigraphic Museum in Athens houses the largest collection of ancient Greek inscriptions in the world. It operates as a specialized institution dedicated to the study, preservation, and display of epigraphic material.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  15. Athens Olympic Museum
    16 1 hr 30 min

    Athens Olympic Museum

    The Athens Olympic Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of the Olympic Games, located in Athens, Greece. It celebrates the city's profound connection to the ancient and modern Olympic movement.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  16. National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens
    17 1 hr 30 min

    National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens

    The National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens is a major cultural institution in the Greek capital dedicated to contemporary artistic practice.

    • Must see
    • Museum
  17. Maria Callas Museum
    18 1 hr 30 min

    Maria Callas Museum

    The Maria Callas Museum is a cultural institution in Athens dedicated to the life and legacy of Maria Callas, the celebrated Greek-American opera singer.

    • Must see
    • Museum

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