In Athens, you can spend the morning walking among ancient ruins and eating a spanakopita, while spending the afternoon in museums, vintage shops, or exploring some restaurants, rooftops or viewpoints around the city. There are plenty of things to do in Athens. I enjoyed the combination of history with the present. You can tell the city has gone through things, and still is.
It’s where democracy was born, where famous philosophers wandered the streets. And honestly, I feel like I know more about historic Athens than about the current situation in Athens. What’s happening in many big cities is also happening here. Tourism increases, prices go up. But salaries for locals aren’t going up to the same extent. The city is changing, and next year there are elections.
I’ll keep this article as a list talking about things to do in Athens. Eat local, stay local. Be a tourist, a sustainable one. Maybe this is something to talk about in another article one day, because it is something that’s on my mind. For now, let’s talk about how to spend your days in Athens.
What are some things to do in Athens, Greece?
Visit the Acropolis
Of course, no first trip to Athens is complete without visiting the Acropolis. Yes, it is probably the most touristy thing you can do in Athens, but there is a reason everyone comes here. Walking up the hill and seeing the Parthenon appear is magical. At least, to me. Having learned about this place in history class when I was younger, it felt special to then actually get to visit it.
Take your time walking around the Acropolis. There are several other monuments to see, including the Erechtheion with its famous Caryatids, the Propylaia and the Temple of Athena Nike. I would recommend going as early as possible or late in the afternoon, especially in summer, as there is very little shade at the top of the hill.
You can get your tickets for the Acropolis online, so you are sure you can visit during the time you prefer. For this visit, I didn’t, but I tend to enjoy listening to an audio guide or podcast that explains more about what you’re seeing, its history, etc.
Visit the Acropolis Museum
After visiting the Acropolis itself, make sure to also visit the Acropolis Museum. We did this the next day. It is a great way to put everything you have seen into context, with archaeological finds from the Acropolis and its slopes displayed throughout the museum.
One of my favourite parts is the Parthenon Gallery on the top floor. The glass walls give you a view of the Acropolis while you look at the sculptures that originally decorated the Parthenon. Also, seeing the Caryatids was beautiful. And sad, knowing that one of the sisters is missing, and is actually located in London instead of next to her sisters in Athens…
I would for sure visit both the Acropolis and the museum. The order in which to do this? Up to you. I enjoyed seeing the buildings in real life before seeing their original sculptures and artefacts.
Wander through the National Gardens of Athens
Start your morning with a walk through the National Gardens of Athens and enjoy some time in this big green space in the middle of the city. Check out the turtles chilling in the pond, find a bench to sit on and wander along the little paths between the trees. I brought a spanakopita and ate it in the park for breakfast before heading to the Museum of Cycladic Art. A good way to start my first day exploring Athens 😉
Visit the Museum of Cycladic Art
The Museum of Cycladic Art is just a few minutes from the National Garden and focuses on art and objects from the Cyclades, as well as ancient Greek and Cypriot cultures. Think little figurines, vessels, pots, plates and other everyday and ceremonial objects. It gives you a look into how people lived thousands of years ago, including their customs, beliefs and everyday life.
It has four floors, but the spaces are relatively small. I believe I spent maybe 1–1.5 hours in the museum, trying to read as much as I could, but sometimes the mind wanders… You can either visit just the permanent collection or combine it with the temporary exhibitions.
Try local Greek food
This “thing to do in Athens” speaks for itself, I guess. And is an easy one. It would surprise me if you leave Athens without trying any of its local cuisine. Pick up a spanakopita from a bakery, try souvlaki from a takeaway, order a Greek salad, grab some loukoumades or sit down somewhere and order a selection of meze to share. Good food is all around. I’ll publish an article soon with my favourite places for Greek food.
Don’t forget the coffee. Greeks take their coffee seriously, and sitting outside with a freddo espresso or freddo cappuccino is an activity in itself. It’s a cold coffee. Add sugar if you want. And trust me, it will get you going for the next few hours.
Start your day with a typical Greek breakfast at Stani
For a traditional start to the day, head to Stani. Stani is one of Athens’ historic dairies and is the city’s last surviving traditional milk bar. I’m trying to avoid too many “TikTok” places while visiting cities, but I couldn’t find a place super similar. So to Stani I went.
The obvious thing to order is the yoghurt, traditionally made with sheep’s milk and served with walnuts and honey. You can also try other old-school Greek dairy desserts, rice pudding and loukoumades. So yum. So simple. So great.
Go to an outdoor cinema in summer
If you’re visiting Athens during the warmer months, go to an outdoor cinema. Sitting under the stars, watching a film with the Acropolis or the Athens skyline around you, feels very different from going to the cinema at home. Some of the cinemas worth looking into are Cinema Paris, Cine Thision and Vox. Check what’s showing during your visit and see if there is something you’d like!
Learn about Greek history at the National Archaeological Museum
If you have time for another museum (which I sadly didn’t) beyond the Acropolis Museum, consider the National Archaeological Museum. It is the largest archaeological museum in Greece and has an enormous collection covering thousands of years of Greek history.
Have a drink on a rooftop
Athens is one of those cities with many, many rooftops. Find a rooftop bar or restaurant, order a drink and look out over the city towards the Acropolis. Go around sunset if you can, but keep in mind that this is also when rooftop bars get busiest. I went to Attic Urban Rooftop for a drink in the afternoon, way before sunset. The views were great. Going back down, there was a long line of people waiting. So try to time it right.
Explore Psirri
Psirri is one of the neighbourhoods I enjoyed wandering around without having a destination in mind. During the day, you’ll find little shops, cafés, street art and old buildings, while in the evening the neighbourhood comes alive with bars, restaurants and nightlife. For example, have a cocktail at Barrett.
Visit the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
For something completely different from ancient Athens, head to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. (Which I would have done if I had one more day in Athens 🙁 ) The complex is home to the Greek National Opera and National Library of Greece, surrounded by the Stavros Niarchos Park.
You don’t have to visit a performance or exhibition to be able to visit it. The park itself is a place to walk around, especially if you want a break from the busy centre. Make your way up to the Lighthouse for views across Athens and towards the Saronic Gulf. It is a little further from the historic centre, but that’s also what makes it interesting. It’s something to do in Athens that isn’t part of everyone’s plan. It gives you a different impression of Athens and shows you the city’s more modern side.
If I go back to Athens one day, this is one of the first places I’d like to visit.
Walk through the Ancient Agora
The Ancient Agora is another place where you can literally walk through the history of Athens. This was once the centre of public life in ancient Athens, where people gathered for political, commercial and social activities.
I found an audio guide online, put in my earphones and enjoyed being there at 8 am, walking around in peace and fresh air. Some people, and maybe even more cats, sharing the space with me. Maybe it was the time of the year, but tickets weren’t sold out. I just decided to go when I woke up and got a ticket at the door.
It doesn’t seem to get nearly as many visitors as the Acropolis does. Even though it didn’t have views as pretty as the Acropolis, it might have been one of my favourite things to do in Athens. Really.
Watch the sunset from Lycabettus Hill
For one of the best views over Athens, make your way up Lycabettus Hill. It is the highest hill in central Athens, around 277 metres, with a small white chapel on top. From the top, you can look across the city towards the Acropolis and out towards the sea.
Go before sunset so you have time to find a good spot to sit and see the colors of the sky change. You can walk up if you feel like getting some exercise, or take the funicular if you’d rather save your energy for the view. I went up walking. Had to catch my breath at the top, and then found a place to sit.
Go vintage shopping
Athens has some good vintage and second-hand stores. Places I liked were Itsclofie Vintage Athens, Munda and Mod. Itsclofie Vintage Athens really matched my style, so I tried not to try on too many items to limit the number of things that would go home with me. It’s a small store, but very well curated.
Step inside Athens’ churches
Don’t just look at Athens’ churches from the outside. I visited a few I passed by, and each gave me a little look into a different side of the city. Even if you’re not interested in religious buildings, the interiors are beautiful, with painted icons, frescoes, candles and many details. Just remember that these are active places of worship, so dress respectfully and be mindful if a service is taking place.
Athens is a city that doesn’t need too much planning. Of course, you should see the Acropolis and get your tickets beforehand. But besides that, walk around, explore the things there are to do in Athens and see where the streets take you.
It was a nice contrast with the two nights I spent on the island of Milos, 3.5 hours away from Athens by ferry. If you are planning to see some of the Greek Islands too, Athens is a nice starting point. And a great reason to spend some days in the city before or after heading to the island.
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