The Perfect Itinerary for 24 Hours in Athens

If you are planning to travel to the Greek Islands, there is a 99.9% chance you will have to fly through Athens in order to connect to your island of choice. Because of that, I have put together the perfect itinerary for 24 hours in Athens! With just 24 hours in Athens, I promise you’ll see the famous Acropolis, and navigate the Plaka area, all while finding some hidden viewpoints, shopping, and authentic Greek eats. I told you it was the perfect itinerary!

Unfortunately, a lot of travellers are quick to say that Athens is dirty and a waste of time. But I disagree! There is so much history in Athens, that it’s a shame people skip it without giving it a real shot. In the two times, I’ve been to Athens, I’ve seen some really cool restaurants, bars and neighbourhoods.

Hopefully, this itinerary will leave you feeling the same way. And if you are travelling onto the Greek Islands, be sure to check out my 10 Days In Greece Itinerary, Santorini Travel Guide and Milos Travel Guide to help you plan the next part of your trip!

Where to Stay for 24 Hours in Athens

During our most recent stay in Athens, we stayed in an Airbnb, as it was centrally located and very affordable. Since we were only there for two nights, we knew most of our time would be spent out seeing the sites. Which is why we didn’t see the point of spending money on fancier accommodation. We used this VRBO, which was spacious and comfortable. Plus, we were blown away by its views of the Acropolis, and that our host woke up at 4 am to check us in.

If you are staying in Athens for longer, and you are looking for something a little more special, I highly recommend staying at the President Hotel. I stayed here the last time I was in Athens and was so impressed by their included breakfast and customer service. Plus, it’s in a great location and has a stunning rooftop bar and pool, with views of the Acropolis. I would 100% recommend this hotel, especially if you are travelling for a special occasion like a honeymoon!

*TIP: Most flights arrive in Athens in the middle of the night. This can make it tricky to check into an VRBO style apartment, which is why a hotel can be easier and stress-free. If you do want to stay in an VRBO, make sure it has a lockbox. Or just message the host before you book to ensure you can check-in at the time of your arrival.

How to Get Around Athens: Bus, Uber, Taxies, and the Metro

From the airport to the city it can be a fairly long trek. So if you fly in between 6:30 am-11:30 pm consider taking the metro line. This will definitely save you some money. Unfortunately, our international flight got in at 4 am. So we pre-booked a taxi transfer through Get Your Guide to get us safely to our Airbnb. I use GetYourGuide when I want to uncover new things to do or in this case for a safe transfer. They’re easy to use and book with, and I’ve explored the best of my destination with their tours.

As for our 24 hours in Athens, we used the metro once and then walked the rest of the day. Alternatively, if you want to cover all the major UNESCO sites of Athens, jump on the Athens Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus. On here you can discover the main attractions of Athens, the Port of Piraeus, and the breathtaking Athenian Riviera. You’ll even have the option to listen to interesting commentaries aboard the bus. But what I love about the Hop-on-Hop-Off Buses is that you can explore at your own pace. No rush, no strict schedules—just pure flexibility and the opportunity to soak up the beauty of Athens and its stunning coastline.

Lastly, we used Uber to get from our Airbnb to the docks to catch our fast ferry to the islands. Once again, this was extremely early in the morning, so public transportation wasn’t an option.

Is 24 Hours Enough Time in Athens?

While it may seem like a short window to explore a city steeped in millennia of history, 24 hours in Athens can indeed offer a captivating glimpse into its most iconic landmarks. By carefully using this itinerary, visitors can traverse the majestic Acropolis, marvel at the Parthenon, and wander through the bustling streets of Plaka and Monastiraki.

However, to truly immerse oneself in Athenian life, allowing 2 to 3 days would provide ample opportunity to delve deeper into hidden gems and neighbourhoods. Beyond the renowned sites lie charming districts like Exarchia, with its vibrant street art scene, and Koukaki, known for its cozy cafes and authentic tavernas. Extending your stay allows for strolls through tranquil parks, authentic meals at local eateries, and chance encounters with the city’s friendly residents. While 24 hours offers a taste of Athens’ splendour, a few extra days unveil its soul, making for an enriching and unforgettable experience.

FAQ About Travelling to Athens

Drinking Water in Athens

Our Airbnb host told us it wasn’t safe to drink the water, so buy bottled water. Hopefully, this will change in the coming years. I hate buying bottled water, due to the plastic waste. This is why we always travel with our own reusable self-cleaning UV water bottle.

Electrical Plugs

Greece requires European Plugs. So if you don’t already have a universal adaptor plug that works worldwide, I recommend bringing this on all your travels. We have this one and love it! Not only does it work with my computer and hair curler, it has the additional four USB plugs at the top, to charge all your phone and any other gadgets!

Currency

Euros. I recommend having cash on hand, however, most major restaurants, stores and hotels accept credit cards.

24 Hours in Athens Itinerary

9 am: Breakfast in Athens

Rise and shine wanderers! We’ve got a big day ahead of us, so don’t let your jet lag get in the way.

First stop, Greek yogurt for breakfast – obviously! Fresko Yogurt Bar is my favourite Greek yogurt chain restaurant to grab a quick breakfast on the go. Here you can find different types of Greek yogurt, that they allow you to sample! Plus, they offer delicious toppings like honey, nuts, berries or granola. Conveniently, there is a location near the Acropolis. So you can either eat it there, or I recommend grabbing one to go. Then you can eat it while waiting in the ticket line at the Acropolis (and trust me, there will be a line).

9:15 -12 pm: Acropolis & Theatre

Let’s be honest, the real claim to fame here in Athens is the Acropolis, and it’s certainly worth all the hype. Stepping on a site that has been around since the 5th century and survived wars, weather, earthquakes, and bombs, deserves to be marvelled at.

Here are some tips to make your Acropolis experience a positive one:

• Get there early to avoid massive lines to buy your tickets at the gate (20€), and to avoid the heat of the blazing summer sun.
• Or be a real savvy traveller and purchase your entrance ticket before you leave to avoid the line altogether.
• Allow for at least 2 hours to wander around the site. We spent 3 hours, to make time for photos and learning about all the history.
• Do not hire a tour guide on-site! When we arrived a lot of tour guides were shouting to hire them for a tour. Most were asking for 20€ per person, on top of the entrance fee, and I have heard mixed reviews from people who have used one.
• If you are keen to have a walking guide, which I recommend, consider the Get Your Guide audio tour on your phone that includes your entrance fee
• Or if you are ok spending a bit more, there are also small group tours.

Pro Tip:

If you are interested in visiting the Acropolis Museum after seeing the monuments, then the best deal is to buy a bundle ticket. This includes your admission to both the Acropolis monuments, and the Acropolis Museum, plus, it also includes a walking guide/tour around the site. Oh, and did I mention your guide is an experienced archaeologist!? They will share tales and facts that will bring the Acropolis’ history to life as you visit the monuments and the Museum.

12:30 pm: Lunch at Avocado

Avocado is a delicious vegetarian restaurant that has vegan and gluten-free options. Although Ben and I aren’t vegetarian, we always love vegetarian restaurants and eating clean! Plus we ate way too much meat in the Balkans and were craving a healthy meal. Ben got the Avocado burger and I grabbed one of their delicious salads and the vegan coconut milkshake. Everything was delicious! If we went back I would want to try their avocado hummus and truffle halloumi salad.

Alternatively, join an Athens Food Tour for lunch

Calling my fellow foodies!  If you’re like me and always on the hunt for the best bites while on vacation, then you can’t miss out on an Athens street food tour with a local guide. This tour is the real deal when it comes to authentic Greek cuisine. You’ll get to chow down on the best street food in Athens! Plus, sip on refreshing drinks, explore the city, and even hang out where the locals do. By the end of the afternoon, you’ll be stuffed (in the best way possible). Plus, you get to choose between a private or group tour, so it’s totally up to you. Don’t miss out on this delicious adventure!

*Note: you can also do this tour for dinner if that suits your itinerary better!

2-5 pm: Choose Your Own Adventure

This is where you get to choose how you want to spend the rest of your day.

Culture and Insta-worthy Photos:

Walk through the tiny old neighbourhood of Anafiotika. Here you will find some of the oldest houses built in Athens, on the side of the Acropolis hill. All the narrow alleyways, colourful flowers, hung laundry and sleeping kittens make it a very photogenic area.

More History:

If you want to cover all the wonders of Athens, then give your feet a break and jump on the Athens Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus. Onboard you can discover all the sites of Athens, the Port of Piraeus, and the breathtaking Athenian Riviera, while listening to the interesting commentaries aboard the bus. Explore these fantastic destinations at your own pace, by jumping on and off the bus whenever and wherever you fancy. No rush, no strict schedules—just pure flexibility and the opportunity to soak up the beauty of Athens and its stunning coastline.

I recommend stopping at the original Olympic Stadium, and the towering remains from the Temple of Zeus (shown in the photo below).

For All My Shopaholics:

Shop the main strip:

Forgot something at home? Here on the main strip, you will find all your mainstream stores including Zara, H&M, Mango, Forever21, Pull and Bear and American Eagle.

Shop in the Plaka:

Or for lower prices and fun local pieces, shop in the Plaka area. Even if you do not like shopping I do recommend checking this area out. Yes, it is touristy but it’s also full of life!

I picked up the most beautiful leather sandals at the stand, Nikol, for only 19€, after a bit of bartering of course. They even offered to customize the straps to fit me better. They have tons of styles throughout the Plaka area, but I fell in love with a simple style, and to this day they are still my go-to favourite sandal. Also, after 9 months of wearing them religiously, they are still intact and I get lots of compliments on them. Some souvenirs can fall apart after a week, but not these leather sandals. You’ll also find typical Greek souvenirs, sunglasses, clothes, and food in this area.

5-6 pm: Sunset Drinks 

Enjoy a sunset sipper at A for Athens. Some other great rooftop patios include 360, Athenia, and City Zen, but in my opinion, A for Athens has the best view.

After spending the day marvelling at the amazing Acropolis, now it’s time to sit back and reflect on your day by looking at it from a different perspective. A for Athens has an amazing rooftop patio, however, we enjoyed the views from the main bar. Although not on the roof, this section is still open air. While sitting at the bar, we just turned our seats and had a front row ticket to the best view of the city. The picture below was taken from our seats at the bar. Not too shabby, hey?

*Tip: Depending on the season, sunset time will vary. If you are staying in Athens more than one night, consider reserving a table for dinner to ensure you get a good spot.

6-8 pm: Dinner 

Head to ‘Slovaki Row’ for some authentic eats. Take your pick from any of the restaurants in this area. They all have similar menus and prices, but we picked up a good vibe from O Thanasis and were very pleased with our meal! Pita, Taziki, Greek salad and Slovaki, of course. Ben and I ordered a Slovaki each and quickly realized we ordered too much food. We could have easily shared one main. Also, we were very pleased to see that the prices here were quite low for European standards. For example, beer was 1.5€ and wine was €3.50 for 500ml. If you are on a budget you can also grab take-away gyros or Slovakia for a bit less than if you get table service.

8-9 pm: Dessert & Drinks

After dinner, head to Yiasemi for a traditional Greek coffee, dessert or a nightcap with a terrific vibe. This little restaurant is located in the Plaka area. Tourists and locals usually sit out on the steps to take in the lively atmosphere of the area and people watch! Try their traditional baklava or homemade pies with ice cream. If you have more time in the city, come back and enjoy a vegetarian breakfast buffet on their rooftop patio.

9-11 pm: Nightlife

If jet lag hasn’t hit, walk 20 minutes to the Kerameikos area to enjoy an evening cocktail, live music, hookah or go dancing. There is an abundance of cool & hip restaurants, bars, pubs and lounges in this area. So there is bound to be something that will suit you. Personally, Ben and I love to end our vacation days with hookah and tea. So we found Hookaholic & My Lollipop (terrible name, I know), to be a good fit for us. There was another bar with hookahs on this strip, but they were charging €30 per hookah, which in my opinion is very overpriced.  With that being said, if you also like hookah, make sure to ask for the price before you order.

On my next trip to Athens, I would definitely go back to this area and check out their cool restaurants and cafes.

Have more time in Athens?

If you have more time in Athens, set sail from the marina on a charming wooden ship for an unforgettable full-day cruise to the stunning islands of Agistri, Moni, Metopi, and Aegina. Indulge in a delectable traditional Greek buffet, complemented by unlimited drinks as you soak up the sun and explore vibrant local markets. Dive into the crystal-clear waters at a semi-private beach, or simply relax on board. This is the perfect experience if you have more than 24 hours in Athens, but don’t have enough days to visit Santorini, Milos or Crete. On this one-day cruise, you’ll discover the true beauty and culture of these idyllic islands that are close to the mainland. Don’t miss this perfect blend of relaxation, exploration, and culinary delight!

In Conclusion: 24 Hours in Athens

In sum, a whirlwind 24 hours in Athens unveils a kaleidoscope of Greek history, culture, and modern life. From tracing the footsteps of ancient philosophers atop the Acropolis to getting lost in the labyrinthine streets of Plaka and Monastiraki, each moment is a treasure trove of wonder. Whether indulging in the flavours of traditional Greek cuisine at cozy tavernas, getting lost in the vibrant energy of local markets, or marvelling at the timeless majesty of the Parthenon, Athens effortlessly blends the old with the new. As twilight hues illuminate the Parthenon’s ancient columns, Athens reveals its irresistible charm. In a day, you will create memories that will beckon you back for a more immersive journey through its captivating streets and hidden gems of Athens.

Hope you guys enjoyed this itinerary for 24 hours in Athens! If you use it, please make sure to leave a comment and let me know what you enjoyed most.

Read Next:

10 Days in Greece Itinerary: The Best Greek Island Hopping Route

The Ultimate Santorini Travel Guide 

Milos Travel Guide for Greek Island Hopping

15 Top Things to Do in Crete, Greece – Your Ultimate Travel Guide!

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