Ultimate 4-Day Itinerary: Explore The Best Of Athens, Greece
Experience a 4-day Athens adventure with historic sites, unbelievable food, friendly people and more. Explore the food scene, walk the old neighbourhoods and enjoy the gardens.
Day 1: Arrive and Settle In
Depending on when and how you arrive, make your way to the Plaka. Head to your accommodation and settle in. We arranged for a pick-up service from Athens Airport to our vacation rental in the Plaka, about a 45-minute drive. We were pleasantly surprised to find our vacation rental fully stocked with fruit, snacks, breakfast foods and all the essentials. Instead of heading to the grocery store we went in search of our first dinner in Athens.
Day 2: Explore the National Gardens and Visit the Acropolis Museum
Head to the Athens National Gardens, next to the Plaka neighbourhood and wander through the gardens. This was a 10-minute walk from where we stayed in the Plaka. Meet the turtles and explore the ancient ruins in the park. Pack a picnic from a nearby bakery and find some shade, or let the kids burn off some energy at the playground.
In the afternoon walk over to the Acropolis Museum (10 to 15-minute walk from the Plaka) and learn about the historic site next door. Tickets at the door were €15/adult and €10/reduced admission, they are further reduced in the winter season and are free for those five and under. Plan for a couple of hours to see it all. For dinner find a restaurant with a rooftop patio or view of the Acropolis and watch it light up.
Day 3: Visit the Acropolis
Head to the side entrance of the Acropolis for opening to take in the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. My favourite was the ancient theatre, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Wear comfortable non-slip shoes as the dust on the marble is slippery. Bring plenty of water, as the climb can be steep and there is little shade. With the crowds, it took us about an hour to reach the Parthenon at the top of the site.
We purchased our tickets ahead via a multi-pass that allowed us to see seven of the historic sites in Athens within five days. Since our visit to the Acropolis, I believe they have instituted a different process for entry to limit the number of people on the site. Tickets are €20/adult and €10/reduced admission.
Day 4: See the Sites in the Monastiraki Neighbourhood
Spend the morning exploring the ancient sites that are spread out near the Acropolis by walking around the Monastiraki neighbourhood. We used our multi-pass to enter each of these sites and skipped the lineups to get in. Tickets for a single site are €6-10/adult and €3-5/reduced admission. We chose what was most interesting to our group and visited:
- Temple of Olympian Zeus: Stand in awe before the towering columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
- Arch of Hadrian: Pause beneath the towering Hadrian’s Arch, a monumental gateway that once marked the boundary between the ancient city and the Roman quarter. Capture the perfect family photo against the backdrop of this iconic landmark, framing the Acropolis in the distance.
- Hadrian’s Library: Uncover the legacy of ancient Athens at Hadrian’s Library, a center of learning and scholarship founded by the Roman emperor Hadrian. We decided not to enter the site but to enjoy the views as we walked by heading to the Ancient Agora.
- Ancient Agora of Athens: Step back in time to the heart of ancient Athens with a visit to the Ancient Agora, where ancient Greeks gathered for commerce, politics, and socializing. Wander among the ruins of temples, stoas, and buildings, imagining the life that once thrived within these grounds. There is a small museum and gift shop on site. The Agora was larger than we expected and had much smaller crowds than the Acropolis, making it easier to explore the ruins.
- Be sure to wander through Monastiraki Square, a plaza filled with restaurants and a beautiful church.
Depending on the museum’s hours and your energy levels, make your way to the National Archaeological Museum by public transit (about 15 minutes from the Plaka) for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Download the museum’s app for an interactive tour that will keep kids engaged. Tickets are €12/person. Hours vary depending on the time of year with later afternoon and evening hours on Tuesdays.
Day 5: Travel Day
Pack up, have a great breakfast, and grab a few snacks for the flight/ferry as you make your way home or to your next adventure.
Do-Overs
Four days was the perfect amount of time in Athens but with the heat we found ourselves needing to be indoors and resting in the afternoons so felt there was more we could have explored. With the ease and walkability of the city and its amazing food, it is on our list to visit again, perhaps in a cooler season.
See Experienced It for our family’s favourite things to do in Athens and Good Eats for our favourite restaurants and treats.
