If you have just 24 hours in Athens, this 1 day Athens itinerary is a carefully curated guide for you to see all the best parts of this city. It also includes where to eat and a few helpful tips so you have all you need to have the best day!
Athens completely blew me away, truth be told, I was expecting to be underwhelmed. Yes, I know this sounds bizarre considering it is a city known for its impressive and extensive number of ruins but I am not a history buff and tend to get a bit restless in museums. I was under the impression I was in for a boring few weeks with obligatory ruin hopping. Well, let me tell you, I feel stupid now, Athens is anything but boring.
A city surrounded by immense history yet, Athens still manages to be modern and shares the vibrancy of many other European capitals. One minute you are walking in the footsteps of Greek gods and goddesses exploring some of the world’s oldest ruins, the next you’re hopping on a subway to wander colourful neighbourhoods with spray painted murals.
I’ve crafted this action packed 1 day Athens itinerary with plenty of stops for gyros and freddo espresso along the way. Fair warning: we’ll be covering a lot of ground, but trust this reformed skeptic, every step is worth it
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Quick Tips Athens
- You do not need a multi-attraction ticket pass for this itinerary. It will not save you money if you follow my 1 day Athens itinerary.
- Spending the night? Gatsby Athens is a 5-star hotel, rooms are aesthetic, with a 1920’s decor that features luxurious velvet seating, brightly tiled pink bathrooms and elegant mini bar. The rooms are also equipped with a coffee machine and some have a balcony.
- Getting around Athens: This itinerary is designed to explore Athens on foot. However, if you prefer transport then a 90-minute ticket or 24-hour ticket is most suitable.
1 Day Athens Itinerary
Morning
08:00 Acropolis (90 mins)
The first stop on this 1 day Athens itinerary is its most iconic ruins, the Acropolis. It opens at 8 AM, it’s best to get here about 30 mins prior to opening so you can beat the crowds and the scorching heat. After travelling the Mediterranean I have learned to never underestimate the crowds or the heat.
If you book your ticket online or have a multi attraction pass you can just self-scan your ticket through the turnstile. Of course, a guided tour can enhance the experience.
The Acropolis is a hill with several ruins on it, it has been the home to kings, a mythical home of Greek gods, and a citadel. The most famous structure is the Parthenon, a temple built for the Greek Goddess Athena, which for a building dating back to 447 BC, it’s in pretty good condition. You also get incredible views of Athens from here. Other sites to visit are Erechtheion Temple, Theatre Of Dionysos and the prison cell.
The climb to the top is not too steep but there is an elevator for anyone who needs to use it. Also, the marble floor can get slippy so make sure you have shoes with a good grip.
09:30 Breakfast (30 mins)
After visiting one of the world’s most significant historical sites you must have built up an appetite, no better way than over a delicious breakfast. A typical Greek breakfast usually includes Spanakopita (spinach pie), Simit, Ladenia (flat bread), Eliopsomo (Olive Bread), or Bougatsa (semolina custard pastry).
Diogenis Food Hall on the foothills of the Acropolis is a cosy coffee and pastry bar, where you can grab and go.
10:00 Plaka (45 mins)
The breakfast restaurant I suggested above is located in the neighbourhood of Plaka, this is the oldest neighbourhood in Athens, and it is so charming. Located at the foot of Acropolis it has pedestrianised streets, bright quaint buildings and feels like a small village, even though it attracts large crowds.
From here, the next place we are visiting is just a 13 minute walk away. Follow the picturesque Adrianou street to get a free peak at Hadrian’s Library.
10:45 Ancient Agora of Athens (90 mins)
The Ancient Agora of Athens is the second most popular historical site in Athens, after the Acropolis. It was once a place of political gatherings for the Athenians where everything from military parades to the government was housed!
It’s a massive archeological site with the renovated Stoa of Attalos which was a place for ancient merchants to trade, today it’s a museum, and one of the most well preserved temples in Athens, Temple of Hephaestus. Unfortunately the temple can only be viewed from the outside, and cannot be entered. It’s one of the few landmarks from that period that still has an intact roof.
You might even see a wild turtle which is supposed to bring you good luck.
People often confuse the Ancient Agora with the Roman Forum. The latter was an ancient market place, you can visit this but you need a separate ticket.
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Afternoon
12:15 Lunch (75 mins)
Athens is one of the few places I’ve visited that I can hand on my heart say I did not experience a bad meal. Greek food is insanely good, Moussaka (ground meat and eggplant), Saganaki (deep fried cheese, often halloumi), Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with zesty rice) and Souvlaki (skewered meats with pita) are all perfect for a lunch.
Where Eat Lunch In Athens
These are a few restaurants I enjoyed!
- Theta: looking for an authentic Greek meal in Athens? Theta ticks all the boxes for an unforgettable meal. Sit out on terrace under the shade of the trees with views of the Acropolis. The saganaki was my favourite dish, their cocktails are also so good!
- The Greco’s Project: On Monastiraki Square, fresh local fare. Their dolmades were the best I had in Athens, and they have a delicious spiral courgette salad.
Little Kook – for something sweet
If you are in the mood for a sweeter lunch then Little Kook is a must visit. Just a 4 minute walk from the ancient grounds of the Athenian Agora is an extravagant fairytale themed cafe. The theme changes on a regular basis, when I visited it was Alice in Wonderland, other themes include Mary Poppins, Snow White and annual Christmas and Halloween themes. They go all out, from the colourful alleyways, shopfront and interior decor to the menu.
The menu caters towards those of us with a sweet tooth, think cakes, ice cream, pancakes and flavoured lattes. I ordered a chocolate shoe that was filled with frosting and came with a teacup of ice cream.
13:30 Monastiraki Square (60 mins)
Monastiraki Square is the heart of Athens, a collision of old and new Athens, locals, tourists, musicians, who all gather here with the mighty Acropolis in the background. To see it lit up at night is special.
Every Sunday the flea market brings local artists selling handmade jewellery and homeware, it’s a great place to pick up a souvenir.
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14:30 Guard Change at Syntagma (45 mins)
Every hour 365 days of the year you can watch the Evzones standing guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. To be selected as an evzone is the highest honour. A key part of their job is to withstand any expression or movement during their time standing guard.
During the hourly ceremony the guards are in sync, coordinating their movements. This movement is believed to allow the guards some circulation after standing still for one hour.
15:15 Arch Of Hadrian + Temple of Olympian Zeus (30 mins)
Arch of Hadrian was built almost 2,000 years ago as a dividing line between the old Athens and the new. The arch is 18 meters high and made entirely of Pentelic marble, which was also used in the Parthenon. It is the entryway to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, you do not need to pay to visit the arch but temple of Zeus needs an entry ticket.
Zeus’s temple is a large yet uncompleted and currently restoration is in progress with much of it covered in scaffolding. Only a few columns remain along with Roman bath ruins. Greek Mythological History.
You don’t need to spend too long here, it’s just a quick pitstop and then 15 minute walk to the next stop on this 1 day in Athens itinerary.
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16:00 Panathenaic Stadium (60 mins)
Visit the world’s only marble stadium, that was made for the first modern Olympics in 1896. It can hold up to 80,000 people.
You can climb the stairs to the top, run around the track, walk through the vault passageway that Olympians have made their entrances through, and there is also small museum at the end of it with Olympic torches from games over the years.
Pro tip: Climb to the top of row 21 on your way out, for a beautiful view of both the Parthenon and Lycabettus Hill in addition to the stadium!
Getting to Mount Lycabettus from Panathenaic Stadium
It’s a 20 minute walk to the base of Mount Lycabettus, you can walk through Athens National Garden which you will be passing anyway.
Need a snack? nearby Grill & Pita do delicious gyros, perfect to give you some energy for the final things to do on this Athens itinerary.
Evening
17:00 Sunset: Mount Lycabettus (90 mins)
The final activity on this 1 day Athens itinerary is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Athens. For those of you who are tired, you can even take a funicular up!
If you choose to hike it’s a 30 minute moderately steep climb to the top from the starting point of Dexameni Square. The path is paved with insane views for most of it
Due to it being such an amazing spot, it gets insanely busy during sunset so I recommend reserving a table in advance at either the cafe, restaurant or Sky Bar at the top, ordering a cocktail and taking in the sprawling views.
Dinner – View Of The Acropolis
Ending this 1 day Athens itinerary in style by having a rooftop dinner overlooking the Acropolis. There are many rooftop restaurant in Athens but some are complete tourist traps that serve overpriced and not so delicious food.
- Buena Vista Social Bar: fun and friendly Latin bar with amazing Mexican food. Chimichangas, margaritas, and the acropolis in the background, come on, what a night!
- City ZEN All Day Bar Restaurant: Greek and Italian dishes with a relaxing atmosphere.
- Couleur Locale: cosy bar with lively music and reasonable prices (considering the views). Menu is mostly Western with burgers, pizza and salad.
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Thank you for reading this 1 day Athens itinerary, keep reading for a few more tips.
I only have a few hours in Athens, what do I do?
No problem! Better to spend just a few hours in Athens than none at all. Thanks to its compact size you can still see plenty in just a few hours. The following are what I consider the must not miss places in Athens.
- Acropolis
- Ancient Agora Of Athens
- Mount Lycabettus for views and sunset
1 Day Athens Itinerary FAQ
Although you can fit a lot into one day, Athens deserves more than that. With so many historical sites, cool neighbourhoods and hikes, 3 – 4 days is a more adequate time to spend in Athens.
The Acropolis is the most popular things to do in Athens. It’s a remarkable site with many preserved ruins sitting on top of a hill. Whatever you do in Athens, make sure you visit the Acropolis.
No, the Acropolis is a hill where several ruins sit. The most famous ruin is the Parthenon, a temple build for the goddess Athena.
