A weekend in Athens
The Parthenon at 8:00, the old market at noon and souvlaki and meze late into the night.
Checked 13 October 2026
A weekend in Athens covers the Acropolis and its museum, the Ancient Agora and the National Archaeological Museum, with time for the quiet lanes of Anafiotika, the hills facing the Parthenon and long, late dinners. The thing to get right is the Acropolis: every ticket is for a one-hour slot (€30 on the government's tickets.hh.gr), so book the 8:00 or a late-afternoon slot first and build the rest around it. From 1 November the state sites close early (17:00 for the Acropolis and the Agora, 15:00 for Kerameikos), but they are free on the first and third Sunday of each month until the end of March.
Athens is a big, sprawling, noisy city with a small, walkable core. The Acropolis rises in the middle of it, and almost everything a weekend visitor needs lies around its foot: the Acropolis Museum and the pedestrian Dionysiou Areopagitou promenade on the south side, Plaka and the whitewashed lanes of Anafiotika on the north-east slope, the Ancient Agora and Monastiraki to the north-west, and the hills of Filopappou and the Pnyx opposite. You can walk from Syntagma Square to Kerameikos in half an hour and see the Parthenon from almost every rooftop on the way.
The ancient city is the reason most people come, and it is better organised than its reputation: every state site sells timed tickets on the government's Hellenic Heritage store, the old multi-site ticket is gone, and each site is priced on its own. The modern city is the reason to stay a third day. Athenians eat late, crowd the markets and souvlaki counters at lunch, sit for hours over meze and ouzo, and keep the bars of Psyrri and the cafés of Thissio and Pangrati busy past midnight.
A weekend works best with the Acropolis early on Saturday, the old central market at lunchtime (it closes on Sundays), and Sunday for the Monastiraki flea market, the Agora and a sunset on one of the hills. With a third day, take the ferry to Aegina, or give a long day to Cape Sounion, about two hours each way by bus. Delphi and Meteora are further away and need a long day or an overnight stay.
Athens in two or three days: a plan
Saturday starts with the 8:00 Acropolis slot and the museum, then the central market for lunch, because it closes on Sundays. Sunday is for the flea market, the Agora and Kerameikos, and a sunset on Filopappou. Arrive on Friday and you can use the Acropolis Museum's late opening until 22:00. Keep the third day for the National Archaeological Museum or the ferry to Aegina; Cape Sounion is a long day of its own.
Day 1: the Acropolis, its museum, Anafiotika and the central market
Morning
Take the 8:00 Acropolis slot (€30 on tickets.hh.gr) and go in by the south entrance on Dionysiou Areopagitou, three minutes from Akropoli metro. Walk up past the Theatre of Dionysus, see the Parthenon and the Erechtheion before the tour groups arrive, then walk 300 metres to the Acropolis Museum (€20, book a time online) for the Caryatids and the Parthenon Gallery. Allow about four hours for both.
Full guide on Sightsale →Afternoon
Walk up through Plaka into Anafiotika, the island-style lanes under the north face of the rock, then down to Monastiraki and along Athinas street to the Varvakios central market (open Monday to Saturday 8:00–18:00). Lunch in the market: chickpeas and sardines with barrel wine at Diporto, or a stew at Epirus in the meat hall.
Evening
Take the funicular from Kolonaki (about €13 return) or walk up Lycabettus for the sunset over the Acropolis and the sea, then dinner at Pharaoh on Solomou street (wood-fired Greek cooking, book ahead) or Linou Soumpasis & Co. in Psyrri.
Day 2: the flea market, the Ancient Agora, Kerameikos and Filopappou
Morning
Start at the Ancient Agora when it opens at 8:00 (€20): the Temple of Hephaestus, which the culture ministry's site calls the best-preserved temple of the 5th century BC, and the museum in the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos. Then walk into Monastiraki for the Sunday flea market around Avissinia Square, where street bands play and the stalls spread towards Thissio.
Afternoon
Walk west along pedestrian Ermou street to Kerameikos (€10 with its museum), the ancient cemetery and the Dipylon gate, usually almost empty. From 1 November it closes at 15:00, so go straight after lunch. Then a coffee on Iraklidon street in Thissio.
Evening
Climb Filopappou Hill or the Hill of the Nymphs (free) for the sunset, with the whole Acropolis in front of you. For dinner, Akra in Pangrati (Bib Gourmand, open on Sundays) or, for a special night, Makris Athens by the Agora (one MICHELIN star, book ahead).
With a third day: the National Archaeological Museum or an island
Morning
The National Archaeological Museum (€20) for the gold mask of Agamemnon, the bronze Poseidon (or Zeus) of Artemision and the Antikythera mechanism. It opens at 13:00 on Tuesdays, so on a Tuesday swap the morning and afternoon. Allow three hours. Alternatively, take an early ferry from Piraeus to Aegina (from 40 minutes).
Afternoon
The Museum of Cycladic Art in Kolonaki (€12, closed on Tuesdays, open to 20:00 on Thursdays) for the white marble figurines, then a walk through Kolonaki. On Aegina, take a taxi or bus up to the Temple of Aphaia (€10).
Evening
Dinner at Bakaliarakia tou Damigou, a basement taverna in Plaka known for fried salt cod with skordalia, or loukoumades at Krinos on Aiolou street.
If it rains
The Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art fill a wet day, and the Varvakios market is covered. The marble paths on the Acropolis get very slippery in the rain: go another day if you can change your slot (up to two hours before, twice per ticket).
With children
Children under 18 from outside the EU, and EU citizens under 25, enter the state sites free (they still need a €0 timed ticket for the Acropolis), and the Acropolis Museum is free for EU citizens under 25. Strollers can't go up the Acropolis, so bring a baby carrier. The Lycabettus funicular and the ferry to Aegina go down well with children.
What to see in Athens
The big sights
Landmark
Acropolis of Athens
The Parthenon, the Erechtheion with its Caryatid porch, the Propylaia and the small Temple of Athena Nike, plus the Theatre of Dionysus on the South Slope, all on one ticket. Allow two to three hours for the hill and the slopes.
Tip: Every ticket is for a one-hour entry slot; you can change it up to two hours before, twice. The hill has been capped by the hour since 2023, and the 8:00 slot and the late afternoon go first. Use the south entrance and arrive 20–30 minutes into your hour to miss the turnstile crush. Hours: 8:00–18:30 until 15 October, 8:00–18:00 until 31 October, then 8:00–17:00 from 1 November to 31 March; last entry 20 minutes before closing.
- Price
- €30 adult; €15 reduced; free for EU citizens under 25 and non-EU under 18 (€0 timed ticket needed); free on the first and third Sunday, November–March
- Book ahead
- A day or two outside summer; several days to weeks for summer morning slots
Full guide on Sightsale →Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Museum
Acropolis Museum
The original sculptures from the hill: the five Caryatids on the first floor and, in the glass top-floor gallery aligned with the Parthenon, the frieze and metopes hung in their real order, with casts where the pieces in London belong. Allow two hours.
Tip: Open to 22:00 on Fridays all year, so a Friday evening visit leaves the weekend free. It closes at 17:00 on Mondays all year and Monday to Thursday in winter (from 1 November). Reduced and free tickets are issued only at the desk with ID. The museum warns of a fake copy of its site ending in .org: the real one ends in .gr.
- Price
- €20 adult; €10 reduced (desk only); free for EU citizens under 25; free on 6 March, 25 March, 18 May and 28 October
- Book ahead
- Not essential; an online time slot skips the ticket desk
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Landmark
Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus
The marketplace and civic centre of ancient Athens, where Socrates and Pericles walked, below the north-west side of the Acropolis. The Doric Temple of Hephaestus on its hill is, in the culture ministry's words, the best-preserved temple of the 5th century BC, and the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos holds the site museum. Allow two hours.
Tip: Enter from Adrianou street, four minutes from Monastiraki. It closes at 18:00 in late October and at 17:00 from 1 November; it is shaded and much quieter than the Acropolis in the morning.
- Price
- €20 adult; €10 reduced; free on the first and third Sunday, November–March
- Book ahead
- Not needed; buy on tickets.hh.gr or at the gate
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Museum
National Archaeological Museum
Greece's largest archaeological collection: the gold from Mycenae including the so-called mask of Agamemnon, Cycladic figurines, the bronze god from Artemision, the Jockey of Artemision and the Antikythera mechanism. Allow three hours; it is a 10-minute walk from Victoria metro.
Tip: Opens only at 13:00 on Tuesdays (then to 20:00). Summer hours (to 20:00) run until 15 November 2026 on the museum's own site but only to 31 October on the ministry's page; in winter it closes at 15:30, so check before a November visit.
- Price
- €20 adult; €10 reduced; free on the first and third Sunday, November–March
- Book ahead
- Not needed
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Neighbourhood
Plaka
The old town on the slopes below the Acropolis: neoclassical houses, Byzantine churches such as 11th-century Agios Nikolaos Ragavas, the Monument of Lysicrates and the Museum of Greek Folk Art, between rows of souvenir shops and tavernas. Best wandered in the morning or after dark.
Tip: Main streets like Kydathinaion and Adrianou are lined with tavernas whose waiters call you in; the city's own tourism site advises not to be drawn in by them. Walk a street or two uphill, or into a basement taverna, for better food.
- Price
- Free
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Viewpoint
Lycabettus Hill
The highest hill in central Athens (277 metres), with the white chapel of St George on top and a view over the Acropolis to Piraeus and, on clear days, Aegina. Go for the sunset.
Tip: The funicular runs in a tunnel from the top of Aristippou street in Kolonaki (about 3 minutes; nearest metro Evangelismos), every 30 minutes or more often at busy times. Walking up the path takes longer but is free.
- Price
- Free on foot; funicular about €13 return, €10 one way
lycabettushill.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Market
Monastiraki flea market
The bazaar streets of Monastiraki around Avissinia Square, with second-hand furniture, records, antiques and plenty of junk. It is liveliest on Sunday mornings, when street bands play and stalls spread along the street towards Thissio.
Tip: Not everything sold as antique or a bargain is either: look, don't rush. Keep your phone and wallet zipped away in the Sunday crush, and stop by the 10th-century Pantanassa church on the square.
- Price
- Free
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Landmark
Temple of Olympian Zeus
The surviving columns of the colossal temple of Zeus, finished by the emperor Hadrian, beside Hadrian's Arch on Vasilissis Olgas avenue. A 15-minute stop.
Tip: Honest verdict: at €20 it is expensive for what you see inside, and the columns are visible from the street and from the Acropolis. Go in on a free Sunday, or if you hold a reduced or free ticket. From 1 November it closes at 15:00.
- Price
- €20 adult; €10 reduced
- Book ahead
- Not needed
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Hidden gems
Neighbourhood
Anafiotika
Hidden gem
A cluster of whitewashed houses and stepped lanes under the Acropolis rock, built by workmen from the Cycladic island of Anafi in the 19th century. Cats on the walls, flowers in tins, and a view towards Lycabettus from beside the chapel of Agios Georgios tou Vrahou. Twenty minutes is enough, but it is the quietest place in central Athens.
Tip: It is a residential corner, so keep voices down. Follow the path as it narrows and it brings you out onto Theorias street, the paved walk around the Acropolis.
- Price
- Free
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Landmark
Kerameikos
Hidden gem
The main cemetery of ancient Athens and the potters' quarter that gave it its name, with the Dipylon, the city's grandest gate, and the Sacred Gate where the procession to Eleusis began. The small museum holds the funerary relief of the horseman Dexileos. Allow an hour.
Tip: Usually close to empty, even when the Acropolis is packed. 148 Ermou street, seven minutes from Thissio metro. It closes at 18:00 in late October and at 15:00 from 1 November to 31 March.
- Price
- €10 with the museum; €5 reduced; free on the first and third Sunday, November–March
- Book ahead
- Not needed
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Viewpoint
Filopappou Hill and the Hill of the Nymphs
Hidden gem
The pine-covered hills facing the Acropolis across Dionysiou Areopagitou. Filopappou has the marble monument to Philopappos at the top and the full view of the Parthenon at sunset; the Hill of the Nymphs next to it has the National Observatory, whose 1902 telescope can be booked for evening viewings.
Tip: Free and open. Paved paths lead up from the promenade opposite the Acropolis's main gate; come down to Thissio for dinner or a drink afterwards.
- Price
- Free
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Market
Varvakios central market
Hidden gem
The 1880s covered market between Athinas and Aiolou streets, with the fish hall in the middle, the meat market around it and the fruit and vegetable stalls across Athinas street. Market eateries like Epirus serve tripe soup and stews to traders, and the Diporto basement is across the street.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday 8:00–18:00, closed on Sundays: go on Saturday morning. Shoes you don't mind getting wet in the fish hall.
- Price
- Free
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Museum
Museum of Cycladic Art
Hidden gem
A private museum in Kolonaki built around the white marble figurines of the Cycladic islands, made almost 5,000 years ago, plus fine collections of ancient Greek and Cypriot art. Small enough for 90 minutes.
Tip: Closed on Tuesdays; open to 20:00 on Thursdays. The café and shop need no ticket.
- Price
- €12 permanent collection; €9 reduced
- Book ahead
- Not needed
Official site (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Day trips from Athens
Aegina
The nearest real island, in the Saronic Gulf: a harbour town of neoclassical houses and fish tavernas, and on a pine-clad hill in the east the Doric Temple of Aphaia (€10 with the small site collection). Half a day for the town, a full day with the temple.
- Getting there
- Metro line 1 from Monastiraki or line 3 from Syntagma (about 20 minutes) to Piraeus, then a ferry or catamaran to Aegina town or Agia Marina. Ferryhopper lists crossings every day all year, fares from €9 and the fastest boats from 40 minutes. Book on the operators' sites, Ferryhopper or at the port. The Temple of Aphaia is about 17 minutes by car from Aegina town and 6 from Agia Marina.
- Eat
- Eat fish or grilled octopus at the harbour tavernas in Aegina town, and buy a bag of the island's pistachios to take home.
- Tip
- The temple closes at 18:00 in late October and at 17:30 from 1 November. If you'd rather see Hydra, with its car-free harbour, fast boats from Piraeus take from 1 hour 5 minutes to over 2 hours, with fares from about €28 one way: a long but doable day.
hh.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon (a long day)
The marble Temple of Poseidon on a cliff at the southern tip of Attica, built in the mid-5th century BC, with the Aegean on three sides. Beyond easy day-trip range: with one bus a day, about two hours each way, it takes a whole day for an hour at the temple and a swim below it in summer.
- Getting there
- KTEL Attikis coastal bus from Aigyptou Square at Pedion Areos (one block from Victoria metro, line 1): departure 10:30, return from Sounion 16:45 (October 2026). It runs along the coast past Syngrou-Fix and the beaches, about two hours each way. The €15 return ticket is paid in cash on the bus. A car or a tour is the only way to stay for sunset in winter.
- Eat
- Take a picnic or eat at the tavernas by the beach below the temple; there is little else nearby.
- Tip
- Temple €20, open from 9:30 until sunset. In October 2026 KTEL's page warned that the coastal bus would be suspended for a few days: check ktelattikis.gr the day before.
hh.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Where to eat in Athens
Athenians eat lunch from about 14:00 and dinner late; the city's own tourism site says not to turn up for dinner at 18:00, 19:00 or even 20:00. The everyday food is souvlaki and gyros, meze with ouzo or barrel wine in tavernas, and stews at lunchtime in the market. In the touristy streets of Plaka and Monastiraki, ignore the waiters who call you in and walk to a place locals use.
Souvlaki counter
€Kostas Agias Irinis
Monastiraki / Agias Irinis square
A small, long-running souvlaki shop by Agia Irini church, known for its pork and chicken skewers in pita. Eaten standing or on the square.
Booking: No bookings. Weekdays only, from morning to late afternoon; it can close early when the meat runs out.
thisisathens.org (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Koutouki (basement taverna)
€Diporto
Central market
A cellar taverna since 1887 at 9 Sokratous street, behind the central market, with two doors, no sign and no menu: wine from the barrel, a few dishes cooked that day, and you share tables with market traders. Order the chickpeas and the sardines.
Booking: No bookings. Lunch only, Monday to Saturday (roughly 9:00–18:00).
thisisathens.org (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Magirio (workers' canteen)
€Epirus (Varvakios meat market)
Central market
A canteen inside the meat hall serving soups, casseroles and daily specials to market workers. It is the place to try patsas (tripe soup) the traditional way, with chilli and garlic vinegar.
Booking: No bookings. The city's guide says it stays open through the night on Fridays and Saturdays from October to Easter; otherwise market hours.
thisisathens.org (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Koutouki (basement taverna)
€€Bakaliarakia tou Damigou
Plaka
A basement taverna in Plaka, named for its fried salt cod (bakaliaros), served with skordalia, the garlicky potato or bread dip. A good escape from the Plaka touts.
Booking: No bookings, and no hours published online: go early in the evening.
thisisathens.org (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Loukoumades shop
€Krinos
Aiolou street, historic centre
A traditional café on Aiolou street, open since 1923, with mosaic floors, marble tables and self-service with trays. Order loukoumades (fried dough balls) with honey, cinnamon and walnuts, or a bougatsa custard pie for breakfast.
Booking: No bookings; hours are not published online, so go in the morning or at lunchtime.
thisisathens.org (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Restaurant and wine bar (Bib Gourmand)
€€Pharaoh
Exarchia, Solomou 54
A MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant whose kitchen uses no electricity or gas, only wood-fired stoves, charcoal grills and ovens, for traditional Greek dishes: taramas with bottarga, dolmadakia, slow-cooked lamb with pasta, galaktoboureko. Over 400 natural wines and DJs playing vinyl in the evening.
Booking: Book online (up to 6 people). Open Monday to Thursday from 17:30, Friday and Saturday from 13:30; closed Sundays.
pharaoh.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Restaurant (Bib Gourmand)
€Akra
Pangrati
A small place with a counter where the cooks work at the wood-fired grill and oven in front of you, a bakery at the front, and a menu that changes daily. The MICHELIN Guide gives it a Bib Gourmand.
Booking: Book ahead for the counter. Open daily, Sundays included.
guide.michelin.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Restaurant (modern Greek)
€€€Linou Soumpasis & Co.
Psyrri
An industrial-style room with an open kitchen, which shares its space with a candle shop; every table gets a lit candle. Simple, modern Greek cooking with organic ingredients; the MICHELIN Guide singles out the poached cod and the warm breads.
Booking: Book for dinner. Open Tuesday to Sunday 13:00–01:00; closed Mondays.
guide.michelin.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Fish taverna
€€Margaro
Piraeus, 126 Hatzikyriakou avenue
A fish taverna next to the Naval Academy in Piraeus, where you eat whatever is being cooked that day, with white wine and an orange pie on the house to finish. The streets of Hatzikyriakio and the Peiraiki seafront are where Athenians go for seafood at fair prices.
Booking: Check opening days before you go. Take metro line 1 to Piraeus, then a short taxi ride.
thisisathens.org (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Restaurant (one MICHELIN star)
€€€€Makris Athens
Thissio, 10 Astiggos / 119 Ermou
Creative Greek cooking in a historic building opposite the Ancient Agora (described as the country's first inn), with a glass floor over the old remains and a terrace facing the Parthenon. Three tasting menus, including a vegan one, and more than 300 wines.
Booking: Book ahead, especially for the terrace. Dinner only, daily from about 18:00.
guide.michelin.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Restaurant (two MICHELIN stars)
€€€€Delta
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Syggrou avenue
The only restaurant in Greece with two MICHELIN stars, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center south of the centre. Creative tasting menus built on Greek ingredients, with a vegetarian option and wine pairings.
Booking: Book well ahead on its website. Dinner Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday.
deltarestaurant.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Where to stay in Athens for a weekend
For a weekend, stay within walking distance of the Acropolis: Plaka, Makrygianni or Koukaki for the quiet mornings, Monastiraki or Psyrri for the nightlife, Syntagma for the airport bus and metro. A room with an Acropolis view, or a roof terrace that has one, is the classic Athens extra.
The best areas
Makrygianni and Koukaki
South of the Acropolis, around the Acropolis Museum and the pedestrian Dionysiou Areopagitou promenade. Residential, calmer at night, a few minutes from the Acropolis south gate, with cafés and bars on pedestrianised streets. Suits couples and families.
Plaka
The old town on the north slope: you can walk to the Acropolis, the Agora and Monastiraki in minutes. Pretty and central but full of visitors and souvenir shops by day. Suits first-time visitors.
Monastiraki and Psyrri
The flea market, the metro hub (lines 1 and 3, direct to Piraeus and the airport) and the city's busiest bar streets. Lively and well connected, but noisy late at night. Suits younger visitors and night owls.
Syntagma and Kolonaki
Syntagma has the grand hotels, the X95 airport bus stop and metro lines 2 and 3; Kolonaki, uphill towards Lycabettus, is the upmarket shopping and café district. Suits travellers who want a quieter, smarter base.
Hotels with character
Syntagma Square
€€€€Hotel Grande Bretagne
The city's classic grand hotel on Syntagma Square, opposite the Parliament, now part of Marriott's Luxury Collection. Its eighth-floor GB Roof Garden restaurant and bar look across to the Acropolis and Lycabettus (evening dress code after 17:00). For a special-occasion weekend.
from €518 a night (Classic King, courtyard view, Friday 13 November 2026)
marriott.com (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Mitropoleos street, between Syntagma and Plaka
€€€Electra Metropolis
A five-star hotel with 216 rooms, some with Acropolis views, and a roof garden that faces the Parthenon. Central enough to walk to Plaka, the Acropolis and Syntagma.
from €355 a night (Classic double, Friday 13 November 2026)
electrahotels.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Makrygianni, by the Acropolis Museum
€€€Herodion Hotel
A four-star hotel about 100 metres from the Acropolis Museum and 200 metres from Akropoli metro, with a roof garden among olive trees, two hot tubs and a direct view of the Acropolis. Suits couples who want to walk to the south gate for the 8:00 slot.
from €288 a night (Superior double with Acropolis view and breakfast, the only room offered for Friday 13 November 2026)
herodion.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Plaka, 74 Adrianou street
€€Adrian Hotel
A small, family-run hotel right under the Acropolis, 150 metres from Monastiraki metro. Rooms have balconies, and in the warm months breakfast is served on the roof terrace with a view of the Parthenon.
from €102 a night (Acropolis-view double with breakfast, Friday 13 November 2026)
adrianhotel.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Psyrri, 16 Sarri street
€City Circus Athens
A design hostel in a renovated building in Psyrri, with dorms of 4 to 8 beds, private doubles and a single Acropolis-view room, a rooftop terrace open 7:00–23:30 and its own restaurant. Suits budget travellers who want character.
from €66 a night (Classic double, special offer, Friday 13 November 2026)
citycircus.gr (opens in a new tab)as of October 2026
Athens passes, free days and deals
There is no city card or combined archaeological ticket that pays off: the old multi-site ticket was abolished in 2025, and each site is now sold on its own. Save money by timing your visit (the first and third Sundays from November to March are free), using the free categories for under-18s and EU under-25s, and buying the 3-day tourist transport ticket if you take the metro from the airport.
No combined ticket for the Athens sites
The government store tickets.hh.gr sells each site separately: Acropolis €30, Ancient Agora €20, Temple of Olympian Zeus €20, Kerameikos €10, Roman Agora €10, National Archaeological Museum €20. The former multi-site ticket ended in 2025. 'Combo' or 'multi' tickets sold by resellers are their own packages at a mark-up, not an official pass. For a weekend, pick the sites you really want: the Acropolis and the Agora (€50) cover the essentials.
Free Sundays and free days at state sites
All state sites and museums (the Acropolis, Agora, Kerameikos, Olympieion, National Archaeological Museum, Sounion) are free on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March: in winter 2026, 1 and 15 November and 6 and 20 December. The Acropolis still needs a €0 timed ticket and is very busy. The Acropolis Museum is not a state site: it is free on 6 March, 25 March, 18 May and 28 October only.
Free for under-18s and EU citizens under 25
Children and young people under 25 from EU countries, and under 18 from elsewhere, enter state sites free on showing a passport or ID; the Acropolis Museum is free for EU citizens under 25 and half price (€10) for non-EU visitors under 25 at the desk. Resellers often sell these visitors full-price tickets.
3-day tourist ticket
€20 for 72 hours of unlimited buses, trolleys, trams and metro, including one trip to and one trip from the airport by metro or airport express bus. A one-way airport metro ticket alone costs €9, so it pays off if you arrive and leave by public transport within three days.
Contactless bank card (Tap2Ride)
Tap a Visa or Mastercard (or phone) on the blue validators: €1.20 per 90-minute trip, capped at €4.10 a day on the city network. Airport trips are charged separately (€9 metro, €5.50 express bus). Always tap with the same card or device, or the daily cap won't work.
Getting around Athens
- From the airport: metro line 3 runs straight to Syntagma and Monastiraki in about 40 minutes; a one-way ticket is €9 (€16 return, valid 30 days). The X95 express bus runs 24 hours to Syntagma Square in about 60 minutes for €5.50 (pay by contactless card on board). The city's guide warns of evening upgrade works on line 3 (Sunday to Thursday after 21:40, with a change at Agia Paraskevi and replacement bus X20): check before a late flight.
- Taxi from the airport: a fixed fare to the city centre, €40 from 5:00 to midnight and €55 from midnight to 5:00 on the city's official guide, tolls and luggage included. A ministry decision reported in September 2026 may have raised this to €50 and €65: agree the fare at the rank (Exit 3) before you get in.
- Metro, tram and buses: a 90-minute ticket is €1.20, a 24-hour ticket €4.10 and a 5-day ticket €8.20, on paper Athena tickets from machines or by tapping a contactless bank card. Line 2 (red) has Akropoli and Syntagma; lines 1 and 3 meet at Monastiraki.
- To Piraeus for the ferries: metro line 1 from Monastiraki or Thissio, or line 3 from Syntagma (about 20 minutes). A taxi costs around €25.
- On foot: the centre is compact and largely pedestrianised around the Acropolis (Dionysiou Areopagitou, Apostolou Pavlou, lower Ermou). Watch for motorbikes on pavements and don't expect cars to stop at crossings.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Book the Acropolis slot first
Everything else in Athens can be bought on the day, but the Acropolis is sold in hourly slots with a cap on visitors. Book the 8:00 or a late-afternoon slot on tickets.hh.gr as soon as your dates are fixed, enter by the south gate and arrive 20–30 minutes into your hour, when the queue at the turnstile has cleared.
From TripAdvisor Athens forum, 2024–2025; Hellenic Heritage, 2026
Use Friday night for the Acropolis Museum
The museum is open until 22:00 every Friday, all year. If you arrive on a Friday afternoon, see the museum that evening and keep Saturday morning for the hill itself.
From Acropolis Museum visitor information, 2026
Mind the winter closing times
From 1 November the Acropolis and the Agora close at 17:00, but Kerameikos, the Roman Agora and the Temple of Olympian Zeus close at 15:00. Do the small sites before lunch in winter.
From Hellenic Heritage site pages, 2026
Don't use a city ticket for the airport metro
The €1.20 ticket doesn't cover the airport stretch of line 3, and the gates at the airport check it: buy the €9 airport ticket or the €20 3-day tourist ticket, or tap a bank card, which charges the right fare.
From Rick Steves Travel Forum, Greece, 2026; OASA, 2026
Eat late, and away from the touts
Kitchens stay open well after midnight and locals rarely sit down for dinner before about 21:00. The restaurants with waiters on the pavement in Plaka and Monastiraki are rarely the good ones; walk a street or two away. Tipping 10–15% in restaurants is normal.
From This is Athens (City of Athens), Dos and Don'ts, 2026
Go to the market on Saturday
The Varvakios central market and Diporto close on Sundays, and souvlaki counters like Kostas open only on weekdays. Fit the market into Saturday lunchtime and keep Sunday for the flea market and the Agora.
From This is Athens, central market guide, 2026
Take cash for the Sounion bus
The KTEL coastal bus to Cape Sounion takes cash only, on board (€15 return), and leaves from Aigyptou Square at Pedion Areos, not from a central bus station. It runs once a day and takes about two hours each way through the beach suburbs, so Sounion is a full day.
From KTEL Attikis, 2026; Rick Steves Travel Forum, Greece, 2026
Get the free view of the Parthenon
For the classic photo, climb the Areopagus rock just below the Acropolis's main gate or walk up Filopappou Hill opposite. Both are free; the polished rock on the Areopagus is slippery, so use the metal stairs.
From Sightsale Acropolis page; This is Athens, 2026
Scams and problems to watch for
Look-alike ticket sites
Sponsored search results sell Acropolis tickets at two to three times the €30 face value, sometimes charging for children who enter free, and a fake copy of the Acropolis Museum's site ending in .org takes payment for tickets it never issues. Official sellers end in .gr: tickets.hh.gr for the state sites and theacropolismuseum.gr for the museum.
Fake 'combo' tickets
Resellers advertise multi-site or combo passes for the Athens sites. There has been no official combined ticket since 2025: what you get is single entries bought at a mark-up.
Taxi overcharging
The usual tricks: no meter, a 'fixed price' named at the end, the night tariff in the daytime, or extra charges for bags. In 2025 Greek media reported five tourists charged €292 for a 4-kilometre ride in the centre. Check the meter is running, know the fixed airport fare, and use the taxi apps or radio taxis listed on the city's tourism site.
Padded restaurant bills in Plaka and Monastiraki
In tourist areas, bread and bottled water you didn't ask for can appear on the bill, and fish is priced by the kilo, so the plate that arrives can cost far more than you expected. Ask the price of fish before it is cooked, send back what you didn't order, and check the bill item by item.
The friendly-bar trick
A friendly stranger suggests a drink in a bar they know; hostesses and champagne appear, and the bill runs to hundreds of euros, with bouncers to escort you to the cashpoint. Choose the bar yourself and look at the prices before ordering.
Pickpockets on the metro
The crowded metro around Monastiraki and the centre, the Sunday flea market and the crush at the Propylaia steps are where bags are opened. Keep your phone off café tables, too: snatching from tables is a known problem.
Questions people ask about a weekend in Athens
What is there to do in Athens in a weekend?
See the Acropolis at 8:00 and the Acropolis Museum, walk through Plaka and Anafiotika, have lunch at the central market, and catch the sunset from Lycabettus. On the second day, go to the Ancient Agora, the Monastiraki flea market and Kerameikos, and end on Filopappou Hill facing the Parthenon. Dinners are late: book one modern Greek restaurant and fill the rest with tavernas and souvlaki.
Is 2 days enough for Athens?
Two days are enough for the Acropolis, its museum, the Agora, Plaka and the old market. A third day adds the National Archaeological Museum or the ferry to Aegina; Cape Sounion takes a long day, about two hours each way by bus. Delphi and Meteora are too far for a weekend unless you add a night.
Is there a combined ticket for the Acropolis and other sites?
No. The official multi-site ticket was abolished in 2025, and each site is now sold on its own on tickets.hh.gr (Acropolis €30, Ancient Agora €20, Kerameikos €10, October 2026). Reseller 'combo' tickets are packages at a mark-up, not an official pass.
When is the Acropolis free?
On 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March. You still need a €0 timed ticket, and those days are crowded. EU citizens under 25 and non-EU visitors under 18 enter free all year.
How do I get from Athens airport to the city centre?
Metro line 3 goes straight to Syntagma and Monastiraki in about 40 minutes for €9. The X95 bus to Syntagma takes about an hour and costs €5.50, day and night. Taxis charge a fixed fare to the centre: €40 by day and €55 at night on the city's guide, possibly €50/€65 since September 2026, so agree it at the rank.
What is the best day trip from Athens?
Aegina: the ferry from Piraeus takes from 40 minutes, and the harbour town and the Temple of Aphaia fill an easy day. Cape Sounion's Temple of Poseidon is more dramatic but a long day: the one daily KTEL coastal bus takes about two hours each way (out at 10:30, back at 16:45, €15 return in cash).
Where should I stay in Athens for a weekend?
Makrygianni, Koukaki or Plaka for walking to the Acropolis and quiet nights; Monastiraki or Psyrri for nightlife and the metro to the airport and Piraeus; Syntagma for the grand hotels and the airport bus. A roof terrace with an Acropolis view is worth paying a little extra for.
What should I eat in Athens?
Souvlaki or gyros in pita for lunch, meze with ouzo or barrel wine in a taverna, fried salt cod with skordalia, fish in Piraeus, and loukoumades (fried dough with honey) for dessert. Athenians eat dinner late, from about 21:00.
