How Many Days In Athens Is Enough?

Rich in culture and history, the city of Athens is filled with unique attractions, experiences, and sights.

But just how many days in Athens do you need to really make the most of all this incredible city has to offer?

Are a couple of days enough or should you really plan for a longer visit?

The answer to this question mainly depends on the type of break you are looking for.

Do you enjoy moving at a fast pace and seeing a lot of sights in a small amount of time? Then two days might just be enough – although you should plan for a very busy schedule! 

But if you’d like to spend a little longer at each attraction and allow yourself a bit more time to soak up the vibrant atmosphere of Greece’s capital, then plan for a 3 or even 4-day visit.

How To Decide How Many Days In Athens You Will Need

In this guide, I’ve put together a list of everything you need to consider, along with my suggestions for what to do in Athens during your visit. 

I’ve recommended roughly how long you should plan to spend at each attraction, which will help you organize an achievable itinerary for your stay.

Not sure if you can fit Athens on your Greece itinerary? Read our guide to find out if Athens is worth visiting.

Time Of Arrival, Hotel Check-In Time, And Time Of Departure

First, consider your arrival and departure times from the city.

If you arrive in Athens very late or leave early, then you won’t have much time on those days to see the sights. Make sure you factor this in when deciding how many full days you need.

Your hotel check-in and departure times are important too. If your check-in time is quite late in the day, then you will need to make arrangements to store your luggage, so that you are free to explore the city. 

Many accommodation providers and hotels will be quite happy for you to leave your luggage with them ahead of checking in. But this isn’t always the case, so be sure to find out in advance.

If you need to look for alternative options for storing luggage, then you have a few choices.

There are private companies offering this service in the city center, with Pacific Travel near the Syntagma metro station being one of the most popular. 

There are also lockers available for rent on a daily basis near Monastiraki metro station, and inside the arrival hall at Athens airport. 

You’ll also find many ferry ticket agencies and 24-hour cafeterias at Piraeus Port, either offering lockers or luggage storage halls.

Be sure to book ahead of time, especially at the height of the season.

Want to speed up your arrival? Consider booking a private transfer from Athens airport to your hotel.

Athens Attractions

Although spontaneity is fun, it’s very important to plan exactly what you want to see and do in Athens ahead of your trip. This makes it easier to work out a practical itinerary and prioritize what you can fit into your visit! 

Use the list of attractions in this guide to help, as it suggests how long you’ll need to spend at each one to really appreciate it. 

But don’t forget to take into account potential queuing time, along with the possibility of transport delays.

If you wish to save time, we recommend you buy your tickets in advance to skip the line. We suggest the Acropolis and 6 Archaeological Sites Combo Ticket to help you make the most of your time in Athens.

Pace Of Activities

If you choose to spend only 2 days in Athens, you will need to decide between seeing lots of sights very quickly, or only seeing a few and spending longer at each. 

Adding an extra night or two to your stay can help you slow things down a little.

This is definitely the best option if you are someone who likes to really relax and spend time soaking up the atmosphere of the places you visit. 

Transportation

Fortunately, many of the must-see attractions in Athens are located close together, saving you precious travel time.

Most hotels are within easy walking distance of these sites. 

If you do need to travel further, there are buses and a metro system, both of which are cheap.

Taxis are more expensive but may be a better option if your main priority is to get from one attraction to another as quickly as possible. 

What To Do In Athens

Here are my recommendations for the very best things to see and do during your visit.

The Acropolis

This ancient site is possibly the highlight of any visit to Athens and can easily be seen from all over the city! 

Its most famous attraction is the Parthenon at the top, but this rocky hill has much to see on its slopes too. 

Coming in from the metro entrance, you can see the well-preserved Theatre of Dionysius, followed by the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

As you continue to climb the rocky paths, you’ll reach the Propylaea, a monumental entrance through which you’ll get your first glimpse of the temples at the top. 

Aside from visiting the many marble monuments and sanctuaries, one of the best things to do at the Acropolis is simply to take in the panoramic view of the vast site and across the city itself.

Suggested time: 1.5 to 2 hours. I’d recommend booking a tour, which would allow you to see the best sights in the shortest time.

Book your ticket in advance

Parthenon

Located at the top of the Acropolis, this is the temple dedicated to the city’s namesake – the goddess Athena. 

It was originally built to house her statue and serve as a treasury. 

Greece’s most famous building, it is the perfect example of Doric architecture and is decorated with incredible sculptures.

You can see a frieze all the way around the top, although many of the stone carvings of the gods are actually copies, and the originals are now in the Acropolis museum.

There is a safe and modern elevator to take you up to the Parthenon if you have mobility issues.

Suggested time: 1.5 to 2 hours. 

You can book a tour that includes the Parthenon and the Acropolis.

Temple Of Hephaestus

Built around 450 BC, this is Greece’s best-preserved ancient temple. It was dedicated to Athena and Hephaestus, the ancient god of fire. Interestingly, it was designed by an architect who also worked on the Parthenon.

It is located among the trees of the Agora beneath the northwest slope of the Acropolis. I recommend taking the 20-minute walk from the Temple to the Acropolis, then also viewing it from the top of the hill.

You can’t go inside the Temple, but you can walk around it.

Set aside 20 minutes if this is all you want to see, or allow at least an hour or so if you’d also like to visit the Museum of Agora and Agii Apostoloi church on the same site.

Museum Of Cycladic Art

Housed in a modern glass and marble building in the Kolonáki quarter, this museum has over 3,000 exhibits of ancient Greek art, plus art from the Cyclades (the Greek islands southeast of the mainland in the Aegean Sea).

You can also see ancient Cypriot artworks here. 

Many of the artifacts include statues of gods or Greek heroes, arranged into groups to give you a much better understanding of ancient Greek civilization. Covering four floors, the museum contains an excellent cafe too.

Suggested time: 1 to 2 hours. 

Pláka

This picturesque neighborhood feels just like a village, with narrow streets, pretty squares, and pastel-colored buildings covered in bougainvillea.

The perfect contrast to the ruins and museums of Athens, it’s a lovely place to take a scenic stroll, or to experience authentic Greek cuisine.

That being said, there are still some points of historic interest, including the Church of Kapnikaréa in the north and the Metamórfosis Church in the southwest.

Suggested time: 2 to 3 hours.

Benaki Museum Of Greek Culture

Containing 120,000 artworks from prehistoric to modern times, this museum in the Benaki family’s former mansion gives you a glimpse into lots of different stages of Greek culture. 

Founded in 1934, it also contains a wide variety of Byzantine and Islamic objects donated by the family and has a vast collection of Muslim books. 

Everything is chronologically organized, so it is interesting to note the development of the artifacts over time.

And if you are fascinated by fashion and design, be sure to check out the excellent collection of textiles and folk costumes. 

Suggested time: 2 hours.

Kerameikos

This cemetery of ancient Athens is one of the least-visited archaeological sites – but it is also the most beautiful. 

Named after Keramos, the son of Dionysios and Ariadne, this cemetery was used for burials from the twelfth century BC for a thousand years.

The grave markers are fascinating, with portraits and carved scenes giving you a glimpse into ancient everyday life. 

Be sure to visit the Street of Tombs, which was used exclusively for the elite members of Athens society.

Suggested time: 2 to 3 hours.

Final Thoughts On Athens Getaways

If you’ve been struggling to decide on how many days for Athens, I hope this guide has made it much easier to put together your Athens itinerary.

I also hope you enjoy every moment of your visit to Europe’s oldest capital city.

Visiting Greece soon? Read one of the following blog posts:

• Greece backpacking itinerary
• Santorini in winter
• How many days in Santorini