What to Do in Athens, Greece: 2 Days of Ancient Archaeology
LAST UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 | TRAVEL DATES: JUNE 2025 | EST. READING TIME: 15 MIN
IN THIS GUIDE ✺
Day 1
Day 2
Stopping over in the Greek capital before island hopping around the Cyclades?
The most common mainland entry point before island hopping, grungy Athens is typically a required Greece stop juxtaposed significantly with the remainder of your whitewashed Cycladic experience. Nevertheless, this gritty city is not to be overlooked, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges.
Explore layers of history spanning millennia through ancient archaeological sites scattered around the city. As the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy, this key cultural capital of Greek and later Roman civilizations is teeming with echoes of the past. In modern times, a rebellious subculture has been layered on top, with street art and graffiti murals splashed across all free surfaces. Bring textbook trivia to life on a guided Acropolis tour, feast on art for the eyes and mouth, and learn from the local people (and cats) as you uncover what to do with 2 days in Athens, Greece.
2 Days in Athens Itinerary
In a hurry? Here’s a time-stamped overview of the detailed what to do in Athens 2 day itinerary you’ll find below:
Day 1
10:00 - 10:45 AM: 🧌 Ease into your Greek adventure with a fairytale breakfast at Little Kook (45 min)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: 🐈⬛ Meet the stray cat colonies around the Acropolis on a guided Airbnb tour (1 hr)
12:15 - 1:00 PM: 🍷 Grab a light bite and admire street art from cool-girl coded Wine is Fine (45 min)
1:15 - 2:00 PM: 🍯 Snack on a local-approved plate of traditional sheep-milk yogurt at STANI (45 min)
2:20 - 3:00 PM: 🧿 Shop around the flea market and souvenir stalls flanking Monastiraki Square (40 min)
3:00 - 3:30 PM: 📜 Peek at Hadrian’s Library, the Roman and Ancient Agoras from the street (30 min)
7:00 - 9:00 PM: ⭐ Indulge in an inventive, one Michelin star dinner with Hervé’s 15-course menu (2 hr)
Day 2
9:00 - 9:30 AM: 🥐 Bite into a creamy, pistachio custard-filled croissant from Overoll Croissanterie (30 min)
9:45 - 10:45 AM: 🏟️ Peek at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, and Zappeion (1 hr)
11:00 - 11:30 AM: 💂 Watch the ceremonial Changing of the Guard on Sundays in Syntagma Square (30 min)
11:45 AM - 1:45 PM: 🏺 Examine Parthenon pieces and Athena artifacts inside the Acropolis Museum (2 hr)
1:45 - 3:15 PM: 🍳 Taste Peloponnesian flavors with a modern presentation at homey MANIMANI (1 hr 30 min)
5:00 - 7:00 PM: 🏛️ Climb the fortified hill on a guided Acropolis Tour to learn about the remaining ruins (2 hr)
8:00 - 9:30 PM: 🌇 See Athens from above during a sunset dinner at Orizontes Lycabettus (1 hr 30 min)
How to Get Around Athens?
WALK: Once you’ve reached your intended stomping grounds for the day, walking is the best way to get around. Unlike cities such as Paris where the scale is misleading and many tourist sites are quite far apart, Athens is remarkably compact—so much so that you could easily see the top landmarks in a single day. Monastiraki Square for example is tiny in practice and little distinction exists between the various neighborhoods; one flows into the next via narrow cobblestone streets bordered by shops and restaurants, meaning hidden gems tucked away in these alleys are best discovered on foot.
PUBLIC TRANSIT: Athens is connected via a network of buses, two trams, three metro lines, and a suburban Hellenic Train railway linking the city center with suburbs and coastal regions. Common tickets are valid across the metro, buses, and trams whether they be physical ATH.ENA cards or acquired virtually through Tap2Ride card and smartphone contactless payment.
For the purposes of this 2 days in Athens itinerary, public transportation is rarely useful. Commuting to and from the Athens International Airport is simple and convenient with the M3 line; otherwise, consider taking transit to dinners at Hervé and Orizontes Lycabettus given they’re slightly farther away from the city center. The green M1 Petralona station is only a 4 minute walk from Hervé, and similarly the blue M3 Evangelismos is a 12 minute, albeit uphill walk to the Lycabettus hill funicular.
DRIVE: Whether hailed off the street or via an app, taxis are the quickest yet most expensive way to get around. Supported ride-share apps Uber and FreeNow both call licensed taxis, with the added benefit of fare transparency given the total cost is presented up front. Regardless of booking method, riders are not obliged to pay in cash, as affirmed by signs posted within these official vehicles.
How to Get from the Airport to Athens?
PUBLIC TRANSIT: The most cost-effective way to reach the center of Athens from the Athens International Airport is via the blue Metro 3 line towards Dimotiko Theatro, which heads directly to Monastiraki Square. This route initially runs above ground and resembles a train.
Follow “Trains/Metro” signs inside the airport, cross the elevated pedestrian bridge at the Departures level, purchase a one-way €9 or roundtrip €16 ticket in-person from ATH.ENA machines in the station, then head down the escalator to board the 41 minute ride over 16 stops.
TAXI: Alternatively, hop in a taxi or hail one via a ride-share app to take the 40 minute drive into the center of Athens. Uber and FreeNow both book licensed taxis, with app-based pickups operating at the Arrivals level across from Exit 4. Standard flat fee fares of €40 during the day and €55 during the evening are enforced by Greek taxi regulations.
Where to Stay in Athens?
For a short 2-day stay in Athens, it’s worth paying elevated rates for a central base allowing you to easily walk to nearby archaeological sites. The neighborhoods of Plaka, Monastiraki, Psiri, and Syntagma are the most convenient given they wrap around the north face of the Acropolis:
Plaka is notoriously the most picturesque and touristy as a result, boasting a charming “old town” aesthetic with cobblestone streets, neoclassical houses, and a village-like feel. Tiny Anafiotika is a fan-favorite within the larger historic neighborhood.
Monastiraki sits above Plaka as a bustling flea market hub full of souvenir stalls and the fan-favorite rooftop bars A for Athens and Attic Urban Rooftop.
Syntagma to the right of Monastiraki is the formal heart of Athens with major hotels, the Hellenic Parliament building in the square, and a polished, central-city vibe.
Psiri sits the furthest north as a trendy, youthful district with quirky street art, effortlessly chic wine bars, and stylish vintage shopping like Treasure House.
If you spot a cheap deal in Omonoia don’t be fooled, this seedy area is often discouraged for tourists seeking Athens accommodations given the bleak ambiance, or lack thereof, and higher petty crime rates.
For a central budget backpacker option, I spent 2 nights at SafeStay Athens in Monastiraki. While not my most pleasant hostel experience—I draw the line at having at least curtains around a squeaky bunk bed—it’s located steps away from the metro station which is a nice perk if you have particularly heavy luggage you’d like to avoid dragging around.
What to Do in Athens?
Day 1
Breakfast - Little Kook
On the morning of your first day, kick off this what to do in Athens 2 day itinerary with a beginner breakfast at Little Kook. While not the quaint Greek grandmother’s kitchen you’ll find on islands like Paros with slow-paced, laid-back service, this eye-catching maximalist eatery in the heart of trendy Psyri is worth a stop for a quick meal to ease into your international adventure. The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs theme permeates the expansive outdoor establishment with whimsical decor rotated seasonally, adding to the theatrics of an over-the-top sweet and savory crêpe patisserie.
The regally costumed servers are guaranteed to speak English and happily answer any inquiries you have about the city given they’re quite accustomed to serving tourists—and charging them an inherently overpriced fare. Children are treated with particular kindness when believing they’ve stumbled upon a real-life prince or princess, and you may even walk away with a helpful travel tidbit such as: always choose to be charged euros when paying by card, not your home currency.
Cats of the Acropolis Tour
Before dedicating two days to looking at ancient architecture under the blistering Athenian sun, begin your time in the capital with an adorable Airbnb tour meeting the stray cat colonies who live around the Acropolis slopes. Hosted by a local volunteer, meet at the Thissio Metro Station upper entrance then take a leisurely 1-hour stroll in the shade while being personally introduced to each friendly feline—from Marshmallow and Bagel to June and Jos.
Even when caring for upwards of fifty cats, the host Eirini distinctly recognizes each one when encountered and somehow remembers all their names. As a partially philanthropic endeavor, the funds from the $23 ticket go towards feeding and medicating these sweet strays.
Lunch - Wine is Fine
After the tour, grab a light bite at cool-girl coded Wine is Fine when it’s way too hot for a hearty meal in the peak of the afternoon. Walk into this no reservation café open daily with a rotating chef residency, limited lunch menu, and low entrants wine for a lowkey local experience. Sitting outside offers a prime view of nearby street art, best paired with a plate of creamy tarama toast.
Snack - STANI
Treat your sweet tooth with an authentic plate of sheep-milk yogurt at STANI, producing this traditional recipe since 1931. The grungy location is a bit out of the way of the touristic central neighborhoods but worth the trek to try this €4 local-approved dairy delight topped with honey and walnuts.
Monastiraki Square
Head back south towards the center of the city, passing through Monastiraki Square in the middle of the Ermou shopping street. This commercial public plaza is flanked by a flea market, providing you ample opportunities to secure a souvenir from the many vendors selling leather goods, evil eye motifs, and Athens-branded merchandise. Prioritize shopping on a Sunday when the market is in full swing, or when you’re in need of refreshment given the shaded awnings and restaurant misters and fans lining the streets provide some cooling relief.
Hadrian's Library
Directly below Monastiraki Square is Hadrian’s Library, a 132 A.D. intellectual complex of reading rooms, lecture halls, and courtyards for philosophical discussion commissioned by Roman Emperor Hadrian in an effort to enhance Athens’ reputation as a prestigious cultural capital.
Prior to 2025, Hadrian’s Library was one of seven ancient archaeological sites included in an all-encompassing €30 combination pass. This deal has since been discontinued, requiring visitors to purchase individual timed tickets to access each landmark. Sightseeing in Athens has since become astronomically more expensive, coming out to a grand total of €105 if you were to purchase tickets for each of the same sites today.
To avoid an unnecessary splurge, I don’t recommend spending €10 on Hadrian’s Library given you can fully see the external architecture through the barely-there fence that frames the space without blocking the scenery.
Roman Agora
Walking backwards in time, find the Roman Agora next door, the new grand marketplace built in the 1st century B.C. during the reign of Julius Caesar and Augustus as the older Ancient Agora became too crowded. Modernizing Athens’ urban life via a Roman-style marketplace, it included shops, a central courtyard, and the Tower of the Winds—a timekeeping and weather device.
Similarly, I wouldn’t consider this site worth €10 given you can clearly see the associated structures from the street.
Ancient Agora
Reaching the oldest landmark of the day, the Ancient Agora down the road was the original civic and social heart of Athens, dating back to the Archaic and Classical periods from the 6th century B.C. and onward. The political center where democracy was born and Socrates once taught, temples like the Temple of Hephaestus and stoas—or covered walkways—were built around it.
Following the same pattern as the agoras above, save your €20 and simply view this landmark from the street, especially since the site encompasses mostly square foundational blocks with scattered low-lying columns and only a few significant structures left standing.
Dinner - Hervé
Instead of dropping €105 on ancient archaeological sites that can be completely seen from the street, save this splurge for a one Michelin star dinner at Hervé. Serving a seasonal 15-course tasting menu with an optional wine pairing and caviar, foie gras, or wagyu add-ons, an evening at Hervé is full of theatrics. Take the quail main presented in a two-tiered cocotte for example, a nose-to-tail ode to the creamy quail egg appetizer that’s held a spot on the menu since the restaurant’s inception. At €120 that's less than $10 per dish, making this memorable meal more than worth the splurge.
Day 2
Breakfast - Overoll Croissanterie
Begin day 2 in Athens with a flaky, laminated croissant stuffed with silky custard from Overoll. This grab-and-go croissanterie has a standard lineup of favorite flavors including pistachio, Nutella, and strawberry alongside seasonal specialities like the “cronie”—a butter croissant cone filled with vanilla bean ice cream and topped with syrups and crumbles like salted caramel.
Wander through the picturesque neighborhood of Plaka passing the Benizelos Mansion, the oldest house in Athens with a wine and olive press in the backyard to explore. While technically a free site, cash donations are encouraged. Thiki Greece is next door, a funky, colorful concept store chock full of souvenirs with quirky, Greek-themed sayings.
Eventually you’ll reach the Arch of Hadrian, a monumental 131 A.D. gateway marking the symbolic boundary between ancient Athens and the new Roman city. The free Zappeio Roman Bath exhibition is also up the road, where you can walk around these sunken ruins from a viewing platform circling the complex.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Continue your ancient archaeological sightseeing with a stop by the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Conceived by the tyrant Peisistratos in the 6th century B.C. as a colossal temple to honor the king of the gods, this construction project lasted centuries and remained incomplete until 132 A.D. when Roman Emperor Hadrian finished the job.
Ironically, construction continues today and the 104 massive columns meant to rival the greatest ancient temples are almost entirely obscured by scaffolding. If you were to skip out on purchasing only one ticket it should be this €20 swindle; instead, peer at the restoration project through a gap in the bushes alongside Leoforos Vasilissis Olgas, directly across the road from Tuk Tuk Athens. It will be fairly obvious to find, with other tourists congregating around.
Panathenaic Stadium
Stroll through the Zappeion Garden to the next landmark nearby, the entirely marble Panathenaic Stadium. Hosting the ancient Panathenaic Games honoring Athena with athletic and musical competitions, it was later restored for the first modern Olympics in 1896; skip the €10 ticket and observe the entire structure from the outside. The one differentiator that could make entering this landmark worthwhile is climbing the slippery stone grandstands to the top for an elevated perspective, but keep in mind that a better viewpoint awaits in the afternoon.
Zappeion Megaron
Loop back around to the Zappeion Megaron, a 19th-century neoclassical exhibition hall similarly built for the revival of the first Olympic games which now hosts cultural events and Greek political milestones. Step inside on a weekday to explore the open-air circular atrium and potentially the public foyers when no event setup is underway.
Syntagma Square
Meander through the National Garden—which occasionally closes during bad weather—to reach Syntagma Square. The central square of the city, on Sundays the Changing of the Guard occurs at 11:00 AM complete with a military band procession and the Evzones ceremonial guards in full traditional uniform wearing tsarouchia clogs topped with pom-poms. A less elaborate affair occurs every hour on the hour as the elite infantry unit switches posts at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, symbolizing all Greek soldiers who died during conflict.
Acropolis Museum
Finally, a historic exhibition where your hard-earned money is well spent—the Acropolis Museum preserves the treasures of the Acropolis. A must-do to learn the significance of the summit before climbing the actual slopes, this is the ideal air-conditioned site to visit during the middle of the day when it's unbearable to be outside in the summer. Read museum placards in a flat, cool room across the three floors of original sculptures and interactive reconstructions rather than while climbing a steep, hot hill.
Visit the Acropolis Museum before the Acropolis to gain an understanding of the remaining structures on the fortified hill, especially if you don’t book a guided tour of the latter.
Pro Tip:
The €20 ticket grants access to excavated artifacts spanning the prehistoric era through late antiquity which tell the story of Athens’ religious and civic life. If nothing else, visit the the top floor with the same dimensions and orientation as the Parthenon to observe original frieze and sculptural decorations at eye level, an intimate view that otherwise would have been high above on the temple. The Athena collection is another highlight where photography is banned, featuring votive offerings, statues, and reconstructions dedicated to the goddess, including fragments of the massive Athena Parthenos once housed in the Parthenon.
Lunch - MANIMANI
A sophisticated taste of Mani Peninsula flavors, MANIMANI is a homey hotspot perfect for a relaxed lunch during the peak midday heat. Traditional Peloponnesian flavors are executed with a modern presentation, like the silky trilogy effortlessly spread on handmade bread or the tsouhti pasta served since the restaurant's 2009 opening—drippy yolk break and all.
Acropolis Tour
Last but not least, the main event: climbing the infamous archaeological hill of the Acropolis to observe ancient temples on top like the Parthenon. In other words, the Acropolis and the Parthenon are not the same thing, and it’s these kind of insights you can learn first-hand from a local guide on a walking tour dedicated to the most famous remnants of ancient Greece.
Pro Tip:
Athens guides often recommend an opening 8:00 AM Acropolis ticket, which has made this coveted time slot quite crowded. A late afternoon tour similarly does the trick with the setting sun providing ample shade, plus the site is significantly emptier.
There's hardly any informational placards around the Acropolis, so it's in your best interest to book a tour around this staggering site to learn the significance of all the remaining ruins. This GetYourGuide option beginning from the south slope offered the perfect amount of historical intrigue without getting too bogged down in the details of thousands of years of happenings, and the wireless audio guide system ensures you can clearly hear the live voiceover amidst tourist crowds.
If historical tours aren’t your thing, an alternative, interactive approach is to book tickets for cultural events inside the Odeon of Herodes Atticus whether it be a ballet, concert, musical, or more! One of the best-preserved ancient theaters in Greece, you’ll experience the 161 A.D. stone amphitheater as intended given it hosted similar public performances in antiquity, continuing this legacy today as one of the most atmospheric performance spaces in the world.
Dinner - Orizontes Lycabettus
End your time in Athens on a high note—literally—at Orizontes. Perched atop the highest peak of Athens on Lycabettus hill, ride the €13 funicular up for a panoramic view over the city everybody needs to see at least once. Two friendly felines are known to frequent the establishment and may try to take a swing at your Mediterranean dinner, but it’s worth taking this risk for a prime outdoor seat.
Sunset is the most popular time to visit, so account for funicular wait times and the fact that you’ll need to physically purchase a ticket on site when planning your arrival.
Pro Tip:
If the restaurant is fully booked fear not, a casual Sky Bar is another dining option upstairs or simply head to the upper Church of Agios Georgios terrace to witness the magic of the city completely illuminated at night.
Is 2 Days in Athens Enough?
When considering what to see in Athens in 2 days, some would argue that’s already too much time spent in the Greek capital. Little love is expressed for Athens in virtual forums, and it’s easy to understand why once you’ve experienced the pinnacle of travel that is summer in the Cyclades.
Nevertheless, a flight through ATH warrants a stopover for at least a day, during which it’s feasible to hit all the top sites given how centrally compact the most prominent archaeological sites are. Having split this experience into two days, I appreciated having time to sufficiently get settled and accustomed to a different time zone, rather than running around under the blistering Athenian sun with only one day to spare.
If Greek and Roman history doesn’t pique your interest much, then one packed day is a sufficient amount of time to explore the Athens highlights. If you prefer a more leisurely pace and the opportunity to bake in some lesser known hidden gems, two days is plenty. A third day could even be warranted if you’re seeking time by the sea; I had originally scoped out Lake Vouliagmeni for a relaxing day lounging by the water and ultimately determined I didn’t have enough time during my two-day sprint. Given it’s located 45 minutes south of the city, at least a half day at the lake is warranted to properly enjoy a sun lounger, spa services, and the elevated eatery on site.
Assuming you have Greek islands up next on your itinerary, 2 days in Athens is enough time to sufficiently explore the central districts housing the capital’s most famous ancient landmarks, plus have enough time to indulge in local experiences and fine dining. This was a sufficient amount of time for a first visit, and I departed satisfied that I experienced the best of Athens!
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