Athens 3-Day Itinerary

This plan follows one rule: ancient sites in the morning and evening, museums and long lunches in the heat of the day. It assumes you're staying in the centre and have booked the first Acropolis slot on day one.

Day 1: The Acropolis

First slot: The Acropolis, entering from the south slope. Two hours.

11am: The Acropolis Museum, starting on the top floor with the Parthenon frieze. Lunch on the museum terrace, or in Koukaki.

3pm: Rest. It's the hottest part of the day.

6pm: Walk up Philopappos Hill for sunset, looking straight across at the Parthenon.

Evening: Dinner in Koukaki, or along the Thissio pedestrian avenue.

Day 2: The old city

Opening time: The Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus, before the sun gets onto the open ground. Then the Stoa of Attalos museum.

11am: Varvakios central market on Athinas Street, then a souvlaki in Monastiraki.

1pm: The National Archaeological Museum, a short metro ride north. Give it at least two hours, and don't miss the bronzes.

5pm: Our Plaka and Anafiotika walk, ending at Thissio or Monastiraki.

Evening: Drinks in Psyrri, or a film at an open-air cinema in summer.

Day 3: Syntagma and Sounion

9am: The changing of the guard at Syntagma, then through the National Garden to the Panathenaic Stadium and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Noon: Lunch in Pangrati, or the Benaki Museum in Kolonaki if you'd rather stay cool.

3pm: Bus or car down the coast. Stop for a swim at Vouliagmeni.

Sunset: The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, then fish by the sea on the way back.

A fourth day? Delphi or Hydra, both covered in our day trips guide. In winter, swap the rest hour and the swim for the Museum of Cycladic Art and an early dinner.