What to see in Athens

Athens highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

1. Acropolis

   The Parthenon and the Propylaea; visit early or in the golden light.

2. Acropolis Museum

   Friezes and caryatids at the foot of the hill.

3. Ancient Agora

   The Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos.

4. Plaka / Anafiotika

   Cycladic-style lanes below the Acropolis.

5. Central Market

   Varvakios: meat, spices and tavernas.

6. Temple of Olympian Zeus

   Corinthian columns and Hadrian’s Arch.

7. Psyri

   Street art, meze and nightlife.

8. Lycabettus

   A hill with a funicular and views over the city.

Day trips from Athens

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

• Guided tour of the Acropolis ★ 4.8 (14,290 reviews)
• Cape Sounion at sunset ★ 4.4 (1,261 reviews)
• Delphi ★ 4.7 (6,123 reviews)
• Cruise to Hydra, Poros and Aegina ★ 4.1 (5,362 reviews)

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Book ahead

Tickets that sell out or have long queues, and closing days.

• Sells out · 30 days ahead Acropolis

  Tickets for each month go on sale on the 1st of that month. In July and August go first thing or at dusk: at midday there’s no shade.

  Official ticket office
• Opening hours Acropolis

  Open every day except certain Greek public holidays.

• Opening hours Acropolis Museum

  Open every day; until 10 pm on Fridays.

Typical food of Athens

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Athens from your kitchen).

Souvlaki

Pork or chicken skewers marinated with lemon and oregano and chargrilled. In Athens they’re eaten in pitta bread with tomato, onion, chips and tzatziki.

• Serves 4
• 40 min

Ingredients

• 800 g pork neck or loin, diced
• The juice of 1 lemon
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon of dried oregano
• 4 pitta breads
• Tomato, red onion and chips
• For the tzatziki: 250 g Greek yoghurt, 1/2 cucumber, grated and squeezed, 1 garlic clove, dill, oil and salt

How to make it at home

1. Marinate the meat with the lemon, oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper for at least 1 hour.
2. For the tzatziki, mix the yoghurt with the well-squeezed cucumber, the chopped garlic, the dill, a drizzle of oil and salt.
3. Thread the meat onto skewers and chargrill or griddle it, turning, for about 10 minutes.
4. Warm the pitta breads on the griddle with a little oil.
5. Serve the meat in the pitta with tzatziki, tomato, onion and a few chips.

The trick: Pork neck stays juicier than loin.

Frequently asked questions about Athens