1 Day in Athens: The Ultimate 24-hour Itinerary
Planning on spending 1 day in Athens and wondering if it’s worth it? You can still see so much of the city in just a day so, here’s the perfect itinerary.
If you love European historical sites, you can’t go wrong with Athens. The stunning Greek capital is one of the most interesting cities you can visit on the continent and the gateway to many Greek island getaways.
However, it always surprises me that many people skip Athens while travelling around Greece. While it may not be the most beautiful place in Greece, a visit here gives you so much content about not just Greek, but European history.
So, even if you just have one day in Athens, don’t discount it because you can still see so much of the city in a short space of time. If you’re wondering exactly how to spend your day, here’s exactly how I’d spend 24 hours in Athens.
My favourite travel resources for Athens
✅ This is the hotel we stayed at during our time there
✅ Don’t miss the Acropolis Combo ticket
✅ Don’t forget your travel insurance!
8:00 – Athens Acropolis
Since there’s so much to see in Athens, you’re going to want to start your day early. Head straight to the Acropolis and explore Athens’ most impressive and well-known historical site. This is the reason many people come to the city and you really can’t skip a visit here.
While many people think the Acropolis is just one thing, there are actually lots of different historical sites to see here all crammed into one location. The Acropolis itself actually means ‘high city’ and refers to the entire citadel of ancient Athens and the hit that it’s perched on.
This means that within the Acropolis itself, there are a lot of things to see. Here are a few of the things you’ll need to look out for.
✅ I recommend grabbing the Athens Combo ticket for discounted entry to many of the best historical sites.
Parthenon
The Parthenon is the crown on top of the Acropolis of Athens and possibly the most famous place to visit in Athens. It’s also the most well-known historical structure in all of Greece.
Built between 447 and 432 BCE, the Parthenon is essentially a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It used to house a huge statue of Athens made from gold and ivory.
It originally served as a temple but has also been a treasury and a church. It’s now the most well-known historical structure in all of Greece.
👉 If you also want to check out another Acropolis in Greece, I recommend a trip to Rhodes.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Despite all the love for the Parthenon, this was actually my favourite historical site in Athens.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stunning amphitheatre on the southern slopes of the Acropolis. It was built in 162 CE, can seat around 5,000 people, and is a pretty remarkable example of ancient Roman architecture.
My favourite part of the amphitheatre is the huge back wall which gives the whole thing a very grand appearance. This impressive, three-story structure was once covered in arches and columns providing excellent acoustics for the performances that took place here.
Erechtheion
This is another of the sites on top of the Acropolis Hill. This is also a temple, but this time, it was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon and was constructed between 421 and 406 BCE.
The Erechtheion is most famous for its Porch of the Caryatids. There are six draped female figures, known as Caryatids, around the edge of the structure.
Other historical spots
In addition to those three places, you can see many more historical spots on the Acropolis. I wasn’t lying when I said it’s more like a small city than a single site. Look out for these other places when you explore the Acropolis:
- Propylaea: The grand entrance gateway to the Acropolis, featuring impressive columns and marble architecture.
- Temple of Athena Nike: A smaller temple celebrating Athena as the goddess of victory.
- Theatre of Dionysus: The world’s first theatre and the birthplace of Greek drama.
- Brauroneion: A sanctuary dedicated to Artemis Brauronia, protector of women in childbirth.
- Chalkotheke: A storage place for bronze items and military equipment.
- Pandroseion: A sanctuary dedicated to Pandrosos, one of the daughters of Cecrops, the mythical king of Athens.
- Arrephorion: A small building where the Arrephoroi, young girls involved in sacred rituals, lived.
You can see all of these sites in around 2-3 hours because they’re all so close together. The site opens from 8am-8pm so, since you’re arriving for when it opens, you shouldn’t find it as busy as later in the day either.
Nonetheless, I still recommend booking tickets in advance to make sure that you aren’t waiting in line. Entrance is €22 but I highly recommend buying the combo ticket as it’ll give you access to all the major historical sites in Athens for a reduced rate.
The combo ticket costs €36, so it’s also quite a large saving.
It’s a truly remarkable spot and was the highlight of our trip to Athens. Plus, we also stayed in an apartment with acropolis views, so we could see the Parthenon all lit up every evening. It was fantastic.
✅ I recommend grabbing the Athens Combo ticket for discounted entry to many of the best historical sites.
11:00 – Ancient Agora of Athens
Once you leave the Acropolis, head to the Ancient Agora of Athens. Located to the northwest of the Acropolis, this is around a 7-minute walk, so it’s not far to go.
The Agora was the heart of public life in ancient Athens. It was used as a political hub, social hub, place to trade goods, marketplace, and host various public events.
It was established in the 6th century BCE, and once again was more than just one building. The area was home to a variety of buildings and spaces, including stoas (covered walkways), temples, and administrative buildings.
This includes the Stoa of Attalos, and the well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus, dedicated to the god of craftsmanship.
A visit to the Ancient Agora of Athens will take around 1.5 hours and the entrance ticket is included in the Athens combo ticket. If you don’t have the combo ticket, it’ll cost around €10.
12:30 – Hadrian’s Library
Next, head to Hadrian’s Library. Located adjacent to the Agora, this used to be a centre for learning and philosophical study in Athens. The library featured a large central courtyard surrounded by a collonaded walkway, reading rooms, and lecture halls.
It was constructed in 132 CE by the Roman Emperor Hadrian and housed a vast collection of papyrus scrolls and provided spaces for scholars to read and discuss ideas.
It’s another fantastic place to visit in Greece and, today, you can wander around the remains, admire the columns, and imagine what it used to be like. This site is smaller than the other two, so won’t take as long to explore. I reckon you’ll need around 30-45 minutes.
13:15 – Roman Forum
After you’ve explored Hadrian’s Library, head to the Roman Forum. This is also known as the Roman Agora (not to be confused with the Ancient Agora) and was built between 19 and 11 BCE by Julius Caesar and Augustus.
Its purpose was to serve as the new commercial hub of Athens, taking over from the older Agora. The rectangular complex features a spacious open courtyard surrounded by stoas and shops.
You’ll also be able to see various structures such as the Gate of Athena Archegetis, which is a pretty grand entrance to the site and the Tower of the Winds, an octagonal building that functioned as a clock, weather vane, and sundial.
The Roman Forum became a bustling hub for trade, politics, and social gatherings. Entrance to the site is included in the Acropolis Combo ticket.
✅ I recommend grabbing the Athens Combo ticket for discounted entry to many of the best historical sites.
14:00 – Wander Through Plaka
From there, head 9 minutes on foot to one of Athens’ most beautiful neighbourhoods. One of the oldest neighbourhoods in Athens, Plaka is known for its winding cobbled streets and neoclassical architecture.
It’s a super cute part of the city and, in my opinion, it’s the most beautiful area in Athens. You’lll find quaint houses, colourful flowers, bustling marketplaces, and traditional Greek tavernas.
Plaka is a great place to take a small break from the historical side of the city, mingle with the locals, do a bit of window shopping, and also grab lunch.
Top Tip: There are so many fantastic places and food in Plaka and one of my favourites is Smak, a budget option off Ermou Street that sells delicious pizza and peinirli.
16:00 – Temple of Olympian Zeus
From Plaka, head to a greener part of Athens and visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus. This was one of the grandest and most ambitious temples of ancient Greece, dedicated to Zeus, the King of the Gods.
It’s located in the heart of the city and took over 600 years to complete due to the sheer scale of the structure. It was meant to have 104 columns, each reaching a height of 17 meters (56 feet).
Unfortunately, it was only standing for 142 years before it was knocked down.
Despite this, 15 columns are still standing. It remains one of the most impressive temples ever created in Ancient Greece and well worth seeing during 1 day in Athens.
It isn’t a huge site though, so shouldn’t take much longer than 30 minutes to see. Tickets are also included in the Acropolis Combo ticket.
Top Tip: From here, you’ll also walk past the Zappeion Gardens on your way to the next stop. It’s worth having a quick wander around here because it’s very pretty.
16:30 – Panathenaic Stadium
After exploring the Temple of Ol.ympian Zeus, walk a further 8 minutes through Athens’ gardens to another of my favourite places to visit in Athens. The Panathenaic Stadium is stunning and we loved our time here.
It was originally home to the Panathenaic Games, a major religious and athletic tournament and festival held in honour of the goddess Athena. Of course, this later became the Olympic Games, and the stadium was the home of the first ever modern Olympics in 1896.
Constructed in the 4th century BCE and then refurbished in marble by the Roman Emperor Herodes Atticus in 144 CE, it can seat around 50,000 people, making it one of the largest ancient stadiums in the world.
You can see the sheer scale of the structure when you visit as well as explore the rows of marble seats, climb to the top for views over the stadium, and stand on the first-place podium in the centre for your Olympic moment!
Tickets cost €10 and the stadium is open until 7pm in the summer months and 5pm between November and February.
17:30 – Explore Syntagma Square
Last but not least, head to Syntagma Square in Athens. This is the heart of cultural life in the city and is the central hub for modern-day Athens. It’s also home to the Parliament Building, where you can see the changing of the guard and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
It’s well worth exploring this part of Athens as it’s a great place for seeing local life today. You’ll find plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s also home to major transport links, ideal if you’re heading back to the airport after your day in Athens.
Have a wander around here and, check out the architecture, and perhaps grab yourself a souvenir from your time in the city.
18:30 – Rooftop bar for dinner
Is there a better way to have dinner in Athens than from a rooftop bar overlooking the magnificent Parthenon and Acropolis all lit up in the evening? Trust me, there really isn’t!
Several rooftop restaurants in Athens offer stunning views and will serve you some truly delicious Greek cuisine. A few of my favourites include the stylish Sky Lounge and the Terrace Bar & Restaurant on top of the Central Athens Hotel.
Alternatively, if you want something a little different, the fantastic NYX Rooftop serves delicious Japanese food.
Either way, this is the perfect way to end 1 day in Athens, with some delicious food and fantastic views over the historical Greek capital.
How to get around Athens
One of the best things about Athens is how walkable it is. This entire itinerary is designed to be seen on foot. You can reach all of these attractions within just 10 minutes of one another.
Plus many of the best places to stay in Athens are right in the centre, so you won’t even have to travel far from your hotel.
However, Athens is also easy to navigate by public transport. The metro, railway, buses, and trams all cost €1.20 for a single ticket and you can use that ticket on all means of transport.
From the airport, the easiest way to get to the city centre is to take Metro Line 3 to Syntagma Square. This runs every 30 minutes from 6:30 am to 11:30 and costs €9 one way or €16 return.
You can also take the X95 bus from the airport to Syntagma Station and a one-way ticket costs €5.50.
Is 1 Day in Athens worth it?
Honestly, I think it is. Will you see everything there is to see in Athens? No, however, you will be able to see many of the top historical sites in just 24 hours in Athens and arguably see the best things that Athens has to offer.
You’ll have to miss going into more depth with a visit to the Acropolis Museum, seeing beautiful hidden gems such as Kerameikos, and the views from Phyx and Lycebettus Hill.
You also won’t be able to do many of the spectacular day trips from Athens. This includes Delphi, one of my favourite historical sites in Greece and Corinth. But, if you’re considering spending longer in Athens, check out my 2-day itinerary and 4-day Athens itinerary.
Nonetheless, if you only have 1 day in Athens, you’ll be able to get a great taste of both the city and Greek history. It will definitely make you want to come back for more.
👉 Haven’t chosen a place to stay yet? Here are all of my favourite places to stay in Athens for both luxury and budget travellers.
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