How Many Days In Athens Are Best For The Perfect Stay
If you are considering a trip to Athens, then rest assured you are making a great choice. Athens is one of my favorite cities! It’s a vibrant place, bursting with history, amazing sites, and great food. I’ve personally visited Athens twice, spending a total of three weeks exploring everything it has to offer. But not every traveler has that much time. So how many days in Athens do you really need to see its greatest hits? Let’s take a look at the city in a little more detail, and see if we can decide how many days in Athens are best.
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Contents
Getting Around Athens
One of the great things about visiting Athens is that all its must-see sites are close to each other….walking-distance close. I’ve never taken any form of public transportation within central Athens. This makes exploring central Athens very easy and convenient. It also makes it possible to pack a lot of sight-seeing into each day – something very useful to know when determining how many days in Athens you’ll need.
Athens does have a Metro system. But, if you are staying in central Athens, almost everything important is within a single Metro stop away. That’s why we’ve never used it.
Athens also has Uber (as well as Bolt and Free Now). And this can be useful for longer distances such as airport transportation or rides to the ferry port. However Uber in Athens uses local taxis. So you won’t get a cheaper fare. It’s just more convenient for visitors who don’t speak the language.
Athens Must-See Sites
So now that you know you won’t be spending lots of time getting around, what are the must-see sites in Athens? And how many days in Athens will you need to see them?
The Acropolis
The Acropolis is certainly the greatest site in Athens and one of the greatest sites in the world. In fact, I’m baffled that it’s not included as one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Frequent readers know that I would take Chichen Itza off that list. And I would most definitely replace it with the Acropolis.
No matter how many days in Athens you choose to spend, you will likely see the Acropolis every day. It dominates the skyline in central Athens – day and night.
The centerpiece of this fortified hill is the Parthenon. Built in the 5th century BC, the Parthenon is certainly the most famous temple of Ancient Greece. And it is most definitely a breath-taking structure!
But the Acropolis is much more than just the Parthenon. The top of this hill is also home to a handful of other ancient buildings too. These include the small Temple of Athena Nike, perched on the very edge of the Acropolis.
And another temple called the Erechtheion and its famed Porch of the Maidens. This is a small exterior porch with a roof supported by 6 female sculptures (note that these aren’t the original maidens….more on that to come)
However the Acropolis is more than just the various structures and ruins on top. You’ll also discover several important structures at the foot of its ancient walls. Certainly the most impressive of these is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
The Odeon is a huge ancient amphitheater built by the occupying Romans in AD 161. It’s still used for concerts and other performances today and can accommodate 5000 spectators.
There is clearly a lot to see at the Acropolis. So when deciding how many days in Athens are best, you’ll want to set aside at least a couple of hours to tour the Acropolis.
You should also be aware that you’ll need to plan ahead for your visit to the Acropolis. Because this is the most popular site in Athens, and because entry is limited, tickets can sell out well ahead of time. You should absolutely purchase your timed-entry tickets online in advance. Here is a link to the official ticketing site of the Acropolis.
The Acropolis Museum
I think the Acropolis Museum is the second most essential site in Athens. It’s located adjacent to the Acropolis, though you should be aware that it has a separate ticketing system (and entrance fee). The museum’s several floors contain all the artifacts collected from the Acropolis over the millennia, and is where you’ll best learn about both the Acropolis and the Parthenon. You can’t fully appreciate the Acropolis without coming here.
For example, the Acropolis Museum is where you will see the actual maiden columns from the Porch of the Maidens…
And this is where you’ll see all the still-existing decoration from the Parthenon – with the exception of the pieces that are controversially held in the British Museum. The entire top floor of museum is a 4-sided re-creation of the temple’s exterior stonework. You cannot completely understand the Parthenon’s majesty unless you see this.
And as you walk around all these ancient sculptures, you will have an amazing view through the museum’s floor-to-ceiling windows of the Parthenon itself…
Like the Acropolis, your visit to the Acropolis Museum will also require a couple of hours. So when deciding how many days in Athens you’ll spend, know that you’ll need at least a half day visiting these first two sites.
Plaka
Plaka is the oldest neighborhood in Athens and is situated directly below the northern and eastern sides of the Acropolis. It’s the most classically charming neighborhood in all of Athens, but also the most touristy.
As you wander the narrow maze of streets that comprise this neighborhood, you’ll discover lots of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. And while it can be packed with tourists, you can find quiet charming corners in Plaka too.
When deciding how many days in Athens you’ll spend, I don’t think you need to plan lots of time for Plaka specifically. Most of my own Plaka exploration has taken place while walking to the various ancient sites within central Athens. You will inevitably walk through Plaka often. And it is also the perfect setting for a meal or two.
The Agora of Athens
The Agora of Athens is a large site located below the northern side of the Acropolis. It was the civic center of Ancient Athens starting in the 5th century. This is where important government and legal buildings once stood, and where public assemblies were held. The Agora is where Athenian democracy reached its peak! It was also an important commercial center for the city too.
The most impressive building that still stands inside the Agora is the Temple of Hephaestus. This is widely considered to be the single best-preserved temple of Ancient Greece.
On the grounds of the Agora, you’ll also find an important museum. It’s located inside a restored building called the Stoa of Attalos. The Stoa was constructed in the 2nd century BC, and has been called antiquity’s first shopping center. It now displays historically important artifacts from Ancient Greece.
When deciding how many days in Athens you’ll need, you should definitely plan on at least 2 hours to explore the Agora with its temple, its various ruins, and its museum. I don’t think it’s quite as important to plan ahead when visiting the Agora. But here is a link to the ticketing website if you would like to purchase your tickets in advance.
The Panathenaic Stadium
This all-marble stadium, located on the edge of central Athens, was home to the very first Olympic Games in modern history – the 1896 Olympics.
It was built in the late 1800s for those Games, but was constructed on the very spot where the ancient Athenians also built a stadium in the 4th century BC. That stadium was used for the Olympics’ ancient precursor called the Panathenaic Games.
As a non-athlete tourist, you can visit the stadium and it definitely is a must-see site in Athens – just for the history alone. But you can also walk the track, sit in the marble seats, and tour a small Olympics museum. No matter how many days in Athens you spend, you definitely need to make time for a stop here.
National Archeological Museum
Considered one of the world’s greatest museums, the National Archeological Museum absolutely should be included in your Athens itinerary. You will not find a more impressive collection of artifacts from Ancient Greece anywhere. Artifacts like the The Jockey of Artemision…
This is a bronze statue from 150 BC. Few bronze statues from Ancient Greece remain as the bronze was ultimately needed for other purposes. But this exceptionally well-preserved and detailed statue was found “hidden” at the bottom of the sea in a shipwreck.
Or the museum’s collection of Minoan artifacts from Crete such as the pottery below which is around 3500 years old. (I talk more about the Minoans in my post entitled Heraklion or Chania – Which City In Crete is Better?)
The National Archeological Museum in Athens is huge – it contains 11,000 different exhibits. It would take days to see it all. But no matter how many days in Athens you choose to spend, find at least a few hours to check out some of this museum’s most important pieces.
How Many Days in Athens for the Must-Sees
So now that you know which sites in Athens I consider the most important, how many days in Athens do you need to see them?
I would say 1.5 days if you cram them in. Two days at a more leisurely pace. With some great eating thrown in at meal time (Greek food is my absolute favorite and don’t miss out on Loukoumades!)
The Second Tier
What if you have more than two days in Athens? What else should you do and see? And how many days in Athens are best with that extra time?
Here are the sites I consider second tier. Don’t get me wrong. They are still great! But if you only have limited time, then they aren’t quite as essential. And the good news is that you can get a good taste of several while you walk between the must-see sites anyway.
Hadrian’s Library
A perfect example of this is Hadrian’s Library. It’s located on the northern edge of the Plaka district, and you will inevitably pass by it several times as you walk around central Athens. These are the ruins of a large library built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132. You can pay an admission and enter the site if you wish. Or you can quickly read about the site online and then see the entirety of the ruins as you walk the surrounding streets.
The Roman Agora
Not far from Hadrian’s Library, you’ll discover the ruins of the Roman Agora. This was built by the ruling Romans around 27 BC and functioned mostly as an open marketplace surrounded by colonnades and a series of shops. Perhaps its most famous landmark is the Tower of Winds which was used for estimating time and predicting weather.
As with Hadrian’s Library, you can see all the Roman Agora from the surrounding streets in Plaka. But if you have time and interest, you can also pay an admission fee and wander around the ruins for closer inspection.
Temple of The Olympian Zeus
This is an other of the great temples of Ancient Greece and was likely the largest. It once boasted 104 massive columns. Nowadays only 15 columns still stand, and these have been undergoing an extensive renovation project for quite some time. The temple was under scaffolding when I visited in 2022 and still in 2025 when I returned.
The Temple of The Olympian Zeus is located roughly equidistant between the Acropolis and the Panatheniac Stadium. So if you have limited time in Athens, you can easily see it while walking between those two sites. Or if you have more time in Athens, you can pay an admission and enter the site for closer inspection.
Changing of The Evzones Guards
No matter how many days in Athens you decide to spend, it’s easy to stop and observe the hourly changing of the guards at Greece’s Monument of The Unknown Soldier. This is located in front of the Greek Parliament building in Central Athens. You’ll likely walk past it several times during your stay in the city.
These guards called The Evzones represent the very elite of the Greek military. The ceremony takes place at the top of each hour and is quite impressive to watch.
Explore Athens Central Neighborhoods
In addition to Plaka (the neighborhood I mentioned earlier), central Athens is comprised of several other small neighborhoods or districts – each with their own unique vibe. And if you have time in your Athens itinerary, don’t miss the opportunity to explore these.
No matter how many days in Athens you choose to stay, you will inevitably spend some time in Monastiraki. This part of town is located adjacent to Plaka and is the city’s main shopping district. Here, you’ll find everything from upscale shopping to a very touristy flea market and everything in between. I also found it to be the most crowded part of Athens with both tourists and locals alike, including the always-busy Monastiraki Square…
You should also spend some time wandering around the Psyri neighborhood. It’s famous for its street art, its funky boutiques, and loads of great restaurants.
I also love exploring the streets around the Varvakios Central Municipal Market. This is not a touristy market whatsoever. Locals come here to buy fresh meat and produce. And in the surrounding streets, you’ll find all kinds of local shops selling all kinds of wares.
Plus one of my favorite places to eat in Athens is inside the Market. It’s called Taverna Aris. It’s a no-frills eatery that specializes in grilling fresh seafood at an excellent price.
And finally if you want to see a very interesting part of Athens – a neighborhood typically off the usual tourist path, then consider taking a guided tour of Exarcheia. (I’ve visited Exarcheia both with and without a guide. Trust me, guided is much better. Here’s a link to the tour we took)
This neighborhood is the counter-culture center of Athens and is known for its anarchist history and graffiti. It’s also hosts one of the best Farmer’s Markets in all of Athens every Saturday on Kallidromiou Street.
So How Many Days in Athens?
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Athens is one of my all-time favorite cities. I think you could easily spend a week in Athens and not be bored.
However for many travelers, Athens is a stopping point on the way to other great areas in Greece, most commonly the many Greek Islands.
So, if you are bookending your Greek vacation in Athens, then I would recommend two full days at a minimum to see the very best sites and pass through some of the second tier sites.
Make it 3 or 4 days if you want to spend time fully exploring everything I’ve outlined in this post.
But regardless of how many days in Athens you choose to spend, I’m sure that you will love it as much as we did!
If you want to learn of an amazing side trip from Athens, then be sure to read my post about our 2-day trip to Meteora from Athens. (Note that Meteora has been our favorite site in all of Greece so far)
If you are stopping in Athens on the way to an island, then you will definitely want to read my post all about How to Ride the Blue Star Ferry in Greece.
And if you will be visiting Crete as part of your Greece itinerary, then you may find this post helpful: Driving in Crete – 7 Things To Know Before You Rent a Car
Finally for insight into trip planning for some other great European cities, then check out these posts:
How Many Days in Madrid are Enough – A Look at Spain’s Capital