Athens

Best things to do in Athens

1. 1

   1. The Acropolis and the Parthenon

   • 2 to 3 hours
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Families
   • No car needed

   An ancient citadel on a rocky outcrop above the city, with the remains of several buildings of great architectural and historical significance. The most famous is the Parthenon, a former temple to the goddess Athena whose sculptures are regarded as among the finest of classical Greek art.

   We have not confirmed ticket and entry arrangements; check the official Greek culture ministry site before you go.

   99,276 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Acropolis of Athens
   • Wikipedia, Parthenon
2. 2

   2. A day trip to Delphi

   • A full day
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Adults
   • Active

   An ancient sacred precinct on the southwestern slope of Mount Parnassus in central Greece, seat of the Pythia, the oracle consulted on important decisions across the classical world. The ruins of the 4th-century BC Temple of Apollo stand here, and the site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

   We have not confirmed how to get there or the entry arrangements; check before you plan the day.

   27,065 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Delphi
3. 3

   3. A day trip to Mycenae

   • A full day
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Adults
   • Active

   An archaeological site in Argolis in the north-eastern Peloponnese, about 120 km south-west of Athens and 48 km south of Corinth. It stands on a hill about 274 m above sea level.

   We have not confirmed how to get there or the entry arrangements; check before you plan the day.

   22,632 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Mycenae
4. 4

   4. The Corinth Canal

   • 1 to 2 hours
   • No booking needed
   • Families
   • Couples

   A canal opened in 1893, 6.4 km long and 24.6 m wide at sea level, cutting through the Isthmus of Corinth to link the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. It has no locks, many modern ships cannot use it, and it is now mainly a tourist attraction.

   13,773 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Corinth Canal
5. 5

   5. The Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus

   • 1 to 2 hours
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Families
   • Rainy day

   The ancient meeting and market place of Athens, north-west of the Acropolis. On its north-western side, on Agoraios Kolonos hill, stands the Temple of Hephaestus, largely intact; it served as a Greek Orthodox church until 1834.

   We have not confirmed entry arrangements; check before you go.

   12,534 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Ancient Agora of Athens
   • Wikipedia, Temple of Hephaestus
6. 6

   6. Panathenaic Stadium

   • About an hour
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Families
   • Couples
   • No car needed

   Also called Kallimarmaro, a multi-purpose stadium in Athens and one of the city's main historic attractions. It is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.

   We have not confirmed entry arrangements; check before you go.

   11,400 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Panathenaic Stadium
7. 7

   7. A day trip to Hydra

   • A full day
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • No car needed

   One of the Saronic Islands, separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strip of water. Its ancient name, Hydrea, refers to its natural springs.

   We have not confirmed ferry operators or sailing times; check before you plan the day.

   9,009 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Hydra (island)
8. 8

   8. A day trip to Aegina

   • A full day
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Families
   • Couples
   • No car needed

   A Saronic island about 27 km from Athens. It is known for its pistachio production, the ancient Temple of Aphaia, and a pilgrimage site linked to St Nektarios.

   We have not confirmed ferry operators or sailing times; check before you plan the day.

   7,333 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Aegina
9. 9

   9. Temple of Olympian Zeus

   • About an hour
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Families
   • No car needed

   A colossal temple begun in the 6th century BC under the Athenian tyrants and completed by the Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. It originally had 104 huge columns and is now in ruins.

   We have not confirmed entry arrangements; check before you go.

   6,567 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens
10. 10

    10. Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion

    • Half a day
    • Check entry rules before you go
    • Couples
    • Adults

    A temple to Poseidon on Cape Sounion in East Attica. Sanctuaries on the cape go back to the 11th century BC, and the temples of Poseidon and Athena are thought to date from about 700 BC.

    We have not confirmed how to get there or the entry arrangements; check before you plan the trip.

    5,599 readers a month

    Sources

    • Wikipedia, Temple of Poseidon, Sounion

Just missed the list: Epidaurus (11th by readers; an ancient site in the Peloponnese); Mount Lycabettus (12th by readers; a hill in the city)