7 Archaeological Sites & Museums in Athens That You Can’t Leave Greece Without Seeing

Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the oldest cities in the world, and is sometimes referred to as the cradle of Western civilization. The arts and philosophy thrived here, it is steeped in culture and ancient history, and its landscape is dominated by the stunning Acropolis.

Like most things in Greece, there is a tale behind how the city got its name and the myth goes something like this: the city was prosperous and beautiful, but did not have a patron god that it paid tribute to. Athena, goddess of wisdom, and Poseidon, god of the sea, both contended for the title by offering a gift to the citizens; Athena gifted an olive tree and Poseidon offered a salt water spring. The citizens chose to accept the olive tree and so the city was named after Athena.

We knew that a trip to Greece wouldn’t be complete without exploring the city of Athens, so it was our first stop in Greece before heading onward on our road trip to Olympia, Meteora and Delphi.

Because of my obsession with Greek mythology, I had always dreamed of standing in front of the Parthenon, wandering through the National Archaeology Museum and admiring the Olympieio.

During our short 48 hours in Athens, I went HAM reciting Greek mythology tidbits to my extremely patient boyfriend who had to listen to me ramble on and on about the 12 labors of Herakles, Aphrodite’s saucy affair with Ares behind Hephaestus’ back, crazy Dionysus-worshipping maenads and other tantalizing tales. I don’t regret it for a minute!

If you get a chance to spend a few days in Athens, make it happen! Read on for what you have to see if you only have 2 days in Athens.

Check out my Mainland Greece road trip itinerary here so you can see Athens, Meteora, Delphi and Olympia in under 1 week!

The best time to visit Athens

The best time to visit is in late spring or autumn when the crowds are less hectic. The crowds are at its worst during July and August – however, we were there in mid-July and while it was sweltering hot, it was still manageable (although it did feel like the entire population of Europe was at the Acropolis with us).

Getting to Athens and getting around

Most airlines fly into Athens International Airport, and from the airport you have a multitude of ways to get into the city. You can take the metro, buses or a taxi, but make sure you do a quick check to see if there are any metro strikes during your trip. We took the X95 express bus from the arrivals level to Syntagma Square and the journey took about an hour. These buses get packed during the peak season so make sure you position yourself in front of one of the doors – don’t expect orderly queues! We actually opted to wait for the next bus so that we could get seats.

Once you are in the city, it is easy to get around on foot or by metro/bus. If you plan to take public transportation you can look into getting a 3 day pass (which includes your fare to/from the airport) or 5 day pass (which does not include airport transportation). More information on transportation here.

Interested in day trips from Athens? Check out Meteora or Delphi!

Where to stay in Athens

A for Athens Hotel + Bar: If you’re after the best boutique hotel in Athens then look no further than centrally-located A for Athens. The room was enormous for European standards and bright & airy, the staff are incredibly helpful and did I mention that this was the view from our room?

Yes – that’s an unobstructed view of the Acropolis! The hotel also has the best rooftop bar in Athens but make sure you book a table because it is a popular sunset spot. A for Athens was the perfect base for us to explore all the historic and archaeological sites in the city, I just wish we could have stayed longer. Click here to book your stay at A for Athens Hotel!

Must-see sights in Athens

Athens is a wonderful city to explore for history and culture buffs. Read on for some of the best things to see and places to visit in Athens!

1. The Acropolis

An “Acropolis” is a sanctuary or complex built high up on a mountain or hill, and the Acropolis of Athens is undoubtedly one of the most famous attractions in Athens. Because of its elevation the Acropolis is one of the best photo spots in Athens and offers panoramic views across the city. This is an unmissable landmark if you only have a day in Athens.

When you visit the Acropolis, you actually get to see half a dozen or so sites within the complex: the Propylaea (the entrance to the site), the Theatre of Dionysos, the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Nike and of course, the Parthenon.

Dating back to the mid-400s B.C., the iconic Parthenon is dedicated to the city’s patron goddess, Athena. The temple has survived fires, an explosion, earthquakes and lootings – it was still undergoing decades-long restoration when we were there last summer. Did you know that over the centuries the Parthenon has been a temple, a Christian church and an Islamic mosque?

Don’t miss the Erechtheion on the north side of the Acropolis. The eastern part of the building was dedicated to the goddess Athena, while the western part served the cult of Poseidon-Erechtheus. The sanctuary also contained the traces of the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for the favour of the city of Athens.

Essential information

• The Acropolis can be reached from Monastiraki Square. Follow the footpath to the left of the train station, past Hadrian’s Library and head up the stairs. You will reach the main ticket booth in about 5 minutes’ time.
• Purchase a special ticket (€30 for adults, €15 for children) that will grant you access to multiple sites including a few of the ones I have listed below. You’ll get more bang for your buck as 1) the special ticket is valid for 5 days, and 2) the cheaper ticket will only grant you access to the Acropolis and its slopes. If the queue is unbearable, you can purchase the unified ticket at one of the other sites. The special ticket will get you into these sites: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agora, Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, north/south slopes of the Acropolis, Olympieio (Temple of Zeus) and the Roman Agora.
• Give yourself a minimum of 2-3 hours to wander around the entire Acropolis complex.
• The Acropolis is open from 8 am to 5 pm (last admission at 4:30 pm), closed certain days of the year. Because it is a popular tourist attraction in Athens, the best time to visit the Acropolis is first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.

Photography tip: Looking for one of the best viewpoints in Athens? Head to the Areopagus Rock on the way up to the Acropolis site for amazing views across the city!

2. Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum houses more than 4,000 finds from the archaeological excavation such as pediments, statues, votives as well as objects that Athenians used in everyday life. The ultra-minimalistic architecture of the museum creates a bright and airy exhibition space spread over a few different levels, and there is also a spacious cafe if you need a cup of joe and rest your feet.

Don’t miss the Gallery of the Acropolis Slopes, showcasing finds from the slopes including small and large sanctuaries, old and new cults, theatrical and musical venues and more. The Acropolis Museum is about 300 meters away from the Acropolis and even has in-house archaeologists scattered around the museum for you to ask questions about the exhibits.

5 out of 6 of the original Caryatids are located in this museum – the ones at the Erechtheion are copies! The 6th Caryatid is in the British Museum – there is an old legend that says that the 5 Caryatids can be heard wailing for their lost sister at night.

Essential information:

• Entrance to the museum is not covered by your unified Acropolis ticket. You will need to buy a separate ticket for €5 during the winter season from November to March and €10 from April to October.
• Give yourself at least an hour or two at this museum.
• The museum’s opening hours vary depending on the day of the week as well as season. It tends to open at 8/9 am and close early on Mondays (4/5 pm).

3. Hadrian’s Arch / Hadrian’s Gate

This roadside structure was dedicated Roman Emperor Hadrian and was once thought to mark the divide between the old and new parts of the city. It was constructed by the Athenians in 131 A.D. and features inscriptions on either side: the side towards the Acropolis reads “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus”, and the other side facing the new city reads “This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus”.

Because it is not behind a walled complex, there is no admission fee to see Hadrian’s Arch. Plus, it is on the way to the next complex!

4. Temple of Olympian Zeus

This picture perfect temple is also known as the Olympieio – it is dedicated to the ruler of the Olympian gods (and notorious philanderer), Zeus. It was once one of the most majestic temples in Greece but was destroyed over the years: today, it only has about one fifth of the number of columns it had during its heyday.

The best part about this site is that unlike the Acropolis, it is not crawling with people! It is relatively easy to get a shot of the temple (with the Acropolis in the background) without a single person in the picture.

Essential information:

• Entrance to the museum is covered by your unified Acropolis ticket.
• The temple is open from 8 am to 6:30 pm, give yourself 30 minutes or so to soak up the magnificence of the Temple.

5. Ancient Agora (not the same as the Roman Agora)

The Ancient Agora was the commercial, political and religious centre of ancient Athens. The citizens of Athens would gather here and discuss politics, make and hear announcements, buy and sell goods, and just chill in general. The site is mostly rubble now (with the exception of the Temple of Hephaestus), but still worth a visit.

Essential information:

• Entrance to the museum is covered by your unified Acropolis ticket.
• The entrance to the Ancient Agora is a 5 minute walk away from Monastiraki Square, just follow the path to the right of the train station for a few hundred meters .
• The temple is open from 8/8:30 am to approximately 7 pm in the summer and much earlier in the winter.

6. Temple of Hephaestus

You know that guy Aphrodite cheated on? Yeah that was Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, fire, metallurgy and volcanoes (among others). It is said that he helped forge Zeus’ thunderbolt, armor for Achilles and even Pandora herself.

The Temple of Hephaestus dates back to 420-460 B.C. and is preserved extremely well (likely because it was transformed into a Christian church) – it is located on a small hill at the Ancient Agora (which means entrance is covered by the unified Acropolis ticket). Like the Temple of Zeus, you don’t have to fight your way through crowds of people to get a good look at this stunning structure.

Hell hath no fury like a scorned god – when Hephaestus found out that Aphrodite was cheating on him with Ares, the god of war, he built an unbreakable net and used it to catch them in the act mid-tryst. Hephaestus then invited the other gods to laugh at the naked goddess and god, both trapped under his net of shame!

7. National Archaeology Museum

The National Archaeology Museum is the largest museum in Greece and considered one of the best in the world, so please I beg of you, don’t miss this museum. It’s an easy 20-30 minute walk away from Plaka/Monastiraki Square and is home to more than 11,000 exhibits.

The permanent exhibits are divided up into a few different categories including Egyptian antiquities, sculptures, metalwork: my favorite was this statue of Zeus hurling his thunderbolt.

Essential information:

• Entrance to the museum is not covered by your unified Acropolis ticket. The ticket costs €12 from April to October and €6 from November to March.
• Hours vary across different days of the week and seasons, so check this website for more information.

Where to eat in Athens

This website isn’t called Yoga, Wine & Travel for nothing – A for Athens is also home to one of the best rooftop bars in the city! Their menu is chock full of unique cocktails and is the perfect view point to stare in awe at the sunset and changing colours.

Enastron: If you want authentic Greek fare, head to Enastron. The hotel recommended this restaurant to us, and we ended up having 3 meals there. It is a 5 minute walk away from A for Athens and the food is incredible – try their delicious homemade sausage! Here are some other traditional Greek dishes you might want to taste during your trip.

Miso Pithari Monastiraki: This little hole-in-the-wall serves mouthwatering gyros just around the corner from A for Athens – head here for a cheap, cheerful and quick meal!

360: Athens has tons of amazing restaurants, and this has to be one of the best rooftop bars in Athens. Also in Plaka/Monastiraki Square, 360 is the place to go if you want to treat yourself to something special. Like the rooftop bar at A for Athens, 360 also offers a view of the Acropolis from their massive open-air terrace.

The food is outstanding and it’s the perfect way to spend your last night in the city. The restaurant is extremely popular, so make sure you book your table online ahead of time.

Ready to plan your Athens adventure? I recommend staying at A for Athens Hotel + Bar, a boutique hotel with a killer view of the Acropolis. The rooms are spacious and the staff are extremely helpful – the perfect base for your city exploration. Click here to book your stay at A for Athens Hotel!

Where to go after Athens

After Athens, you have the opportunity to either hop on a short flight (or long ferry ride) to one of the Greek islands like Santorini, or you can do what we did and embark on an epic Greece road trip to visit ancient ruins, “floating” monasteries and even the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Read our Greece road trip itinerary here.

Looking for the best prices for rental cars around the world? Click here to book your rental car ahead of your trip. Bookings can be cancelled or amended if your plans change! We rented our car in Athens from Kosmos for approximately 50 Euros per day.

You might also enjoy:

• For more Greece travel inspiration check out this photo gallery to stoke your wanderlust
• Delphi was the sanctuary of the most famous oracle in all of Greece. Read my guide to planning a Delphi day trip from Athens
• If you are short on time (like we were) you should check out this mainland Greece road trip itinerary
• Immerse yourself in the history and origins of the Olympic Games. Read on for what to do in Olympia, Greece
• You’ll have to see it to believe it – don’t skip the hanging monasteries of Meteora
• Planning a trip to Santorini? Here are the best things to do in Santorini and tips on where to stay

Have you been to Athens yet? Am I missing anything from this list? Tell me all about it in the comments section!

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