A Day in Athens

Named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, Athens is the capital and largest city in Greece. It is situated by the Mediterranean Sea, with its Piraeus Port historically being the most important trading center in the Mediterranean. It is most well known for its history, which is recorded as far back as 3400 years ago. It is notorious for its emphasis on the arts, education, philosophy, and as the birthplace of democracy.

Because the Athens airport is one of the bigger and more affordable airports in Greece, it is common to fly into Athens then take a ferry or another flight to the various islands. Here I discuss the key sites to see if you only have a day to spend in Athens.

General

The Language

  • Everybody speaks Greek, and many people speak English, though it is often very limited. In more touristy areas, signs, menus, etc. are in both English and Greek. If you are going to learn a word in Greek, I would learn thank you, or “Efcharistó,” pronounced “Ef-ha-ri-STOH.”

Currency

  • Like most of Europe, currency is the Euro. As of now, 1.17 USD = 1 Euro. 
  • Almost all places take credit card, but it is still good to have €100-200 for some smaller stands and tips. Prices are also often cheaper when paid for in cash. 
  • When withdrawing cash, do not do so at the airport, out of the Euronet or similar ATMs, as they will charge a 15% fee. Instead use one of the main Greek banks, such as Piraeus Bank, Eurobank, Ethniki Trapeza,Pankreta Bank (Crete), etc. which will only charge around 4-5% in fees. 

Peak Season

  • Peak season is June through September, if you can visit just a bit before or after the weather is still nice and you can avoid the worst crowds.

Plastic Bottles

  • Similar to many other areas of Europe, the bottle caps do not come completely off like in the US, to help to prevent littering. 

Toilet Paper

  • The plumbing is Greece is very old and cannot tolerate toilet paper so there are trashcans in the restrooms to throw out the toilet paper.

Transport

  • Take the Metro Line 3 (blue line) from the airport to the center of Athens (costs €9 and takes about 45 minutes) if you are not renting a car. Once in the center of Athens, you can easily walk most places, which we did, however I know some people who have also used this travel bus Hop on off bus (~€19 per person) to get from attraction to attraction.
  • Of note there are luggage storage units all around Athens city center which are very affordable if you aren’t able to check into your hotel yet or if you are staying outside of Athens.

Acropolis

While Athens has not shortage of ruins, Acropolis is the most well-known, including several different structures including the Parthenon, Temple of Athena, Odeon of Herodes, and many more. It is pretty touristy, and hence pretty crowded, especially during peak season but is pretty spectacular. If you only have time to visit one area in Athens, I recommend visiting Acropolis.

Tickets cost €30 per person. Purchase through official site for cheapest tickets: Acropolis Tickets

There are two entrances: the Main Entrance and Side Entrance. The Main Entrance is much more crowded, so I would recommend going through the side entrance. The side entrance is located directly across from the Acropolis Museum, so you can visit the museum first then go directly across to Acropolis. 

During peak season (June to September), it can get very crowded, so ideally go during the first time slot at 0800. If you cannot make it early in the morning, try to go in the evening. It closes at 2000 during the summer and 1700 during the winter. We went with the 1700 time slot in August from the side entrance. I had read that they would not let you wait in line until 15 minutes prior to your time slot, but we showed up 20-25 minutes prior to, and there were already some people lined up. Right about 15 minutes before the allotted time everyone else showed up, so there was a long line behind us. However, the line goes super quickly once they start letting people through. 

Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Propylaea, or entrance to the top of Acropolis
Propylaea from the inside
The Parthenon
The Parthenon and Old Temple of Athena from afar
The Old Temple of Athena
The Old Temple of Athena

Acropolis construction of the earliest ruins you can see today began in the 6th century BC, but its history spans back much further. During different time periods it has served different purposes, from a site of religious importance to a hub of culture and philosophy to a sign of strength and wealth. Today it serves as a symbol of Greek heritage and national pride.

Acropolis Museum

Located just across from the Acropolis sits the Acropolis Museum, which is composed of several stories of various artifacts from the Athenian Acropolis and surrounding areas. It also does have a small café on the first floor, and a restaurant on the third floor. 

Tickets cost €20 per person, buy through the official site for cheapest tickets: Acropolis Museum Tickets

We only felt like we needed about an hour to see everything, but if you wanted to read more of the signage and really look closely at everything you could probably stay closer to 2 hours.

Many statues are missing their heads. When a new regime conquered a specific area, they often knocked the heads off the statues as a political statement.

More Ruins

While Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum are by far the most popular and most spectacular sites in Athens, there are several other ruins and other attraction within walkable distance of Acropolis in the heart of Athens. Here are just a few of them.

Hadrian’s Arch

Well known gateway within walking distance of Acropolis, on the side of the road directly in front of the Temple of Zeus. Free to visit. 

Olympieion (Temple of Zeus)

Within walking distance of Acropolis, right next to the Zappeaio Roman baths and Gardens, and Hadrian’s Arch. Costs €20 per person (Olympieion Tickets) which we did not feel was worth it so simply checked it out from afar.  

Zappeio Roman Baths

Zappeion Gardens

Another free activity you could do while waiting for your entry time to Acropolis or as a break from the city feel. It is only a few blocks from Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Zeus, and directly next to the Zappeio Roman baths above. It is composed of a series of paths through greenery and various ponds, with pergolas, benches, and the like.

Plaka

A neighborhood in the heart of Athens with typical narrow streets, full of clothing shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, gelato stops, and other shops. Good for souvenir shopping and getting food before Acropolis, though it is very touristy and the prices are marked up in comparison to other areas

– Kaló taksídi –