Few cities in Europe boast such a rich and fascinating history as Athens. The Greek capital is like a sprawling, open-air museum, where every corner holds a story waiting to be discovered. Most of the city’s iconic landmarks are conveniently located, making it easy to explore either by foot or with public transportation. With so much to see and do, you’ll want to spend at least 2 days here to soak it all in. Follow this guide for an unforgettable weekend in Athens — I promise you won’t be disappointed!
How to get from the airport to Athens
Subway
You can easily travel directly from Athens International Airport to the city center using Line 3 of the subway. Trains run every 30 minutes, with a journey time of around 40 minutes to reach the central Syntagma Square. The subway operates daily from 06:30 to 23:30, making it a convenient option for most travelers. A single ticket costs just €10, offering great value for a quick and hassle-free transfer into the heart of Athens.
Taxi
Just like in any other major city, there are plenty of taxis available outside the airport. Taxi fares range from 40 Euros to 55 Euros, depending on the time of day you choose to travel.
Bus
The X95 Express bus operates every day of the week between the airport and Syntagma Square. To buy a bus ticket, you need to go to a small ticket kiosk located between exits 4 and 5. The X96 bus goes to the port (Pireus), and the X97 bus goes to Elliniko metro station. A ticket costs 5.5 Euros. Here is the timetable for the busses.
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Day 1 of your weekend in Athens
Start with visiting Acropolis, Pantheon & the Museum
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Athens is the Acropolis, which is an iconic site. This ancient treasure takes us back to the golden age of ancient Greece. The majestic Pantheon temple rises to the sky, offering an incredible panoramic view of the city. A perfect start to your weekend in Athens, don’t forget to bring your camera to capture these memorable moments. Plan to spend at least a few hours here. There are also plenty of guided tours available if you want to learn more about Greek history. A crucial tip for visiting during peak season is to arrive early, as the Acropolis is very popular and quickly fills up with visitors.
Go down to the streets of Plaka
After visiting the Acropolis, stroll down the cobblestone streets to Plaka, the old city center. Plaka is a wonderful area to wander through with its charming cafes, shops, and delightful restaurants. Visit some of the famous “stairs” in Plaka, charming staircases crossing the alleys filled with small, charming restaurants. Several of these places also have rooftop restaurants, which may not be the best for food but offer a fantastic view up towards the Pantheon.
Day 2 of your weekend in Athens
Little Kook Café
Start day two by going to the café Little Kook, located just a short walk from Monastiraki metro station. An imaginative café that changes its decoration seasonally, during our visit, it was inspired by Alice in Wonderland, truly feeling like we were in the middle of the movie. Areas like this are in Psyrri and are very pleasant to stroll around in.
Acropolis Museum
After a coffee here, it’s time to move on; take the metro to Acropoli station to visit the Acropolis Museum. Here, you get the chance to get closer to the impressive artworks and sculptures from the Acropolis.
Lycabettus
As the day starts to come to an end, it’s time to go up to Lycabettus, the highest point in Athens, to enjoy a magical sunset. There are two ways to get to the top, either by walking (takes about 15-20 minutes) or by taking the “train” to the top. The summit is 277 meters above sea level and offers an impressive view over Athens, especially over the illuminated Acropolis in the darkness with all its spotlights. There are also two restaurants, a daytime restaurant that closes at 17:00 and a slightly finer one that is open all evening.
Day 3 of your weekend in Athens
Perfect end of your weekend in Athens - Day trip to Aegina Island
End the weekend on a high note by taking a day trip to Aegina Island; it only takes 30 minutes by boat to reach this little paradise. Aegina is an underrated destination when it comes to islands around Athens. The boats to Aegina are frequent and very cheap, costing only 5 Euros for a round trip. A very easy way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city for a while to just enjoy the wonderful island life that Greece also has to offer. This is something that the locals know about, and many of them living in Athens take the opportunity to go to Aegina.
It’s also worth mentioning that Aegina is known for producing high-quality pistachios, so much so that they are among the highest-ranked nuts in the world!
These are my best tips on how to spend a weekend in Athens, Greece, in the best way possible. There’s so much to see; Athens is truly an iconic city that everyone should visit. If you follow my suggestions on what to do, you will fly home from Athens longing to come back. You will have experienced ancient places, ancient monuments, museums, restaurants, Athens’ charming streets, and much more. I can highly recommend Athens; it is truly a fantastic city in my opinion.
Have a wonderful trip to Athens!
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