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An Athens visit works well with ancient monuments, museums and neighbourhood life in the same plan. People have lived here since Neolithic times, more than 5,000 years ago.
Make room for ancient sites and neighbourhood wandering, with the Acropolis and Plaka anchoring that mix. The Erechtheion was built in the late 5th century BC; its southern porch has a row of Caryatids. For a sense of monumental scale, the Temple of Olympian Zeus measured about 110 by 44 metres, with columns rising about 17 metres.
Plaka suits browsing between historic landmarks, characterful streets and busy shops. Pangrati offers a different kind of pause, with leafy squares and lively cafes. That makes a coffee break in Pangrati a useful counterpoint to time among the monuments.
Two days are a useful starting plan: spend the first on the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Plaka, then the second on museums and Pangrati. The National Archaeological Museum holds ancient objects from across Greece, in a building completed in 1889. The Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art opened in Pangrati in October 2019, so the museum day can include contemporary art as well as antiquities.
A Delphi outing needs a separate day in this plan. The full-day guided tour from Athens to Delphi for its oracle and ruins lasts 9 hours and 30 minutes, including Mercedes transport, a certified professional English-speaking driver, fuel and driver expenses.
October suits a walking-focused trip if you prefer milder days to summer heat. Long-term averages give October highs and lows of about 23 °C and 15 °C, compared with about 29 °C and 19 °C in September and 19 °C and 11 °C in November.
For summer travel, June offers less heat than July and August: long-term averages show highs and lows of about 30 °C and 20 °C in June, rising to about 33 °C and 23 °C in July and 32 °C and 22 °C in August. Rain is the other part of that summer choice: National Observatory of Athens station records for 1961 to 1990 show an average of five rainy days in June and two each in July and August. July and August therefore suit a preference for fewer rainy days, provided you are comfortable with their higher temperatures.
Metro line 3 connects the airport with central Athens. If your plans also involve Piraeus, allow for its separate location: the port is around 10 km southwest of the city centre and 45 km from the airport.
Ancient Corinth and Cape Sounion offer shorter tour options than the Delphi outing. The private half-day tour of Ancient Corinth and the Corinth Canal lasts 6 hours, including air-conditioned private transport, a licensed professional guide and guided visits to the canal viewpoint, Ancient Corinth archaeological site and its archaeological museum.
Cape Sounion suits an interest in ancient temples: the Temple of Poseidon was built between 444 and 440 BCE. The private Cape Sounion tour with sunset at the Temple of Poseidon lasts 5 hours and 30 minutes, including private transport throughout, a licensed professional guide and itinerary planning and logistics.
Plaka suits a preference for historic streets and shops; Pangrati suits cafes and leafy squares.
Two days give you a plan for ancient sites and Plaka, followed by museums and Pangrati.
October suits milder-weather walking, with long-term average highs of about 23 °C and lows of about 15 °C.
Metro line 3 connects the airport with central Athens.
Delphi is a full-day option; Ancient Corinth and Cape Sounion have shorter tours.
Plaka suits historic streets and shopping; Pangrati suits cafes and leafy squares.
