Got two days in Athens, and questioning whether you’ll have time to squeeze in all the sightseeing you want to do while still having fun?
There’s definitely a lot to see and do there, so planning a trip can be quite overwhelming. This itinerary for two days in Athens is ideal for first-time visitors.
Based on my short Jet2 City Break to Athens, it will help you see all of Athens’ best bits including the most famous sights, cool bars and memorable views.
Now, I don’t want you to be alarmed. This may seem like a busy Athens itinerary, but I promise it’s not overly ambitious!
The great thing about Athens is that a lot of the major tourist attractions are very close together, so you can see the city’s most popular spots even if you only have 48 hours in Athens.
Use this realistic Athens sightseeing itinerary to cover the usual draws for tourists like the Acropolis and Hadrian’s Library, as well as some of the more hidden gems.
The best itinerary for two days in Athens
If you’ve got more than 48 hours in Athens, check out the suggestions for tours and day trips from Athens at the bottom of this guide.
You should also take a look at my guide to the best things to do in Athens as there are 40+ recommendations!
If you’re stopping in the Greek capital during a longer period of travel around Europe, you might be interested in this 10 day Europe backpacking trip itinerary too.
Itinerary for day one in Athens
First, you’ll need to get from Athens airport to the city centre. A taxi costs around 45 euros, or you can take the metro.
However, if you’re only in Athens for two days you should book a private transfer ahead of your trip. Glide past the queues, drop your bags at your hotel and hit the streets!
Arriving in Athens in the late afternoon or evening? Head straight to the Plaka area for dinner, drinks and a chance to soak up the ambience of the city. You can start following the below itinerary first thing the next morning.
Morning 1: the top historic attractions
You first port of call if you have two days in Athens should be the Acropolis and the Parthenon. You’ll need to go first thing in the morning to beat the crowds.
If you’re arriving into Athens later in the day, I recommend following the day one itinerary I’ve outlined here on day two and vice versa.
Basically, you should prioritise visiting the Acropolis complex as early in the day as you can, particularly if you’re visiting Athens during the busy season.
The Acropolis opens at 8am, so get there early. This way, you’ve ticked some major Athens attractions off your list before other tourists have even left the hotel buffet. The Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, and the Odeon of Herodotus Atticus are all on this site.
TIP: If the combo pass I mentioned earlier doesn’t feel right for you, I’d instead recommend buying this ticket for the Acropolis. It gives you the skip-the-line privileges but is cheaper than the combo pass and is suitable for anyone not wanting to visit all seven of the ancient attractions you get access to with the combo pass. Alternatively, this pass includes a guided tour.
If you’re only in Athens in two days, you won’t want to waste time waiting in long queues so a skip-the-line pass is essential! Trust me, we got quite a shock when we realised how busy it was.
On the same site as the Acropolis, you’ll find the Acropolis Museum, which opens at 9am.
It’s best to visit the museum after rather than before the Acropolis itself to get a head start on the crowds. Spend an hour to 90 minutes there, being sure not to miss the glass-floored basement, which is built over an archeological site.
When you’ve seen everything you want to see in the museum and perhaps stopped for a coffee in the museum cafe, you can visit the nearby Theatre of Dionysus. It sits on the Acropolis hill to the south and is quite a sight to behold.
Lunch in Plaka
Now that you’ve seen some of the top tourist attractions in Athens, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll through the charming Plaka neighbourhood.
I love this part of Athens. Wisteria-shrouded buildings line cobbled streets packed cheek-to-jowl with souvenir shops, upmarket boutiques and cosy tavernas.
It’s a great place to grab some lunch, browse the shops and boutiques, or just wander aimlessly.
While you explore this picturesque area, you might stumble upon The Benizelou Mansion. This is the oldest house in all of Athens and definitely worth a quick look around, so you can imagine life in the capital in the 17th century.
While you’re in Plaka, you might also like to explore the beautiful whitewashed neighbourhood that sits just beneath the Acropolis, Anafiotika. It’s like being teleported to one of the Greek islands.
If you choose to visit, please remember it’s a residential area so you need to be respectful of the people who live there.
Afternoon: Rooftop views and shopping (or more history)
Next, make your way towards Monastiraki Square, which is the city’s beating heart. It’s a great spot for people-watching and whether you have one day in Athens or a week there, you’re bound to find yourself in Monastiraki Square at some point.
One of the points of interest in the square is the Panagia Pantanassa, which is one of the oldest churches in the city.
It should be time for a cold drink now, so head to one of the many rooftop bars in Athens to refuel. Our favourite was MS Roof Garden, because it has fantastic views of the Acropolis and Monastiraki Square below.
Suitably refreshed, it’s time to visit Hadrian’s Library.
Hadrian’s Library is accessed via Monastiraki Square, so you can visit this famous ancient Greek attraction next when you return to ground level. Use your combo pass to skip the line and save time.
Had your fill of history? As an alternative to Hadrian’s Library, visit the Athens Flea Market.
If you’re in Monastiraki Square facing the metro station, the entrance to the market is just to the right of the station.
Sunset and Athens nightlife
From there, I recommend heading back to Plaka for sundowners or perhaps grabbing an ice cream and strolling some more.
Alternatively, take a sunset tour to Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon. You’ll get to see the oldest theatre, Thorikos, and take in some spectacular views.
If you’re looking to stay out late during your two days in Athens, it’s probably best to save the partying until your last night.
Not scared? Check out Diego’s for Asian & South American food with a DJ providing the soundtrack.
Day two itinerary for Athens
After breakfast on day two in Athens, you can look forward to a more relaxed day with fewer crowds and queues.
Morning: Olympic Stadium, gardens and a free show
Start with ticking off two more Athens must-see landmarks that are conveniently just a minute’s walk from one another: the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch.
Next, head to the Panathenaic Stadium, which costs 10 euros to enter. This is a real Athens must-see and although we only spent around 40 minutes there, I found it really exciting to see such an important part of Greece’s history.
There’s a small exhibition attached to the stadium which I definitely recommend visiting too.
Next, you can enjoy a tranquil walk through the National Gardens. This is a lovely spot to escape the crowds in Athens. It has a park, ponds, small petting zoo, a cafe, museum and botanical garden.
Exit the National Gardens near the Hellenic Parliament Building and time your journey to catch the changing of the guard ceremony.
This happens every hour on the hour in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If you’re in Athens on a Sunday, you can watch a more elaborate ceremony at 11am.
Use the metro to get from Syntagma station (near the parliament building) to Monastiraki and brace yourself for what you’re about to experience!
Afternoon: sweet treats and your choice of chilled time
Stop for a sweet treat at Little Kook, the wackiest cafe in Athens.
Little Kook is a unique place to have coffee and cake, but the food isn’t the main attraction. This kitsch cafe has an ever-changing theme, and the decor is very impressive.
During our two days in Athens, the theme was Alice and Wonderland. The decorations were crazy! The staff were even dressed up as characters like the Queen of Hearts.
For the rest of the afternoon you can then spend a bit of time uncovering some of the city’s varied street art, shopping in the various upmarket shops or discovering the best places to eat in Athens on a gourmet food tour.
Sundown: hike for views (or take the easy route), then visit the coolest bar in Athens
How does sunset on a mountain sound to put the cherry on top of your Athens break?
You have a couple of options when it comes to getting a good view from above. Hike to the top of Philopappos Hill for panoramic golden hour views of the city, or tackle Lycabettus Hill, which is the highest point in Athens.
Philopappos Hill is easier to get to and offers good views of the Acropolis. On the other hand, from the top of Lycabettus you can see all the way out to Piraeus and beyond to Aegina on a clear day.
In case this sways you, there’s a cable car you can use to get to the top of Mount Lycabettus!
Toast the end of your two days in Athens with drinks in Psyri or check out some of the many amazing bars in Athens once darkness descends.
We absolutely loved The Clumsies, which is on the Top 50 Best Bars list. Tom’s cocktail was served with a scented piece of paper, providing an experience for multiple senses. If you like cocktails, this is a must-visit during your city break in Athens.
What to do if you have three, four, five days in Athens
If you have longer than two days in Athens and you’ve visiting in Summer, you might like to add on a day at the beach.
Head to the glamorous Athenian Riviera for your third day in Athens to escape the buzz of the city. The City Sightseeing bus will take you there and back.
Alternatively, visit one of the many museums or art galleries in the city.
Got three days or more in Athens? Check out the most popular day trips from Athens below.
Full-day cruise from Athens to the islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina
Monasteries and hermit caves on a Full-Day Meteora Trip from Athens
Hilltop ruins and the Temple of Apollo in the centre of ancient Greece on a day trip to Delphi
Mycenae, a major centre of Greek civilisation, the Hellenic theatre of Epidaurus and Nauplia
Is two days in Athens enough?
Honestly, two days in Athens will barely allow you to scratch the city’s surface. I feel like I could spend the whole summer there and explore a different area each day!
However, two days in the city centre is probably enough for you to see the main sights, following this Athens itinerary.
If you’d like to do a day trip outside of Athens or spend time at the beach, I’d recommend adding on an extra day or two.
See more of my Europe travel guides here
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