No. 01 · Landmark
Acropolis & Parthenon
The 5th-century BC citadel above Athens
The sacred hill of Athena, crowned by the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike — open-air and visible from across the city.
Read more →Greece
Athens
Cradle of democracy under the Acropolis
An ancient city in a modern Mediterranean dress — 2,500-year-old ruins above neighbourhoods of taverns, street art, and rooftop bars.
When to go
April–May and September–October. Summer is hot, dry, and crowded.
Getting around
Metro is clean and fast; walk the centre between Syntagma, Plaka, and Monastiraki.
Athens highlights
Don't miss
The top places to start with if you only have a day or two — the essentials before you go deeper.
No. 02 · Museum
Acropolis Museum
Glass-floored museum at the foot of the rock
Bernard Tschumi's 2009 museum housing the Parthenon marbles still in Athens — designed so the top floor mirrors the temple itself.
Read more →No. 03 · Where to stay
Plaka
The old village under the Acropolis
Athens' oldest continuously inhabited neighbourhood — whitewashed lanes, neoclassical houses, and tavernas with the rock above.
Read more →Things to do in Athens
4 hand-picked
A curated mix of landmarks, neighborhoods, and museums worth your time in Athens, Greece — grouped by type below.
Landmark
1 place
Museum
1 place
Where to stays
2 places
Where to stay in Athens
4 neighborhoods
Athens centres on the Acropolis — base in Plaka or Koukaki and the rock is a 10-minute walk.
Plaka
Old village, tavernas, walking
Best for: Atmospheric first-time stays
Koukaki
Acropolis Museum, cafés, calm
Best for: Walkable and quieter
Monastiraki
Markets, rooftops, transit hub
Best for: Central, lively base
Kolonaki
Boutiques, galleries, restaurants
Best for: Upscale stays with great views
A 3-day itinerary, your way
If you only have a long weekend in Athens.
Day 1
Acropolis Day
Acropolis at opening, Acropolis Museum, lunch in Plaka, Ancient Agora, sunset at Lycabettus Hill.
Day 2
Museums & Markets
National Archaeological Museum, lunch at Karamanlidika, Monastiraki flea market, rooftop sunset over the rock.
Day 3
Beach or Cape Sounion
Tram or drive to Glyfada for the morning, lunch by the sea, optional sunset at the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.