Years ago, my husband and I backpacked through Europe for three weeks. It was an exhausting but amazing trip! We visited 8 countries in that short amount of time and our last stop was Athens, Greece. I spent countless hours researching every city that we would be visiting, including what to see and do in Athens.

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Since we only had a few days to visit Greece, we decided to take in all of the sites of Athens rather than trying to rush through some of the Greek isles.

Sure, the Greek Islands are beautiful but you can’t visit Greece without spending at least a few days in Athens. Europe’s oldest capital city has been around since 3,000 B.C., making it one of the oldest cities in the world!

If you are a history buff, especially Greek mythology, you will love this city. It isn’t uncommon to be walking down an ordinary street and come across a building that was built thousands of years ago!

Here are my top picks of what to see and do in Athens.

What to Do in Athens

Visit the Acropolis

This UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Parthenon in particular, is the icon of Athens. The Parthenon was built between 447 and 438 BC for Athena Parthenos, the goddess of the city of Athens and wisdom.

The Acropolis stands on the top of a limestone hill overlooking the city of Athens. The views are incredible. It was incredibly hot the day we visited but we purchased a frozen lemonade from one of the vendors to enjoy while we were walking around!

There is also evidence that this area was inhabited long before the Parthenon was built for Athena. A house on this site dated back to the Neolithic period.

Restoration on these structures began 40 years ago and is still going today. Because of this, it is common for some of the structures to be covered in scaffolding.

Visit the Acropolis Museum

This beautiful museum was our favorite in the city. This entire museum is dedicated to just one archaeological site, the famous Acropolis. It houses more than 3,000 artifacts. Tickets are around 10 euros per person in the summer and 5 euros per person in the winter. Hours vary depending on the day of the week and the time of the year.

The museum was built on large pillars above an archeological site. Open areas and glass floors display some of the ancient houses below. Much of the museum also has floor to ceiling glass windows that offer views of the Acropolis right from the museum!

For more information about the Acropolis Museum, click here.

Eat Traditional Street Food

From souvlaki and gyros to koulouri. Athens has some amazing street food. Try as much as possible in your time there!

A traditional gyro is served on a pita with pork, tomatoes, onions, fried potatoes and tzatziki.

Click here for my homemade tzatziki recipe!

Eating a koulouri in Athens is like eating a pretzel in New York City. These round pieces of bread are crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. Koulouri are typically served with sesame seeds on the outside and have a filling such as cheese, spinach or olives.

Stroll Along the Plaka

Most of the streets in this idyllic area are closed to traffic. Because of this, it’s the perfect place to take a stroll, do some shopping or stop in a café for a coffee. This is the picturesque, old neighborhood in Athens that you have been dreaming of!

Panathenaic Stadium

The original stadium was built in 330 BC for the Panathenaic Games which were both a religious and athletic festival in honor of the goddess Athena. When the stadium was rebuilt in 144 AD (entirely of marble), it was used for various purposes such as the Olympics and Athens Classic Marathon.

Although Athens is the birthplace of the modern Olympics (since 1896), the ancient Olympics were never actually held in Athens.

Fun Fact: In 490 B.C. a Greek soldier named Pheidippides ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens, giving way to the modern day marathon event.

Watch a Live Performance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Located at the base of the Acropolis, this open air theater was originally built between 160 – 174 AD. It lay in ruins for many years before being rebuilt in the 1950s. Now, this amazing theater is home to the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Diana Ross and Sting are just a few of the big names that have performed here!

Even if you aren’t lucky enough to be visiting while a concert is happening, this stadium has beautiful views of the city and is definitely worth a visit!

Travel to the Beach

There are many beaches to choose from, all being just a short drive from Athens. I highly suggest renting chairs and an umbrella to spend a day soaking up the Greek sun. No where else in the world can you enjoy a beach day while taking in views of the Temple of Poseidon.

Ouzo!

Begin your Greek meal the right way – with a cold shot of ouzo. This Greek liquor is typical enjoyed an an aperitif and has an anisette flavor. Even if black licorice isn’t your favorite, when in Athens, do as the Athenians do!

Eat As Much Traditional Food As Possible!

There are so many light, fresh options available. The freshest seafood, grilled meats, moussaka or tzatziki with warm pita. The list goes on and on.

One of my favorite things to do in any city is get an outside table at a restaurant one evening to people watch. Even better to be enjoying a cocktail and having a delicious meal while doing so!

Want to have some delicious Greek food at home? Check out my post How to Make a Greek Mezze Platter!

The Ancient Agora of Athens

This area served as the primary meeting place for Athenians. Political meetings, marketplaces, religious gatherings and social events all took place here.

The Temple of Hephaestus is located at the Ancient Agora and is an architectural beauty.

Visit the Temples of Poseidon and Zeus

Prior to visiting these temples, visit one of the beautiful museums that this city has to offer. Learning more about these Greek God’s prior to visiting their temples will make them more memorable and interesting.

You may not have time to visit all of them, or have the desire to but check out at least a couple of these structures that have stood the test of time.

Where to Stay in Athens

Hotel Melia Athens

The customer service at this hotel was great and it is walking distance from shopping and many restaurants. The hotel is located in city center and it’s best feature has to be the rooftop pool with amazing views of the Acropolis!

I hope these ideas help you decide what to do and see in Athens!