ATHENS 2 DAY ITINERARY
Athens is hard to compare in terms of its rich and long history, and now is a city oozing with life around every corner. Each district and neighbourhood of the city has its unique feel, with bars and restaurants staying open late into the night and mornings filled with fresh pastries and markets. Athens is a great starting point for any Greek adventure, and you can undeniably feel like you're stepping back in time as you wander through the city centre. This 2 day itinerary will tick off all the absolute must do's you have to see while in the city, however if you had some extra time there are some great beaches on the outskirts of the city that you can also discover and integrate into your plans.
I planned to start my trip through Eastern Europe in Athens as I wanted to revisit after my last trip in 2019, when I travelled overland from Ohrid, North Macedonia, to Athens. The trip sparked my love for mainland Greece and the wild hub of Greece's capital. It's important to note that Athens (and Greece in general), gets VERY hot in summer time - upwards of 40 degrees. So if the hot weather doesn't seem too inviting, Athens would be a beautiful place to visit in the shoulder seasons of April, May and late September (prices are often cheaper too.)
CURRENCY
Euros
DAILY BUDGET
When travelling through Greece you’ll notice a significant price difference between the mainland and the islands. Most of the touristic islands like Santorini, Mykonos and Corfu will have prices that reflect the huge influx of people who flock to them each year during the summer months and you can expect to pay double what you would pay in other parts of Greece.
On the other hand Athens and the mainland are much more affordable for backpackers, especially if you know where to go. On average in Athens you should budget between €30 - €60 a day. This would cover accommodation, 1 meal out and any activities you plan on doing during your time. You could potentially spend even less, especially if you stuck to eating the Greek street food like gyros, baklava and sandwiches/wraps from the bakery, these all cost between €1 - €4 in Athens.
Personally I thought the most expensive part of Athens was the transport, particularly taxis, so preplanning your transport routes can help save you a significant amount during your time. We will talk more on this in a second.
GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT
Athens airport is a fair distance out of the city, so it’s best to plan how you’re going to get to your accommodation beforehand. The taxis that wait outside the airport are notorious for hitching their prices up and you can expect to pay €45+ as the flat rate for wherever you go. I arrived late in the night so chose to go with a taxi for convenience and to feel a little safer.
There is a train that runs to the centre of Athens and only costs around €10, this takes around an hour. Alternatively you can prebook a taxi and agree on a price beforehand, you can ask your accommodation the best way to do this!
TRANSPORT
While you’re in the centre of Athens you probably won’t need to get a taxi anywhere as it’s easier to walk or get the metro, on some occasions you may need to leave the city centre, either for the Athens train station, ferry ports, or to have a day out at the beach. There are both buses and metro lines that reach these further out destinations (it's best to check the specific location beforehand), however in the event you do need to get a taxi then I definitely recommend downloading Beat, which is a version of Uber that is popular in Greece (Uber is another option but not as well used). It’s much cheaper than the taxis you pick up off the street and you feel a lot more safe as you know all the details of the driver and can follow your specific route from your phone.
Of course Athens is a popular starting point for anyone who wants to do Greek island hopping, so if you're planning on hopping on a ferry from Athens at any point, make sure to double check which ferry port you leave from. There are 2 main ports out of Athens that sit on opposite ends of the mainland. The two ports, Rafina and Pireas, both have several different ferry lines that go from each, with Pireas being the most common port for destinations like Santorini, Ios, Naxos and Paros. You can find a direct metro line from the centre of Athens to Pireas. Rafina is a little further away and takes around 40 minutes to get to when driving, however it's much nicer than Pireas. There isn't a direct route via public transport to get to Rafina, so getting a taxi is probably your best bet - a Beat will cost you around €25 - €35 (my Mykonos ferry left from Rafina).
WHERE TO STAY
Safestay is a well known hostel chain throughout Europe and a must stay during your time in Athens. The hostel is modern, clean and has a great atmosphere, with a chilled common area/reception and a rooftop bar overlooking the Acropolis. For my two nights in Athens I stayed in one of Safestay's balcony rooms, which also had an unbelievable view over the Acropolis and Parthenon. The hostel is located in Monastiraki, a vibrant neighbourhood with cafes, flea markets and within a 15 minute walking distance to a number of monuments including Hadrian’s Library and the Acropolis.
Each morning Safestay offers breakfast for €5, which includes an array of food you can choose from including eggs, cold meats, cereal, veggies, bread, fruit and more. I found this was the best way to start my day and was easy and convenient as it was served in the reception area.
I genuinely really enjoyed my time at this hostel and really recommend it for anyone looking to have a fun and affordable time in Athens. For me, having a social aspect is really important in a hostel, so having such a lively rooftop bar as well as a reception area you can hang out in is super important (check out my Safestay Tiktok and Insta post).
For more hostel recommendations and reviews, check out my Hostel Recommendation blog post!
DAY 1
ACROPOLIS
To start off your Greek adventure there is nothing more iconic than a visit to the Acropolis. The ancient citadel sits on top a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and hosts several famous temples including the famous Parthenon, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion.
Gates open at 8am during the summer, and getting here as early as possible will ensure you beat the crowds and sweltering Greek heat. You can pre purchase your tickets online, which will save you waiting in line at the ticket office on the day. Acropolis tickets cost €20 alone or you can buy a pass for a number of different monuments including the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Library and Roman Forum for €30. If you’re from the EU and under 25 you can get access for free!
Book your Acropolis ticket here.
ROMAN FORUM
The Roman Forum is another archaeological site you need to visit during your time in Athens. It’s only a few minutes walk from the exit of the Acropolis, on the outskirts of the heart of Plaka. Entry is included in the €30 Athens ticket, or if you don’t plan on visiting any other sites then it’s €8 on it’s own.
Spend the rest of the morning walking around the Forum and exploring through the ruins. I found it's also a great opportunity for photos too!
VEGANAKI
For lunch I recommend stopping by Veganaki. The restaurant serves similar food to a classic Greek Taverna, except the menu is completely plant based. There are plenty of options to choose from, depending on what you like including salads, moussaka, vegan omelettes and tzatziki.
I went for their Dula salad, which takes a spin on the traditional Greek version of rocket, tomatoes, rusk, olives and a vegan alternative to feta, it was honestly delicious and I will be back soon!
PLAKA
Plaka is one of Athen's most vibrant and lively neighbourhoods that you can't miss during your time. Particularly popular for tourists, Plaka has endless restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and little alleyways for you to discover. Whether you're hoping for a sweet little lunch spot or a bar sells €1 Ouzo, you can find it all in Plaka, and the best part is it stays lively till the early hours of the morning.
It's great to spend an afternoon wandering through the streets, and you'll most definitely get lost in the process, however that is part of the experience. The neighbourhood is busiest from the afternoon onwards, so there is a great atmosphere as you walk through the little streets and alleys.
ATHENS DRUNK TOUR
There is no better way to get to know a city from a different perspective than to go on a pub crawl with a bunch of random backpackers (soon to be new friends). For your first night in Athens you need to join Athens Drunk Tour, a popular pub crawl that runs every night of the week in Athens. I tagged along on a Wednesday night and was surprised to find 15 - 20 people on the crawl (fun fact - I used to work on a pun crawl in Croatia, you can read about my experience here).
Athens Drunk Tour works very closely with Safestay and the leaders of the crawl will collect you from the hostel reception before heading to the first bar. You can either purchase the tickets online beforehand or buy a ticket from your guide on the night, they cost €20 per person. Whether you're looking for a wild night out or just a few drinks and some banter, you'll find it here, plus you can get to see Athens by night!
DAY 2
FILOPAPPOU HILL
To start your second day (if you're not feeling too hungover), you should visit Filopappou Hill for sunrise. In my opinion the hill hosts the best views of the Acropolis in the city, and it's especially beautiful watching the sun rise behind the Parthenon. Of course if you are feeling a little too hungover then visiting during the day or sunset is just as special.
The hill is also home to Philopappos Monument, an ancient Greek mausoleum and monument dedicated to Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos. You can find this at the top of the hill, which hosts more beautiful views.
FLEA MARKETS
For breakfast/morning activity, you have to hit up a neighbourhood called Monastiraki for some shopping. Monastiraki is known for its famous flea markets with dozens of little shops and stalls, you can find everything from classic Greek souvenirs, olive oil, hand made wooden goods and endless evil eye jewellery and home decor. Visit in the morning before it gets too busy and hot, there are also some great spots for breakfast/coffee, so grab something for you to snack on while you walk through the market.
Have fun haggling prices and rummaging through the market stalls, maybe a little souvenir from Athens is just what you need! Just be wary, this is the prime place for pick pockets and petty thief, so keep an eye on your bags and pockets as you explore!
SYNTAGMA SQUARE
Syntagma Square is a very important historical and cultural location in Athens, and is also known as Constitution Square. It is located in the centre of Athens in front of the Old Royal Palace and each day at midday you can watch the changing of the guards here. It's best to get to the square a little before 12 so you can get a good spot to watch the changing of the guards, you can also visit the Presidential Mansion where this happens as well.
PLAKA DINNER
It may be touristy, but there is something magical and quintessentially Greek about the Plaka district, so I would recommend eating there for dinner. There are dozens of restaurants to choose from, so wander through the centre and see if you find anything you fancy, otherwise I can recommend Yopia, this had a good range of veggie and vegan food and was right near Hadrian’s Library!
I tried the fava dip for the first time, definitely a unique taste! Then for my main I went for gemista, which is stuffed tomatoes/peppers with rice, one of my favourite things to eat in Greece.
If you fancy it you can also hunt out some late night gelato or sweet treat, there are plenty of places that are open late.
ROOFTOP BARS
With such an iconic city view you can't miss an opportunity to visit one of Athen's plentiful roof top bars on your last night. You can find some great ones in every neighbourhood, or if you want to stay closer to home, Safestay has a great one that gives you prime viewing over the Acropolis. Whatever your choice you're going to have an amazing time, however as some initial suggestions I can recommend A for Athens and Skyfall.
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