Are you planning to go to Athens for 1 week for your next vacation? What a great idea!
To help you prepare your trip to the heart of the Greek capital, here is a “turnkey” itinerary for a week, tested and approved by our friends and families, to discover the must-see places in Athens.
But first, here is all the information you need to know about how to get from the Athens airport to the city center.
Then, as far as accommodation is concerned, you can take a look at our best-of accommodation in Athens.
Finally, for transportation, don’t miss this article, which provides an overview of public transportation and cabs.
Day 1: The Acropolis and its museum
Impossible not to start with the Acropolis of Athens. This is one of the must-sees during any visit to the Greek capital. A must-see!
The rock of the Acropolis and its monuments (including the famous Parthenon) form an extraordinary architectural and artistic ensemble bequeathed by ancient Greece to the rest of the world.
To fully enjoy the visit, we strongly recommend that you hire a guide. This changes everything!
To learn more about the prices and reservations for tickets to visit the Parthenon and the Acropolis of Athens, see also this article.
We also advise you to visit the Acropolis museum, it is a must to learn more about this place so emblematic.
It’s up to you to choose, depending on the weather and the queue, if it’s better to start with the museum or with the Acropolis.
=> And if you want to buy a combined ticket Acropolis + Acropolis Museum, it is HERE.
Day 2: Psyri, Monastiraki and Plaka
Three neighborhoods that we especially love! And that allow you to really discover Athens.
Psyri:
We advise you to start your visit in the Psyri district, one of our favorite areas. Psyri is a place full of life, dynamism and nice places to discover. Here and there you can still find ultra-specialized craftsmen’s stores: ropes, glass, baskets, haberdashery… There are also a few streets where you can find beautiful flea markets. It is also a privileged place to admire street art. Just look up to admire the works of the graffiti artists.
Take a break in this area and especially on the Iroon square to taste a bougatsa at “Bougatsadiko”. These are very thin pastry puffs filled with vanilla cream.
Monastiraki:
Then, go to the central district of the capital: Monastiraki and its famous square which is a real crossroads of eras and cultures. This area is also full of souvenir stores.
From there, you will walk along the ancient Agora and the Roman Agora to Mount Filopappou, one of the hills of Athens. From here you have one of the most beautiful views of the Acropolis and a panoramic view of Athens. Get your camera ready!
Plaka:
Afterwards, we recommend you to go to the Plaka district, the most picturesque area of Athens. You will walk through the streets of old Athens, taking the small paths and stairs full of flowers. On the way, admire the beautiful neoclassical Athenian houses and small white and blue houses like in the Cyclades.
Day 3: The Parliament, the National Garden and the Marble Stadium
The Greek Parliament:
The Greek Parliament, a large salmon-colored building on top of which the Greek flag flies, is located in Syntagma Square .
At the bottom of the Parliament is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, guarded by the Evzones, those soldiers whose uniforms consist of a 400 pleated skirt and tasselled shoes. The changing of the guard is a slow and cadenced procession, which takes place every hour, day and night, on the hour. Don’t miss this intriguing choreography.
Syntagma Square is one of the most emblematic squares of Athens. It is at the heart of the city: a passageway for tourists, the center of political and social life, a meeting place for Athenians and the seat of popular events. It is a vast square in the center of which springs a marble fountain. Benches on the side of the building allow you to observe the constant coming and going. At any time of the day, the square is buzzing with activity. There are many cafes in the area where you can stop and shop for souvenirs.
The National Garden:
Just behind the Greek Parliament, a stone’s throw from Syntagma Square, is the National Garden. Covering an area of more than 15 hectares, it extends to the presidential palace and the Prime Minister’s residence and thus links the three most important buildings of the Greek state. Because of its central location and beauty, the National Garden is undoubtedly one of the must-see places when visiting the Greek capital. We almost always take our visitors there…
We advise you to enter through the main entrance, on Amalias Avenue: you will be greeted by about twenty monumental palm trees that give an exotic air to the place. In an instant, you forget that you are in Athens! Then, stroll through the alleys planted with trees: orange trees, fig trees, fragrant flowers and exotic plants. It is a real happiness, this green space invites to stroll. It is full of charm. Cross it to find yourself at the entrance next to the Zappio towards the marble stadium.
Marble Stadium:
This famous stadium is known under several names: the Panathenaic stadium (Panathinaïkó stádio in Greek which means “stadium of all the Athenians”). Commonly known as the “Marble Stadium” or “Kallimármaro” (which means “of beautiful marble” in Greek), it proudly bears a history that began more than 2,500 years ago.
We recommend you to visit this site because it projects us easily in the ancient times thanks to its perfect state of conservation. It has kept its original vocation while being widely anchored in the modern world with the holding of major sporting and cultural events.
Day 4: Mount Lycabettus and National Gallery
You don’t visit the Lycabettus, you climb it! Mount Lycabettus rises to 277 meters, which is why it is necessary to consider all the possibilities to get there, depending on the climate and the abilities of each person: on foot from the main square of Kolonaki, by funicular or by car or cab. The arrival is spectacular when we discover the small chapel of St George, whose bright white contrasts with the blue of the sky. Nestled at the top of the mountain, the chapel offers us a true gift from heaven with its 360° view of Athens.
After this beautiful walk, we recommend you to visit the National Gallery of Athens. Founded on April 10, 1900, the National Gallery of Athens, also called the Alexandros Soutsos Museum, is the most important art museum in Greece.
It is distinguished by its impressive collection of Greek paintings and sculptures dating from the 19th to the 21st century. Indeed, the National Gallery has more than 20,000 works of art: paintings, sculptures, engravings, drawings, but also decorative objects. Located in front of the Hilton Hotel and a stone’s throw from the Evangelismos metro station, you won’t be able to miss its modern and elegant all-glass façade.
Day 5: The Greek Riviera: the coast of Apollo
If you are in Athens for 1 week, you have time to make some excursions outside the city.
Athens and its region are not very famous for their beaches. And let’s be honest, the most impressive Greek beaches, the ones you see on postcards, are not in Attica.
Nevertheless, there are several nice and pleasant beaches in the surroundings of Athens and it would be a shame not to take advantage of them. They allow you to escape the heat of the capital in summer and to make a nice seaside stop if you don’t have time to go to the islands.
About twenty kilometers south of Athens, the coast of Apollo, which some people call “the Riviera”, has some beautiful beaches. The advantage of the Apollo coast is that it is easy to access because it is served by public transport, especially the tramway (direct line from Syntagma square to Voula) as well as by buses with multiple stops, very convenient.
=> A tip to enjoy the riviera: buy a ticket in a multi-stop bus. They serve several beaches along the Riviera. This allows you to enjoy it, to access the beaches very easily and to change beaches according to your desires.
Day 6: Cape Sounion
If you are in Athens for 1 week, don’t miss Cape Sounion !!!!
Ah, Cape Sounion, what a wonder! If you want to get away from Athens for a day, this is a perfect excursion. At the top of a rocky spur, stands proudly a temple dedicated to Poseidon whose white marble columns serve as a landmark for sailors. The place, which seems to be suspended above the Aegean Sea, is beautiful, especially at sunset. With its perfect combination of mythology, archaeology and natural landscapes, Cape Sounion is one of ours favorites!
Cape Sounion is located 65 kilometers southeast of Athens. You can get there by bus, cab, organized tour or car. It’s up to you to choose according to your desires and your budget. We explain everything in detail in our article How to get to Cape Sounion from Athens.
Day 7: Day trip to Hydra or elsewhere
Hydra is a picturesque and fascinating island, located less than two hours from Athens. It is also the only Greek island where there are no motor vehicles (except for the garbage truck). No car or scooter. No noise pollution and it is a real luxury.
Cobbled streets, flowering bougainvilleas, donkeys, small villages full of charm, one of the most beautiful harbors of all the Greek islands and everywhere the translucent sea … Hydra is a real wonder.
A day trip to Hydra from Athens gives you a great overview and a chance to enjoy the mildness of the Greek islands.
From Athens, it is very easy to go to Hydra for a day and back.
Hydra can be reached by boat from the port of Piraeus (boarding gate E9). There are many hydrofoils all day long, about ten connections per day. And the journey takes about 1h30-1h45. You can also try this excursion.
Finally, if you are in Athens for a week, you can also find ideas for day trips in our article Top 10 day trips from Athens. You will find several must-do’s in Greece.
Where to eat in Athens?
Here again, it’s true! We love to test the restaurants, bars and cafes of Athens, so we naturally dedicated a whole section to them!
We wish you a pleasant stay in Athens!
We hope you find this 1 week Athens itinerary useful
However, if you decide to spend less time in Athens, here are other tours for a shorter stay:
Elodie H.
Updated on April 3, 2024
