If you have some time during your stay in Greece, we strongly recommend you to take advantage of it to make day trips from Athens. There are many possibilities of excursions: ancient sites, mythical islands, romantic city, magical sunset. The hardest part is choosing! Here are 10 of our favourite day trips from Athens!
1. Cape Sounion and the temple of Poseidon
This is a classic, one of the most popular day trips from Athens. And for good reason! Cape Sounion and the temple of Poseidon are sublime! This getaway also allows you to combine various pleasures: a grandiose setting, an archaeological site overlooking the sea, a superb view of the coast, beautiful beaches and traditional Greek taverns. The ideal is to go for half a day (or a day if you want to enjoy the beach) and, in the evening, to admire the sunset over the sea.
How far from Athens?
The site of Sounion is located 70 kilometers south of Athens. By car, it takes 1h15 of driving. By bus, at least 2 hours of travel.
How to get to Cape Sounion?
We explain all the different options in our article How to go to Cape Sounion: by your own means, with a driver, in a small group excursion, etc. You will know everything.
A visit organized from Athens?
- If you want a day trip from Athens to Cape Sounion, we have found this excursion proposed by Get Your Guide. It is 100% cancelable and refundable, up to 24 hours before the visit. It includes round-trip transfer from Athens by air-conditioned luxury bus and an English-speaking archaeologist guide. All at a reasonable price.
2. A day trip to Delphi
Among the day trips from Athens, this is one of our favorites. A majestic ancient site, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in an absolutely unique natural setting!
The ancient sanctuary is very well preserved, the surrounding landscape is beautiful and untouched. And as a bonus the museum is interesting and easily accessible. In addition, the site of Delphi, long considered “the navel of the world”, occupies an important place in the mythology and history of ancient Greece. A place not to be missed!
How far from Athens?
The city of Delphi is located just under 200 kilometers northwest of Athens. By car, it takes about 2h30 to get there. The same for the return journey.
How to get to Delphi?
- The best way to get to Delphi is to rent a car.
- Possibility to take a KTEL bus from Athens via Livadia (3h journey).
A guided tour?
- If you want a day trip with transportation from Athens, GetYourGuide offers day trips to Delphi at very reasonable rates, the entrance fee to the site is included (we have not tested it).
- Also, a nice intermediate formula, the Welcome Ride driver-guide. Obviously he will lead you to Delphi but he will also give you some explanations. Finally, you can stop if you wish in the village of Arachova and the beautiful Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas.
3. The islands near Athens
A day on the island of Hydra from Athens
Among the various day trips from Athens, here is a particularly exotic one. Escape from Athens for a day and sail to Hydra, one of the most beautiful Greek islands. This getaway will allow you to taste the flavors of the islands, less than two hours from Athens. The island is car-free. Here, donkeys replace motor vehicles. It is a real pleasure to stroll through the narrow streets, to walk along the picturesque port and to admire the exceptional landscapes.
If you want to swim, there are a few places along the sea. Hydra is a real jewel, a guaranteed favorite! This is one of the most beautiful day trips from Athens. We tell you more in our article One day in Hydra.
How far from Athens?
Hydra is a Greek island located south of Athens, in the Saronic Gulf. It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to cross from the port of Piraeus (+ 30 minutes by metro from downtown Athens to Piraeus).
How to get to Hydra?
By boat! Direction Piraeus, emblematic port sung by Melina Mercouri. To get there, take the metro, line 1 (green) or line 3 (blue) to the Piraeus stop: for more information, see our article on the ports of Athens. Then board a hydrofoil from the quay of Gate E9 in Piraeus. You will then disembark directly on the port of Hydra and be immediately immersed in the atmosphere.
A day at sea to discover the islands near Athens
Less than two hours away from Athens, there are some very nice islands, which you can discover in the following article. If the weather is good, it is very pleasant to make a day trip to the sea: swimming, harbors and landscapes. You will not be disappointed.
How to get to the islands near Athens?
You can of course go there by your own means by ferry, but you will not be able to do more than one island in a day. You can book your ferry through FerryHopper.
And you can also take a day cruise from Athens. Several companies offer this service. Get Your Guide offers a nice day cruise to the islands of Poros, Hydra and Aegina, with traditional Greek lunch (with cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund).
4. A trip to Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio
Among the various day trips from Athens, this one will delight lovers of culture and historical sites of interest. Leave Athens to escape for a day in the Peloponnese and visit the famous sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus. And if you have time, we highly recommend you to continue your journey to Nafplio, one of the most charming cities in Greece.
This itinerary allows you to see a lot in one day, it is a must for all the ancient Greece enthusiasts:
- The archaeological site of Mycenae, undoubtedly the cradle of the Greek civilization, is superb. For a complete visit, we recommend our downloadable guide to Mycenae, written with the help of Mania, archaeologist.
- Epidaurus is also a very important place, famous for its remarkably well preserved theater with exceptional acoustics.
- And finally to end the day, the sweetness of Nafplio can only enchant you (if you can stay one night, it’s even better).
How far from Athens?
The site of Mycenae is located 120 kilometers (1h40 drive) from Athens. Then, it takes 45 minutes to get from Mycenae to Epidaurus. Then 30 minutes drive to Nafplio from the ancient theater of Epidaurus. Finally, to get back to Athens from Nafplio, allow 1h45-2h driving time.
How to get to Mycenae, Nafplio and Epidaurus?
- Car rental strongly recommended !
- Alternatively, you can opt for a guided tour including transportation from Athens. The Alternative Athens agency proposes an excursion from Athens: Extraordinary Mycenae and Nafplio day trip. Otherwise, the website Get Your Guide also offers day trips to Mycenae, Nafplio and Epidaurus (we haven’t tried it yet, but the rates are interesting and the reviews very good).
- Also, this private full-day tour from Athens to Peloponnese (up to 4 people). This time, the driver will take you to visit ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplio and Epidaurus at your own pace (for example if you only want to make one or two stops, it is possible). English speaking driver.
- Finally, there are KTEL intercity buses that will take you to Nafplio, Epidaurus and Mycenae. But be sure to check out the schedules and itineraries (link here).
5. Discover Corinth and its famous canal
A little less spectacular than the day trips from Athens proposed above, the visit of Corinth is nevertheless very pleasant.
The canal is impressive. You can see it from above, but if you have time, we advise you to take a cruise. Because we feel very small at the bottom of this blue furrow, the cliffs seem immense and we remain amazed by the work accomplished. For more information, see our article Corinth Canal Getaway.
You can also visit the ruins of the ancient city of Corinth, the archaeological museum, or the ancient citadel Acrocorinth. And take the opportunity to buy the famous currants or Corinthian grapes.
How far from Athens?
The Corinth Canal is located 75 kilometers west of Athens. By car, it takes about 1h-1h15 of driving.
How to get there?
- The easiest and fastest way is certainly to rent a vehicle. 100 kilometers of highway, it’s easy and fast.
- But there are also other options: you can go to Corinth by the train “Proastiakos“ (suburban line), stop Korinthos.
- You can also take a KTEL Korinthias bus. There are buses every hour from Athens. 1 hour drive.
- Finally, some agencies propose day trips to Corinth from Athens: link here.
6. The Monastery of Hosios Loukas
The Monastery of Hosios Loukas (or Osios Loukas) is an outstanding example of a Byzantine monastery. Built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to the cult of the goddess of agriculture Demeter, it nestles in the heart of a beautiful wooded valley.
The monastery takes its name from the Greek monk Loukas, the “venerable Luke”. Saint Loukas was known for his talents as a prophet and healer. He rests in the crypt of the monastery since his death in 953.
This exceptional site, rich of 1000 years of history, is one of the best preserved Greek monastic complexes of the Byzantine period. Its Byzantine frescoes with gold background and its refined ornaments in marble, jasper and porphyry have earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
How far from Athens?
By car, the travel time from Athens is 2 hours and 10 minutes on the highway and 2 hours and 30 minutes if you prefer to avoid tolls. Take advantage of your visit in the area to discover the sumptuous archaeological site of Delphi!
How to get to the Monastery of Osios Loukas?
- Take the highway towards Lamia to the outskirts of Kastro.
- Then take the direction of Livadia.
- Climb the slopes of Mount Parnassos to the archaeological site of Delphi.
- Leave the main road 13 km before the town of Arachova and turn towards the villages of Distomο and Styri.
- Continue about 9 km to the monastery of Hosios Loukas.
7. Nemea
Lovers of wine, culture and beautiful landscapes, Nemea is waiting for you! This wine-growing site, with its 3,000 years of history, is also the cradle of many myths. It offers you the possibility to combine wine, archaeology and nature in one excursion!
The oldest vineyards in Greece are located in Nemea, on the Peloponnese wine route. It is also a site dotted with ancient temples and sanctuaries, rich in archaeological treasures, such as the medieval fortress of Acrocorinth.
This idyllic setting is notably the scene of the famous myth of the massacre of the Lion of Nemea by Hercules. It is the first of the 12 works at the origin of the myth of Hercules. In addition to the temple dedicated to Zeus, you can see the remains of the infrastructures dedicated to the Panhellenic games organized every two years from 573 to 271 BC. The stadium, nestled in a magnificent natural setting, is undoubtedly one of the main wonders of the site.
How far from Athens?
Nemea is located about 1.5 hours by car from Athens.
Renting a car in Athens for the day is very easy. We recommend you to make a price comparison of the rental companies on RentalCars.
How to get to Nemea?
- Take the highway to the Isthmus of Corinth. Take a break and admire the famous Corinth Canal.
- Then take the national road to Nemea and enjoy the beauty of the landscape.
8. The Meteors
The fabulous site of Meteora in Thessaly is a must-see during your stay in Greece. It is a group of unique monasteries, perched on a succession of monumental sandstone peaks. The landscape is simply breathtaking!
Originally, 24 monasteries were built in this isolated area by a community of anchorite monks in the 11th century. Today, 6 of these monasteries are still inhabited by monks and nuns.
The site, accessible to the public, is classified by UNESCO as a cultural and natural heritage site since 1988. The remarkable frescoes that adorn some monasteries marked a turning point in the history of post-Byzantine painting. Don’t miss this treasure of Greek culture: escape from Athens for 2 or 3 days to discover this impressive scenery!
How far from Athens?
The city of Kalambaka, gateway to Meteora, is located 4.5 hours from Athens by car, bus or train.
A day trip is possible from Athens. However, we recommend that you devote at least 2 days to this visit to fully enjoy the exceptional site of Meteora.
How to get to Meteora?
- By car: take the E75 highway and follow the route Athens – Lamia – Karditsa – Trikala – Kalambaka. The distance is about 375 km.
- By train: book the direct service between Athens and Kalambaka. Departures take place every day from the Larissis train station.
- By bus: Buses leave daily from the Terminal B station on Liosion Street in Athens.
A guided tour?
Many guided tours of Meteora are possible from Athens, for one or more days. Discover them in detail in our article Practical information to visit Meteora.
We particularly recommend the 2 or 3-day tours proposed by Mireille from Leonidakos Travel. 2 days: Lake Plastiras and Meteora / 3 days: Delphi, Metsovo and Meteora.
9. Vravrona
Vravrona is the perfect place for a bucolic getaway from the hustle and bustle of Athens. Enjoy a walk in this green setting to visit its beautiful archaeological museum, as well as the remains of the sanctuary dedicated to Artemis. You can extend the day with a lunch at the Artemis tavern and a swim on the beautiful beach of Avlaki!
The sanctuary of Artemis celebrated the goddess of wilderness and hunting, protector of future mothers and newborns. The remains found date back to 420 BC. Today you can see the small chapel of Agios Georgios, the foundations of the ancient temple and the 12 columns of the Parthenon of the Little Bears.
Don’t miss a visit to the Vravrona Museum to get a feel for the area’s prestigious past. A simple and clear museography presents several very interesting archaeological pieces: some well-preserved statues, jewelry, bas-reliefs, everyday objects and several vases dating from the 9ᵉ century BC.
How far from Athens?
Vravrona is located about 50 km from Athens. Count 40 min by car.
How to get to Vravrona?
The fastest way to get to Vravrona from Athens is by car or cab. However, it is also possible to take the metro, then the bus, for a journey of about 1 hour 40 minutes:
- Take line 3 to the Nomismatokopeio stop.
- Then take bus no. 304 to Vravrona.
- Finish the trip by taking a ten minute cab ride.
10. Eleusis
Eleusis, in Attica, is worth a half-day trip from Athens. The place includes an archaeological site related to the cult of Demeter and her daughter Persephone, as well as an interesting museum.
During the Antiquity, the city hosted the famous Mysteries of Eleusis. These were initiation festivals that attracted pilgrims from all over the Greek world. These festivals were held in autumn and lasted 9 days, around 1 500 B.C. They were celebrated for more than 2 000 years and still today retain a part of mystery.
The archaeological site of Eleusis is quite amazing: it stands in the middle of the city. It is the remains of a high religious place of the Antiquity. We advise you to start with the archaeological museum in order to enlighten the rest of your visit.
How far from Athens?
Eleusis is located about twenty kilometers west of Athens, on the Gulf of Elefsina. The journey by car takes about 25 minutes.
How to get to Eleusis?
The easiest way to get to Eleusis from Athens is by car or cab, via Attiki Odos or Athinon Avenue.
It is also possible to get there by bus 845 and 871 from Piraeus or by taking the 876 line from the Agia Marina metro station.
Laure M.
