8 Things To Do in Athens, Greece

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If you’re looking for things to do in Athens, Greece on your way to island hop, I’ve got you covered. Athens is the capital city of Greece and is known for its history, archaeological landmarks, and cultural significance. It’s the birthplace of democracy and home to iconic sites like the Acropolis and Parthenon. In this blog post, I’m giving you 8 things to do in Athens that will let you experience Greek mythology, archaeology, and everyone’s favorite…Greek food!

Before we go any further, I need to confess that Athens was my least favorite city I visited in Greece. I’m just being honest with you. However, if you are flying from the United States over here to explore some of the Greek islands, it’s likely the city you’re flying into. Although I wouldn’t recommend spending a ton of time here, there are a couple key bucket list items worth checking off.

Fun Fact: My trip to Greece indirectly kicked off my journey to becoming a travel blogger! I went to Greece with EF Ultimate Break in 2021, and after my trip was over, I took a solo trip to Barcelona for 3 days. My Barcelona trip was actually the catalyst to me starting this website, but it never would have happened if I didn’t go to Greece with EF first!

• If you’re new to my blog, you can read my full About Me story here.

8 Things To Do in Athens, Greece

1. See the Acropolis, Parthenon, and Temple of Athena Nike

If you are visiting Athens, this is the main thing you have to do. When you think of ancient Greece, you think of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. To break it down, the Parthenon is the massive temple that was built for the Greek goddess Athena, and the Acropolis is the giant hilltop that the Parthenon was built on.

Below is an overview of some of the things you’ll see here:

The Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel situated on a rocky hill overlooking the city. It served as the religious and political center of Athens in classical antiquity and is home to several significant structures built during the 5th century BCE, the Golden Age of Athens.

Athena is the goddess of wisdom and warfare, and Athena Nike eventually broke off from her to become the goddess of victory (think victory in war, which ties her to Athena). You may have heard of the statue in the Louvre museum in Paris called Winged Victory that is a portrayal of Nike.

Are you confused? Because same. But the point is, you can see the Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis. It’s a small temple located near the Propylaea, and ironically once housed a statue of Athena without wings, symbolizing that victory would never leave Athens.

The Propylaea

The Propylaea was built to be a monumental entryway to the temple of Athena (the Parthenon) and the plateau of the acropolis. A propylaea act as a symbolic “door” between religious and non-religious parts of a city.

The Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is an elegant temple known for its Caryatid Porch, where six sculpted female figures (Caryatids) serve as columns supporting the roof. Unfortunately, the photo I got only shows the side that doesn’t have the sculptures, so make sure you go around the other side to get a good look at them. This temple was a sacred site associated with multiple gods, including Athena and Poseidon.

2. Visit the National Archaeology Museum

The National Archaeology Museum is among the most prestigious museums in the world. It houses works of art from Greece, Egypt, Italy, and other countries…along with sculptures and other creations made of marble and various exotic metals.

Although I’m not a huge museum person, I really enjoyed this one. I saw a lot of “underground” artifacts like the ones pictured below:

3. Do a Guided Food Tour

I love a Mediterranean diet, so naturally, I was SO excited for the food in Greece. Popular Greek foods to try include:

• Moussaka – Greece’s must-try dish, similar to lasagna. Usually made with eggplant or potatoes and ground meat.
• Spanakopita – Essentially, spinach pie with a flaky crust
• Souvlaki – A skewer with grilled meat and/or veggies (think kebabs!)
• Tzatziki – Dipping sauce made with yogurt, garlic, and cucumber, often served with souvlaki
• Gyros – pronounced “heroes”
• Baklava – popular dessert consisting of a flaky crust filled with butter, sugar, and chopped nuts
• And of course, Greek salad – usually made with feta, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and sometimes pita bread

To the surprise of no one, I had some of the best Greek salads of my life here. I even managed to avoid olives for the most part, which I hate!

In terms of wine, the Greeks are known more for their white than their red.

4. Watch the Changing of the Guard

Although London is probably the most famous place that does Changing of the Guard, you can see it done in Athens too. The Changing of the Guard takes place in 2 main locations:

1. The Presidential Mansion
2. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (near Syntagma Square, below the Hellenic Parliament)

There is a changing of the guards every hour on the hour, but the best one to watch is at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every Sunday at 11:00 am. The ceremony involves the Evzones – the elite ceremonial guard of the Greek Parliament – undergoing a sentry change in slow motion. You are able to observe 3 different soldier uniforms during this time. Make sure to notice the pom-poms on their shoes!

I thought this was interesting when I watched it because we do nothing like this in America, but tbh, I do not think it is a must-do. However, if you are in the area, it’s kind of cool to watch.

5. Grab Dessert at Little Kook

If you just raised your eyebrow at the name, I don’t blame you. But just trust me. Little Kook is a fairytale-themed dessert spot in Athens. At the very least, you need to walk through this area. When I was here, I remember being very enamored with this street and the surrounding lights, cafes, and music. In other words, it’s a great Instagram spot for all you aesthetic travelers out there!

6. Walk Through Plaka

Plaka is Athens’s main shopping district and the neighborhood that houses some of the best restaurants in the city. It is located near the slopes of the Acropolis and has narrow cobblestone streets, tiny shops, and of course, the brightly-colored flowers overhanging the buildings that are synonymous with Greece.

Plaka is considered one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Athens, so it’s definitely worth a walk-through. Wear a cute dress, take a stroll, and make sure your camera is charged. (Speaking of cameras, ignore my camera quality in the photo below…)

7. See The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion

The Temple of Poseidon is somewhat of a hike – 43 miles southeast of Athens, to be exact. However, the location makes sense since this temple overlooks the Aegean Sea, and what was Poseidon? YAAAAS, you guessed it: the god of the sea. In the olden days, sailors used to come here and pray for safe passages, or sometimes offer up gifts to the gods upon their return.

While you’re here, take in the Doric columns on the temple, which are the towering columns of marble that hold it up. Keep in mind, this temple was built in the 5th century BC…phew!

8. End Your Night at a Rooftop Restaurant or Bar with an Acropolis View

You’ve walked on the grounds of the Acropolis already, and now, you get to end your night seeing it all lit up! YES honey, they light up the entire thing. It’s a sight to behold. The image of the Parthenon shining on the hilltop lives in my head rent-free.

A few top-rated bar/restaurants to check out where you can eat and drink with a view of the Acropolis include:

• A for Athens
• Metropolis Roof Garden
• Couleur Locale – note: there is also a department store with the same name!
• 360 Cocktail Bar

Where to Stay in Athens, Greece

Figuring out where to stay in a new city can be challenging, so I’ve researched some centrally located properties in a variety of price ranges.

Some top-rated options include:

• Asomaton by Oniro – central location, sun terrace, stone walls
• Attalos Hotel – 10 minutes to Syntagma Square, city & mountain views
• Okupa – hostel with terrace and airport shuttle service