Eureka! Find yourself in the city that cradled Plato and Socrates, democracy, and the 1st modern Olympics (1896). Discover the brickwork of Western civilization in Athens, a city with a 3,000-year history. Examine the ruins, the archeological finds, and the classical Greek wonders.

To see the most important sites in and around Athens within a short time, it’s important to plan activities including what to see and do, transfers, and where to eat. Check how long an activity will take to make sure you will have enough time to enjoy. If you don’t have the time to plan a detailed itinerary but is anxious not to miss out on anything, don’t worry. Here’s a three-day trip guide to the “classical” in modern-day Athens and beyond.
 

Day 1
City Proper

Visit Panathinaiko Stadium, venue to the 1st modern Olympics in 1896. See the Byzantine Museum, the National Gallery, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Constitution Square. Experience the history of the ages in the Acropolis. At night enjoy Greek food, Bouzouki music, and folk dances at a tavern in Microlimano.    

A Night Out in Athens
Athens City Half Day Tour

Day 2
Out to Delphi

Leave Athens for Delphi, to discover an array of archeological wonders at the Museum of Delphi: the Charioteer, the Naxian Sphinx, and the Ancient Sanctuary of Apollo. Upon returning to Athens you might want to drop by at Arachova, to partake of its famous wine and cheese as well as admire its hand-woven quilts.


Day Trip to Delphi

Day 3
Off to Argolis

Leave Athens for the Argolis region. Explore the Lion Gate and the Tomb of Agamemnon in Mycenae. Capture photographic moments at Nafplio Bay. Marvel over the ancient theater of Epidaurus and its excellent acoustics.

Day Trip to Argolis

The city of Athens is regarded as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Its influence in philosophy, arts and learning has widely spread in all corners of the world today.

Athens is home to two World Heritage Sites: the Acropolis and the ancient Daphni Monastery. It was also the venue of the first ever Olympic games held in 1896. In 2004, after 108 years, Athens successfully hosted the Olympics for the second time.

A visit to Athens usually takes visitors to the ruins of ancient temples like the Parthenon and temple of Zeus but cities around Athens are also a treasure trove of architectural wonders dating back to antiquity.

A three-day trip schedule should be enough to cover all the important sites in Athens and the surrounding cities. Here is a suggested itinerary for first-time visitors but more options are available on City-Discovery.com, especially for seasoned travellers who may want to see more of Athens.

Day 1
Ancient Athens

Immerse yourself in Greek history and culture as you visit the center of Athens. Visit the Constitution Square, the House of Parliament, and the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier. Pass by the National Library, the University, and see the Evzones or the Presidential Guards in their traditional uniform at the Presidential Palace. The tour proceeds to the Acropolis and see the Hadrian’s Arch along the way. Visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, the venue of the first Olympic Games of the modern era held in 1896.

 Continue on to the National Archaeological Museum in order to visit the Parthenon, the Herodus Atticus Odeon, the Propylaia, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion. You will see some architectural masterpieces from the Golden Age of Athens at the Museum of Acropolis.

At night, join the night tour in Athens and discover the night culture of the Greeks. The tour offers a perfect opportunity for visitors to capture the Acropolis illuminated at night. You will proceed to a typical Greek tavern for dinner, while enjoying live music and Greek Folk Dances. 

Private Athens City Tour with National Archaeological Museum
Private Athens City Tour with the New Acropolis Museum
A Night Out in Athens

Day 2
Aegina, Poros and Hydra

Go on a trip to three beautiful islands in Greece on your second day. Departing from Athens by bus, the tour takes you the Paleon Phaleron, Trocadero Harbor where you will sail to reach the island of Aegina, famous for the temple of Athena Aphaia. Cruise down the strait to visit the island of Poros which is popular for its romantic beaches. After having lunch on board the boat, the tour takes you Hydra. Take some time to explore the island. Go on shopping for souvenir items or go swimming at the beach before sailing back to Trocadero Harbor. A bus will be waiting to transfer you back to Athens.

Aegina, Poros and Hydra One Day Cruise

Day 3
Classic Corinth

Visit the ancient town of Corinth where Paul the Apostle stayed and preached for two years. See the Corinth Canal which connects Gulf of Corinth and the Aegean Sea, cutting through the Isthmus of Corinth.

Proceed to the Agora (market place) and see Apollo's Temple constructed in the 6th century. Take a short stop at the site of the Ancient Port of Cehries, where St. Paul disembarked, before returning to Athens.

Ancient Corinth