Athens is one of those cities that has a LOT more to see and do than people think. Many rush through it on the way to the islands, or worse, treat it as a box-ticking exercise before boarding a ferry. That’s a mistake. Athens isn’t a stopover city; it’s a destination in its own right, and it rewards anyone who gives it time.

Three days in Athens gives you range. You see the ancient city and the modern one. You walk neighbourhoods, sit in cafes, eat properly, and understand how Athenians use their city. You’re not rushing between ruins, and you’re not stuck inside museums all day either.

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What to expect in Athens

• Athens is lively, intense and full of character. It moves quickly and confidently, and you feel that energy the moment you step outside.
• The city is highly walkable, with pedestrian zones linking major sights, neighbourhoods and viewpoints.
• Graffiti is everywhere, although it has improved, and Athens has one of the leading street art movements in the world.
• The food scene is exceptional, from simple bakeries and market stalls to modern Greek restaurants doing clever, creative dishes. Even the casual spots are reliably good.
• Archaeology appears at every turn, sometimes literally, when they try to build a metro station and uncover half a temple.
• Shopping is fantastic, especially for jewellery, ceramics, local designers and food and beauty products.
• The nightlife is warm, relaxed and atmospheric rather than wild. Rooftops, wine bars and street-side tables keep things buzzing late into the night.

Note: For a hassle free transfer to your hotel from the Airport or Port book your transfers here. Use the discount code ‘GTS’. 

Where to stay

For accommodation, location matters more than luxury. Staying central means you’ll walk almost everywhere.

Good options include;

• Athens Gate: has excellent views and a genuinely practical location with a great rooftop restaurant. There are interconnecting rooms too.

• Electra Metropolis: elegant, modern, with a killer view of the Acropolis from the rooftop pool and bar, right in the centre of everything

• Ergon House: stylish, located above the famous food emporium so great food is literally at your finger tips

Day One

Morning
• Do a walking food tour, which will start in Monastiraki. The morning tours include a visit to the Central Markets and to many small providors in the neighbouring areas. It’s a great way to get your bearings and a feel for the lay of the land, all for the price of a food tour.
• After the tour, you are already in Psyrri or the Central Market area, so just wander on foot. Everywhere here is within a 20-minute walk, and this is where you’ll find some of Athens best bars, cafes and street art.

Early Afternoon
• Head to Syntagma Square. If coming from Psyri, walk along Ermou Street, which is the main pedestrianised shopping street of Athens.
• At Syntagma, cross the Square to the Parliament building where the Evzones stand guard. You can watch the changing of the guard every hour on the hour.
• Turn right and head through the National Gardens to the Zappeion. Across the road on the other side is the amazing Panathenaic Stadium.

Once you exit near the Zappeion, you will also see the Temple of Olympian Zeus just a few minutes away on the other side of the road.

Late Afternoon
• From the Temple of Zeus, walk over toward Plaka. Take the pedestrian path past Hadrian’s Arch and follow the crowds uphill into the old neighbourhood. It takes around five minutes.
• Don’t miss Anafiotika, an old part of Plaka founded by marble craftsmen from the island of Anafi that still feels like a Greek Island.

Evening
• Rooftop bars in Monastiraki,, Thissio or Plaka are all walkable from Anafiotika. There are many in Monastiraki and Psyri too. 
• Dinner in Thissio or Monastiraki is a leisurely stroll along the big, wide, car-free pedestrian boulevard.

Further reading: Top Tavernas, Bars and Beachclubs

Day Two

Morning

• Visit the Acropolis. Book a private Guide to take you around this vast and complex attraction to truly understand and appreciate what you are seeing. Try to be there at opening if visiting in summer, before the heat and the crowds kick in.

Then visit the Acropolis Museum. Allow 4 hours to explore both, more if you are a history buff.

Lunch

There is a good cafe at the Acropolis Museum with amazing views of the Acropolis, or there are many excellent tavernas and cafes nearby.

Afternoon

Walk through Plaka for a spot of shopping and past the Roman Agora and the Tower of Winds before heading on to Hadrian’s Arch. These can be easily viewed from the sidewalk, or you can pay to enter and explore more deeply.

From there, it is a short walk to the Ancient Agora, which really needs a couple of hours to explore. It is a vast site home to the Temple of Hephaestus, the best-preserved Temple in Greece, and the Stoa of Attalos, an excellent Museum.

Further Reading: Top Archaeological Sites in Athens

Evening

For something really unique and very special book Dinner in the Sky! Enjoy great food and wine and excellent service all while dangling from a crane, with spectacular 360 degree views of Athens.

This really is a lot of fun and a very different experience. It’s also an opportunity to explore Technolopis City which is a converted gasworks and cultural centre.

Use the Promo code ” GTS”

Dinner in the Sky

Morning – Option 1

• Jump on the Metro and head down to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, which is home to the National Library, Opera and Ballet. It’s a vast complex, always has something on, and it’s actually quite an interesting museum too. You can also visit this using the red Hop on Hop Off bus too.

• You can then continue to visit the Athenian Riviera, which is very popular with Athenians on summer weekends.

Morning – Option 2 
• Shopping! This is where to stock up on all your souvenirs and gifts. The big high street brands are all on Ermou Street, while the surrounding areas have many independent boutiques, designers, leather shops, and jewellers.

Afternoon

• There are many incredible Museums in Athens – in fact, it has more per capita than any other European city.

The Benaki Museum is an easy ten to twelve-minute walk from Syntagma, heading toward Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. The Museum of Cycladic Art is five minutes further along the same stretch. Both are close together, so no transport is needed.

For my money, the National Archaeological Museum is one of the best in the country and showcases artifacts from all over the nation. It is a 20-minute walk from the ancient centre or a quick taxi ride.

Evening

• Check out a rootfop performance of an Ancient Greek tragedy. Very entertaining and spectacular views too.

• If theatre isn’t your thing, then head to Thissio or Psiri and the many lively bars with live music and perhaps a bit of spontaneous dancing.

Further reading:

Visiting Athens with kids

Visiting Greece with limited mobility

Day Trips from Athens 

Don’t forget Travel Insurance!

It’s important to make sure you are covered for medical expenses ( some countries may include this in health insurance), but also for lost baggage, flight and ferry delays and cancellations, theft, and emergencies, including something that happens back home while you are away, and you need to get back urgently.

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Athens is a big, busy city – one of the oldest and most interesting in the world. It is situated on a peninsula surrounded by water in the Attica region of the Greek mainland, and many of the highlights are spread far and wide.

The historical sites, like the Acropolis, are located in the city centre of Athens, which is a small area. You can easily navigate almost everything here on foot or there are tours you can do using Tuks-Tuks, E-Bikes and Segways.

However, many suburbs are only accessible by taxi or public transportation. These include the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina as well as the lovely suburbs that make up the Riviera.

Your first interaction with Greek public transportation may occur when you need to get from Athens Airport to the city centre or to Piraeus.

If you’re planning to spend a few days in Athens, please make sure to check for alternative ticket options, as there are usually passes that have discounts for specific periods of time, such as the Ath.ena Card.

Athens Metro

The Athens Metro is the city’s main workhorse for getting around quickly and efficiently. It’s a classic urban metro system, mostly underground, designed for short to medium trips within the city and its immediate suburbs. There are only three lines, but they cover the places visitors actually need to visit, including Syntagma, Monastiraki, the Acropolis area, Piraeus, and Athens International Airport.

It’s fast, frequent and very easy to use, with clear English signage, modern stations and reliable timetables. Many stations double as small museums, with archaeological finds displayed behind glass, because of course they do, it’s Athens. Trains run frequently throughout the day and late into the evening, making it ideal for sightseeing, commuting and airport transfers.

For most visitors, the metro will be the primary transport system. It’s predictable, efficient and far quicker than buses or trams for crossing the city. The only real downsides are crowding during peak hours and limited reach beyond the greater Athens area.

Line 1 – the old Green line, connecting Piraeus port to the northern suburbs.

Line 2 – the Red line, links major stops in the Ancient Centre such as Syntagma,  Acropolis, Omonia, and the southern districts.

Line 3 – the Blue line, takes you straight to and from Athens International Airport in about 45 minutes.

Athens airport metro

Pireaus Metro station

Suburban Railway of Athens

The suburban railway, known as Proastiakos, is the regional rail service.

Around Athens, it functions as a commuter and regional service, linking the city with outer suburbs and nearby regional centres such as Corinth, Kiato, Chalkida and parts of West Attica, as well as Athens International Airport. Trains make more frequent stops and are designed for practical, short-to-medium journeys rather than speed or comfort. This is the service used primarily by locals commuting in and out of the wider Athens region.

Beyond the suburban zone, long-distance intercity services take over. These trains are operated by Hellenic Train and run on the same north–south rail spine, but they are built for national travel. They have reserved seating, far fewer stops and significantly faster journey times.

From Athens, intercity trains run through Larissa, Greece’s main rail junction, and continue to Thessaloniki. This is the country’s busiest and most crucial rail corridor, and with recent upgrades and electrification, the fastest services now complete the Athens to Thessaloniki journey in around four hours.

The Athens tram (light rail)system

The tram system links parts of Attica’s western coast, including Faliro, Glyfada, and Voula, with central Athens.

The tram services 59 stops in Athens, including central Athens, the Riviera, and Piraeus. The tram is scenic and easy: it’s slower than the metro but offers excellent views of the coast and gets you to beaches, marinas, and promenades.

Glyfada tram

The buses and trolleys in Athens

The vast network of public buses and trolley services covers most areas on the Attica peninsula. The city buses in Athens also serve a variety of suburban routes.

The OASA telematics app is usually the most effective tool for planning trolley and bus routes.

Athens KTEL buses 
The huge KTEL bus network services numerous localities on the outskirts of Athens. Marathon, Sounion, the ports of Rafina and Lavrio, to name a few, and the cost is reasonable. For example, the price of a one-way ticket to Sounion is just over 6 euros on KTEL buses.

You can usually purchase a ticket on the bus, and it’s best to have cash on hand.

Kifissos Bus Station, Athens

Taxis in Greece

Official taxis are yellow in Athens; however, they may be another colour elsewhere in Greece.

Legally, a driver must use a metre that is prominently visible to the passenger. They must also accept credit and debit cards. Sadly, the only major scam in Greece is with Athens taxi drivers, who sometimes claim their meter is broken and charge an inflated price. Be sure the meter is on when you enter the car, and if not, agree on a fixed price BEFORE you leave. If the driver refuses, simply go to the next taxi.

There are some other ways to do this that are easier and safer – see ‘Ride sharing’ below.

Athens Airport Taxis

Ride Sharing

Technically, there are no ride-sharing services in Greece.

You can, however, use your Uber app in Athens to call a taxi. The advantage of this is that you have a fixed quote, can track the car and its details, and don’t have to worry about paying on the spot.

Most Greeks use an app called Freenow, which was recently acquired by Lyft. It operates much the same as the Uber app, but more drivers have signed up to it.

Is Athens safe for tourists?

Athens delivers the mythic: the Acropolis, Plaka, rooftop views, lively tavernas. And you can enjoy it safely. The risk is real but small-scale, and no more than many big cities. Thankfully, it is mostly pickpockets and petty crime, with a little street smarts required. It’s not one of Europe’s crime-hot capitals for tourists.

So yes, go with confidence – treat central Athens like you would any major city you’d visit: eyes open, bag zipped, phone not left on a table.

PLANNING A TRIP TO GREECE?

Be sure to check out our complete Planning Guide and our FREE 13-page downloadable itinerary. If you are feeling really overwhelmed, you might like a 1:1 Trip Consultation? 

And join our private Facebook Group where you can ask questions and get advice from real travellers!

What the data says

Athens ranks 15th worldwide for pickpocketing incidents, and in a broad safety ranking for 2025, meaning how it compares to many global tourist cities. According to the crowd-sourced crime index for mid-2025, Athens has a score of ~55.3 (on a 0-100 scale where higher = more crime), placing it in the “moderate crime” perception bracket.

In that study, the popular tourist zone around the Acropolis and the Plaka area had only about 1.2 reports of pickpocketing per 1,000 reviews – compared with, e.g. 6.8 per 1,000 in Montmartre (Paris) in their dataset.

Travel-advice sources describe Athens as having a “LOW” overall risk for visitors, but caution against theft in crowded tourist areas and against using public transport.

So in short: yes, you’re safer in Athens than many headline-tourist cities, but safety is not guaranteed, and the real risk is mostly petty theft rather than violent crime.

What to be mindful of 

Pickpockets in crowded areas are the main issue for visitors.
• Hotspots include Monastiraki, Syntagma, the Acropolis metro and busy trams.
• They work subtly, so keep bags zipped and in front of you.

Occasional distraction theft
• Not scooter snatching, just someone causing a brief distraction to lift a phone or wallet. This can also be people selling roses or similar.
• It can happen in markets and on the metro.
• Keep valuables secure and avoid leaving bags open when taking photos.

Taxis overcharging
• Sometimes a taxi will refuse to use the meter or will say it is broken. They may also say the EFTPOS machine isn’t working. This is illegal, and you can either point this out to them or go to the next car. Better yet, book a private transfer!
• Always insist on a metered fare or agree on a fixed price in advance.

Car break-ins
• Never leave valuables in cars (anywhere in the world)

Busy public transport
• Pickpockets target the airport and Piraeus metro lines during peak tourist periods.
• Hold bags in front and keep phones out of back pockets.

Protests and demonstrations
• Common around Syntagma and usually peaceful.
• If you see riot police assembling, simply reroute.

What you don’t need to panic about

• Widespread violent crime against tourists: this is rare. Most tourists will never even notice anything beyond the odd nuisance. The data shows fewer issues than many big European cities.

   

• Avoiding Athens entirely: The statistics show that it is not among the “top 10 worst cities in Europe” for tourist crime — quite the opposite.

   

• Having to stay locked up: With standard, sensible precautions, you’ll be fine. You don’t have to treat every outing like a high-risk operation. 

Monastiraki Shops

Practical safety tips for your trip 

• Keep valuables secure: Use a cross-body bag, keep your phone away from back pockets, be especially alert on the metro or in crowded tourist zones.

• Carry minimal valuables – you should never travel with large sums of cash, anywhere

• Avoid showing off expensive gear: Jewellery, big cameras, visible wallets = easy target.

• In transport: Always watch your bags in metro stations and on trains, especially.

• Staying out late? Stick to well-lit, busy streets. If you’re returning to less lively accommodation or walking home at night, consider a taxi.

• Taxi rides: Use apps (e.g. local Greek taxi-apps) if you can, or ask your hotel to call a licensed taxi. Confirm the rough fare in advance.

• Accommodation: Choose neighbourhoods that are central and well-lit. You’ll find plenty in Athens in safe zones.

• Respect the vibe: Athens is ancient, layered, and friendly. Don’t let a small risk overshadow the experience. Use common sense, but don’t stress.

Products we recommend for peace of mind

Plaka, Athens

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Epirus is one of Greece’s most striking and least-visited regions, and it’s best explored with people who know how it actually works. Epirus Traveller, based in Ioannina, offers guided tours and experiences that focus on the landscapes, villages and traditions that define this rugged corner of Greece. Tours range from short half-day outings to full-day and multi-day experiences, with an emphasis on nature, culture and local life rather than rushed sightseeing.

Private Tours in Epirus

Most tours run in small groups or privately, allowing for a flexible pace and a more personal experience. Expect comfortable transport, English-speaking local guides and itineraries designed to make sense of Epirus’ mountainous terrain and scattered highlights.

Experiences include :

• Guided walking and hiking tours through Epirus’ gorges, mountains and national parks
• Cultural and village tours focusing on traditional settlements, monasteries and local history
• Food and culinary experiences including markets, cooking and regional cuisine
• Scenic landscape tours combining rivers, lakes, coastline and inland highlights
• Small-group and private tours with flexible pacing
• Bespoke and custom-designed itineraries based on interests, timing and fitness level

Transport and pick-ups are typically included in the tour, which removes much of the logistical complexity of travelling around Epirus independently.

These tours are best suited to travellers who want depth, context and access to places that are difficult to plan alone, without the pressure of large groups or rigid schedules.

Ioannina

Papingo

Nikopolis Theatre

Kipina Monastery

Aoos Lake Metsovo

Vikos Gorge

Acheron River

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