In a nutshell
- Athens is the capital of Greece and seriously packed with things to see — from ancient archaeological sites to hip neighborhoods.
- The three most important highlights are the Acropolis, the historic district of Plaka, and the Panathenaic Stadium.
- But there’s so much more — we’ll walk you through all 17 must-see attractions in Athens and tell you honestly what’s worth your time and money.
Sights in Athens on a Map
Here’s a map of the most important attractions and highlights in Athens to give you a quick overview before you dive in.
Our 7 Must-Sees in Athens
For us, there are seven places in Athens you absolutely cannot miss. The good news: all of these highlights are clustered together in the city center, so you can explore them on foot in a single day.
- Acropolis
- Plaka
- Anafiotika
- Panathenaic Stadium
- Syntagma Square
- National Garden
- Monastiraki Square
Acropolis
What you need to know: Acropolis translates to “upper city.” It’s a hill in Athens and the city’s most famous sight — and honestly, one of the most famous places to visit in the world. Atop the hill stand many ancient buildings — most notably the Parthenon.
Is the Acropolis worth visiting? Absolutely! That said, it’s reaaaally crowded. From April through October, a visit feels more like a carnival where you get swept along with the masses. And even when we went in March, it was genuinely packed.
Buying a Ticket for the Acropolis
The ticket for the Acropolis alone costs 30 euros. You can also visit as part of a small group tour with a guide.
If you want to visit more archaeological sites, the combo ticket covering six sites in total is seriously worth it.
Get the combo ticket for the Acropolis + five archaeological sites
There’s also a combo ticket pairing the Acropolis with the Acropolis Museum. It costs 63 euros.
Get the combo ticket for the Acropolis and the Museum
Read all our tips for the Acropolis:
Plaka
What you need to know: Plaka is Athens’ old town and one of its most beautiful neighborhoods. The best way to experience it? Just wander. Get lost in the lanes and let the district reveal itself.
Is Plaka worth visiting? Definitely! Sure, there are plenty of tourists around, but that doesn’t diminish the charm one bit.
Our tip for Plaka: Since the district sits at the foot of the Acropolis, the streets slope gently upward everywhere. You’ll find lots of staircases lined with restaurants and bars — especially in the evening, it looks absolutely stunning. The perfect spot to enjoy a cold beer.
Book an early morning tour of Plaka and the Acropolis
Anafiotika
What you need to know: Right next to Plaka is the tiny neighborhood of Anafiotika. It’s much quieter here, with little whitewashed houses and lanes so narrow they’re often less than a meter wide. And it sits right at the foot of the Acropolis — which makes it extra special.
Is Anafiotika worth it? Yes! It’s honestly one of our favorite spots in all of Athens.
Our tip for Anafiotika: Keep your voice down as you stroll through — out of respect for the people who actually live here. Signs in the area will remind you of this too.
Panathenaic Stadium
What you need to know: The Panathenaic Stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It seats nearly 60,000 people and is built entirely of marble — which makes it genuinely impressive to stand inside.
Is the Panathenaic Stadium worth it? Oh yes. The winners’ podium right in the middle of the stadium is especially cool — it’s a great spot for photos.
Our tip for visiting the stadium: Make sure to climb up to the top rows. From there you get a sweeping view of the stadium and the surrounding area, all the way to the Acropolis. Down in the catacombs beneath the stands, there’s also a small exhibition on the Olympics — well worth a look.
Ticket price: 12 euros (includes audio guide)
Syntagma Square
What you need to know: Syntagma Square, with its Parliament building, is the political heart of Greece. In front of the Parliament, elite troops in traditional Greek uniforms patrol and guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Is Syntagma Square worth it? Yes. A stop at the Parliament is simply part of any Athens itinerary.
Our tip for visiting: There’s an hourly changing of the guard at the Parliament — it follows the same military routine every time, not unlike the ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace in London.
Insider tip: From Monday through Saturday, a food tour through Athens departs from Syntagma Square. Whatever you do, don’t eat breakfast beforehand!
National Garden
What you need to know: Right next to the Parliament is the National Garden — and entry is free. It has over 200 species of trees, shrubs, and climbing plants, with turtles and squirrels roaming around in the shade. The whole garden is beautifully laid out and full of great photo opportunities.
Is the National Garden worth it? Yes — it’s the perfect escape from the city buzz.
Our tip for visiting: At the upper eastern entrance, there’s an idyllic café surrounded by greenery. Stop here for a break and treat yourself to an iced coffee — it’s really, really good.
Monastiraki Square
What you need to know: Monastiraki Square is the hub of modern Athens. There’s always something going on — someone’s making music somewhere, and you can pick up fruit and koulouri (sesame rings) from the small stalls. All around it you’ll find little shops and markets.
Is Monastiraki worth it? Yes. It’s great for a leisurely stroll and a real slice of everyday Athens life.
Our tip for Monastiraki: The main shopping street, Ermou, starts right at Monastiraki Square. And just a little further north of Ermou, you’ll find the seriously good restaurant Traditional — don’t skip it.
Archaeological Sites in Athens
Beyond the Acropolis, Athens has plenty more archaeological sites worth exploring.
Get the ticket for six archaeological sites in Athens incl. the Acropolis
Olympieion & Hadrian's Arch
What you need to know: The Olympieion is the site of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Even though it’s no longer fully intact, it’s still pretty impressive — it’s actually the largest temple in Greece, even bigger than the Parthenon on the Acropolis.
Is the Olympieion worth it? It’s okay. Of the original 104 Corinthian columns, only 15 remain today. But picture another 89 columns alongside them — the sheer scale of what once stood here becomes truly awe-inspiring.
Our tip for visiting: Also walk over to Hadrian’s Arch, right next to the Olympieion — it has stood there for 2,400 years. Since it’s outside the ticketed site, entry is free. You also get a great view of the Olympieion from there.
Ticket price: 20 euros.
The Ancient Agora of Athens
What you need to know: The Ancient Agora lies below the Acropolis and was, 2,500 years ago, the marketplace and political center of Athens. You’ll find the remarkably well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus from 440 BC, plus ruins of courthouses, theaters, and schools that Socrates himself once visited.
Is the Ancient Agora worth it? Yes. We actually found the expansive grounds — with all their olive trees — much more enjoyable than the packed Acropolis.
Our tip for the Ancient Agora: Grab one of the small site maps at the entrance and make sure to visit the Stoa of Attalos, the colonnaded hall. It now houses a small museum with excavated artifacts, and it’s included in your ticket.
Restaurant tip: Right at the Agora entrance on Adrianou Street, you can get a fantastic mixed grill plate at Diodos Agoras — easily enough for two people. Fair warning: even the appetizers come in massive portions.
Ticket price: 20 euros.
Library of Hadrian
What you need to know: Almost right on Monastiraki Square stands the Library of Hadrian — the remains of a massive library dating from 130 AD, set around a lovely garden. One fun detail: keep an eye out for turtles among the ruins and Corinthian columns.
Is the Library of Hadrian worth it? Not really. You can get a perfectly good view of the site from outside and don’t necessarily need to pay to go in.
Ticket price: 10 euros.
The Most Beautiful Museums
For your city trip to Athens, you have a range of interesting and impressive museums to choose from. The most well-known are the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki Museum, and the Archaeological Museum.
Acropolis Museum
What you need to know: The Acropolis Museum houses artifacts found on the Acropolis, arranged chronologically — so your walk through the galleries takes you through the centuries-long history of the site.
Is the Acropolis Museum worth it? Yes, if you want to learn more about the Acropolis, definitely.
Our tip for the Acropolis Museum: One of our favorite details — you can see exposed ancient foundations right through the glass floors of the museum. Really cool.
Ticket price: 10 euros.
Get the skip-the-line ticket for the Acropolis Museum
Archaeological Museum
What you need to know: The National Archaeological Museum takes you on a journey through centuries of Greek art and culture — Cycladic idols, Greek sculptures, Hellenistic bronzes, and everyday ancient objects like clay bowls and jewelry.
Is the Archaeological Museum worth it? Yes, and it’s one of the most visited museums in Athens for good reason. Because it’s so large, visitors spread out well, so it never feels overwhelming.
Our tip for the Archaeological Museum: Plan on at least two hours for a visit — you’ll need it.
Ticket price: 20 euros
Book a ticket for the Archaeological Museum
Benaki Museum
What you need to know: Housed in a grand building that once served as the Benakis family home, the Benaki Museum is entirely dedicated to Greek culture — paintings, works of art, crafts, jewelry, and traditional costumes across four floors.
Is the Benaki Museum worth it? Yes, if you’re into history. You’re guided through 5,000 years of Greek civilization spread across those four floors.
Our tip for the Benaki Museum: On the top floor, there’s a terrace café — a truly excellent spot to recharge mid-visit.
Ticket price: 9 euros
Get the online ticket for the Benaki Museum
The Best Viewpoints
Besides the Acropolis, Athens has several other hills that offer great panoramas over the city. Here are the two most popular vantage points.
Philopappos
What you need to know: Philopappos Hill lies to the southwest of the Acropolis and stands 147 meters tall. As far back as 200 BC, the road to Piraeus was monitored from here. At the top stands the Philopappos Monument — a 12-meter-tall marble memorial with several statues.
Is Philopappos worth it? Yes — from up here you can see all the way to the sea and across the whole city. Just be prepared for the walk up, which can be tiring, especially in summer.
Our tip for Philopappos Hill: Sunset is the best time for photos up here — the light is seriously beautiful. Just be careful on the way down once it gets dark. And note that there are no cafés or restaurants on the hill, so bring water.
Lofos Lykavittos
What you need to know: At 277 meters, Lykavittos is the highest point in the city. You can take a funicular up or go on foot. From the top, you get a fantastic view of Athens, plus there’s a small church and a café up there.
Is Lykavittos worth it? Definitely — we love the view from up there.
Our tip for Lykavittos Hill: Walk at least one way to the summit on foot. The trail has great views along the way, and just before the top there’s a bar serving tasty drinks. The funicular itself is pretty unspectacular — you travel through the inside of the hill, so you don’t see much.
The Coolest Neighborhoods
Athens isn’t defined solely by its ancient monuments — its many cool neighborhoods are just as much a part of the city’s appeal. Here are our two picks for the coolest neighborhoods in Athens — besides Plaka and Anafiotika.
Psyrri
What you need to know: Psyrri is Athens’ trendy quarter. It borders Monastiraki Square and is packed with one cool bar after another, plus plenty of restaurants and a handful of small boutiques and skate shops in between.
Is Psyrri worth it? Yes, especially for a night out — it’s a real highlight. Our top pick: check out the bars in the little alley Protogenous.
Our tip for Psyrri: At the small restaurant Nikitas, next to the church Agio Anargiron, you’ll find authentic Greek home cooking that’s super popular with locals. A great spot to eat like an Athenian.
Exarchia
What you need to know: Exarchia is a hip, young neighborhood full of street art, trendy cafés, bookstores, record stores, and affordable restaurants. On Saturday mornings, the Laiki farmers’ market also takes over Kallidromiou Street.
Is Exarchia worth it? Yes, especially for grabbing a coffee or a meal away from the tourist crowds.
Our tip for Exarchia: On Themistokleous Street, you’ll find what we think is the best gyros pita to go in all of Athens — at the gyros joint George Manos Grillhouse. Don’t miss it.
