21 Best Things to Do in Athens: A Local Guide’s Perspective

I’ve been showing folks around Athens for over a decade now, and lemme tell you – watching visitors fall head over heels for this city never gets old. Athens isn’t just some dusty history book come to life—it’s a buzzing metropolis where ancient marble columns stand shoulder-to-shoulder with graffiti-covered apartment blocks and hipster coffee shops.

After thousands of tours and countless “wow” moments from visitors, I’ve put together this no-nonsense guide to the things to do in Athens that’ll make your trip unforgettable. From the jaw-dropping archaeological sites to the hole-in-the-wall tavernas tourists walk right past, these recommendations come straight from the heart (and sore feet) of someone who’s done it all.

1. The Acropolis: Athens’ Crowning Glory

You simply cannot visit Athens without climbing that rocky hill topped with 2,500-year-old marble. The Acropolis isn’t just Athens’ postcard shot—it’s the defining monument of Western civilization.

Drag yourself out of bed early (around 8 AM) to beat both the crowds and the merciless summer heat. The north slope offers the gentlest climb, and once you’re up there… well, the panorama of Athens sprawling in every direction might just leave you speechless.

While everyone gawks at the Parthenon (and rightly so), don’t rush past the other treasures up here:

• The Erechtheion with its famous porch held up by six marble maidens
• The dainty Temple of Athena Nike perched precariously on the edge
• The monumental gateway called the Propylaea that ancient Athenians would process through

Local Gold Dust: If you’re visiting during a full moon in summer, check if they’re doing one of their special nighttime openings. Walking among these monuments under a silver moon with the city lights twinkling below is pure magic you can’t bottle.

2. The Acropolis Museum: A Modern Marvel

Just a stone’s throw from the ancient hill sits one of Europe’s most stunning modern buildings. The Acropolis Museum displays treasures recovered from the sacred rock in a space designed to make architecture nerds weep with joy.

The museum’s layout follows a chronological story, culminating in the top floor—a glass enclosure built to the exact dimensions of the Parthenon’s inner sanctuary, with the surviving frieze pieces positioned precisely as they once sat on the temple itself.

Don’t miss:

• The original Caryatid maidens (the ones on the hill are clever replicas)
• The Parthenon frieze segments that Lord Elgin didn’t manage to cart off to London
• The gallery showcasing everyday items from the slopes of the Acropolis

Insider Secret: The museum’s restaurant isn’t just another tourist trap. It serves legitimately excellent Greek dishes on a terrace with knockout Acropolis views. Time your visit to include lunch or an early dinner when the marble turns golden in the late afternoon light.

3. Plaka: Step Back in Time

Nestled right under the Acropolis, Plaka is that neighborhood that makes you want to quit your job and move to Greece. With its narrow lanes, bougainvillea-draped balconies, and neoclassical houses, it’s easily one of the most charming things to do in Athens.

Lose yourself in Plaka’s labyrinth of streets, popping into shops selling everything from tacky Parthenon snow globes to exquisite handmade sandals. When hunger strikes, skip the restaurants with menu-hawkers out front and find a taverna filled with Greek conversation.

Don’t miss tiny Anafiotika, a hidden pocket built by islanders from Anafi in the 19th century. Its whitewashed cube houses and blue doors will have you checking your map to confirm you’re still in Athens.

Local Secret: Duck into the Byzantine church of Metochi Panagiou Tafou on Erechtheos Street. Most tourists walk right past it, but behind its unassuming door lies a peaceful courtyard that feels worlds away from the souvenir shops.

4. Ancient Agora: The Heart of Classical Athens

If the Acropolis was ancient Athens’ spiritual center, the Agora was its pulsing heart—where Socrates chatted with students, shopkeepers haggled, and the world’s first democracy took shape. Sprawling beneath the Acropolis’ northwest slope, this archaeological playground gives you a better sense of everyday life in ancient Athens than anywhere else.

The star of the show is the Temple of Hephaistos, looking so intact you’d think the ancient construction crew just stepped out for a lunch break. The reconstructed Stoa of Attalos now houses the site museum, displaying everything from ballot boxes used in democratic voting to baby bottles from 2,500 years ago.

Tip from a Local: Climb the small hill of Colonus Agoraeus within the site for the money shot—a view capturing both the ancient marketplace and the Acropolis together. The late afternoon light turns everything to honey and makes for photos that’ll make your social media friends seethe with envy.

5. National Archaeological Museum: Greece’s Treasure House

This magnificent neoclassical building houses the most mind-blowing collection of Greek antiquities on earth. If you’re even remotely interested in ancient history, this is your mothership.

The collection spans from prehistoric figurines to Alexander the Great’s era and beyond. Highlights that’ll stop you in your tracks include:

• The eerie gold “Mask of Agamemnon” (though it predates the legendary king by centuries)
• The Bronze Zeus (or Poseidon)—you’ll recognize him hurling his missing thunderbolt (or trident)
• The Antikythera Mechanism—an ancient Greek computer that calculated astronomical positions with shocking precision

Local Know-How: This place is MASSIVE. If museum fatigue is setting in, focus on the unmissable hits: the Mycenaean collection (Room 4), the Kouros statues (Room 7), and the Bronze Collection (Room 36). Your brain will thank you.

6. Changing of the Guard at Syntagma Square

In a city where most attractions are thousands of years old, here’s something from modern Greece that’s equally unmissable. The Evzones (presidential guards) perform their carefully choreographed ritual hourly in front of Parliament, wearing uniforms that include:

• Hand-pleated kilts with 400 folds (symbolizing 400 years of Ottoman occupation)
• Pom-pom shoes weighing 3 kilos each
• Red berets and perfectly maintained mustaches

These guards remain absolutely motionless for their hour-long shifts, regardless of weather or tourists attempting selfies. The grand ceremony happens Sundays at 11 AM with a full band and more guards.

What Locals Know: For prime photos, plant yourself about 10 minutes before the hour. But remember these are elite soldiers, not Disney characters—keep a respectful distance and never try to distract them or mimic their stance.

7. Monastiraki Flea Market: A Shopper’s Paradise

Sunday mornings transform the area around Monastiraki Square into Athens’ legendary bazaar. One of the most colorful things to do in Athens, this market is sensory overload in the best possible way—vendors hollering prices, the scent of grilling souvlaki, and crowds haggling with theatrical intensity.

You’ll find everything from genuine antiques to cheeky t-shirts, vintage vinyl records, handmade leather sandals, and bizarre treasures that defy categorization. Even if shopping isn’t your thing, the people-watching alone is worth the visit.

Local Strategy: The serious antiques cluster around Avyssinias Square. For the best deals, arrive when vendors are setting up (around 7 AM) or after 2 PM when they’re thinking about packing up and more willing to bargain. If something catches your eye, a smile and “Poso kani?” (How much?) will start the negotiation dance.

8. Mount Lycabettus: Athens from Above

This limestone peak rising 300 meters above sea level offers the most spectacular Athens panorama you can imagine. Getting to the top is half the fun—either hike the winding path through pine trees (about 30-40 minutes) or take the funicular railway from Kolonaki if your calves are already screaming from all the ancient site-hopping.

At the summit, you’ll find:

• The tiny whitewashed Chapel of St. George
• A surprisingly decent restaurant
• Views stretching from Athens’ surrounding mountains all the way to the island-dotted Saronic Gulf

Local Wisdom: Time your visit for sunset, when the fading light bathes the Acropolis in golden hues before the city lights flicker on like stars. Pack a light jacket though—even in summer, the breeze up there can be surprisingly nippy.

9. Benaki Museum: Greek Culture Through the Ages

Housed in a gorgeous neoclassical mansion, the Benaki offers something different from other Athens museums—a journey through Greek culture from prehistoric times all the way to 1922. This amazing thing to do in Athens shows how Greece evolved through millennia.

The collection includes Byzantine icons, traditional costumes from different regions, historical weapons, reconstructed rooms from different eras, and paintings that connect ancient Greece to the modern nation.

Local Hack: The museum stays open until midnight on Thursdays, making it perfect for an evening cultural fix. Their rooftop café is one of Athens’ best-kept secrets—sip a freddo espresso with views of the National Garden and Lycabettus Hill away from the tourist crowds.

10. Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion: The Perfect Day Trip

About an hour’s drive from central Athens, the Temple of Poseidon delivers one of Greece’s most dramatic settings. Perched on a cliff 60 meters above the Aegean Sea, its remaining Doric columns frame the deep blue waters where, according to myth, King Aegeus threw himself to his death (hence the name “Aegean” Sea).

Getting here is easy via public bus, organized tour, or rental car along the scenic coastal road. If driving, make pit stops at seaside towns like Vouliagmeni or Varkiza for a swim.

Local Gold: Time your visit for sunset, when the marble columns glow amber against the darkening sky and sea. After your visit, descend to the little harbor below for fresh fish at a waterfront taverna where you can watch the lights of boats bobbing on the water.

11. Athens Central Market (Varvakios Agora): A Feast for the Senses

For a raw, unfiltered slice of Athenian life, dive into the chaotic energy of the Central Market on Athinas Street. This covered market has sections for meat, fish, and produce, creating a sensory symphony that’s not for the faint-hearted:

• Butchers showcasing every imaginable animal part
• Fishmongers arranging their glistening catch on beds of ice
• Vendors literally singing about their tomatoes and cucumbers
• The mingled aromas of fresh herbs, briny seafood, and hanging garlands of garlic

Local Move: Visit between 8-10 AM when the market is humming but not yet packed with tourists. After working up an appetite, grab a stool at one of the tiny no-frills tavernas inside the market where market workers fuel up. Order mageiritsa (whatever’s in the pots today) for an authentic meal that won’t be on your hotel’s recommended list.

12. National Garden: Athens’ Green Oasis

Originally the royal garden of Greece’s first queen, Amalia, this 15.5-hectare green sanctuary provides blessed shade and tranquility right in Athens’ center. It’s the perfect antidote when ancient marble and urban hustle become overwhelming.

Shaded pathways wind through diverse botanical sections, duck ponds, ancient ruins, and even a small zoo. The garden connects the Presidential Mansion to the Zappeion Exhibition Hall, making it a leafy shortcut between major sights.

Local Secret: Seek out the garden’s hidden gems, including:

• The Palm House with its collection of tropical plants
• Surprising Roman mosaics in the sunken gardens
• The small but charming Botanical Museum

Early morning is magical—you’ll spot locals practicing tai chi or elderly men locked in silent, intense backgammon battles.

13. Museum of Cycladic Art: Minimalist Masterpieces

This elegant museum houses one of the world’s most complete collections of Cycladic art—those striking minimalist marble figurines created on Greek islands between 3200-2000 BCE. Their clean lines and abstract forms influenced 20th-century sculptors like Brancusi and Modigliani, proving ancient art can look surprisingly modern.

Beyond the Cycladic collection (which is reason enough to visit), you’ll find excellent exhibits on ancient Greek art and daily life, plus Cypriot antiquities.

Insider Tip: The museum’s atrium café is one of Athens’ most sophisticated lunch spots—a favorite among the city’s art crowd and academics. Their Greek-inspired menu changes seasonally and offers a welcome break from typical taverna fare.

14. Panathenaic Stadium: Olympic History

This blindingly white marble stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and stands on the site of an ancient stadium from 330 BCE. Being the only major stadium in the world built entirely of marble, it’s definitely a unique thing to do in Athens.

Visitors can:

• Run a lap on the same track where Olympic history was made
• Sit in the marble stands that hold 45,000 spectators
• Visit the small museum displaying Olympic torches from games past
• Take a photo on the winners’ podium (you earned it after all that sightseeing!)

Local Knowledge: Arrive early in the morning (around 7:30 AM) to see dedicated Athenians running laps on the track, continuing an athletic tradition that’s existed here for over two millennia. Some even train in the ancient style… though thankfully not in the nude as original Olympic athletes did!

15. Street Art Tour in Psiri and Exarchia

While Athens dazzles with ancient masterpieces, its street art scene ranks among Europe’s most vibrant and politically charged. The neighborhoods of Psiri, Exarchia, and Metaxourgeio have become open-air galleries featuring massive murals that tell stories of crisis, resistance, and hope.

Local artists like INO, WD, and Sonke have transformed blank walls into powerful statements about Greece’s economic troubles, refugee crisis, and social change. It’s a side of Athens that most guided tours won’t show you.

Inside Scoop: Join one of the specialized street art walking tours led by actual artists who can explain the context and hidden messages behind major works. Or download one of the online street art maps to create your own self-guided exploration—Psiri is more accessible for beginners, while Exarchia offers more politically radical work (plus Athens’ best vinyl record stores and anarchist bookshops).

16. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center: Modern Athens

When you need a break from ancient history, head to this architectural masterpiece designed by Renzo Piano. A stellar example of contemporary things to do in Athens, this stunning complex represents Athens’ forward-looking side.

The SNFCC houses the National Library of Greece and Greek National Opera in a structure that seems to float above a 42-acre Mediterranean park. The energy-efficient building features:

• A canal perfect for sailing lessons or kayaking
• Native plant gardens designed for sustainability
• A vast solar energy canopy that powers the facilities
• A sloping green roof offering spectacular city-to-sea views

Local Favorite: Check the center’s website for free events—from outdoor film screenings to concerts and exercise classes in the park. The monthly full moon events are particularly magical, with special performances and thousands of Athenians picnicking under the stars.

17. Athens Riviera: Seaside Escape

Many visitors never realize that Athens has a gorgeous coastline just 30 minutes from the city center. When the summer heat gets brutal, do as the locals do and head to the Athens Riviera—a stretch of coast running from Piraeus to Cape Sounion dotted with beaches, marinas, and seafood tavernas.

Popular spots include:

• Astir Beach in Vouliagmeni (more upscale, with beach clubs)
• Edem Beach in Paleo Faliro (more local, with authentic fish tavernas)
• The organized beaches of Glyfada (good middle ground with water sports)

The coastal tram makes access easy even without a car.

Local Gem: Visit Lake Vouliagmeni, a mineral-rich thermal lake where tiny fish will give you a natural foot spa treatment as you swim in the year-round warm waters. The lake is fed by underground currents and maintains a constant 22-24°C temperature regardless of season.

18. Philopappos Hill: Sunset Perfection

Adjacent to the Acropolis but blissfully less crowded, Philopappos Hill delivers some of the best views of the Parthenon and should rank high on your

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