2 Days in Athens, Greece: Perfect Athens Itinerary for First-Timers

Wondering how you should spend two days in Athens before heading out to the Greek islands? You’re in the right place!

After visiting Athens multiple times, I’ve curated the ultimate guide. My 2-Day Athens Itinerary focuses on two key aspects: discovering the wonders of Ancient Athens and eating delicious Greek food!

What more could you ask for in this colorful, chaotic, and marvelous 3,000-year-old city? 

From exploring historic sites (like the Acropolis and the Agora of Athens!) to tasting traditional food (like gyros, dolmades, tzatziki, and plenty of succulent seafood!), to visiting can’t-miss museums, this Athens guide covers all the best things to see, do, and eat in Athens in two days.

Plus, I’ve included the best places to stay, transportation tips, and must-know tips for a seamless 48-hour visit to Athens. 

So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know for the perfect 2 days in Athens…

How to Get to Athens

Most likely, you’ll fly into Athens via Athens International Airport. From there, you have two easy ways to reach downtown: 

1. Take Metro Line 3. A one-way metro ticket from the airport costs €10 per person; it includes unlimited use for 90 minutes, in case you need to transfer lines. For more bang for your buck, I recommend purchasing a “3-Day Tourist Ticket” for €20, which includes one round-trip journey to the airport; find more details here. The metro journey from Athens Airport to central stops like Syntagma Square or Monastiraki takes about 45 minutes. 
2. Take a taxi or Uber. Expect to pay about €40 between 5 AM and midnight, and about €55 between midnight and 5 AM. (Plus, a small booking fee if you use Uber.) Taxiing to the city center takes about 40 minutes. 

If you’re arriving in Athens via ferry at the Athens Piraeus ferry port, then the easiest way to reach downtown is via Metro Line 3. The journey to Syntagma Square takes about 20 minutes. By the way, this is my favorite website for searching ferry timetables and reserving tickets in Greece and beyond! 

Where to Stay in Athens, Greece

With only 2 days in Athens, I recommend staying in a central neighborhood so you don’t waste any extra time in transit. Hands down, the best neighborhoods to stay in are Syntagma and Plaka. 

Both of these neighborhoods are centrally located (near historic must-sees like the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Library, and the Roman Agora!), surrounded by incredible restaurants and bars, and offer easy access to the metro.

Ultimate 2-Day Athens Itinerary

Two days in Athens is just enough time to scratch the surface of what Athens has to offer. 

With my 2-Day Athens Itinerary, you’ll visit the most important historic sites, eat some incredible food, stop by some of the city’s coolest bars, explore a few vibrant neighborhoods, and have a ton of fun. 

Are you ready? 

Day 1 in Athens

On Day 1, you’ll try traditional Greek coffee, wander ancient Greek and Roman ruins, have a fabulous seafood lunch, explore Monastiraki, go on this Skip-the-Line Acropolis Guided Walking Tour, and enjoy an unforgettable Greek dinner!

Start the Day with Greek Coffee

If you’re like me, then your day always starts with coffee. But this is Athens, so it starts with Greek coffee!

“What is Greek coffee?” you ask. Greek coffee, incredibly strong and rich in flavor, is made by boiling (not brewing) super finely ground beans.

Some of my favorite places in Athens for coffee and pastries are Myller Coffee Shop, Six Dogs, Mokka, and Samba Coffee Roasters. 

Visit the Roman Forum (Roman Agora) of Athens

Post-caffeine, it’s time to start exploring the ancient archeological sites scattered around Plaka and Monastiraki. First stop? The Roman Forum.

By 146 BC, the Romans had conquered all of ancient Greece. Between 19 and 11 BC, Julius Caesar and Augustus funded the construction of the Roman Forum in Athens for markets. During the Byzantine period and the Turkish occupation, the Roman Forum was covered with houses, workshops, churches, and mosques. Excavations began in the mid-1800s – and today, important monuments such as the Gate of Athena Archegetis, the East Propylon entrance, and the Tower of the Winds still stand.

You might be happy enough to see the Roman Forum from outside of the fence, since you can pretty much see it all.

However, if you want a closer look, you can purchase an Athens Combo Ticket which includes entry to the Acropolis and six other archaeological sites (including the Roman Agora, Ancient Greek Agora, and Hadrian’s Library). It also comes with audio guides! Click here to purchase yours! Otherwise, the standalone Roman Forum ticket costs €8.

Stop by Hadrian’s Library

A short walk from the Roman Agora, you’ll come across the grand ruins of Hadrian’s Library.

Built in 132 AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian, Hadrian’s Library was more than just a library. It functioned as the main cultural and civic center, hosting an archive of legal and state documents, philosophy lectures and classes, and halls for reading, music, and exhibitions. 

Again, you can admire the ruins from outside the fence (I think this gives you an adequate understanding!). Otherwise, entry is included with the Athens Combo Ticket, or a standalone ticket costs €5.

See the Ancient Agora of Athens

Continue your discovery of ancient Athens at the Ancient Agora of Athens. In ancient Greece, an “agora” was a large public space for gatherings, assemblies, and markets.

The agora features the ruins of many ancient monuments and structures, while the onsite museum – the Museum of the Ancient Agora (Stoa of Attalos) – houses a collection of artifacts in an ancient rebuilt structure. 

For me, roaming around the fenced perimeter of the Agora is enough; you can still see a lot! But if you want a closer look, get the Athens Combo Ticket – or pay €7 to enter the ruins and €5 to visit the museum.

Seafood Lunch at Atlantikos

Want to try some of the very best seafood in Athens? Then beeline it to Ristorante Atlantikos in the Psiri/Monastiraki area for lunch!

Just be prepared to wait a few minutes for one of the tables that spill into the small cobblestone sidestreet. This place is popular… because it’s cheap, low-key, and delicious.

We (over-)ordered – the chickpeas with smoked mackerel, the fish sandwich, the half-filet of baked seabass and vegetables, and the lentil salad – and everything was so tasty!

Browse the Monastiraki Flea Market 

Next up, it’s time to browse the Monastiraki Flea Market, a bustling bazaar of shops and street stalls selling everything under the Greek sun – from pottery and leather sandals to jewelry and other trinkets. The challenge is to sift through the mass-produced souvenirs to find the real hand-made gems! 

The market is especially eclectic on the weekends, though, when street vendors set up shop with interesting antiques, thrifty finds, and random junk. Try to visit on Sunday, if you can – this is the real “flea market” day. 

Mid-Day Drinks in Monastiraki 

Next up, it’s time for a little mid-day pick-me-up in Monastiraki! 

Cool bars and restaurants line every street in Monastiraki, but my two favorite places for drinks are Usurum (for cocktails) and Tapfield (for craft beer). 

Go on a Guided Tour of the Acropolis

Of course, the most important archaeological site to visit during two days in Athens is the Acropolis.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, freedom of speech and expression, and theatre, the historical significance of the Acropolis can’t be overstated! I highly recommend this Acropolis Guided Walking Tour to discover it in depth!

This ancient monumental complex, perched atop the fortified Attica plateau, was built to honor the city’s patron goddess, Athena, and host Athens’s most important government buildings. 

The most important structures (which were built in the 5th century B.C.!) still stand today: the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion (Temple of Athena Polias), and the Propylaea (the monumental entrance).

With this Skip-the-Line Acropolis Guided Walking Tour, led by a licensed archaeologist, you’ll leisurely explore the Acropolis while learning about classical history and ancient Greece, the goddess Athena, the monuments, and how this very site shaped the world as we know it. 

I really enjoyed this tour. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging – and I can’t imagine visiting without an expert guide’s insight. 

Click here to book your Skip-the-Line Acropolis Guided Walking Tour.

NOTE: Make sure to book the option WITH entrance tickets to the Acropolis! 

HOT TIP: I’ve visited the Acropolis multiple times. The best times to visit are first thing in the morning or late afternoon. My favorite is the late afternoon – around sunset – because it’s less crowded and not as hot! Between June and September, avoid visiting during mid-day at all costs! No matter when you visit, wear good walking shoes, and bring a hat and water!

Savor a Traditional Greek Dinner

Ready for an unforgettable meal? Snag a reservation at either Seychelles or Karamanlidika after your Guided Walking Tour of the Acropolis. 

Seychelles

Seychelles, a casual mezedopoleio (meze/small plates restaurant) – with its seasonally rotating menu, big, soulful Greek flavors, and friendly service – is worthy of one of your two precious dinners in Athens. 

We had the most delicious Dakos-style salad ever (and yes, that was after spending a few weeks on Crete!); the grilled cuttlefish and beans stew; the bonito with cauliflower and jalapeños; and fresh bread, olives, and wine, of course. I practically rolled out of there, I was so full of goodness!

NOTE: You must make a reservation.

Karamanlidika

Karamanlidika offers the quintessential Athens foodie experience. 

For 60 years, this Byzantine deli and meze-style restaurant has been serving up Greek delicacies – from fine cheeses and artisanal cold cuts (like pastirma) to giant beans with feta, fried saganaki cheese, dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves), and Greek salad. 

The food is fresh, local, and flavor-packed. Almost every item on the menu is less than €10. The service is warm and friendly. So it’s no wonder locals and travelers alike flock to this lively, hyper-traditional spot to feast!

I loved this place. You will too! So good. 

NOTE: Make a reservation here. 

Day 2 in Athens

For your second day in Athens, a mind-blowing museum (or two) and some mouthwatering Greek food (during this epic Greek Food Walking Tour) are in store!

Visit a Museum

After grabbing a coffee and some breakfast (see Day 1 for my favorite cafés!), it’s time to hit a museum. Or two, if you’re feeling ambitious!

Acropolis Museum

With your Guided Walking Tour of the Acropolis under your belt, it’s time to dive deeper at the Acropolis Museum.

This incredible museum houses the archaeological findings from the Acropolis, tracing its historical and cultural evolution from its early days as a small citadel to its height as a sacred place of worship and government.

From everyday items like pots, vases, and other tools to impressive sculptures from the Parthenon, you will be blown away by this spectacular collection.

Visiting the Acropolis Museum will take you about two hours. Book your museum tickets in advance here to avoid standing in the long ticket line in the heat! They cost €20/person.

National Archaeological Museum

If you have more time (and you’re not bored of museums yet!), visit the National Archaeological Museum; it’s the largest and most important archaeological museum in Greece, housing antiquities from across the country.

Tickets cost €6-12 depending on the season.

Go on a Greek Food Walking Tour

No surprise here, but my favorite thing to do during two days in Athens will always be this Greek Food Walking Tour! This is one of the best food tours I’ve ever been on (and I go on a lot of food tours). 

As we strolled through Athens with our expert guide, we made seven different stops at foodie establishments (from typical coffee shops and bustling markets, to traditional tavernas, street food joints, and iconic bakeries!) to taste countless Greek dishes and street food snacks.

After happily scarfing down gyros, marinated anchovies, fava beans, tzatziki, Greek salad with feta cheese, fried sausages, grilled haloumi cheese, giant marinated beans, meatballs, zucchini balls, olives, calamari, feta-stuffed bell peppers, local olive oil, loukoumades (donuts), koulóuria (sesame bread rings), local wine, ouzo, Greek/Turkish coffee, and more (so much more!), we were completely stuffed.

Needless to say, we had the best time on our Greek Food Walking Tour! 

Of course, along the way, our guide filled us in on Greek and Athenian food culture and ancient history too.

Talk about a perfect last meal (feast) in Athens! This Greek Food Walking Tour was the highlight of my recent trip, and I know it’ll be your favorite activity too.

If you want to learn about Greek culture through what it does best (incredible food!), then I highly recommend booking this Greek Food Walking Tour of Athens!

Click here to book your Greek Food Walking Tour of Athens. In high season, it sells out, so book well in advance.

Must-Know Tips for 48 Hours in Athens

• As mentioned, I recommend purchasing the 3-day tourist metro pass for €20; this grants you unlimited access to the metro and buses throughout downtown Athens, as well as a roundtrip journey to Athens International Airport. Just a one-way airport metro ticket costs €10, so this option will save you some money!
• If you’re traveling to/from Athens via ferry, I recommend using this ferry booking site to search ferry timetables and find the best deals.   
• I recommend purchasing an eSIM data plan and installing it on your phone so you have cell data as soon as you arrive. That way, you can use Google Maps and more as you explore Athens.
• You can purchase an Athens Combo Ticket which includes entry to the Acropolis and six other archaeological sites (including the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Roman Agora, and Hadrian’s Library). It also comes with audio guides! Click here to purchase yours!
• Visiting Athens between April and October? During these months, it barely rains and the average high temperatures range from mild (69°F) to hot (91°F); come prepared with breathable outfits (like flowy sundresses!), natural sunscreen, a cute sunhat, and your reusable water bottle.
• When you visit Athens for 2 days, I highly recommend bringing a lightweight scarf with you everywhere! Use it to cover your shoulders so you can enter the incredible churches you stumble across and shield yourself from the sun as you explore archaeological sites. 
• Make sure to book your downtown hotel, your Acropolis and Parthenon Guided Walking Tour, and your Greek Food Walking Tour well in advance – especially if your visit falls between May and September. 
• Make your dinner reservations 2-3 days in advance if you’re visiting in peak season (June through August).

Two Days in Athens: Ultimate First-Timer’s Athens Guide

Well, there you have it, my friends! That’s everything you need to know for a fantastic 2-day stay in Athens. This city is equal parts colorful, chaotic, loud, gritty, busy, hot, fascinating, and delicious.

Two days in Athens is sure to be three things at once: a sensory overload; an incredible journey into the wonders of ancient Greece; and a fun trip you’ll never forget!

READ MORE: Sfakia (Chora Sfakion), Crete, Greece: The Ultimate Travel Guide

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