Know Athens From Its Core: Don’t Miss Out on Its Significant Adventure
You can complete captivating and rejuvenating holidays when you plan every basic detail of your Athens trip, so that you don’t miss out on anything. As Athens is a mesmerising city and the capital of Greece, it offers various significant places and fun activities to make an unforgettable trip with your loved ones. From urban green spaces and rugged mountains to coastal scenery, the city offers a fusion of landscapes you can enjoy during your trip. However, if you face issues to decide your itinerary and what to include in your limited day itinerary, you can refer to the following article, where you are provided with crucial things for the activities to explore, places to visit, and food and drinks to savour, along with the best time to visit, Athens connectivity options, and things to consider before starting your Athens journey. Hence, you can delve into the following article to make a memorable journey with your loved ones, and cover all the significant things of the city in a hassle-free way.
Important Information Regarding Athens
- Location: Greece
- Population: 664,046 (2025)
- Currency: Euro
- Official Language: Modern Greek
- Commonly Understood Language: English
- Major Airport: Athens International Airport
Top Things to Do in Athens
There is no dearth of options to explore in the heart of Ancient Greece, Athens. However, due to the limited time of your vacation, you may not be able to examine each and every aspect of the city. Hence, you can refer to the following section, where you can find the top activities to do while you are in Athens:
- Witness the spectacular changing of the guard ceremony: Changing of the guard is one of the most amazing ceremonies, which occurs every hour just across Syntagma Square at the Parliament Square. The guards are dressed in distinctive uniforms and stand guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You can witness the event, which is performed with hypnotic precision. Moreover, if you are staying at the destination on the weekend, you must not miss its 11 AM Sunday version, which is even more elaborate and gathers a large crowd.
- Go on an incredible food tour and wine tasting: You won’t like to end your Athens trip before going on a food trip, and a wine tour, if you love to savour different flavors of wines. Whether you want a morning tour or a night, there are plenty of options that you can find in the city. You can pick which food you want to try, and then go on your street food tour. In the streets of Athens, morning snacks are available that are both tasty and healthy, such as Souvlaki, bougatsa, and a Greek meze platter. However, if you want to relish the taste of the great wines of the city and savour an exceptional culinary experience, you can take a night tour in the pubs, clubs, and restaurants of the city, and explore the lively nightlife.
- Get an intense aerial view during skydiving: Irrespective of your age, you can get one of the most exciting and thrilling experiences of your life through skydiving, which allows you to jump from a height of 14,000 ft. Before the dive, you would have to spend days and hours preparing for the dive, so bear in mind a few days for that as well during your vacation. Afterwards, you are taken to a height of 14,000 ft on a turbine aircraft in 15 minutes, from where you are provided with an incredible free fall over the beautiful Mountains and Seas of the city.
Must-Visit Places of Athens
You are required to spend considerable time to fully understand the rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning sights of Athens. However, even though you have limited time in your itinerary, you may want to get a real feel of the city, which can be done if you visit the destinations as mentioned below, as they are considered some of the important landmarks of the city:
- Explore the Acropolis to peek into the classical Greek civilization and architecture: Beautifully perched on a rocky outcrop, the Acropolis is the ancient citadel of Athens. The citadel represents the pinnacle of classical Greek civilization and architecture and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Acropolis houses major monuments built in the 5th century. You are required to climb to the citadel, which is likely to be situated on a flat-topped hill that rises around 150 to 156 meters above sea level. During your climb, you can enjoy spectacular vistas and a breathtaking view of the city from such a height.
- Take a pedestrian walk in the Plaka: Nestled at the Acropolis’s base, Plaka is a historic and charming old neighborhood of Athens. It is a beautiful village renowned as the “Neighborhood of the Gods” for its ancient roots and labyrinthine, pedestrian-friendly streets filled with cafes, shops, museums, tavernas, and Roman/Byzantine ruins such as Hadrian’s Library and the Roman Agora. During your visit, you can enjoy the charming atmosphere, cobblestone alleys, historic ambiance, serene nature, and Greek cuisine. Moreover, you can go shopping for souvenirs, ceramics, jewelry, and local crafts to make your trip more memorable.
- Rejuvenate at the Coastal Suburb of Vouliagmeni: You can find the spellbinding coastal suburb, Vouliagmeni, 18 km south of the city center on the Athenian Riviera. Here, you can find a tranquil environment, quieter surroundings, a green landscape, a scenic peninsula, and a romantic atmosphere, whether you want to explore the exclusive Astir Beach, famous for its sunbeds and luxury, or Lake Vouligmeni, known for its natural thermal spa with brackish water that is said to have healing properties. Moreover, this place in Athens is ideal for swimming, fine dining, and wellness, with a vibrant and relaxing coastal atmosphere.
- Immerse in the Greek art at the Hellenic National Archaeological Museum: The most extensive archaeological museum of the country, and counted among the most significant museums in the world that is devoted to ancient Greek art, the Hellenic National Archaeological Museum is your destination. With the aim of housing and protecting all antiquities from across Greece, the museum was founded at the end of the 19th century to display the artistic, historical, and cultural value of the country. You can visit the museum to learn about a few fundamental values and the culture of Greece, making your trip more memorable.
Best Time To Visit Athens
Though you want to make an unforgettable Athens trip, bad weather can ruin your plans and make you sit in your hotel all day. Hence, planning the perfect time for your journey is just as important as deciding on the places and activities. Thus, you are required to grasp information about the time that is best for you, which you can choose based on the following details of each season in Athens that are provided to you:
Peak Season in Athens
- The summer months run from June to September.
- The temperature ranges between 20 and 32 degrees Celsius.
- Hot, sunny days are characteristic of the environment.
- It is a time of the most vibrant nightlife and some of the buzziest activities to explore in the shacks, beaches, and port.
- Festivals, such as the August Moon Festival and the Rockwave Festival, are the highlights of the season.
- However, it is peak season, so the place is crowded with tourists.
- The accommodation cost is high, and you may have to wait in long queues to explore any place.
Soulder Season in Athens
- Late spring and early fall, which lies between April and June and October.
- The temperature ranges between 12 and 24 degrees Celsius.
- Mild, pleasant days are characteristic of the environment.
- The best time to enjoy the city's spectacular view is when the queues are shorter.
- Easter celebrations are held every April.
- The Athens International Film Festival is the highlight of the fall.
- Accommodation costs are provided at an affordable rate.
Low Season in Athens
- The winter season runs from November to March.
- The temperature ranges between 6 and 16 degrees Celsius.
- Cold, rainy days are characteristic of the environment.
- It can be the best time for you if you want a quieter look at the city.
- Events such as New Year’s Eve and the Athens Carnival are the highlights of the season.
- Get accommodation at one of the most reasonable prices.
Athens Connectivity Option
Before you enter your desired destination, Athens, you must know the best means to enter the city, based on the connectivity options available. Thus, you can take a look at the following section, where you are provided with the different means and connectivity options offered by Athens:
- Airport connectivity option: Athens is home to Athens International Airport, the country's largest airport, offering extensive international and domestic connections for visitors, making it a great choice for travelers.
- Road connectivity network: While connecting with Athens by road, there are various options available to you, including the 65 to 70 km Attiki Odos tollway and bridges like the Athens-Thessaloniki (A1) and Patra (A8), which you can choose to start your serene vacations.
- Rail connection with the city: Athens maintains a well-established rail network that connects the city with major cities of Greece, such as Thessaloniki and the Peloponnese, and is centered on Larissa Station.
Foods and Drinks To Savour In Athens
Whether you want to relish the mouth-watering street dish or get an iconic flavor of Greece, Athens is the perfect destination for you. The city offers you a great culinary option that you can savour, including:
- Souvlaki & Gyros
- Spanakopita & Tyropita
- Moussaka
- Meze
- Loukoumades
- Koulouri
- Bougatsa
- Fresh fish and seafood
- Greek Coffee
- Ouzo
- Frappe
- Raki/ Tsipouro
- Local wine
Things to Consider While Visiting Athens
There are certain things that you should consider before visiting Athens that will help you make your trip smoother and hassle-free. Some of the things that you must consider while visiting the city include:
- Plan your trip beforehand so you won’t miss any significant places you want to visit.
- Consider what activities or festivals you want to explore, and plan your trip accordingly.
- Carry cash with you to avoid technical glitches or other complications with digital payments.
- 5 to 10 percent of the bill is recommended when dining at any place in Athens.
- Buy tickets for popular places in advance, such as the Acropolis or a museum, to save time by bypassing long ticketing queues.
- Even if you are visiting the destination in spring or fall, take some winter clothes with you, as the nights can be chilly.