Athens 4 day itinerary: Touring and tasting Greece

Whether you’re a Greek mythology lover or not, Athens is a wonderful city to visit. Eat your weight in Greek food while exploring the ancient sites and vibrant neighbourhoods. It’s compact and walkable tourist centre also makes for an easy city destination to explore, even with young kids.

This Athens 4 day itinerary will give you a variety of Athens experiences: Ancient sites, the coast, local neighbourhoods, and perfect places to indulge in Greek food and drinks.

If you’re travelling with a baby or young kids, this itinerary will also work for you, except the concert at the Odeon Amphitheatre. If your travelling to Athens with your family, check out my complete guide to Athens with a baby or toddler.

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In this post:

Is Athens worth visiting?

Athens is a great place for anyone to visit, and a bucket list destination if you are an ancient history buff. You can explore the ancient sites and museums, stroll through the vibrant neighbourhoods, and indulge in delicious Greek food and drinks. Athens may not be the most picturesque European city, but we found it more affordable and easier to navigate than many capital cities.

Is Athens a cheap city to visit?

We found Athens to be cheaper than many large European cities. Accommodation tends to be more affordable, even in the tourist centre. You also don’t need to spend money on public transport if you stay central. Many tourist sites are reasonably priced and there are plenty of street food options so you can indulge in local cuisine without spending a lot.

How many days in Athens?

3 to 4 days gives you plenty of time to see the major sites of Athens, including at least 1 day trip. The compact centre also makes it easy to get between the main attractions quickly. If you only have 2 days in Athens then you can still see many of the spots by following the first 2 days of this itinerary. If you only have one day in Athens, check out my Athens one day itinerary.

Where should I stay in Athens?

The Plaka, Monastiraki, Syntagma, and Psyri are all popular areas in the centre of Athens. Check maps and transport options before booking accommodation outside of central Athens as the wider city is huge.

Syntagma is close to public transport to the airport and day trip spots. Monastiraki is super central, but known for its night life, so check accommodation reviews about noise. Psyri is a bit further out, but we loved exploring its quirky streets and laneways.

Electra Hotel Athens: This is the ideal spot if you want to be right by public transport and many of the sites. This classically-furnished hotel boasts a fantastic rooftop and has plenty of options for rooms, including suites and family rooms. Cots available on request.

Athens Cypria Hotel: Also near Syntagma Square, Athens Cypria hotel is perfectly located, and a wonderful place to stay during your time in Athens. Their rooms are spacious, and they have triple and connecting rooms available for families. They have cots and childrens bed available on request, free of charge (subject to availability).

A for Athens Hotel: This hotel is right on Monastiraki Square, and some of the rooms have views of the Acropolis. The rooftop restaurant and bar are a perfect place to start or end your day in Athens. Their modern rooms accommodate up to four people, and they provide free cots on request (subject to availability).

Royalty Suites Psyri: In the heart of the vibrant Psyri neighbourhood, this hotel offers elegant and spacious rooms. This is also a great option for families with in-room kitchenettes, an indoor play area for kids, and cots available free of charge (on request, subject to availability).

Athens 4 day itinerary

Day 1: Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and Ancient Agora

The Acropolis

While you can see the Acropolis from almost anywhere in central Athens, it is worth visiting to explore the many sites within it, and for the panoramic view of the rest of Athens.

Arrive at opening to avoid the heat and crowds. We arrived at 7.45am and waited for the ticket office to open at 8am. If you don’t need a concession ticket (students and children), you can use one of the automated machines and join the separate entrance line before 8am. You can’t get concession tickets from the machines, and need to line up for in-person sales. This opened at 8am and moved very quickly for us.

Once you’re inside the complex, I recommend heading straight up to the Parthenon to avoid the crowds. This is a relatively steep 10-15-minute walk, but it is worth it. It was special to be able to enjoy the most iconic temple of the complex with very few tourists. You can then take your time exploring the rest of the complex. We really enjoyed using an audio guide as our toddler set the pace.

Ancient Greece combination passes: If you want to visit multiple ancient sites in Athens, check if a combo ticket is more cost effective for you. You can compare prices through the Acropolis website.

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is a short walk from the south entrance of the Acropolis. This is a great place to see ancient Greek artefacts, and also has great views of the Acropolis.

Eat and explore: Dionysiou Areopagitou and Apostolou Pavlou

By now, you’ll be ready for a break and something to eat. Dionysiou Areopagitou is a pedestrian street with buskers and views of the Acropolis. The street runs from the south entrance to the Acropolis.

From there, you will join Apostolou Pavlou, which boasts plenty of eateries with views of the Acropolis. We stopped at Senso Cafe for an early lunch. In the summer, this area comes alive in the evening with markets, full restaurants, and buskers.

Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus

With a full belly, continue just a 2 minute walk to the Ancient Agora. This was once the centre of Ancient Greece and meeting place for citizens.

Next to the Ancient Agora is the Temple of Hephaestus. Despite being completed in 415 BC, it is one of the best preserved templates in the world.

Day 2: Syntagma, the Plaka, Monastiraki and a night at the (amphi)theatre

Athens City Tour: Syntagma Square to Monastiraki Square

A guided tour is a great way to immerse yourself in the neighbourhoods of Athens. If a guided tour doesn’t work for you (or your baby or toddler), online audio guides are a great option. We used the Rick Steves audio Europe app so we could pause or adjust the route for our toddler.

Start your tour in front of the Parliament building in time to see the changing of the guard. This happens on the hour every hour, and takes about 10-15 minutes. Highlights from our walking tour:

Syntagma Square
Changing of the guard in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier
Beautiful cobbled streets and restaurants in the Plaka neighbourhood
White-washed houses of Anafiotika
Mitropoleos Square with both the largest church and smallest church in Athens
Hadrian’s Library

The audio tour ends at the lively Monastiraki Square. Take a break from the crowds and grab a well-deserved drink at the MS rooftop bar for a beautiful view of Monastiraki Square and the Acropolis.

Monastiraki Square and Markets

The Monastiraki markets run in alleys off Monastiraki Square. Here, you can pick up souvenirs and local treats.

If you’re after an easy dinner nearby, we had delicious Lebanese wraps from Feyrouz. We also enjoyed souvlaki at the aptly-named Street Souvlaki. They had casual outdoor seating and our toddler could dine from his pram.

Concert at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus

A concert at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is an incredible experience to include in your Athens itinerary if you can. When you visit the Acropolis, you can see the Odeon from above, but to go into the stands you need to go to a concert there.

Watch the sunset while taking in the music from the ancient marble stands. Do your research before you visit as show dates and ticket websites vary. We saw an opera in late July, and local and international artists also perform there.

Unlike the rest of this itinerary, this is not an activity I would recommend with a baby or young kids. The stairs and stands are steep, and we didn’t see any young children there.

Day 3: Panathenaic Stadium, National Gardens and Psyri

Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic stadium was the site of the first modern Olympic games in 1896. Walk along the track, climb the marble stands, and get a photo on the podium. The Olympian’s entrance tunnel also takes you to a small museum display (and air conditioning)!

Like the Acropolis, it is best to go to the stadium early as there is no shade and the marble stands store the heat. You can see the complex within an hour.

Athens National Garden

The Athens National Garden is a large park and gardens providing a green escape from the city. You can enter across the road from the stadium. Stop here for a picturesque picnic lunch in the shade of the many trees. There is also a playground in the centre of the garden.

Street art in Psyri and Little Kook

Athens 4 day itinerary. Little Kook cafe, Athens, Greece.

In the evening, venture to the other side of town and explored the vibrant neighbourhood of Psyri. This is the place to go for street art, quirky stores and funky eateries.

A walk past Little Kook is a must in Psyri, especially with a toddler or kids. This fantasy-inspired cafe has elaborate decorations that burst onto the street. You can take in Little Kook without dining there, but it is known for its elaborate desserts if you want to treat your little one, or yourself.

For a more traditional Greek dinner, we had a great experience at Karamanlidika, just 5-minutes walk from Little Kook.

Day 4: Day trip to the Athens coast

Athens 4 day itinerary. Athens coast beach and boats.

A day trip to the Athens coast makes for a more slow-paced day after all of the city exploring. To get there, the Athens coastal tram goes from Syntagma Square, and takes about an hour to get to the coast. Ride-sharing apps and taxis are a quicker option, but a lot more expensive.

There are plenty of options depending on what you want to do. There are public and private beaches, playgrounds, restaurants and even an ancient temple. The beaches are spread out so it is best to plan in advance.