If you’re planning a trip to Greece soon, you’re probably thinking of flying into Athens – where you’ll probably hop over to a nearby Greek Island shortly after. This often makes people wonder if Athens is worth visiting or staying in for a longer stay the first place.

Honestly, before visiting Athens – I had heard a lot of mixed things: such as it was known for petty crime, graffiti everywhere, and was overall a rough city.

But after visiting it for a few days with my parents, I realized it’s not only a base city to start your Greek adventure – but actually one of the highlights that the country has to offer.

Wandering the streets of Athens; April 2023

Is Athens Worth Visiting?

Yes, Athens is worth visiting – as it’s rich history, culture, amazing food, and warm people will quickly take a hold on you. It’s a very “blue collar” city, making it different from other European capitals like London or Paris. Athens definitely seems to be one of those places that’s a hit or miss with people. But if you look past the less-than-perfectly-polished facade – the city has a warm, blue-collar charm that isn’t like many other European cities.

That’s exactly what happened with me when I visited Athens. I at first was taken aback by how it didn’t look like a typical European city, but over the coming days – the friendly people, delicious food, and indispensable history it had to offer really grew on me.

In fact, the best food we had while in Greece was in Athens – it was both more affordable and delicious than the food we had in Mykonos or Santorini.

Overall, between the Greek history, amazing food, and affordable accommodation – Athens really is a city where you’ll leave more than satisfied and be left wanting more.

☀️🇬🇷 Reasons to Visit Athens at a Glance 🇬🇷☀️

💜 Warm People

We found everyone, everywhere spoke English and was more than willing to help. It's not as posh as other European countries like France — this is a warm environment. Think more along the lines of the friendliness in Italy.

🍽️ Amazing Food

The best food we had in Greece was in Athens, hands down. All of the hole-in-the-wall local restaurants simply can't be beat.

🏛️ Incredible Rich History

Between the Acropolis, Parthenon, Ancient Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus, and more — even those who aren't into history, including myself, can't help but be impressed and interested by the backstories.

💶 Affordability

Between the cheaper hotels and too-good-to-be-true restaurant prices, Athens is a dream come true for those on a budget. You'll still eat like a king and stay in nice places without breaking the bank!

Why do People Skip Athens?

People tend to skip over Athens as its often viewed as the “international hub of Greece” – as it’s major port allows tourists to easily use Athens as a base to start island hopping around the country. In turn, most people only book short stays in Athens as a starting point to kick off their journey and nothing more than that – which is why most people end up spending little to no time in Athens.

Personally, I think people who do this are missing out on a big side of Greece – as it actually has better food and less “tourist traps” than popular Greek Islands.

pink manicured picture perfect residential homes in athens — Walking towards the Acropolis in Athens in Thiseio; April 2023

Is Athens a Rough City?

Honestly, no – Athens isn’t as rough a city as people make it out to be.

After visiting with both my parents, I can confirm that it’s actually the opposite. Athens is a cute, small, hospitable city with warm people and amazing food – meaning it’s more than safe to visit as a solo traveler.

Is Athens Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Yes, I think that Athens is more than safe for solo female travelers – as following the same precautions as you would traveling alone in any other European city will serve you just fine. Plus, the Greek are extremely friendly – they will be more than willing to help if you get lost!

View of Athens from the Acropolis; April 2023

How to get around Athens

Athens is a walkable city, meaning – everywhere you want to visit is probably within walking distance.

However, there is also a public metro system if you find getting around city’s by foot to be challenging. Just remember that there is no Uber in Athens, it is a taxi that you are calling if you choose to use the Uber app in Athens.

How Many Days Should I Stay in Athens?

We felt that 3 nights and 2 full days was enough to do Athens justice, but you could easily stay in Athens and be entertained for longer. 2 days was enough for us to enjoy iconic sites, streets, and monuments in Athens such as the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and more.

The overview cards below will reveal just a glimpse of all of the things we saw during our three days in Athens:

🏛️🇬🇷 Best Things to Do in Athens 🇬🇷🏛️

🏛️ Acropolis

Athens' most iconic landmark and one of the most impressive ancient sites in the world. Even if you're not a history lover, it's impossible not to be impressed.

🏺 Ancient Agora

Wander through the heart of ancient Athens and imagine daily life thousands of years ago. One of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the city.

🌅 Monastiraki Square

A lively square filled with restaurants, cafés, street performers, and incredible Acropolis views. One of the best places to soak up the atmosphere.

🏙️ Syntagma Square

Athens' central square and transportation hub. It's a great starting point for exploring the city and watching everyday life unfold.

💂 Greek Parliament

Stop by to see the famous changing of the guards ceremony and admire one of the most important buildings in modern Greece.

🛍️ Ermou Street

Athens' main shopping street, packed with stores, cafés, and people watching. Perfect if you want a break from sightseeing.

🌸 Plaka District

My favorite neighborhood in Athens. Charming streets, colorful buildings, outdoor restaurants, and endless opportunities to wander.

🤍 Anafiotika

Hidden beneath the Acropolis, this tiny neighborhood feels more like a Greek island than a capital city, with whitewashed houses and quiet alleyways.

☕ Kotzia Square

A quieter side of Athens that gives you a glimpse into everyday local life away from the city's biggest tourist attractions.

General Advice And Tips For Athens

Airport to Athens: The easiest way to get to the city center of Athens from Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport is to take an Uber, which will automatically be requested as a city taxi. This is because trains, running on the R3 metro line, don’t run regularly – and could be a drag to catch after a long-haul flight.
Transportation: Athens is relatively walkable, as long as you have comfortable shoes and are okay with relatively steep inclines from time to time.
Pickpocketing: Similar to other major European cities, Athens is known for pickpocketing – so make sure your belongings are safe and secure.
Cost: Athens is much cheaper than other European capitals such as Rome, Paris, and even Barcelona – making it great for budget travelers. If you want to save even more money, always opt for the small, hole-in-the-wall or off-the-beaten path family-owned Greek restaurants as opposed to the ones designed for tourists.
Combo Pass for Tourists in Athens – Offering a multi-city pass for people visiting Athens, you can buy one ticket to gain access to several different sites in Athens – such as the Acropolis, Parthenon, and more.
Best Time of Year to Visit Athens: The best time of year to visit Athens is undoubtely during shoulder season, meaning either between March and May or September to October. This allows you to enjoy temperate weather and less crowds during your trip to Athens.

How to Spend 2 Days in Athens: Best Things to Do (2026)

Here’s what we did during our full two days in Athens (two full days is plenty, you won’t need more to see everything this city has to offer – so no need to cut back on the time you had planned for the Greek islands to see this marvelous city!)

1. Old Agora

This was one of my favorite parts of Athens: it’s like the old town, with great family restaurants and shopping to wander around before heading up to the Acropolis.

Back in the day, or around 2,000 years ago, the Old Agora was the bustling center of ancient Athens – serving as the city's marketplace, political hub, and “local hangout” spot.

Center of Old Agora with people and pigeons — Center of Old Agora; Athens in April 2023

2. The Acropolis

We started going up the Acropolis around 3:30PM. There’s a side road you can take, which gives you a gradual incline before you start hiking up the stairs. Beware if you try to go up the Acropolis in the rain – the pavement is slippery and can be rocky up at the top of the Acropolis.

View of the Acropolis from afar green trees — View of the Acropolis from afar; April 2023

History of the Acropolis

The Acropolis is a beloved monument in Athens that can be seen from all over the city, but do you know why?

Well, here’s a short history recap if you don’t.

Built back in the 5th century BC, the Acropolis has been the city's most important landmark for over 2,500 years. Serving as a sacred complex dedicated to the goddess Athena, it’s home to several iconic monuments like the Parthenon and is known to be one of the greatest achievements of ancient Greek civilization.

Today, it remains a popular UNESCO World Heritage Site and a hallmark symbol of Greece – with over 7 million people visiting the site every year.

View from the top of the Acropolis in Athens; April 2023

3. Syntagma Square

We started here on Rick Steve’s walking tour of Athens – which I couldn’t recommend more. It helps you see much of the city within a few hours. However, be aware that some areas are steep though, so beware of walking up hill.

4. Hellenic Parliament

While you’re in the square, you’ll also want to take a look at the nearby Hellenic Parliament.

Luckily, it’s more than just an attractive building – as the Hellenic Parliament building has played a pivotal role in modern Greek history since the 19th century. Although it was originally built as a royal palace for Greece's first king, it later became the seat of the Greek Parliament in 1935.

In 2026, it’s still Greece’s main political hub – best known for the ceremonial Changing of the Guard that takes place every Sunday morning at 11AM.

square with light pale yellow pink building and circular fountain — View of Greek Parliament, or Hellenic Parliament, in Athens; April 2023

5. Ermou Street

A street with a lot of shopping, and it’s bustling on a Saturday. This is where you’ll find a lot of locals hanging out on the weekend, making it the perfect place to get a feel of an average weekend in Athens.

This is also probably one of the better places to explore in Athens if you’re not into the history and anecdotes behind other popular tourist attractions.

sparkly street with lights at night — Near Ermou Street at night in Athens; April 2023

6. Plaka District

Another really cute area of Athens – many tourists are around here but for good reason. It’s an all around very precious area with cute places to eat and shops to peruse.

yellow building with hat store nearby — Plaka District in Athens; April 2023

History of the Plaka District in Athens

Plaka is known as the oldest neighborhood in Athens, and is still home to residents thousands of years later.

Often penned as, "Neighborhood of the Gods," – Plaka is known for its winding streets, neoclassical homes, and hidden courtyards, and rich history – making it one of the most atmospheric areas in all of Athens.

plakka district souvenirs bracelents and magnets for sale — Souvenir shopping in Plaka District; Athens 2023

7. Arch of Hadrian

Nothing super special here, but if you’re interested in going to the Temple of Olympian Zeus – it’s right here.

However, if you’re into the history in Athens – this might be worthwhile to see while your nearby the more famous temple.

History of Arch of Hadrian

The Arch of Hadrian was built back in AD 131 by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to celebrate his contributions to Athens. It also serves the boundary between the ancient Greek city and the new Roman district he helped to create.

Standing at a whopping 18 meters (59 feet) tall, this aging marble monument continues to be one of the most recognizable Roman-era landmarks.

old ancient arch in athens with mold due to age — Arch of Hadrian in Athens; April 2023

8. Temple of Olympian Zeus

We were more interested in walking around the town itself, but if you buy the pass for multiple museums and attractions in Athens (i.e., when you buy your Acropolis ticket – it should be around 30 euros) you’ll have access to go in here.

However, you’ll pretty much get the gist of it from the outside. I would suggest you keep wandering around because there’s more we did this day.

9. Anafiotika

This was our last (and my favorite) thing we did in Athens. Anafiotika is essentially the,” Mykonos of Athens” – as in you have the white and colorful houses and stairways leading to who-knows-where.

Is It Worth Visitng Anafiotika in Athens?

Yes, I think that Anafiotika is arguably the most charming part of Athens – and a nice break from the more crowded, touristic spots in the city.

Anafiotika is perfect if you want a photographer experience, with also great views of Lycabettus Hill.

orange home with red flowers — Wandering Anafiotika in Athens; April 2023

View of Lycabettus Hill from Anafiotika in Athens; April 2023

orange home with tall potted plants — Anafiotika in Athens; April 2023

red building with pretty flowers and blue grey window shutter and balconies — Red home with motorcycle parked in front in Anafiotika in Athens; April 2023

watercolored orange and grey homes wth white steps — Colorful yellow corners in Anafiotika in Athens; April 2023

old homes with white steps in athens — Anafiotika is the Santorini or Mykonos of Athens in terms of photo opportunities!

In between all that photo taking, you’re going to want to eat in Athens, too.

Where to eat in Athens (2026)

Greece has incredible, simple, but good food everywhere you go – but of everywhere we went in Greece: Athens was our favorite and also the cheapest.

Here are some of the best places to eat in Athens:

Dupios

This was our first meal in Greece, and it didn’t disappoint. Dupios has Greek food with a fusion twist – everything was intense in a good way: strong olive oil dolmades, sweet balsamic in the Greek salad, and cumin-heavy hummus.

dolnas on a plate with little dollops of greek yogurt — Stuffed grape leaves at Dupios in Athens; April 2023

classic greek salad — Greek salad at Dupios in Athens; April 2023

hummus and guac dips in shallow blue bowls — Hummus & avocado tzatziki at Dupios in Athens; April 2023

This was overall an amazing meal, and would definitely come back if I went to Athens.

The Kyklamino in Avissinia Square

To Kyklamino is a family owned place in this square with amazing, home-cooked – traditional Greek food and excellent prices.

traditional mousakka — Mousakka at The Kyklamino in Athens, Greece, April 2023

stuffed peppers red and green with rice — Gemista – or stuffed bell peppers with rice (like the rice in dolmas, but with tomato sauce)

We actually ate there twice: once before the Acropolis, and again after – they brought us dessert liquor on the house since we came back twice.

tomatoes, olives cucumer and white onion and green pepper — Classic Greek Salad at The Kyklamino in Athens, Greece, April 2023

🏛️✨ Athens Travel FAQs 🇬🇷

💶 Is Athens Expensive?

Not at all. In fact, Athens is one of the cheapest European capital cities you could travel to, with museum tickets, restaurants, and transportation being far cheaper than in cities like London, Paris, and even Rome or Barcelona.

👜 Is There Pickpocketing in Athens?

Yes — like any other European city, you need to be aware of pickpocketing in Athens. That being said, I don't feel Athens is as big a threat for pickpocketing as other European cities like Barcelona, London, or Paris.

🛡️ Is Athens Safe in 2026?

For years before traveling to Athens, I was told that it was gritty and not the safest place to be — and when we arrived at night, we first fell victim to what we had heard. However, after a night out at dinner and seeing the city during the day, we realized how safe it is, as locals are extremely warm and willing to help.

🌤️ When Is the Best Time to Visit Athens?

Shoulder season is prime time to visit Athens if you want nice weather without the crowds. We visited in late April to early May, and it was perfect.

Want to see more of Athens in action?

Watch my Athens travel vlog on YouTube below!

I hope this helps you plan your trip to Athens. Click here for more info on Greece to plan the Greek vacation of your dreams.

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About the Author

Hi, I'm Stephanie Safdie, a travel writer and content creator based in Paris. Since living here, I've spent years exploring the city and regularly update my Paris travel guides with firsthand experience while also exploring destinations across Europe and beyond as a solo female traveler. I've been solo traveling for the past decade, having visited more than 70 cities and nearly 30 countries before turning 30.

Before moving abroad, I grew up moving all around the United States, having lived in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Tampa – which sparked my desire to discover and experience new places and cultures from a young age.

As a true writer at heart passionate about being open-minded, adventurous, and diaristic – it's my goal to share honest, practical travel advice, local insights, detailed itineraries, and real-life experiences that go beyond typical tourist recommendations. With over 200 guides published on Destination Dreamer Diaries, I’m here help you plan the most memorable trip of a lifetime with confidence.

When I'm not traveling or working professionally in content creation, you'll find me doing just about anything creative: writing, practicing my photography skills (the large majority of photos featured on this blog were taken during my own travels), playing my music at open mic nights, editing videos for my YouTube channel, cooking, or creating travel content.

Last updated: June 21, 2026

Your Guide to Athens: Is It Worth Visiting?