If you are traveling to Greece you are more than likely going to fly into the Athens Airport. So in this post we’re answering the question, how long should I stay in Athens, Greece before going to the islands.
While there’s a sense of urgency to get to the beautiful islands, the city of Athens has plenty to offer visitors so make sure to carve out time to explore before leaving! We arrived in Athens on a Friday morning and spent the next 3 days exploring the capital city before jumping on a ferry.
Getting to and from the Airport
The airport is actually quite far from the downtown area of Athens. So you have a couple options to get to wherever you’re staying. You can take a taxi which is actually quite expensive. Depending on the time of day it will cost you anywhere from 35-55 Euros.
The Athens Airport Bus is the cheapest option and is very easy to use! They run 24/7 every day of the week which makes it really easy to catch. The stop is right outside the arrivals gate and theres a ticket office right there to buy your tickets. The X95 bus goes from the airport to downtown (Santagma Square) and the X96 bus goes from the airport to Pireaus, which is the port area. The best part is that it costs 6 Euros per person so it is so much cheaper than taking a taxi!
Day 1: Arrive & Explore Monastiraki
- Walk around the surrounding area and grab your first greek salad or gyro!
- Monastiraki Square, located in the Monastraki neighborhood, is a good spot to start if you’re interested in wandering around and getting lost! There are always people hanging out as well as many shops and restaurants.
We stayed in the Monastiraki area of Athens and really enjoyed it because it was so close to the sites we knew we wanted to see. We’ve also stayed in Plaka and most recently Pireaus so you definitely have plenty of options depending on your plans.
Read our Post Where to Stay in Athens, Greece for information about the different neighborhoods!
Day 2: See the Sites!
- From the Monastiraki neighborhood it’s about a 25 minute walk to the Acropolis. It’s important to note the Acropolis refers to the entire hill while the Parthenon refers to the famous temple at the top.
- It was a little tricky to find the entrance to the Acropolis using our phones so beware if you are using your maps app. Make sure you go to the public entrance where you can purchase tickets and enter as the rest is gated off.
- In total we spent about 2 1/2 hours at the Acropolis.
- It took us about 45 minutes to walk up the top (with a few stops along the way) and about 30 minutes to walk down.
- At the top we spent just over an hour exploring the ruins. We could have spent longer but it was so hot and there was almost no shade! In the busy summer months definitely prepare for it to be crowded.
- Nearby is also the Panathenaic Stadium as well as other ruins that are easy to visit all in the same afternoon
- Consider visiting the Acropolis Museum. It is a 15 minute walk from the Acropolis. We visited on a very hot day (over 110 degrees F) and this was a great way to cool down inside. For 5 Euros a person it was worth it to get out of the sun and see more of the history.
- A 5 minute walk from the Acropolis Museum is also the Temple of Zeus.
Travel Truth: Most of the historical sites offer reduced admission for students, including students based in the US! Make sure to bring your student ID when visiting the sites. We saved 50% on our entrance fees!
Day 3:
- Grab a gyro before leaving Athens! A gyro is a pita with meat (you can choose but we always get pork), onions, tzatziki sauce and tomatoes. It is delicious and probably our favorite Greek food!
- Across from Pireaus gate 9 is Oraion, our favorite gyro place! It costs under 3 Euros each and if you’re rushing to a ferry you can grab it to take away.
- Ferries to the islands arrive to Piraeus which is about 15 km southwest from Monastiraki.
- You can take a taxi or you can opt for the cheaper route and take the metro.
- The duration of the ferry ride depends largely on what island you are going to and how many stops the ferry makes along the way. You can choose a high speed ferry that will cost you more or a slower ferry which takes longer but has lower ticket prices.
Travel Truth: Ferry tickets are very easy to buy both online as well as within Athens so it’s really not necessary to book them too far in advance. If you book at a travel agency (you will many around the Monastiraki area) they will print out the tickets for you. If you book them online make sure to read the directions at the bottom of your booking. Most times you have to go to the office beforehand to check in and get your tickets.
- If you have extra time before your ferry, definitely check out the Pireaus area! We found so many cafes and places to eat. You’ll see many locals drinking espresso freddo (basically iced coffee) and it just feels very authentic!
You might be thinking, was 3 days a good amount of time?
Athens has so much history and if it’s your first time visiting, you’ll be drawn to visit all the historical sites while you’re there. We thought 3 days was the perfect amount of time. This let us rest from the long flight, visit the main sites and get a feel for the city before leaving for the islands.
