Athens—Atenas in Spanish—has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years, a city where marble temples crown the skyline and café culture hums below. The Acropolis and Parthenon still anchor the horizon, yet the city feels youthful: street art splashes Psyrri, galleries energize Metaxourgeio, and world-class bars and bistros keep nights lively.

Beyond the classics, Athens rewards slow exploration. Wander Plaka’s neoclassical lanes and the whitewashed steps of Anafiotika, browse the Central Market (Varvakios Agora) for olives and spices, then pivot to modern Athens at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. Day trips unlock more: a rosy-gold sunset at Cape Sounion’s Temple of Poseidon, and the oracle-haunted slopes of Delphi.

Practical notes: tap water is safe; summers are hot—plan outdoor sites early or late. Book Acropolis timed-entry (prices vary seasonally; from ~€20) or the multi-site pass (~€30). Watch for pickpockets in crowded zones. For flights, compare Omio (within Europe) and Trip.com or Kiwi.com (long-haul). Airport to center: metro (~€9, 40–45 min), taxi (flat ~€40–45), or X95 bus (~€5.50).

Athens (Atenas)

Old-meets-new defines Athens: Doric temples, Byzantine chapels, Ottoman traces, and 21st-century design. Neighborhoods each have a flavor—Koukaki for laid-back cafés near the Acropolis Museum, Kolonaki for galleries and boutiques, Exarchia for boho energy, and Thissio for sunset strolls facing the Acropolis.

Top sights include the Acropolis and its Museum, the Ancient and Roman Agoras, the National Archaeological Museum, Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, and the Panathenaic Stadium. Evenings belong to rooftop views—A for Athens, 360, and Couleur Locale—and cocktail temples like The Clumsies and Baba au Rum.

Where to stay: search central bases (Plaka, Syntagma, Koukaki, Kolonaki, Monastiraki) on VRBO for apartments with balconies, or browse hotels on Hotels.com across all budgets. Aim to be within a 10–15 minute walk of Syntagma or Acropolis metro for effortless sightseeing.

Getting there: compare flights with Omio (Europe), Trip.com, or Kiwi.com. From Piraeus, ferries to Saronic islands can be searched via Omio ferries.

Day 1: Arrival, Syntagma & Plaka Welcome

Morning: Fly into Athens International Airport (ATH). If arriving from Europe, check Omio; for long-haul or multi-city, use Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Metro to Syntagma or Monastiraki (~45 min) and check in near Plaka or Koukaki via VRBO or Hotels.com.

Afternoon: Stretch your legs around Syntagma Square and the National Garden. Catch the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (on the hour; full ceremony Sundays 11:00). Wander into Plaka’s lanes; snack on koulouri (sesame bread ring) and try a freddo cappuccino at Foyer Espresso or Kora Bakery.

Evening: Dinner in Koukaki at Mani Mani (creative Peloponnesian dishes like hilopites with country cheese) or at Strofi for classic Greek plates with Acropolis views. Nightcap at A for Athens rooftop: the Parthenon glows golden—your first postcard moment.

Day 2: Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Anafiotika

Morning: Beat the crowds at the Acropolis (reserve a timed slot; from ~€20). Enter via the Dionysiou Areopagitou promenade, then linger at the Parthenon, Erechtheion’s Caryatids, and the Theater of Dionysus. Coffee after at The Underdog (Thissio), a specialty roaster with airy vibes.

Afternoon: The Acropolis Museum pairs perfectly post-visit—don’t miss the Parthenon Gallery and archaic korai. Lunch nearby at Arcadia (well-executed classics) or To Kati Allo (homey stews). Explore Anafiotika’s Cycladic-style lanes—masons from Anafi built these in the 1800s, bringing island DNA to the city.

Evening: Walk to Lycabettus Hill for sunset (funicular from Kolonaki or hike ~20–30 min). Dinner at Nolan—chef Sotiris Kontizas fuses Greek and Asian influences; try the soba with smoked eel or the famous cod burger. Finish at The Clumsies, consistently ranked among the world’s best cocktail bars.

Day 3: Ancient Agora, Monastiraki Market, Central Food Hall

Morning: Coffee at Taf (benchmark Greek roaster), then dive into the Ancient Agora—where democracy first stirred. See the elegant Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attalos museum. Pop into the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds.

Afternoon: Monastiraki Flea Market rewards patient browsers (vintage books, brassware). For lunch, go to Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani for cured meats, pastirma, and meze, or Miran for old-school charcuterie boards. Stroll the Central Municipal Market (Varvakios) for a sensory blast of fish counters, spice stalls, and cheese mongers.

Evening: For a soulful, old-Athens dinner, try Diporto—an unmarked basement taverna serving whatever’s simmering (bean soup, chickpeas, sardines) with rough country wine. Dessert: loukoumades at Krinos (classic honey-drenched) or at Lukumades (creative fillings). Drinks at Baba au Rum—order a rum-forward signature or a perfectly balanced daiquiri.

Day 4: National Archaeological Museum, Benaki & Kolonaki

Morning: Start at the National Archaeological Museum (allow 2–3 hours): the Mask of Agamemnon, Antikythera mechanism, and Bronze Age masterpieces contextualize everything you’re seeing outside. Brunch/lunch at Atitamos (nearby) for hearty Cretan-influenced plates—dakos, slow-cooked lamb, and herb-bright salads.

Afternoon: Head to Kolonaki for the Benaki Museum (Greek art from antiquity to modern) or the Museum of Cycladic Art (sleek marble idols and rotating contemporary shows). Shop Greek designers and concept stores along Patriarchou Ioakim and Skoufa.

Evening: Start with wine at Oinoscent or Heteroclito (excellent Greek labels by the glass). Dinner at Birdman (yakitori-style grill with Greek ingredients) or at Cookoovaya for polished, seasonal Greek cuisine. Nightcap at 360 Cocktail Bar—acropolis views and well-made signatures.

Day 5: Athens Riviera & Cape Sounion Sunset

Morning: Tram or taxi to the coast. Walk the SNFCC park and canal, then continue to Flisvos Marina for a seafront coffee at Kudu Seaside or a pastry at Paladar. Swim at Kavouri or Vouliagmeni (free coves), or splurge on a beach club if in season.

Afternoon: Late lunch in Vouliagmeni at Ark (modern seafood, sea views) or Garbi (classic fish taverna). Then ride the coastal road or KTEL bus to Cape Sounion (~1.5–2 hours). The Temple of Poseidon turns rose at golden hour—one of Greece’s great sunsets.

Evening: Return to Athens for dinner. Book Varoulko Seaside (Mikrolimano) for refined seafood—lobster pasta, delicate raw plates—or keep it casual with fried calamari and grilled octopus at a harbor taverna. Enjoy a mellow stroll along the marina lights.

Day 6: Delphi Day Trip (Oracle of Apollo)

Morning: Quick breakfast at Ariston (legendary kourou cheese pie) and espresso to-go. Travel to Delphi: self-drive (~2.5 hrs) or take a guided bus tour (10–11 hrs). Independent travelers can compare Greece buses via Omio buses (Athens Liosion KTEL to Delphi ~3 hrs, ~€15–20 each way).

Afternoon: Explore the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, theater, and museum with the famed Charioteer of Delphi. Lunch with a view at To Patriko Mas (rustic dishes and vistas over the olive groves) or Epikouros.

Evening: Return to Athens. For a late, satisfying bite near Monastiraki, try Bairaktaris (gyro and souvlaki platters) or Savvas for rooftop views with your pita. If you have energy, a night stroll along Dionysiou Areopagitou is serene.

Day 7: Stadium, Byzantine Athens, Shopping & Farewell Feast

Morning: Walk the National Garden to the Panathenaic Stadium (rebuilt in marble for the first modern Olympics). Peek into the 11th-century Kapnikarea Church on Ermou Street—stone, frescoes, and candles humming amid the shopping rush. Brunch at Philos Athens (eggs, tartines, beautiful townhouse space) or Ergon House Food Hall for Greek charcuterie, cheeses, and salads.

Afternoon: Choose a favorite museum you missed (Cycladic, Benaki, or Byzantine & Christian Museum), or a street-art wander in Psyrri and Metaxourgeio. Coffee at Dope Roasting Co. (neoclassical café with serious beans) and baklava from Chatzis.

Evening: Finale dinner: Soil (seasonal tasting menu with garden-driven plates), Spondi (fine dining landmark), or Hytra (creative Greek, skyline views). If you want one last panorama, head to Couleur Locale or A for Athens for a final toast to the illuminated Parthenon.

Where to Stay in Athens

• Koukaki/Acropolis: Quiet, walkable to major sites; lots of cafés. Browse apartments on VRBO or hotels on Hotels.com.
• Plaka/Monastiraki: Storybook streets and rooftops; busiest but central.
• Kolonaki: Stylish, great dining and museums; handy for Lycabettus.
• Thissio/Psyrri: Lively nights; pick soundproofed stays.

Getting In, Around, and Out

• Flights: Compare Europe routes on Omio; for non-Europe or multi-city, use Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Airport transfer: Metro Line 3 to Syntagma/Monastiraki (~€9), taxi (~€40–45), X95 bus (~€5.50).
• Day trips: For Delphi buses, check Omio buses (approx. €15–20 each way). For Saronic ferries (Aegina/Hydra/Poros), search Omio ferries (Aegina hydrofoil ~40–70 min, from ~€15–25 each way).

Across a week, you’ll thread together Athens’ headline antiquities, contemporary museums, neighborhoods, and the Attic coastline, with unforgettable food and rooftop sunsets. It’s a city that rewards curiosity—every detour seems to offer a story, a mural, a pastry, or a view worth lingering over.