Athens has been continuously inhabited for more than 3,400 years, and you feel that history underfoot—on marble steps smoothed by centuries, in the shadow of the Parthenon, and along streets where Byzantine chapels meet Art Deco façades. Yet the city is also young and creative: specialty coffee roasters, natural-wine bars, and indie bakeries buzz beneath ancient stones.

Spend three days tracing classical highlights—the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Panathenaic Stadium—then slip into neighborhoods like Plaka, Koukaki, and Psyrri for meze, retsina, and late-night conversation. Markets brim with oregano, olives, and island cheeses; rooftop bars ignite at dusk when the Parthenon lights up honey-gold.

Practical notes: the combined archaeological ticket (about €30) covers multiple sites over five days and is excellent value if you’ll visit the Acropolis plus the Agoras and more. Wear shoes with grip (the marble can be slick), carry water, and time big sights early. For flights to/from Europe, compare prices on Omio; within the city, the metro is efficient and affordable.

Athens

Ancient drama, everyday ease. Athens rewards wanderers with leafy promenades (Dionysiou Areopagitou), secret steps (Anafiotika), and soulful tavernas where recipes haven’t changed in decades. Modern dining—from Greek-Japanese at Nolan to seafood cones at Zisis—keeps tastebuds on their toes.

Top sights span the Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus, Roman Agora and Hadrian’s Library, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, Benaki Museum, and the hilltop sunset perch of Lycabettus. If you have a spare half-day, the Athenian Riviera and Vouliagmeni’s waters are a quick hop away.

• Where to stay: For classic ambiance and easy sightseeing, base near Plaka or Koukaki. For boutiques and galleries, Kolonaki. For nightlife, Psyrri/Monastiraki. Browse stays: Athens on VRBO or Athens on Hotels.com.
• Getting there: Fly into ATH; compare fares on Omio Flights (Europe). From the airport, Metro Line 3 to Syntagma takes ~40 minutes (~€9); the X95 bus is ~55 minutes (~€5.50); taxis are ~€35–40 day fare. Trains and intercity buses in Greece can be checked via Omio Trains and Omio Buses. Ferries to islands depart Piraeus; browse routes on Omio Ferries.
• Coffee + bites: Taf Coffee (precision roasting), Mokka (traditional Greek coffee brewed on hot sand), The Underdog (award-winning espresso and brunch), Yiasemi (stairs-side Plaka breakfasts), Kora Bakery (buttery viennoiserie), Bougatsadiko in Psyrri (flaky bougatsa).

Day 1: Arrival, Plaka & the Acropolis Museum

Morning: Travel to Athens. For flights to/from Europe, compare on Omio—intra-Europe fares often range €60–€150 round-trip if booked early; typical flight times: London ~3h40, Rome ~2h, Paris ~3h10. On arrival at ATH, take Metro Line 3 to Syntagma (~40 minutes) or a taxi (~€35–40 daytime). Drop bags at your hotel or apartment—search options via VRBO or Hotels.com.

Afternoon: Ease in with a Greek coffee at Mokka on Athinas Street—watch the briki pots simmer in hot sand—then stroll to Plaka’s lanes and the whitewashed steps of Anafiotika, a 19th-century island-style enclave built by Cycladic craftsmen. Head to the Acropolis Museum (allow 1.5–2 hours): admire the Caryatids up close and the Parthenon Gallery’s glass box that aligns with the temple above. Tip: buy the combo archaeological ticket if you’ll do the Acropolis and Agoras tomorrow.

Evening: Walk the pedestrian Dionysiou Areopagitou promenade as the Acropolis lights up. Dinner options: To Kati Allo (home-style Greek near the museum—try beef kokkinisto) or Strofi (terrace with Parthenon views; book at sunset). For dessert, Lukumades in central Athens serves airy honey-drenched doughnuts or filled versions with pistachio. Cap the night with a view cocktail at 360 Cocktail Bar or A for Athens, then a digestif at Brettos in Plaka, Athens’ photogenic ouzo distillery lined with rainbow bottles.

Day 2: Acropolis Dawn, Agoras, Syntagma, and Lycabettus Sunset

Morning: Be at the Acropolis right at opening to beat crowds and midday heat. Enter via the south slope to pass the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, then climb to the Parthenon and the Erechtheion’s elegant Caryatids. Wear grippy shoes; marble can be slick. Descend to the Ancient Agora—Greece’s best-preserved classical marketplace—and the Temple of Hephaestus. Coffee-and-brunch reward at The Underdog in Thissio (flat whites, excellent eggs, and soft-baked cookies).

Afternoon: Lunch like a local at Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani: order pastourma, aged graviera, and warm pita; pair with a small carafe of retsina. Alternatively, O Kostas near Syntagma is a legend for simple, perfect souvlaki (get there before 2 pm; they sell out). Continue to Monastiraki Square and its flea market lanes, peek into Hadrian’s Library, then walk to Syntagma for the hourly Changing of the Guard in front of the Parliament. Stroll the National Garden’s shady paths to the all-marble Panathenaic Stadium; step onto the track that hosted the first modern Olympics (entry fee applies, audio guide available). If museums call, choose one: Benaki (Greek culture across eras) or the Museum of Cycladic Art (sleek, serene galleries).

Evening: Ride the Lycabettus funicular up for a wide-open sunset over Athens to the Saronic Gulf (round-trip about €10; arrive 30–45 minutes before golden hour). Dinner ideas: Nolan (Greek-Asian plates—try the soba with smoked eel and dill) or Seychelles in Metaxourgio (creative meze; fried eggs with apaki pork is a favorite; good value, limited reservations). For drinks, The Clumsies regularly ranks among the world’s best bars—seasonal menus, playful techniques—or head to Baba au Rum for rum-focused classics and inventive sours. Wine lovers can slip to Heteroclito for Greek varieties like Assyrtiko and Xinomavro by the glass.

Day 3: Markets, Street Art, and the Athenian Riviera (Departure Day)

Morning: Start at Varvakios Central Market: fishmongers calling, spice stalls perfuming the aisles, and butchers displaying every cut. Grab a sweet-savory bougatsa at a Psyrri bakery or a koulouri sesame ring from a street vendor. Coffee at Taf or a second round at Mokka if you’ve caught the Greek-coffee bug. Art lovers can wander Psyrri and neighboring Metaxourgio for large-scale murals and witty stencils—Athens’ street art is a living gallery.

Afternoon: If the weather’s fine and time allows, ride out to the Athenian Riviera: Flisvos Marina for a breezy promenade or, farther, Lake Vouliagmeni for a sheltered, mineral-rich swim (entry fee; arrive early on weekends). Seafood-lunch alternative in town: Zisis for “fish in a cone” (fried anchovies or calamari with lemon). Quick last bites before you go: Lefteris o Politis (no-frills bifteki pita) or Thanasis Kebab at Monastiraki (juicy kebab on fluffy pita). For departures, the Metro to ATH is ~40 minutes; taxis ~35–45 minutes depending on traffic—aim to leave central Athens ~3 hours before flight time.

Evening: Flight home. If you’re staying one more night, consider a culture-forward detour to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) for a sunset canal stroll; book ahead if you’re aiming for a celebratory splurge at Delta Restaurant, a destination for modern Greek tasting menus.

Practical Add-ons and Notes

• Tickets: The multi-site archaeological pass (~€30) covers the Acropolis, Ancient and Roman Agoras, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, Temple of Olympian Zeus, and Aristotle’s Lyceum for five days—excellent for this itinerary.
• Transport: Standard 90-minute integrated metro/bus tickets are budget-friendly; the airport ticket is a special fare (~€9). Most sights cluster walkably; rideshares and taxis are plentiful.
• Day trip idea (if extending): Cape Sounion for the Temple of Poseidon at sunset (about 1.5 hours each way). Public buses run regularly; organized tours are common. If adding islands, compare ferries on Omio Ferries from Piraeus.
• Where to book stays: Browse neighborhoods and compare prices on VRBO Athens and Hotels.com Athens.
• Fine dining notes: For special-occasion reservations, consider Delta (SNFCC, multi-course innovation), Varoulko Seaside (Mikrolimano; seafood with a pedigree), or CTC (inventive tasting menus). Book ahead, especially on weekends.

In three days, you’ll trace marble paths from the Parthenon to the Panathenaic Stadium, graze through markets and meze tables, and watch the city glow from a hilltop. Athens blends scholarship with spontaneity—ancient stones by day, spirited tables by night—leaving you plotting your next Greek escape before you’ve even left.