Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, a place where marble temples frame rooftop bars and Byzantine chapels hide behind street art. The city has been continuously inhabited for at least 5,000 years, and its golden age in the 5th century BCE gave us the Parthenon, democracy, and drama. Today, the Greek capital fuses antiquity with an energetic urban pulse—ideal for a long weekend.

Food is a headline act here: souvlaki wrapped in warm pita, seafood pulled from the Aegean, and inventive neo-Greek bistros. Coffee culture runs deep—try a freddo espresso in summer or Greek coffee brewed in hot sand. Athens is walkable in the center, but the metro and taxis make getting around effortless.

Practical notes: Summer is hot; go early to outdoor sites and hydrate. The Acropolis uses timed entry in peak months; buy in advance when possible. Metro Line 3 links the airport to Syntagma in ~40 minutes, and tap water is potable. Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas like Monastiraki and buses.

Athens

Welcome to a city where myth meets modern. You’ll base yourself around the historic center—Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki, Koukaki—so you can walk to the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, the Ancient Agora, and a constellation of cafés and tavernas.

• Top sights: Acropolis and Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, National Archaeological Museum, Mount Lycabettus.
• Flavor to chase: Souvlaki at century-old grills, loukoumades (honey-drenched doughnuts), island-style seafood, and natural Greek wines.
• Fun fact: The Panathenaic Stadium is the world’s only marble stadium and hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896.

Where to stay: Base in Koukaki (local vibe near the Acropolis), Plaka (storybook lanes), Syntagma (transport hub), or Kolonaki (stylish cafes and boutiques). Browse stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. Examples locals love: Herodion (Acropolis views, Koukaki), Mona (boutique hideaway, Psyrri), Electra Metropolis (rooftop pool, Syntagma), Niche Hotel (sleek, walkable to sites).

How to get there: Fly into ATH (Athens International Airport). Compare flight options to/from Europe on Omio. Airport to center: Metro Line 3 (~40 min, ~€9), X95 bus to Syntagma (~55–60 min, ~€5.50), or taxi (~35–45 min, ~€38 day/€54 night).

Day 1: Arrival, Acropolis Museum, Plaka at Twilight

Morning: Travel morning; aim to arrive by early afternoon. If you’re in early, fuel up Greek-style: grab a koulouri (sesame bread ring) from a street vendor and a freddo espresso from Taf Coffee (roastery-level brews) or The Underdog (specialty coffee and light brunch) in Thissio.

Afternoon: Check in, then walk to the Acropolis Museum—cool, airy, and perfect for your first taste of classical Athens. Start on the top floor with the Parthenon Gallery to align sculptures with the temple you’ll see tomorrow. For a quick bite, try Arcadia near the museum for grilled meats and moussaka or Bel Rey in nearby Pangrati for casual Mediterranean plates.

Evening: Wander the lantern-lit lanes of Plaka and the whitewashed micro-neighborhood of Anafiotika, built by island craftsmen in the 1800s. Dinner at Mani Mani (Peloponnese-inspired; famed for its crisp-fried cheese pies and slow-cooked pork) or Psaras Taverna (since 1898; terrace tables and classic fish dishes). Nightcap with Acropolis views at A for Athens or 360 Cocktail Bar in Monastiraki—arrive before 9 pm to avoid queues.

Day 2: Acropolis Dawn, Agora, Museums, and Lycabettus Sunset

Morning: Be at the Acropolis gate at opening (typically 8:00 am; earlier in peak season queues form). Wear grippy shoes for slick marble. Consider the combined ticket (~€30) that covers the Acropolis plus the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Kerameikos, and more for five days. After the summit, descend to the Ancient Agora to see the Temple of Hephaestus—Greece’s best-preserved Doric temple.

Afternoon: Lunch in Monastiraki: Kostas (since 1950) serves the city’s cult-classic pork souvlaki with a hit of spicy red pepper, or O Thanasis for juicy beef kebab wraps. Grab dessert at Lukumades (honey doughnuts; try pistachio cream). Coffee break at Mokka for Greek coffee brewed in hot sand or Taf Coffee for single-origin pour-overs. Then head to the National Archaeological Museum to meet the Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism, and staggering Bronze Age sculpture.

Evening: Ride or hike up Mount Lycabettus for golden-hour views over the city to the Saronic Gulf; the funicular typically runs every 30 minutes (allow ~10–15 min from Kolonaki; expect a modest fare, roughly €10 round-trip). Dinner options: Seychelles in Metaxourgio (modern Greek meze; excellent wine list and slow-cooked lamb shank), or Atlantikos in Psyrri (affordable, fresh seafood platters). For cocktails, choose between world-ranked bars: The Clumsies (playful, culinary cocktails) or Baba au Rum (elegant rum temple with Greek botanicals).

Day 3: Stadium, Gardens, and Kolonaki Culture

Morning: Start at the gleaming marble Panathenaic Stadium (you can jog the track if you like) and walk to the nearby Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. Meander through the shaded National Garden toward Syntagma—if it’s Sunday morning, consider the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (on the hour; the full ceremony is typically at 11:00 am on Sundays).

Afternoon: Lunch in the center: Nolan (Greek-Asian bistro; try the cod with hazelnuts or the signature soba with smoked eel) or Ergon House (market-deli hybrids of top Greek products; order the tyrokafteri and grilled octopus). Museum hop in Kolonaki: the Benaki Museum (Greek history across millennia) or the Museum of Cycladic Art (serene, white-on-white galleries with iconic Cycladic figurines). Coffee and a kouign-amann at Kora Bakery or brunchy plates at Philos.

Evening: Last stroll along pedestrian Dionysiou Areopagitou under the Acropolis. Early dinner before departure: Karavitis in Pangrati (grilled meats, village salad, barrel wine) or To Kafeneio in Plaka (classic meze—fava, tomato keftedes, saganaki). If time allows, toast the trip with a glass of Assyrtiko at Heteroclito, a compact wine bar focusing on Greek varietals.

Optional add-ons and logistics:

• Cape Sounion (Temple of Poseidon) at sunset: Allow 4–5 hours round-trip. KTEL buses take ~2 hours each way from central Athens; expect roughly €12–16 return. Great on a bonus day.
• Island day trips: Aegina (pistachios and beaches) or Hydra (no cars, stone mansions). For ferry planning in Europe, check Omio Ferries.
• Getting around Athens: Metro is clean and fast; taxis are affordable—use official ranks or apps. If you’re tacking on European rail travel after Athens, browse Omio Trains or Omio Buses.

Booking pointers: For peak months (May–September), reserve stays early via VRBO or Hotels.com, and choose refundable rates. For flights to or within Europe, compare on Omio.

In three days, you’ll trace 2,500 years of history from the Parthenon’s marbles to contemporary bistros and bars. Athens rewards early mornings and long evenings—pace yourself, graze often, and let the city’s light do the rest.