Must-Do in Athens 2026: A Local's Guide

By Dave Briggs · Published 2020-11-05 · Last updated 2026-07-18

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See Athens like a local with this guide to traditional and unusual things to do in Athens Greece.

Here's my local's choice of things you must do in Athens. Includes areas to visit, things to see in Athens, and what to experience.

See and Do in Athens, Greece

Athens is a fantastic city, and overflowing with ancient sites, museums, and historic landmarks. Living here over a decade, and am extremely fortunate to have spent a great deal of time exploring Athens.

In this travel guide to Athens, I want to share with you some of the essential things to do and places of interest in Athens you should experience for yourself.

These suggestions come from realizing that visitors to Athens might have limited time, and may only be in the city once in their lives. If you're interest in finding out about other things around the country, take a look at my guide to what you must see in Greece.

Whether you are visiting Athens for just a few days, or are spending longer, here's some things you must do in Athens while there.

Must See In Athens, Greece

Acropolis Guided Tour No visit to Athens is complete without going to the Acropolis! This magnificent UNESCO World heritage site dominates the historic center of Athens, as it has done for thousands of years. Of course, you can just as easily visit the Acropolis yourself, and you can see the main highlights such as the Parthenon and admire those great views over the city. With a guide though, your Acropolis experience is more complete, and you'll get a better understanding of Ancient Athens and its importance to the Western World.Top 5 Museums in Athens Athens has over 100 museums and art galleries, so it was no easy task narrowing the field down to just the top 5 museums in Athens. Even if you are visiting Athens for 2 days, you should have time enough to visit these places. Many people marvel at the Acropolis museum, but personally I love the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It's a big place though, and you can spend hours in here if you're into that sort of thing!Delphi Day Trip From AthensIf there's one day trip I'd recommend you take from Athens, it's the trip to Delphi. The Ancient Greek considered Delphi to be the center of the world, and its setting is simply sublime. Delphi is a difficult place to visit by yourself on a day trip from Athens, so I'd suggest an organized tour. They offer fantastic value for money, and you learn a lot as the guide shows you around one of the most important UNESCO sites in Greece. Allow a full day when planning to visit Delphi from Athens.Best Neighborhoods in Athens for Urban ExplorersIf you've seen the ancient sites before, and want to check out the more contemporary side of Athens, you need to read this guide. I've listed the best neighborhoods in Athens that might interest visitors to Greece, including areas with cool cafes, street art, and even upscale shopping. Put on a pair of comfortable shoes, and get exploring Athens like a local!Athens 3 Day ItineraryIf you're visiting Athens for 3 days and want a done for you itinerary, this guide is for your. I've laid out a step by step approach to fully experiencing Athens over 3 days, and you can slot in and out extra activities and interests as you see fit. Three days in Athens is about the ideal amount of time to properly see the must do highlights of the city. This travel itinerary is a great place to start building your own city sightseeing plan!Do Athens by BikeI've always felt that a bike tour is the perfect way to orientate yourself in a new city you plan to spend time in. It gives you a chance to get your bearings, spot places you want to return to later, and get some inside knowledge from a local guide. On this Athens bike tour, you'll get to see the historic center of Athens from two wheel in the company of a fun guide who helps really make things come to life. A highly recommended activity you must do in Athens!Festivals in AthensWhen you've got some dates planned for your trip to Athens, why not see if there is a festival or event happening when you are in town? In this guide to what's going on in Athens, I describe the main festivals and events that take place in the city throughout the year. If you're visiting Athens in the summer, be sure to keep an eye out for the Athens and Epidaurus festival - you might get the chance to see some cool acts in ancient theatres around Athens!Buildings and Landmarks in AthensObviously you know about the Acropolis and Parthenon. You may have heard of the Temple of the Olympian Zeus. But what about the other important landmarks in Athens? Find out which places you should visit in Athens in this guide to unique buildings and historic attractions.Ancient Agora In AthensThe Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora of Athens is one of the best preserved temples from ancient Greece surviving today. Nestled underneath the Acropolis, the Agora is a must visit when in Athens. There's also a really nice museum in the Ancient Agora which does a very good job of explaining Greek history in an easy to follow way that doesn't quite blow your mind! Allow a couple of hours for visiting the Agora in Athens.Birthplace of the Modern Olympic GamesThe Panathenaic Stadium in Athens was originally built back in the 4th century BC. Restored in 1895, it is one of the most impressive monuments in Athens. After its reconstruction, the Panathenaic Stadium hosted the first ever Modern Olympics in 1896. It was due to the success of this Modern Olympics, that the tradition of holding the games has continued ever since then. If you're a fan of the Olympics or are interested in sports, a visit to the stadium is a great idea. There's also a very interesting little museum with lots of memorabilia from different Olympic Games over the years.See the Changing of the Guard in AthensThe Changing of the Guard ceremony take place at the Presidential Mansion and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier opposite Syntagma Square. It is one of the more unusual and symbolic guard changing ceremonies in the world, and something you should definitely see when in Athens. The Changing the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier takes place on the hour every hour. If you can though, try to schedule 11.00 am on a Sunday morning when the ceremony is a huge affair involving dozens of the special Evzone guards!Explore Alternative AthensAthens is a kaleidoscope city, where ancient ruins mix with modern sprawl. Perfect for urban explorers. This guide shows you how to dive into alternative Athens and what to look for. Street art, musicians hangouts, anarchist corners - Athens has it all. If this sounds like your ideal must do in Athens type thing, check the guide out for more details!Hellenic Motor Museum in AthensIf you prefer classic cars to ancient landmarks, then it might be worth dropping by the Hellenic Motor Museum. There's some very nice cars on display inside a uniquely designed building. This museum is a good back-up option if you are visiting Athens with kids and they are getting bored of rocks and stones!Landmarks of Athens - Monuments and Ruins A guide to the most significant and famous landmarks of Athens. Sure, you've heard about the Acropolis, but what about the Trilogy or the site of Vravrona? I thought not! This guide to the best Athens landmarks lists 10 of the best, with two bonus monuments just on the outskirts of Athens you might also want to visit.Eat the Best Food in AthensAnd finally, you must try the food when visiting Athens! The events of 2020 have meant that I've not been able to update this places to eat in Athens post as much as I'd like, but it should give you a good indication of where to enjoy a good meal when in Athens.

Athens things to see and do

Prefer to see the city with a tour guide? These guided tours in Athens are perfect for making the best use of your time, and getting insights into this remarkable city.

Related: What is Athens famous for?

Main Historical Sites in Athens

If you've never been to Athens before, you'll definitely want to see the main archaeological sites in the city center. These are:

• The Acropolis Hill and Acropolis complex including Parthenon more
• The Ancient Agora
• Temple of Olympian Zeus
• Roman Agora
• Hadrian's Gate
• Hadrian's Library
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Best Museums in Athens

As you might expect from such an historic city, Athens has some world class museums you can visit. These include:

• The Acropolis Museum
• The National Archaeological Museum
• Benaki Museum

Dave Briggs
Dave is a UK travel writer living in Athens since 2015. With 20 years of firsthand travel experience and over 80,000 km of bicycle touring across six continents, he's been blogging at Dave's Travel Pages since 2005. Every guide is based on places he's actually been.

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