48 HOURS IN ATHENS ITINERARY (1 FULL DAY): TOP HIGHLIGHTS FOR FIRST TIMERS!

WONDERING WHERE TO START WITH JUST 48 HOURS IN ATHENS GREECE?

This Summer we had not one, but TWO Greek weddings, exactly a week apart. My best friends in Santorini, Liam’s good friend in Kefalonia – what are the odds?

When planning, it became obvious we’d need to do a short stop in Athens. We arrived early afternoon Monday and left Wednesday morning. Effectively, 48 hours in Athens with 1 full day on the Tuesday.

It goes without saying, you won’t see everything in Athens in just 1 full day. But can you still experience and see A LOT in this short amount of time? Absolutely!

Our now “fine tuned” top highlights itinerary below is perfect for first-timers with a spare few days, whether filling a long layover or just on a weekend getaway to Athens.

From the infamous Acropolis, charming old neighbourhoods, quirky corners and hidden gems – we’ve got you! Let’s go 👇🏼

Planning your trip to Athens?
Start here:

Skyscanner ↗ to find the best flights to Athens Int. Airport (ATH).
Booking.com ↗ to browse the best places to stay in Athens.
We loved our Acro Urban Suites apartment, 9 minutes from the Acropolis.

🎟️ Viator.com ↗ to book unforgettable tours, from Acropolis to day cruises.
🛡️ Staysure ↗ for easy, reliable travel insurance (UK travellers only).

OUR 48 HOURS IN ATHENS ITINERARY:

DAY 1 (HALF): ARRIVAL & THE ACROPOLIS

ARRIVE INTO ATHENS AIRPORT
The best way to get to Athens is by flying directly into Athens International Airport (ATH). Find your ideal flights on Skyscanner ↗.

TAKE A PRIVATE TRANSFER
Avoid stressing over taxis or figuring out the 1+ hour Metro journey to the city by pre-booking a private transfer.

We did it to guarantee a baby car seat – what a seamless and stress-free experience it was! Our smiling driver was ready and waiting for us, name card in hand. Reasonably priced too at approx. £30 GBP, considering the 50 minute drive time.

Top Tip: You can ask them to take the toll road instead (an additional €1.80, or they may even include this in their pricing). Taking the toll shortens travel time down from 50 to 35 minutes.

ATHENS ACCOMMODATION
Get yourself settled and have a cuppa / coffee break at your Athens accommodation before heading out again this evening.

We stayed in a serviced “Apartment with Balcony” at Acro Urban Suites, a cool and quirky home-from-home just a 9 minute walk from the Acropolis. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful too. Highly recommend a stay here!

Did we mention it has a 5F rooftop terrace with Acropolis views?

Here’s a few pics from our stay:

Pictured: The cool and quirky serviced apartment we stayed in during our Athens in 1 day itinerary at Acro Urban Suites, just a 9 minute walk away from the Acropolis! — Pictured: Our quirky “Apartment with Balcony” at **Acro Urban Suites**. Room 102 to be precise! Photograph taken by Jordie.

Pictured: The stunning views of the Acropolis you can see from the 5F rooftop terrace at Acro Urban Suites, the best places to stay in Athens! — Pictured: The 5F rooftop terrace with Acropolis views at **Acro Urban Suites**. Photograph taken by Jordie.

VISIT THE ACROPOLIS
Dedicate this evening to Athen’s star of the show – the Acropolis – arguably Europe’s most famous historical landmark!

1000% pre-book your ticket online to avoid long queues. There is still a “pre-brought tickets queue” – but it’s much smaller!!

The walk up to the Acropolis is surprisingly really nice too. I was expecting a march up a barren hill (don’t know why). Instead it’s a series of immaculate, tree-lined pathways all the way up.

For anyone who needs it – go this way instead to avoid the steps, perfect for prams or wheelchairs.

Pictured: The immaculate and scenic pathway walk up to the Acropolis main entrance. Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: The immaculate pathway walk up to the Acropolis main entrance. How nice is this? Photograph taken by Jordie.

For an affordable no-fuss entrance ticket, book this ‘Acropolis & Parthenon Tickets with Audio Guide‘ direct through Headout, the Acropolis main website.

Going through the entrance gates, you’ll see the Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre below on your right-hand side. You can’t get to it, but it’s a great vantage point where you can basically see everything anyway. Plus stunning city views:

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre, as seen on your short ascent up to the Acropolis during your 48 hours in Athens! Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: The Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre and city beyond, seen on the short ascent up to the Acropolis! Photograph taken by Jordie.

Schedule your Acropolis visit for the latest 7-8pm slot (or sunset if not in Summer). The tourist coaches have gone so it’s slightly less busy, a comfortable walking temperature and you’ll be treated to stunning soft lighting in your photos, like this:

During your 48 hours in Athens, book the later 7 to 8pm time slot visiting the Acropolis to get gorgeous sunset glows in your photos, just like this! Photograph taken by Jordie. — Photograph taken by Jordie. Can you believe there’s literally no filter on this??

Spend the allocated hour admiring this ancient, colossal site. The detailing on the Parthenon’s marble (the main hilltop building you see), totally blew us away!!

Pictured: Jordie Liam and little man posing atop the Acropolis in Athens, an unmissable popular hotspot on this 48 hours in Athens Greece itinerary! — Pictured: A cheeky family selfie atop the Acropolis (somehow managing to crop the hoards of people out!) Photograph taken by a very kind passer-by.

SUNSET AT AREOPAGUS HILL
Sunset views don’t get better than atop Areopagus Hill! After exiting the Acropolis, walk right and you’ll be led to it in minutes. You don’t need a ticket or anything, it’s free to do anytime.

Thankfully, a secure metal staircase is fitted to this large rocky hill, allowing safe access to the top. Sit yourself down on a free spot for sunset / panoramic views like this:

Pictured: Grab yourself a spot on Areopagus Hill for sunset, a popular thing to do in Athens for both locals and visitors. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Pictured: The secure metal staircase allowing safe access to the top of Areopagus Hill.

Holdddd your horses! Don’t leave straight after sunset – Wait for it to go dark so you can see the Acropolis all lit up like this:

A view of the Acropolis lit up at night from atop Areopagus Hill - one of the most incredible sights we saw during our 48 hours in Athens! Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: Stay on Areopagus Hill for a little while longer to see the Acropolis all lit up from its epic vantage point. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Or if you didn’t want to hang around now, you could even divert back this way after dinner or something. It looks great in photos, but EVEN MORE impressive in real life. Definitely don’t miss it!

DAY 2 (FULL): ACROPOLIS MUSEUM, ANAFIOTIKA, MONASTIRAKI & PLAKA

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
Historical heads on this morning for the Acropolis Museum, the perfect ‘on-route’ stop off before we explore all of Athen’s quirky neighbourhoods a bit later on.

(If staying at Acro Urban Suites, it’s only a 8 minute walk away)

Arrive for opening (9am). Still pre-book your tickets online here to skip any unexpected lines (can’t trust those coach trips)!!

Pictured: The incredible open excavation site directly outside the Acropolis Museum, as part of our 48 hours in Athens itinerary! Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: The open excavation site directly outside the Acropolis Museum, as part of our 48 hours in Athens itinerary! Photograph taken by Jordie.

Spanning across 4 core levels, the Acropolis Museum showcases all manner of findings from past Acropolis excavations, from colossal marble pieces to smaller collections of stunning artefacts, pottery and sculptures.

You don’t need to be a history buff to truly appreciate the depth of history showcased here. We’d say 1 to 1.5 hours is a great amount of time to look round.

Pictured: Showcased artefacts inside the Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece. — Pictured: Wandering the super modern Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Top Tip: If you have a young child / buggy, you will instantly be given queue priority. We stupidly didn’t pre-book, but before we could join the back of the queue we were already being ushered inside to the front of the ticket desk. Little man was our VIP ticket!

The attentiveness to families was something we appreciated SO MUCH about Athens, and Greece as a whole.

ANAFIOTIKA NEIGHBOURHOOD
Warning: Hidden gem alert! Walk just 9 minutes to idyllic Anafiotika: a secret neighbourhood snuggled in the foothill of the Acropolis. This tiny village-in-a-village features beautifully uneven white-washed houses, bright window shutters, friendly cats, colourful exterior planting and nearby quirky street art.

Spend just 15-20 minutes getting lost down its narrow streets.

Pictured: Beautiful white washed houses in Anafiotika, a tiny village in Athens. This was one of our favourite hidden gems we saw during our 48 hours in athens! — Pictured: The beautiful white washed houses in Anafiotika, a tiny neighbourhood snuggled at the base of the Acropolis Hill. Can you spot the snoozing cat? Photograph taken by Jordie.

What we loved the most? Its delightful frozen-in-time allure is completely authentic. To this day it’s still a peaceful place of residency, not a tourist attraction. Remember to remain respectful and stick to public pathways – these are real homes!

Top Tip: At Anafiotika, there are no street signs to say you’re in the right place. Follow Google Maps to this point – you’ll see this building:

48-hours-in-athens-greece — Follow Google Maps **to this point** to see this building. Take the uphill path on the left to enter Anafiotika.

Take the uphill path on the left to enter Anafiotika!

MONASTIRAKI DISTRICT
From Anafiotika, walk 10 minutes this exact way to the neighbouring Monastiraki District’s main square. This way takes you pass street art and the Gate of Athena Archegetis on route.

Pictured: Up close to the Gate of Athena Archegetis, a few minutes away from Monastiraki Square. Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: Up close to the Gate of Athena Archegetis. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Pictured: Walking past the Gate of Athena Archegetis, a few minutes away from Monastiraki Square. Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: Walking past the Gate of Athena Archegetis, a few minutes away from Monastiraki Square.

Translating quite literally as “Little Monastery”, Monastiraki is one of Athens oldest and quintessential neighbourhoods, hosting an eclectic mix of rooftop bars, ancient ruins, antique stalls, flea markets and cafes.

Start at Monastiraki Square, the beating heart of the district. Everything stems off this lively plaza, making it perfect to venture to first to get your bearings.

Right off the square you’ll see signs for its infamous Flea Market. A straight pathway packed with both modern and vintage stores either side. And plenty of gift shops *standard*.

Pictured: Liam and our snoozing son wandering down the Flea Market path in Monastiraki. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Monastiraki Flea Market is a long alfresco corridor packed with both modern and vintage stores either side. — Pictured: Monastiraki’s alfresco Flea Market has a mix of modern and vintage stores. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Reaching the flea market’s end, veer right down curious walkways towards the tiny Abyssinia Square. It’s bursting with antiques, from furniture, books, coins. Anything you can think of, it’s a real-life Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders style treasure trove!

This nearby pathway here is also full of quirky, retro style shops.

Pictured: Peek inside the tiny shops on Abyssinia Square for Aladdin's Cave of Wonders style antiques! We loved stumbling across this spot on our 48 hours in Athens. Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: Peek inside the tiny shops on Abyssinia Square for Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders style antiques! Photograph taken by Jordie.

Top Tip: One thing we didn’t know about before arriving (which we wish we did!) is Monastiraki Square has many fab rooftop bars. 360 Cocktail Bar in particular is a firm favourite for its panoramic square and city views.

PLAKA DISTRICT
Plaka District is the metaphorical “cherry on top” of a perfect 1 full day in Athens! Just a short walking distance from Monastiraki, Plaka is the city’s oldest and arguably most beautiful neighbourhood.

Google “Plaka”— we’ll bet good money the first photo you see is a quaint street with bright pink draping bougainvillea flowers overhead. This photogenic spot is directly outside the classically luxe Melina Mercouri Café. Head here first, it’s a 6 minute walk from Monastiraki Square.

Pictured: Sitting alfresco at charming Melina Mercouri Café with a lovely view of the draping pink bougainvillea. Photograph taken by Jordie. — Pictured: Sitting alfresco at charming **Melina Mercouri Café** with a lovely view of the draping pink bougainvillea. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Jordie under Plaka's iconic draping pink flowers, directly opposite the MeVida restaurant in Athens, Greece. — Jordie couldn’t help but get a quick snap!

It’s the perfect place to pause for lunch, or just have a drink. Be warned – their alcoholic drinks are very strong!! The Pina Colada almost knocked my socks off! 🤪

Pop your phone away and allow yourself to just get lost exploring all Plaka’s charming nooks and crannies. It’s not a massive neighbourhood, but packed with cute corners, architectural delights and a charismatic atmosphere wherever you go.

Walking through Plaka District in Athens, Greece. White alfresco tables down a cute narrow street. — Get wonderfully lost down Plaka’s streets. Photograph taken by Jordie.

As the sun goes down, you must swing by Plaka Stairs (“Las escaleras de Mnisikleous”)— a fully stepped narrow street lined with charming restaurants and bars. Think colourful cushions, pastel chairs, foliage and fairy lights!

Pictured: The beautiful Plaka Stairs by day. Much quieter than the evening! You must experience the electric buzz of Plaka Stairs by night on your 48 hours in Athens! Photograph by Jordie. — Pictured: The beautiful Plaka Stairs by day. Photograph by Jordie.

The evening is when Plaka Stairs truly bursts into life! The once quiet little daytime spot transforms into a lively hub of excitable hustle, bustle, bright colours, charisma, Greek dancing and singing. Try to grab a spot for dinner to stay a bit longer and soak in its excitable buzz!

In places its a tight squeeze with tables and chairs, but it’s all part of the charm!!

Pictured: Plaka Stairs transforms into a lively hub of hustle, bustle, dinner, singing and dancing by night. Swing by to soak in the buzz! Photograph taken by Jordie.

Still not ready to go home? Enjoy an alfresco movie under the Acropolis at Cine Paris – Athen’s oldest open-air cinema!!

CONCLUSION: 48 HOURS IN ATHENS ITINERARY

And there you have it. A perfect blueprint for any first-timer in Athens on a limited 48 hour time frame!

If you really needed to, you could squeeze this itinerary into just 1 full day in Athens too. You’d just need to book the earliest Acropolis tour at 8am instead, and continue the itinerary from there. A jam-packed day, yes, but doable!

If you can though, do try to make it across 48 hours. That extra time lets you enjoy a leisurely pace, instead of racing around trying to tick everything off.

Again we can’t recommend a stay at Acro Urban Suites enough, especially if you’re a young family looking for a literal home-from-home in a well sought after Athens location. Rooms are spacious, clean with everything you need. Plus a cool design. And a rooftop terrace. With Acropolis views…

OK, so home.. but better! 🤣

Anyway! We hope you found this itinerary super helpful. Please do get in touch if you use it, we’d LOVE to know what you think and all about it.

A photo of Jordie, the author of this specific blog post and owner of the wesbite.

This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!

Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com

A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.

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