Example itinerary
3 days in Athens for two on about €690
A worked example of what Wayfare produces: three days in Athens for two travellers, ancient sites in the mornings, neighbourhood food in the evenings, everything walkable or one metro stop apart.
First-time visitors who want the classical sites without spending all day queueing.
Where to sleep
A mid-range hotel in Koukaki or Monastiraki — Both put the Acropolis within a 15-minute walk and sit on the metro line from the airport. Budget around €95 per night for two.
Day by day
Day 1 — The Acropolis and the old town
~€165- Morning.
- Enter the Acropolis at opening time, before the heat and the tour groups. Allow two hours for the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the view over the city.
- Afternoon.
- Lunch in Plaka, then the Acropolis Museum, which puts the marbles you just saw into context.
- Evening.
- Dinner in Monastiraki with a rooftop view of the lit Acropolis. Book the table a day ahead.
Day 2 — Markets, museums and Exarchia
~€130- Morning.
- Varvakios central market for the atmosphere, then a coffee stop on Athinas Street.
- Afternoon.
- The National Archaeological Museum — the single richest collection in the country. Two hours is enough for the highlights.
- Evening.
- Meze and wine around Exarchia or Kolonaki, where prices drop well below the tourist centre.
Day 3 — Coast day
~€140- Morning.
- Tram or bus down to the Athens Riviera at Glyfada or Vouliagmeni for a swim.
- Afternoon.
- Seafood lunch by the water, then a slow walk along the coastal path.
- Evening.
- Back into town for a final dinner in Pangrati, then a walk up Lycabettus for the sunset if your legs allow it.
What it costs
- Accommodation (3 nights)
- €285
- Food and drink
- €210
- Sights and museums
- €120
- Local transport
- €45
- Buffer
- €30
- Total for 2 travellers
- €690
Estimates for 3 nights in Athens, excluding flights. Always confirm live prices and opening hours before you book.
Best time to visit Athens
April to early June and mid-September to October: 20–28°C, open-air sites still comfortable at midday, and hotel rates well below August. July and August hit 35°C+ and the Acropolis closes in the afternoon heat. November to March is cheap, mild and quiet, with shorter site hours.
Getting in from the airport
- Cheapest.
- Metro line 3 from the airport to Syntagma or Monastiraki, €9 per person, about 40 minutes.
- Fastest.
- Taxi to the centre at a fixed €40 by day and €55 at night, roughly 35 minutes without traffic.
Where to stay in Athens
- Koukaki.
- quiet evenings, a 10-minute walk to the Acropolis — around €80–110 a night for two.
- Monastiraki / Psyrri.
- nightlife and markets on your doorstep — around €70–120 a night for two.
- Kolonaki.
- smarter hotels, good restaurants, fewer tourists — around €110–160 a night for two.
Getting around
A 5-day tourist ticket is €8.20 and covers metro, bus and tram (airport excluded). Most of this plan is walkable; you will use the metro two or three times a day at most.
What to skip
- Skip the guided coach tours of the Acropolis — the site is small and the €5 audio guide or a free map does the same job.
- Skip restaurants with photo menus and touts around Plaka; walk five minutes into Koukaki or Petralona for the same food at half the price.
Staying longer?
With 5 days add a day trip to Cape Sounion for the temple at sunset (€25 by bus) and a day on Aegina or Agistri by ferry from Piraeus (about €30 return).
Worth knowing
- A combined ticket covers the Acropolis plus several smaller ancient sites and is worth it if you plan to see two or more.
- The metro from the airport is far cheaper than a taxi and takes about 40 minutes.
- Most archaeological sites close earlier in winter — check the day you go.
Athens questions, answered
- How much does 3 days in Athens cost for two people?
- Around €690 excluding flights: €285 for three nights in a mid-range hotel, €210 on food and drink, €120 on sights and museums, €45 on transport and €30 kept back as a buffer.
- Is 3 days enough for Athens?
- Yes for the classical highlights. Three days covers the Acropolis and its museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the old town and a half day on the coast without rushing.
- When is the best time to visit Athens?
- April to early June and September to October. The heat is manageable, the sites are open longer than in winter and hotel prices sit below the August peak.
- Do you need a car in Athens?
- No. The metro, tram and buses reach everything in this plan, including the airport and the coast, and the historic centre is best walked.
- Can you do Athens on a smaller budget?
- Comfortably. A room in Koukaki outside high season, market lunches and the combined archaeological ticket bring the same three days closer to €450 for two.
- How do I get from the airport into Athens?
- Metro line 3 from the airport to Syntagma or Monastiraki, €9 per person, about 40 minutes. If you would rather not carry bags on public transport: taxi to the centre at a fixed €40 by day and €55 at night, roughly 35 minutes without traffic.
- Is Athens walkable?
- Largely, yes — this plan is built so each day is walkable with at most a couple of short transport hops. A 5-day tourist ticket is €8.20 and covers metro, bus and tram (airport excluded). Most of this plan is walkable; you will use the metro two or three times a day at most.
- Where should I stay in Athens?
- Koukaki for quiet evenings, a 10-minute walk to the Acropolis (€80–110 a night); Monastiraki / Psyrri for nightlife and markets on your doorstep (€70–120 a night); Kolonaki for smarter hotels, good restaurants, fewer tourists (€110–160 a night). This plan budgets €95 a night for two.
Working to a fixed budget? Read our step-by-step guide to planning a trip on a budget.
Thinking about another city?
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