Day trips · By ferry, bus or guided tour · Checked against operators’ own pages
Day Trips from Athens: Five Worth the Journey, from €12
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First Time in Athens: From the Acropolis to the Streets
Explore how the Acropolis, its museum, the Ancient Agora, Plaka and modern Athens fit together. Mubboo’s animated guide helps first-time visitors decide what to see in one day, where to slow down and when a second day makes sense.
How to choose
Five trips, from a half day on the coast to a guided day of up to 14 hours. Journey time and winter closing times decide which one fits.
Good to know
- Meteora is not on the chart: its rail link ends in a replacement bus, so there is no single journey time.
- Left off: Ancient Corinth, Kea and Spetses. Each is a stop within a longer trip, not a day worth its own journey.
| Item | Minutes one way |
|---|---|
| Aegina, ferry from Piraeus | 70 |
| Cape Sounion, KTEL bus | 120 |
| Mycenae, by car | 120 |
| Delphi, by road | 150 |
| Option | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Cape Sounion · about 2 hours by KTEL bus | A half day to a clifftop temple, best near sunset. |
| Aegina and the Saronic islands · 1 hour 10 minutes by ferry | The easiest full day, with a swim; a cruise adds Hydra and Poros. |
| Nafplio, Mycenae and Epidaurus · about 2 hours by road | A harbour town and two ancient sites; the buses do not link them in a day. |
| Delphi · about 2.5 hours by road | A mountain sanctuary and museum: the best single day for antiquity. |
| Meteora · a guided coach of 12 to 14 hours | Cliff-top monasteries, workable as a day only with a guide. |
Cape Sounion: a half day, with entry at €20
The Temple of Poseidon stands on a clifftop at the southern tip of Attica, so this trip is about the sea view. It fits a half day, and the site stays open until sunset.
See or book a Cape Sounion tour
- Take a KTEL intercity bus from Aigyptou Square at Pedion tou Areos, about 2 hours, or join a coach tour.
- The site opens at 9:30am and closes at sunset; last admission is 20 minutes earlier.
- Walk the temple first, then look across to the foundations of the Temple of Athena on the opposite hill.
Good to know
- Sites post closure notices at short notice, so keep the day movable.
- A sunset visit means a late return: arrange the way back before you go.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Temple of Poseidon, full-price entry | €20 | ≈ US$22 |
| Temple of Poseidon, reduced entry | €10 | ≈ US$11 |
On your own
Simple by bus, but the coast road takes about two hours each way.
With a guide
Half-day coach tours run afternoons and sunsets; one option includes the temple ticket, others leave it to you.
Entry is €20; a half-day coach tour, entry not included, starts from ≈ US$35.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, one-way fare or full-price site entry as charted, excluding meals, guided tours and accommodation
Aegina and the Saronic islands, ferry from €12
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Aegina is the easiest island day: one ferry from Piraeus, then a temple, a harbour town and a swim. A cruise adds Hydra and Poros in the same day.
See or book a Hydra, Poros and Aegina cruise
- Ride the metro to Piraeus station and walk about five minutes to Gate E8; every Aegina sailing leaves from there.
- Arrive 20 to 40 minutes early: the ferries leave on time, and the crossing takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
- Sailings run almost hourly in summer and less often off season, so fix your return sailing first.
- Visit the Temple of Aphaia, 17 minutes by car from the main port, then the harbour town.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry, Piraeus to Aegina, single | €12 | ≈ US$13 |
| Ferry, Piraeus to Poros, single | €17 | ≈ US$19 |
| Temple of Aphaia, full-price entry | €10 | ≈ US$11 |
On your own
The easiest trip on this page: metro, ferry, then a local bus or taxi.
With a guide
A full-day cruise calls at Hydra, Poros and Aegina with a buffet lunch; time ashore is short.
The ferry to Aegina is €12 each way; a three-island cruise with lunch starts from ≈ US$150.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, one-way fare or full-price site entry as charted, excluding meals, guided tours and accommodation
Nafplio, Mycenae and Epidaurus: coach from €15.70
Nafplio is a harbour town under the Venetian Palamidi fortress, reached by road or 999 steps. Mycenae and Epidaurus lie nearby, but the buses do not link all three in one day.
See or book an Argolid day trip
- Take a KTEL Argolida coach from Kifissos central bus station; about a dozen leave each weekday, from early morning to late evening.
- Get off in Nafplio for the old town. The coach also stops at Fichti, which KTEL Argolida places 3.5 km from Mycenae.
- For Epidaurus, take the one weekday bus from Nafplio at 10:30, returning at 12:30; there is none at weekends.
Good to know
- Mycenae closes at 3:30pm from 1 December to 31 March, and Epidaurus at 5pm from 1 November to 28 February.
- Each site has its own ticket, so seeing both doubles the entry cost.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| KTEL Argolida coach, Athens to Nafplio, single | €15.70 | ≈ US$17 |
| Bus, Nafplio to the Epidaurus theatre, single | €3.50 | ≈ US$4 |
| Mycenae, full-price entry | €20 | ≈ US$22 |
| Epidaurus, full-price entry | €20 | ≈ US$22 |
On your own
Nafplio plus one site is realistic; all three by bus in one day is not.
With a guide
One coach day links the Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Nafplio and the Epidaurus theatre, with lunch; confirm whether entry tickets are included.
The coach to Nafplio is €15.70 each way; a guided coach day with lunch starts from ≈ US$150.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, one-way fare or full-price site entry as charted, excluding meals, guided tours and accommodation
Delphi: the mountain sanctuary, entry €20
Delphi’s Temple of Apollo and its museum fill a full day. The sanctuary climbs a slope of Mount Parnassus along the Sacred Way, and the museum holds the bronze Charioteer.
- Take a Phocis KTEL coach from the Liosion intercity bus station; several leave each day, and the road trip takes about two and a half hours.
- Visit the museum first for the models and the Charioteer, then walk the Sacred Way up to the Temple of Apollo.
Good to know
- One ticket covers the site and the museum. The site closes at 8pm from April to August and at 3:30pm from 1 November to 31 March.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Delphi site and museum, full-price entry | €20 | ≈ US$22 |
| Delphi site and museum, reduced entry | €10 | ≈ US$11 |
On your own
Workable by coach if you leave early; winter hours leave only a few hours on site.
With a guide
Full-day small-group trips add a licensed guide; options with and without site tickets are sold.
Entry is €20; a full-day guided trip, tickets not included, starts from ≈ US$70.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, one-way fare or full-price site entry as charted, excluding meals, guided tours and accommodation
Meteora: a long guided day, or a night away
Meteora’s clifftop monasteries are the trip that suits a day least. The rail link stops short of Kalambaka, so a day trip means a guided coach; on public transport it is an overnight.
See or book a Meteora day trip
- Choose a guided coach from Athens; listed departures run about 12 to 14 hours from start to finish.
- Ask whether the tour goes inside the monasteries or only to viewpoints, and whether entry fees are included.
- To go independently, plan two legs each way: the last stretch of rail is replaced by a bus.
Good to know
- Two-day tours with a hotel night are also sold, and they suit the distance better than one long day.
On your own
Not a day trip: the last rail stretch is a replacement bus, so plan a night in Kalambaka.
With a guide
A shared coach with a local guide covers the monasteries in one very long day.
If you only do one
Delphi, if you have one full day: one ticket covers a sanctuary and a museum, and a direct coach reaches it. Take Aegina instead for a swim, or Cape Sounion with only an afternoon.
Good to know
- In winter Delphi closes at 3:30pm, while Cape Sounion stays open until sunset.
- Book Meteora only as a guided coach; on public transport, treat it as a night away.
Attractions & day trips from Athens
What it costs, and where to book
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per adult, one-way fare or full-price site entry as charted, excluding meals, guided tours and accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Where a guided day tour earns its money, and where it does not
A guide earns its fee where public transport breaks down: Mycenae with Epidaurus, Delphi in winter and Meteora. Sounion and Aegina are easy alone, so only a sunset tour or a multi-island cruise adds anything.
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Questions people ask
Is Meteora a realistic day trip from Athens?
Only on a guided coach, listed at about 12 to 14 hours. By public transport the last rail stretch is a replacement bus, so it suits an overnight stay.
Can I see Mycenae and Epidaurus in one day without a tour?
Not comfortably. The Athens coach stops 3.5 km from Mycenae, and the bus to the Epidaurus theatre runs once on weekdays and never at weekends.
Which day trips are shut on public holidays?
Sounion, Delphi, Mycenae, Epidaurus and the Temple of Aphaia are closed on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday and 25 and 26 December. Sites also announce closures at short notice.
How late can I stay at Delphi in winter?
From 1 November to 31 March the site closes at 3:30pm, with last admission 20 minutes earlier, so take an early coach.
Which bus terminal do I need for Delphi and for Nafplio?
Delphi coaches use the Liosion terminal, which serves central Greece. Nafplio coaches use Kifissos, reached by bus 051 from Omonia Square.
Plan deeper in Athens
Sources (24)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Hellenic Heritage (Ministry of Culture) — Sounion: hours, tickets and directions — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/sounion/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage (Ministry of Culture) — Delphi: hours, tickets and directions — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/delphi/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage (Ministry of Culture) — Mycenae: hours, tickets and directions — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/mycenae/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage (Ministry of Culture) — Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/epidaurus-asclepius-sanctuary/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage (Ministry of Culture) — Temple of Aphaia, Aegina — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/aphaia-temple/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage (Ministry of Culture) — Announcements: visitor information — www.hh.gr/en/announcements/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Saronic Ferries — Piraeus to Aegina: journey time, gate and timetable — www.sf.gr/en/destinations/aegina (checked 2026-09-19)
- Saronic Ferries — Fares: Piraeus to Aegina, Poros and other Saronic ports — www.sf.gr/en/fares (checked 2026-09-19)
- KTEL Argolida — Athens, Isthmos, Fichti (Mikines), Argos, Nafplio: timetable — www.ktelargolida.gr/en/athina-isthmos-fichti-mikines-argos-nafplio/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- KTEL Argolida — Ticket prices — www.ktelargolida.gr/en/ticket-prices/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- KTEL Argolida — Asklipiio (Epidavros Theater): timetable — www.ktelargolida.gr/en/asklipiio-epidavros-theater/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- KTEL Argolida — Connection with the Athens Metro (Eleonas and Kifissos bus station) — www.ktelargolida.gr/en/connection-with-metro/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- KTEL Argolida — Argolida sights: Palamidi, Bourtzi, Epidaurus and Mycenae (Greek text) — www.ktelargolida.gr/en/argolida-sights/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- KTEL Fokidas — Connection with the metro, Piraeus port and airport (Greek): Liosion terminal — www.ktel-fokidas.gr/%cf%83%cf%8d%ce%bd%ce%b4%ce%b5%cf%83%ce%b7-%ce%bc%ce%b5-%cf%84%ce%bf-%ce%bc%ce%b5%cf%84%cf%81%cf%8c-%ce%bb%ce%b9%ce%bc%ce%ac%ce%bd%ce%b9-%cf%80%ce%b5%ce%b9%cf%81%ce%b1%ce%b9%ce%ac-%ce%b1%ce%b5%cf%81/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- KTEL Fokidas — Delphi–Athens–Delphi timetable (Greek) — www.ktel-fokidas.gr/%cf%87%ce%b5%ce%b9%ce%bc%ce%b5%cf%81%ce%b9%ce%bd%ce%ac-%ce%b4%cf%81%ce%bf%ce%bc%ce%bf%ce%bb%cf%8c%ce%b3%ce%b9%ce%b1/delfoi-athina-delfoi/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- This is Athens — Day trip to Delphi — www.thisisathens.org/excursions-day-trips/day-trip-delphi (checked 2026-09-19)
- This is Athens — Onward journeys in Greece: KTEL terminals, trains and ports — www.thisisathens.org/getting-around/public-transport-traveling-greece (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Train — Central Greece Rail Network — www.hellenictrain.gr/en/central-greece-rail-network/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496), term 'Cape Sounion half-day tour' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Cape%20Sounion%20half-day%20tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496), term 'Delphi day trip' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Delphi%20day%20trip¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496), term 'Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio day trip' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Mycenae%2C%20Epidaurus%20and%20Nafplio%20day%20trip¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496), term 'Hydra, Poros and Aegina day cruise' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Hydra%2C%20Poros%20and%20Aegina%20day%20cruise¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496), term 'Meteora day trip' — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Meteora%20day%20trip¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours attractions, Athens (the booking platform destination 496) — mubboo.flights/api/tours/attractions?destinationId=496&language=en (checked 2026-09-19)