Itinerary · Two, three or four days · Checked against operators’ own pages
Athens in 2, 3 or 4 Days: Can You Do It for €190? One Plan, Grouped by Area
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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.
Three days: the default plan
Group Athens by hill and district, not by a ranked list. The Acropolis and its museum come first, the Agora and old town second, then a museum and a viewpoint.
- Day 1: the Acropolis at your booked time, the walk down Dionysiou Areopagitou, then the Acropolis Museum.
- Day 2: the Ancient Agora at opening, Monastiraki and its market streets, then Plaka and Anafiotika.
- Day 3: the National Archaeological Museum, then Kolonaki and the Lycabettus funicular; on a Tuesday, start after 1pm.
- Before you fly: book the Acropolis first, then the Agora and both museums once your days are fixed.
- Day order: put the National Archaeological Museum on a Tuesday afternoon and the Acropolis Museum on a Friday evening if you can. Nothing else needs a set weekday.
Day 1: The Acropolis and its museum, about €80
The hill and its museum sit on the south slope, about 300 metres apart and joined by the Dionysiou Areopagitou walkway. Enter the hill at 8am, when it opens, and give the museum the rest of the day.
See or book an Acropolis guided tour
- Ride the metro to Acropolis station and enter the hill at your booked time; last entry is 20 minutes before closing.
- Walk the hill to the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Propylaea, the monuments of Pericles’ building programme.
- Follow the Dionysiou Areopagitou walkway to the museum, which stands about 300 metres southeast of the Parthenon.
- Go up to the top-floor Parthenon Gallery, which looks across to the hill, then see the excavation under the building, which the same ticket covers.
- On a Friday, reverse the day: hill early, museum in the evening, when it stays open until 10pm.
Good to know
- The hill opens at 8am every day and closes between 5pm in winter and 8pm in summer.
- The Acropolis Museum closes at 5pm on Mondays and 10pm on Fridays all year. Other days it closes at 8pm, or 5pm from Tuesday to Thursday in winter.
- The hill ticket sold here cannot be refunded; the museum ticket cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Acropolis, timed-entry ticket with audio | €44.64 | ≈ US$49 |
| Acropolis Museum, entry ticket | €32 | ≈ US$35 |
| Metro, two 90-minute tickets | €2.40 | ≈ US$3 |
| Total | €79.04 | ≈ US$87 |
On your own
Book the timed hill ticket and a museum ticket, then walk the linking path between them.
With a guide
A two-hour small-group tour of up to twelve meets at Acropolis station and continues to the museum, with both entries included.
Day 1 in tickets and metro: about €80.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Day 2: The Agora, Monastiraki and Plaka, about €65
The Ancient Agora, Monastiraki and Plaka all sit at the foot of the hill, so day two is one loop that ends in Plaka. The Agora is the day’s only ticket.
See or book an Athens food tour
- Enter the Ancient Agora at 8am and start at the Temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved temple of the 5th century BC.
- Walk the open site to the Stoa of Attalos, then head for Monastiraki, four minutes on foot from the Agora.
- Follow Adrianou Street, the flea market’s main artery, to Avissinias Square and the market stalls.
- Climb through Plaka, the old town that hugs the base of the hill, to Anafiotika, built by workers from the island of Anafi.
- Finish in Psyrri, which is liveliest at night, once the second-hand shops close.
Good to know
- The Agora opens at 8am daily and closes between 5pm in winter and 8pm in summer; it shuts on the same dates as the hill.
- The Agora ticket sold here covers the site, the Temple of Hephaestus and the museum in the Stoa of Attalos. It cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
- The food tour meets on Athinas Street; its stops change at weekends and in the evening, when the central market is closed.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Agora, entry ticket with museum | €58.07 | ≈ US$64 |
| Metro, two 90-minute tickets | €2.40 | ≈ US$3 |
| Total | €60.47 | ≈ US$67 |
On your own
Book the Agora ticket, then walk Adrianou Street, the market lanes and Plaka; nothing else needs a ticket.
With a guide
A three-hour food tour starts on Athinas Street and covers the central market, Psyrri and tastings.
Day 2 in tickets and metro: about €65.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Day 3: The National Archaeological Museum and Lycabettus, about €45
The National Archaeological Museum sits away from the old centre, so it takes the morning; Kolonaki and Lycabettus are the walk toward evening. On a Tuesday the museum opens at 1pm, so start later.
See or book a Lycabettus guided hike
- Ride the metro to Victoria on line 1 or Omonia on line 2 and walk to the museum on Patission Street.
- See the treasures of the royal tombs of Mycenae, the Cycladic marble figurines and the wall paintings of Thera; the museum holds more than 11,000 exhibits.
- Take the metro to Evangelismos, the station nearest the funicular, and have a late lunch around Kolonaki Square, the district’s café heart.
- Ride the funicular from Aristippou Street to the summit church of Agios Georgios, about three minutes; the trail is the on-foot alternative.
- Stay for the view: on a clear day it stretches to the island of Aegina.
Good to know
- The museum closes at 8pm in summer and 3:30pm in winter, but on Tuesdays it opens at 1pm and closes at 8pm all year.
- The funicular runs every day from 9am to 1:30am, every 30 minutes and as often as every 10 at peak hours; winter service can stop earlier.
- The museum ticket sold here cannot be refunded; the guided hike cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
- No funicular ticket is sold here, so its fare is a fixed price in the table and the guided hike is the bookable Lycabettus option.
| Item | € per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| National Archaeological Museum, entry ticket | €28 | ≈ US$31 |
| Lycabettus funicular, return ticket | €13 | ≈ US$14 |
| Metro, three 90-minute tickets | €3.60 | ≈ US$4 |
| Total | €44.60 | ≈ US$49 |
On your own
Ride the funicular up and down, or climb the trail and save the fare.
With a guide
A 90-minute guided hike climbs on foot in a group of up to six; it needs a high level of fitness.
Day 3 in tickets, funicular and metro: about €45.
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
If you have two days
Keep Day 1 and Day 2 and drop Day 3: the National Archaeological Museum and Lycabettus sit apart from the old centre.
- Day 1: the Acropolis at opening, then the Acropolis Museum, exactly as written.
- Day 2: the Agora at 8am, Monastiraki and Plaka, exactly as written.
- If the National Archaeological Museum matters more than the Agora, swap them; on a Tuesday, do the Agora first and the museum from 1pm.
If you have a fourth day
A fourth day is a list, not a route. Pick one item, or swap it for Day 3 if you would rather trade museums for open air.
Good to know
- The Temple of Olympian Zeus lies seven minutes on foot from Acropolis station; it closes at 3pm from November to March.
- A day trip such as Cape Sounion takes most of a day and replaces a city day; the day-trips guide compares the options.
Facts that shape the trip
Two weekday rules and a shared list of closed dates set the order; the rest of the plan is seasonal hours, not closures.
Good to know
- The hill, the Agora, the Olympian Zeus temple and the National Archaeological Museum close together. The dates are 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Orthodox Easter Sunday, and 25 and 26 December.
- The Acropolis Museum opens on 25 March; it closes on the other dates.
- A 90-minute ticket costs €1.20 and covers metro, bus and tram; the 24-hour ticket costs €4.10, so it pays back from the fourth ride.
- This plan takes seven rides, €8.40 in single tickets; the 5-day ticket costs €8.20 and also covers a fourth day.
| Monday | Tuesday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acropolis | from 8am | from 8am | from 8am |
| Ancient Agora | from 8am | from 8am | from 8am |
| Acropolis Museum | closes 5pm | closes 8pm (5pm in winter) | closes 10pm |
| National Archaeological Museum | opens 8am (8:30am in winter) | opens 1pm | opens 8am (8:30am in winter) |
Book first
The Acropolis carries a set entry time, and the Acropolis and National Archaeological Museum tickets sold here cannot be refunded.
Book last
The Agora and Acropolis Museum tickets sold here cancel free up to 24 hours ahead; Plaka and Monastiraki need no booking.
Attractions & day trips from Athens
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Three-day tickets, funicular and metro | about €190 | – |
| Day 1 tickets and metro | about €80 | Book an Acropolis guided tour |
| Day 2 tickets and metro | about €65 | Book an Athens food tour |
| Day 3 tickets, funicular and metro | about €45 | Book a Lycabettus guided hike |
Prices checked 19 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Explore Athens Before You Book
Take a virtual drive or walk, then find tours and tickets for the places you like.
Where a guided tour earns its money, and where it does not
A guide earns its fee on the Acropolis, where the buildings need explaining, and on a food tour, which also feeds you. Skip one for the linking walks, Plaka and Anafiotika, which cost nothing to enjoy.
Mubboo compares flights and tours and may earn a commission when a traveller uses a partner link. Booking and payment happen with the provider.
Questions people ask
Which weekday should I plan around?
Put the National Archaeological Museum on a Tuesday afternoon, when it opens at 1pm. Put the Acropolis Museum on a Friday evening, when it stays open until 10pm.
Do I need to book the Acropolis in advance?
Yes. Entry is at a set time, and the tickets sold here cannot be refunded, so book once your dates are fixed.
Can I see the Acropolis and its museum on the same day?
Yes, as Day 1 does: the museum is about 300 metres from the Parthenon, and a walkway joins them. On a Friday, take the museum in the evening.
Is a metro day ticket worth it on this plan?
No. Single 90-minute tickets cost less until the fourth ride in a day, and this plan needs two or three. The 5-day ticket suits a four-day stay.
What if I only have two days?
Keep Day 1 and Day 2 and drop the National Archaeological Museum and Lycabettus, or swap the museum for the Agora if you prefer it.
Plan deeper in Athens
Sources (20)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Mubboo reviewed ticket and tour options for Athens (the booking platform destination 496); per-person prices read when the page is built — mubboo.flights/athens/tours (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage (Ministry of Culture and ODAP) — Acropolis of Athens: opening hours, closed dates, metro access — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/acropolis-of-athens/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage Tickets — Acropolis of Athens: timed entry, changes and refunds — tickets.hh.gr/en/venues/acropolis-of-athens-tickets (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage — Ancient Agora of Athens: opening hours, closed dates, location — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/ancient-agora-athens/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage — Temple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion): opening hours and access — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/olympieion/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage — Cape Sounion: distance and access from Athens — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/sounion/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Hellenic Heritage — National Archaeological Museum: address and metro access — www.hh.gr/en/destinations/national-archaeological-museum/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- National Archaeological Museum — Visit: opening hours by season, closed dates — www.namuseum.gr/en/episkepsi/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- National Archaeological Museum — Collections — www.namuseum.gr/en/collections/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- Acropolis Museum — Plan your visit: opening hours by season, closed dates, what a ticket covers — www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/plan-your-visit (checked 2026-09-19)
- Acropolis Museum — The building: location beside Dionysiou Areopagitou and the Parthenon Gallery — www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/museum-building (checked 2026-09-19)
- Lycabettus Hill — Cable car: hours, frequency, fares and station — www.lycabettushill.com/cable-car/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- OASA — Prices of products: 90-minute, daily and 5-day tickets — www.oasa.gr/en/tickets/prices-of-products/ (checked 2026-09-19)
- This is Athens — Plaka and Anafiotika guide — www.thisisathens.org/neighbourhoods/plaka-guide (checked 2026-09-19)
- This is Athens — Monastiraki and Psyrri guide — www.thisisathens.org/neighbourhoods/monastiraki-psirri-guide (checked 2026-09-19)
- This is Athens — Kolonaki and Lycabettus Hill guide — www.thisisathens.org/neighbourhoods/kolonaki-guide (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496) — Acropolis and Museum small-group guided tour — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Acropolis+and+Museum+small-group+guided+tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496) — Athens central market and Psyrri food tour — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Athens+central+market+and+Psyrri+food+tour¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496) — Mount Lycabettus guided hike — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Mount+Lycabettus+guided+hike¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)
- Mubboo Tours search, Athens (the booking platform destination 496) — Lycabettus funicular — mubboo.flights/api/tours/search?destinationId=496&term=Lycabettus+funicular¤cy=USD&mode=keyword&sort=featured (checked 2026-09-19)