Athens tours and tickets
Athens sells its main sight by timed slot, and the Acropolis is the one to book first in season, because midday queues are long and hot. The museums and the Agora need little notice. Sounion and Delphi are easy day trips by bus or with a guide. Most other things, from Plaka walks to the Lycabettus funicular, can wait until you arrive.
Book these first
- Acropolis timed ticket
- a week or more ahead in season. Entry is limited per hour, and queues at midday are long and hot.
- A rooftop table with an Acropolis view
- a few days ahead. The best terraces fill at sunset.
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Monuments and landmarks
The Acropolis and the Parthenon
The ancient citadel above the city, entered through the Propylaia. Entry is by timed slot, and guided tours of about two hours explain the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the theater on the slope. A combined ticket covers other ancient sites.
Which to pick. Book the first slot of the morning to beat the heat and the coaches. Take a guide if you want the history explained, since the site has few signs.
A week or more ahead in seasonVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorAncient Agora
The old marketplace below the Acropolis, with the well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus and a museum in the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos. It has more shade than the hilltop and is rarely crowded. Audio guides and walking tours are sold.
Which to pick. Visit in the late afternoon once the Acropolis is done. A ticket at the gate is fine, and a guide adds little unless you love archaeology.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on ViatorMount Lycabettus
The highest hill in the center, with a small chapel at the top and a funicular from Kolonaki. Sunset tours combine the ride with a drink. Walking up takes about 25 minutes on a steep path.
Which to pick. Go up by funicular near sunset and walk down. No ticket needs booking in advance, and a tour only helps if you want a guide for the evening.
On the day is fineTours and tickets on Viator
Museums and galleries
Acropolis Museum
A modern museum at the foot of the hill, with the Parthenon sculptures laid out as they stood on the building. A glass floor shows an excavated neighborhood below. Tickets are timed, and guided tours and audio guides are sold.
Which to pick. Buy the official ticket online for the afternoon, after the Acropolis. A guided visit is worth it if you want the story of the sculptures explained.
A few days aheadVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorNational Archaeological Museum
The largest collection of ancient Greek art in the country, from Mycenaean gold to bronze statues and Cycladic figures. It is large and can overwhelm, so a themed guided visit of two hours helps. Tickets are sold at the door.
Which to pick. Choose a few rooms and buy at the door, or take a guided tour of the highlights if you would rather not plan. Allow at least three hours.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Guided walks and tours
Plaka and Anafiotika walk
Small-group walks through the old quarter below the Acropolis, with its stepped lanes and the island-style houses of Anafiotika. They usually last two to three hours and often finish with a taste of local food.
Which to pick. Book a morning walk for the cooler air and the quieter lanes. You can also wander alone, so a guide is for the stories, not for finding the way.
A day or two aheadTours and tickets on ViatorChanging of the guard at Syntagma
The Evzones change guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every hour. The full ceremony runs on Sundays at 11am. It is free, and some walking tours include it as a stop.
Which to pick. Watch it free on your own, and arrive ten minutes early for a view. Only join a tour if you want the uniforms and the history explained.
Not needed, it is freeTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Cape Sounion
The Temple of Poseidon sits on a cliff above the sea, about 90 minutes from the center by bus. Sunset trips are the most popular. Entry is by ticket, and the site has little shade.
Which to pick. Go for sunset on a weekday and book a tour if you do not want to rely on the bus back after dark. Bring a layer, since the wind rises.
A few days ahead in summerTours and tickets on ViatorDelphi
The ancient sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, about two and a half hours by road, with a museum beside the site. It is a long day, and guided coach trips handle the driving and often add a mountain village.
Which to pick. Take a guided trip if you do not have a car, because the public bus is slow and timed awkwardly. Start early and wear solid shoes.
A week ahead in summerTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Athens
- Combined archaeological ticketA multi-site ticket that covers the Acropolis and several other ancient sites in the center, including the Ancient Agora, over a limited number of days. It pays off if you plan three or more sites. It does not include the Acropolis Museum. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Athens
Are there free days in Athens?
Many state sites and museums are free on certain days, usually the first Sunday of the month in winter and a few public holidays. Queues on those days are long, so check the rules before you rely on them.
What is the best time of day for the Acropolis?
Right at opening. The marble is cooler, the light is soft and the tour groups have not arrived. Late afternoon is the second best, once the heat drops.
Is a guided tour worth it in Athens?
For the Acropolis, often yes, since the site has little signage. For the museums an audio guide is enough. For Plaka and Anafiotika you can walk on your own and still enjoy it.
Can I buy tickets at the gate?
At most sites, yes, outside the peak months. The Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum are the ones where a ticket bought ahead saves time in summer.
Is the combined ticket worth buying?
Yes, if you will see the Acropolis plus two or three other ancient sites within the validity period. If you only want the Acropolis, a single ticket is simpler.
What can wait until I arrive?
The Agora, Lycabettus, the Syntagma guard, a Plaka walk and the National Archaeological Museum can all be arranged a day ahead. Book the Acropolis slot first, then a Sounion or Delphi trip.