Athens combines antiquity with a genuinely lively modern city, and three days is enough for the Acropolis, its surrounding ancient sites, and a full-day trip to Delphi.
Athens combines antiquity with a genuinely lively modern city, and three days is enough for the Acropolis, its surrounding ancient sites, and a full-day trip to Delphi.
Visit The Parthenon and the Erechtheion on the Acropolis first thing, before the midday heat and cruise-ship crowds arrive. Walk down to the Acropolis Museum, then wander Plaka, Athens' oldest neighborhood, for lunch among its narrow lanes.
Explore the Ancient Agora, the heart of civic life in classical Athens, then browse Monastiraki Square's flea market. Visit the National Archaeological Museum in the afternoon — one of the finest collections of Greek antiquities anywhere. In the evening, climb Mount Lycabettus for sunset views over the whole city.
Delphi, the ancient sanctuary considered the center of the world in Greek mythology, is a scenic day trip through the mountains from Athens. Travelers with less time can substitute Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon for a shorter half-day trip with a dramatic coastal sunset.