The Complete Walking Guide to Ancient Athens
Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy, the home of gyros, and the origin place of the Olympic games. As big of a reputation as Athens has, the size of the city is even bigger. There are plenty of guides today that detail the “Top 10” sites that are the most important to see, that you need to arrive to each one right as they open, and that all of Athens should be seen in one day (be present at open for all 10 attractions, but also see them all in one day? How is that even possible?). So, I decided to write a slightly different walking guide to ancient Athens. As great as it is to arrive at a place right when it opens, I know that with limited time off from work, and a desire to see as much as possible during a trip, that the idea of being the first person in the door at every place just isn’t feasible. Instead, I want to offer a guide that will take you through the best plan to see all of ancient Athens on foot, and an itinerary that will make the best use of your time, and will keep you from back tracking. Follow along for a step by step guide on how to see all of the highlights in Athens, and save down the provided Google Maps for use while trekking across the city that started it all!
First things first, you absolutely must, with no exceptions, start your day at the Acropolis. This will easily be the busiest place you visit your entire time in Athens, and it is best to be there at open to avoid all of the tour buses that pull up about an hour to two hours after opening. Tuesday through Sunday in the summer, that means being up and at the gates by 8 am, ticket in hand and one foot on the stairway to the top.
Amazingly, entrance is only 20 euro per person, but I suggest purchasing the combo ticket for 30 euros per person rather than paying for individual entrance fees at each ancient site throughout the day. A combo ticket covers entry to the Acropolis, as well as both the Roman Agora and Ancient Agora, which will be described later. I suggest to arrive at the Acropolis at 7:30am and make use of an amazing spot to take pictures that overlooks all of Athens. To the left of the entrance to the Acropolis, there is what looks like a giant boulder, with a metal staircase that snakes up the backside of the stone. Climb these stairs to stand on top of a giant slab of marble, and get a bird’s eye view of Athens. I remember discovering this spot by accident. I saw the stairs, and being curious, I just wandered away from my husband, and climbed up on top of the rock. As one of the few people bold enough to crawl up on this rock, I was able to get some of my favorite photos at the Acropolis in this spot, all drenched in early morning summer sun. I encourage you to snap a few photos as you celebrate golden hour at the Acropolis.
Spend an hour at the Acropolis, making sure to explore all of the cool remnants laying around the grounds, lining the walkways and paths between sites. Make sure to check out the Parthenon, the Theatre of Dionysis, and the Erechtheion, and glance out past the walls of the Acropolis. There are stunning views of the neighboring towns, and gorgeous views from the all vantage points at the top. One of my favorite views while in this ancient site is the giant flag of Greece that flaps in the wind that the back of the Acropolis. Gargantuan in size, and positioned at the highest part of the city, this flag is quite a sight to see, and is such a beautiful moment to gaze at on your visit. Once you have seen everything you intended to see, make your way on foot to the Roman Agora, a quick 7-minute walk. Please see below downloadable Google Map for directions.
When you find yourself at the Roman Agora, take your time here and really read all of the placards. This spot tends to stay pretty empty, so you have a bit of time to spend walking around and soaking in all of the history, and no real crowds with which to contend. The Roman Agora is bright and full sunlight, and there are some pretty spectacular pieces here. With a cost of 15 euro per person (but covered by the entrance fee paid at the Acropolis), this is a quick little spot to stop and get away from the crowds that you no doubt will battle leaving the Acropolis.
Check out the Gate of Athena, the Tower of the Winds (used to predict the weather, measure rainfall, and tell time), and all of the columns that lay on the ground, remnants of temples and buildings that once stood in that very spot. The most interesting part? All the way to the back of the forum, there is a set of steps. Walk up to them and look at how the centuries of passersby has worn them into a slope. I loved seeing that so many people had used them before me, and they have stood the test of time with only a slight change in shape to show their wear since their birth in 15 BC. Once you have moseyed around the Roman Agora, taking 1-hour tops, make your way to the Ancient Agora by following the below download friendly Google Map.
By following this itinerary, you will likely beat 80% of the people who visit the Ancient Agora, and have an unobstructed view of all of the coolest buildings housed within the grounds. After the entrance (remember, there is no fee here as you have already paid for the ticket at the Acropolis, another reason to start at the Acropolis and make your way around the city), follow a winding footpath to the top of a hill where you will find the Altar of the Twelve Gods, the Temple of Apollo Patroos, and the most impressive building, the Temple of Hephaestus. Pro tip: Walk around the back of the Temple of Hephaestus and you can get some incredible photos of the sun shining through the structure, and peeking around columns and walls. There is also an impressive view of the Parthenon to the southeast of the Agora. Visible is the prominent building at the Acropolis, along with all of the people who arrived a few hours after you did, and you will thank your lucky stars you went at opening.
When you are standing at the Ancient Agora, imagine the area bustling with people. Used as a place for business and gathering for residents of Athens in the BC 500’s years, you can imagine the markets, see the stalls of food and goods lined up, and understand how integral this meeting place was for ancient Greeks. To get an even better idea of what life was like for the people of Ancient Greece, there is an open-air museum on the agora grounds, the Museum of the Ancient Agora. Here you will find excavated busts, pottery, and wares, all housed in the reconstructed Stoa of Atallos. Not just a place that houses an impressive collection of ancient artifacts, this museum is also a beautiful structure in and of itself, and is an amazing place for any photographer to play around.
After you have spent enough time at the Ancient Agora walking the grounds and reading all of the placards about all of the buildings in the area (about 1 hour), make your way to a midday pick me up spot that I recommend to everybody seeking to maximize time in Athens, and minimize time sitting and not exploring.
Davinci is a bit touristy, but an altogether delicious gelato spot that is perfect to dodge the sun for a bit, and get a delicious sugar spike to continue your way through the giant metropolis of Athens, Greece. Grab one of their delectable gelato flavors, such as Nutella, pistachio, vanilla, and any chocolate flavor you can think of, in a beautifully crafted waffle cone, covered in edible decorations like sprinkles, chocolate, pistachios, and pecans. Dress your gelato up with as many toppings as you want, and enjoy it outside on a bench while people watching. If you’re more of a milkshake person or want something that will serve as the perfect prop for any foodie’s Instagram photo, then order a gelato shake with all the fixings. Not only will you get a delicious shake, but it will be covered in whipped cream, cookies, sprinkles, nuts, and anything else your eye sees on the menu. If there is too much to choose from and you are having trouble making up your mind, just tell the gelato connoisseur working behind the counter to make you something beautiful, as we did, and get ready for the most incredible hand held meal of your life!
Once you have a sufficient sugar buzz, it is time to make tracks to the next stop of the day, the Temple of Olympian Zeus. The walk should only take about 15 minutes, and will be a good way to walk off some of that milkshake that was undoubtedly inhaled.
The Temple of Zeus is truly only one structure, but is massive, mighty, and impressive. Free of charge, the Temple of Zeus is a great little excursion for the budget traveler, especially since it is such an iconic, and interesting spot. Set back in a large city field, you can walk fully around the temple, and view it from all angles. Originally meant to be the biggest temple in the world at the time, the Temple of Zeus was not completed for over a half a century. The real irony is that it fell into disrepair in less time than it took to build, and was left as it is standing today. Spend about 30 minutes here exploring the grounds of the temple, and viewing it from all angles. Its large stature is what makes this temple so impressive, and worthwhile of a visit when in Athens.
After spending time at the Temple of Zeus, there is a quick, 10-minute walk to the Panathenaic Stadium. Keep your head up and focused because this stretch of road is busy with cars, and some of the crosswalks are not the easiest to traverse.
The Panathenaic Stadium is a considerably sized open-air stadium, that has upbeat music pumping, and people lined up to get in. Another truly budget friendly place to visit in the city, the Panathenaic Stadium entry fee is a mere 5 euros per person, and is well worth the price, and was one my favorite places! While the Acropolis was beautiful and emblematic of a trip to Greece, it was quite busy, even at open, and filled with more and more people with every minute. The agoras are steeped in history, and hold cultural significance that cannot be denied, but they are quiet, and if you’re not a history buff, may not be as exciting (although they remain impressive). The Panathenaic Stadium, however, has a buzz about it. People run around the track timing themselves, and some pretend to be Olympians. Some climb the real marble steps to the top of the stadium, getting in one heck of a workout (hint: the view from the top is BEAUTIFUL). There is also a museum attached to the stadium via a caved walkway at the back of the stadium that houses the Olympic torches and posters from every decade. Not only is this corner of the city fun to play pretend, but it is also such an immersive experience in which you can climb, play, run, jump, and pose on a podium in the very spot where so many real Olympians have as well. Spend about an hour and a half here checking out the memorabilia in the museum, and posing for pictures at different spots around the stadium.
Athens is such an incredible city, which means it attracts massive crowds from all over the world every single day. From seeing where democracy as we know it was born, to crumbling buildings that set the stage for this giant metropolis, Athens is a city with gobs of character, and oodles of things to do. It is so easy to become overwhelmed when planning a trip to Athens not just because of all there is to do, but because of conflicting information. Follow my itinerary to see the most possible ancient sites in a single day in the city, and you will be sure to get in all of the highlights you need to see for your first time there. When your day is done and you’re ready for a giant meal, head to Krasopoulio tou Kokkora (as mentioned in my Gastronomic Guide to Greece), and grab a giant slice of moussaka. It’s a meal fit for any Olympian or Greek God or Goddess!
