The best things to do in Athens

What is it? Every autumn, Athens transforms into a cinephile’s playground during the Athens International Film Festival.

Why go? The festival screens premieres, retrospectives, and masterclasses across several central cinemas, while the glamorous opening gala takes place at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall. With a mix of international stars, acclaimed Greek directors, and late-night screenings, it’s one of the capital’s biggest cultural draws, adding a cinematic glow to the city as summer fades into fall.

Time Out tip: Some of the screenings are followed by parties in nearby bars where – if you’re lucky enough – you can meet members of the cast and crew of the films.

Address: Vasilissis Sofias Avenue & Kokkali Street, 115 21, Athens 

Opening hours: October 1-12, 2025

Price: €5-15 depending on performance 

What is it? This 2,500-year-old rocky outcrop perched in Athens’ modern metropolis is the sight you’ve only dreamed about. The Acropolis finds itself at the very top of our list because if you do one thing in Athens, it has to be this. 

Why we love it: The monuments here are considered the greatest architectural feats of Greek antiquity. The Parthenon temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena, is perfectly proportioned and considered the world’s finest Doric masterpiece. Round the corner is the Acropolis Museum, which is well worth checking out – since 2009 it has accommodated all the artifacts found in the area that were previously exhibited on top of the ancient hill.

Time Out tip: Try to avoid visiting on hot summer days, as the rocky, sun-exposed site offers little natural shade and can be difficult to endure. During extreme heatwaves, authorities often close it to visitors.

Address: Acropolis Hill, 105 58, Athens 

Opening hours: Open from April to August 8am-8pm, September to October 8am-7.30pm. 8am-5pm November-March. 

Price: Around €20 in the summer and €10 in the winter

What is it? Athens isn’t short on treats for fans of Greek mythology. This temple at Sounion, which is dedicated to the mighty Poseidon, should be one of the first temples on your checklist.

Why we love it: He may be the god of oceans, but Poseidon’s palace stands 60 metres above sea level on Cape Sounio. This marble temple was first built by ancient Athenians to honour Poseidon and guide sailors safely home. All that remains now is a series of towering columns that don’t half look beautiful against a glorious Greek sunset. Bear in mind the temple is a bit of a way from the city center, so if you don’t drive, you might need to take a bus or two to reach it (but it's definitely worth it).

Time Out tip: In the warmer months, combine your visit to the site with a refreshing swim at a nearby beach.

Address: Cape Sounion, Sounio 19500, Athens

Opening hours: Daily 9.30am-sunset (usually around 6.30pm, extended in summer)

Price: €10-12

What is it? Lycabettus Hill is one of the highest peaks in Athens. You can get to it by hiking up a forested slope – only briefly, mind – or, if you’re feeling lazy, there’s a cable car to the top.

Why we love it: At the peak, you’ll find one of the most sweeping views of the city. There’s also a pretty whitewashed church called St George, a café and Orizontes, a gourmet Greek restaurant with surely the capital’s most scenic terrace. Concerts are held at the Lycabettus open-air theatre, built on another part of the hill, in the summertime. 

Time Out tip: Go at dusk for the best panoramic view of Athens, with the Acropolis glowing in golden light, or enjoy a concert under the stars.

Address: Lycabettus Hill, 114 71, Athens 

Opening hours: Accessible at all times; funicular runs daily 9am-1.30am

Price: Funicular ~€7 round trip

What is it? Tucked away in the heart of Athens, the National Gardens offer a beautiful retreat from the bustle of the concrete capital.

Why we love it: This grandiose park was commissioned by Queen Amalia, the first queen of Greece, in 1838 and completed two years later. The Gardens cover 16 hectares of narrow gravel paths and ponds and a small zoo with wild goats, peacocks and chickens. 

Time Out tip: The perfect spot for a picnic beneath the trees, far from the constant buzz of central Athens.

Address: Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, Athens

Opening hours: Open daily from 6am-8pm

Price: Free entry

What is it? The EMST is Athens’s answer to the Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou or the Museum of Modern Art. 

Why we love it: This space is filled with art that gets people talking. Expect exhibitions of Greek and international artists across all media, from painting to video to experimental architecture. The museum’s vast home has its own fascinating story; it’s actually a former brewery – Greek beer Fix was once made here. 

Time Out tip: Head to the top floor, where the fine-dining restaurant Nyn Esti offers sweeping views over Athens and a memorable night out

Address: 1 Kallirrois & Amvr. Frantzi Street, 117 43, Athens 

Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday 11am-7pm, Friday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-6pm, Monday closed

Price: €8-10

What is it? Athenians know it’s summer in the city when the outdoor cinemas begin to open up. The legendary Cine Paris, which has been going since the ’20s, is best known for its striking Acropolis views.

Why we love it: For a proper night out the way Greeks do it. Cine Paris is one of around 90 outdoor film venues in Athens where patrons can watch old Greek and foreign classics, plus the latest Hollywood releases.

Address: 22 Kidathineon Street, Plaka, 105 58, Athens 

Opening hours: Daily screenings ~5.30pm-midnight 

Price: Around €7-12 per show ticket 

🎥 Discover our local’s guide to open-air cinema in Athens

What is it? Monastiraki is one of the oldest and busiest areas of the capital, packed with rooftop bars, ancient sights and huge markets. 

Why we love it: The Monastiraki metro station is right off the picturesque main square (which also has brilliant views of the Acropolis). Go shopping at the Monastiraki flea market, squeeze through thronging pedestrian alleys, and peruse shops filled with antiques, handmade jewellery and Greek handicrafts.  

Time Out tip: Wander its flea markets on Sunday mornings for eclectic antiques and vintage finds.

Address: Monastiraki Square, 105 55, Athens 

Opening hours: Public district, always accessible (shops vary)

Price: Free; shop prices vary

What is it? The Monastiraki area’s indoor and outdoor food market delights the senses. Starting in the wee hours, Greek vendors bellow out their best deals in an attempt to sell fresh meat, fish, fruit, spices and products from around the country.

Why we love it: The atmosphere is unlike any other as travellers and locals traverse the narrow aisles lined with hanging meat carcasses, stalls of Greek deli delights and fresh seafood iced down in vibrant displays.    

Time Out tip: Arrive early to see the market at its liveliest, when fishmongers and butchers call out their morning deals –and where everything is guaranteed fresh.

Address: Athinas Street 42, 105 51, Athens 

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 7am-5pm, Sunday closed

Price: Free entry

What is it? Stretching out under the shadow of the Acropolis, Plaka is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited neighbourhoods. 

Why we love it: Duck into the side streets here and explore the charmingly narrow old lanes. They’re lined with a hotchpotch of crumbling buildings from various eras and beautiful restored buildings-turned-stately homes. Plaka boasts a wealth of ancient sites, small museums, historic churches and picturesque small squares buzzing with restaurants and cafés. Don't miss the Anafiotika area, where blooming bougainvilleas spill out of colourful balconies. It’s quite the picture.

Time Out tip: Get lost in its narrow lanes at dusk, when the crowds thin and the Acropolis glows above

Address: Plaka, 105 58, Athens 

What is it? One of the most important sites in the Greek capital, the monument of the Unknown Soldier, is basically a cenotaph dedicated to the Greek soldiers who died in war. Located near the main Syntagma Square and attached to the external wall of the Greek parliament, the tomb is accompanied by a wall relief depicting a fallen soldier, surrounded by quotations in Greek from the famous Pericles’ Funeral Oration.

Why we love it: The monument is guarded 24/7 by two Evzones, who are members of the Presidential Guard in full traditional costume, considered as the elite of the Greek military. The guards stand still – without even blinking! – and they change every hour in a beautiful coordinated ceremony. Do not miss the ‘longer version’ of this ceremony on Sundays at 11am, which usually attracts lots of tourists.

Time Out tip: Time your visit for the hourly changing of the Evzones guard, a solemn yet striking ritual.

Address: Syntagma Square, 105 63, Athens 

Opening hours: Public monument always accessible; ceremonial guard change daily at 11am

Price: Free entry

What is it? An oasis of Mediterranean greenery, plus opera, books and an architecturally-acclaimed main building, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) is a must visit. 

Why we love it: For 170,000 square metres of parkland, complete with playgrounds, gardens, cafés, a striking eco-friendly glass complex (also home to the Greek National Opera), a manmade river, and the National Library of Greece. Plus, there’s a great view of the Acropolis.

Time Out tip: When the event that brought you here is over, stroll the park at sunset, then catch the shimmering reflection of the illuminated building on the canal

Address: Leoforos Andrea Syngrou 364, Kallithea 176 74, Athens

Opening hours: Park and lighthouse 6am-12am, reading rooms 9am-12am, parking 24h

Price: Free for park/grounds; some events ticketed

What is it? A lavish museum home to more than 3,000 artefacts of Cycladic, Ancient Greek and Cypriot origin.

Why we love it: Enjoy the distinctly shaped slender marble figurines and statues that date back to the Bronze Age. If the Bronze Age isn't your bag, check out one of the 150 objects from the ancient Greek art collections, including vases, figurines and weapons grouped by various themes, including Gods and Heroes, Eros, The World of Women and The Underworld.

Time Out tip: After exploring the ancient treasures, relax at the museum’s sleek café, which offers light bites and a serene view of the surrounding gardens.

Address: 4 Neophytou Douka Street, 106 74, Athens 

Opening hours: Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-10pm, Sunday 10am-6pm, Monday closed

Price: €12

What is it? One of the latest additions to Athens’s culture scene, the Maria Callas Museum (Nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award 2025), was inaugurated in 2023 by the Municipality of Athens, and is dedicated to showcasing the life and work of the great Greek opera singer La Divina (the divine), as she was known by critics and the public. 

Why we love it: Whether you like opera or not, Maria Callas is undoubtedly one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, having performed in venues like Milan’s La Scala, London’s Covent Garden, New York’s Metropolitan Opera and the ancient theatre of Epidaurus in Greece. Combined with her turbulent personal life and intense love affair with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, and you get a museum with captivating stories. Through texts, objects, videos and sound clips the visitor takes a journey into her 53-year-old life, with the permanent collection exhibiting items such as costumes, wigs, music scores and personal items that shed light on unknown aspects of the legendary artist.

Time Out tip: Be sure to check the museum’s calendar, as they often organize interesting events like music concerts, workshops, master classes and parties. Plus the event space offers a stunning view of the Acropolis. 

Address: Mitropoleos 44, 105 63, Athens 

Opening hours: 1 Apr-31 Oct: Tue-Sun 10am-8pm (Fri till 10pm); 1 Nov-31 Mar: Tue-Sun 10am-6pm (Fri till 9pm); closed Mondays 

Price: General admission €10

What is it? Onassis Stegi is said to be the place where contemporary culture meets aesthetics and science, but it’s way more than a typical cultural center in the heart of Athens.

Why we love it: Stegi, which literally means ‘roof’ in Greek, is a vibrant space which is home to a wide range of cultural events, including theatre and dance performances, concerts, film screenings, art and digital shows. It’s a hub for young, restless Greek artists to showcase their talents, while also attracting international performers like Marina Abramovic and John Malkovich. Its restaurant on the top floor of the building offers a breathtaking view of the Acropolis, the Philopappos monument, Lycabettus, and the Saronic Gulf. 

Time Out tip: Check the schedule for cutting-edge performances that push the boundaries of art, tech, and identity.

Address: 107-109 Syngrou Avenue, 117 45, Athens 

Opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10am-6pm (extended hours during performances)

Price: Some exhibits free / performances ticketed