Athens Holidays

from £101 per person

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Awesome Athens short breaks 2021

Sitting on the Saronic Gulf in the south of the country, the Greek capital is an historic thriving metropolis. With buzzing bars and ancient sites, holidays in Athens are equal parts fun and fascinating.

Athens is a fantastic city break destination. Whether you’re looking for wild nights out, long days of sightseeing or simply the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new and exciting culture, there’s a side of this urban centre for everyone. The enormous UNESCO-listed Acropolis, built in the 5th century BC, looms large over the modern network of shopping streets and residential neighbourhoods, where you might spend an evening tasting fine Greek wines in a traditional taverna or fill your days browsing flea markets and boutiques.

Art in Athens

Athens has an incredibly cool contemporary arts scene. Small-scale, independent galleries dot the city, putting on exhibitions from local and internationally renowned artists. Don’t miss a visit to the National Museum of Contemporary Art, too, which has visual works by the likes of Ilya Kabakov and video installations by Bill Viola.

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Overview
Things to do
Places to stay

Why book Athens holidays

Must-visit historical sites

Acropolis, Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike, Temple of Hephaestus

World-class museums

Acropolis Museum, Ancient Agora & Museum of the Ancient Agora

Cultural hotspot not to miss

Stroll down the twisting old alleys of Plaka – perfect dining spot too

Sample the local food

We love a bit of spanakopita (spinach, feta, onions folded in pastry) in the mornings & sizzling souvlaki at lunch

Lush natural wonders

Admire Athens from above, atop Mount Lycabettus

Hit the nightlife & bar scene

Head to Psiri, Athens’ nightlife quarter

Your guide to Athens holidays

At a glance

Top 5 things to do in Athens

With a host of compelling attractions and diverse neighbourhoods to explore, Athens holidays offer an exciting introduction to Greek culture.

On a sticky summer day, there’s no better place to find refreshing shade than in the beautiful, leafy National Gardens. A small zoo with peacocks and goats will entertain the kids.
Spend a morning browsing at the Monastiraki flea market, where tight alleyways are packed with stalls and shops selling antiques, handicrafts and handmade jewellery.
Explore the Plaka neighbourhood, one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas of the city, where beautiful shuttered homes are cloaked in tumbling bougainvillea and cafe seating spills out onto the streets.
For spectacular views over the city, take a hike up its highest peak: Lycabettus Hill. There’s a cable car for those short on time, and an excellent Greek restaurant for refuelling at the top.
After dark, the Psyri neighbourhood is where Athens’ really comes alive, with bars and restaurants hosting revellers to the early hours and music tavernas playing traditional live music.

Historic highlights in Athens

A city that was once at the centre of Western civilisation, Athens has incredible historical remains.

The jewel in Athens’ crown is the Acropolis, a 5th-century BC citadel that’s home to some of the key historic sites in the city. See the Parthenon, a former temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, and the towering limestone columns of the Hekatompedon Temple. The Acropolis Museum, on the southeast slope of the hill, offers fascinating insights into this period of the Ancient Greek civilisation.
Beneath the Acropolis is the Theatre of Dionysus, an amphitheatre dating from the 6th century BC that once seated 15,000 people on its tiered seating.
If art and artefacts are your thing, head to the Museum of Cycladic Art where you’ll find over 3,000 objects of Cycladic, Cypriot and Greek origin, from vases to weapons and more.
Sitting among the designer stores on Ermou street is Kapnikarea, an 11th-century Byzantine brick church. Inside, colourful murals and mosaics adorn the walls.
It’s not all about ancient history in Athens. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a poignant dedication to Greek soldiers who died during war. Time your visit with the hourly changing of the guard ceremony.

Beaches

Beaches in Athens

With the Athenian Riviera not far away from the city centre, beach lovers will have no problem finding an idyllic stretch of sand.

Just a short tram ride away from the centre, Edem is one of Athens’ most popular beaches. There are plenty of cafes and tavernas behind the small patch of soft sand for snacks and cooling drinks.
Flisvos is the Athenian Riviera’s closest beach to the city, making it a convenient stretch of sand to relax on for the day. A swish marina and great bars make it a nightlife hotspot.
Kalamaki Beach is a small but soft stretch of sand perfect for a swim near the city. Another slightly larger beach next door has pay-for-use sunbeds run by a host of bars.
Thanks to its beautifully clear, calm waters, pebbly Glyfada is a great option for beach holidays in Athens. There are actually two beaches here, split by a small marina.
Astir Beach is the definition of chic. One of the most famous luxury hotels in Athens sits on its shores, and glitzy bars, sunbeds and parasols abound. Surrounded by trees, it’s one of the prettiest spots on the Athenian Riviera.

Quiet beaches in Athens

With the Athenian Riviera serving the city’s four million residents, beaches can get busy in summer. These are the quietest for a relaxing Athens holiday.

Around 56km from Athens city centre lie the sand-and-pebble beaches of Legrena, a beautiful coastal village with coves surrounded by craggy rocks and lapped by gorgeous blue waters.
Family-friendly but never too busy, Vouliagmeni Beach has plenty to keep you occupied with volleyball nets and a play area for kids.
Kavouri’s main beaches can get busy in summer, but keep strolling along the coastal path away from the cafes and you’ll find a more peaceful spot.
Lagonissi sits on a small peninsula just south of Athens and is home to small pebbly coves. The finest beach belongs to the Grand Resort Lagonissi, which costs a small fee to enter but has a great cafe and wooden pier.
A secluded spot surrounded by trees, 30km from the city centre, Althea Beach offers calm waters for swimming.

Food & Drink

Food and drink in Athens

This capital city has some of the best food and drink in the entire country, so arrive hungry for your Athens city break.

One of the top food experiences in Athens is dinner in a traditional taverna. Serving up classic Greek cuisine in an informal, relaxed setting, tavernas can be found in every neighbourhood.
Athens Central Market is an enthralling place to shop, packed with vendors selling fish from the Mediterranean Sea, fresh meat and mountains of olives and nuts.
With its direct access to the Med, Athens is famous for fabulously fresh fish dishes. Don’t miss a taste of the local sea bream or sea bass.
For those with a sweet tooth, pastries and desserts from Chatzḗs are an essential snack. Operating for over 100 years, the restaurant is an Athens institution.
Greek wine has been on the up in recent years, so be sure to try a glass of Assyrtiko or Moschofilero.

Traditional Cuisine in Athens

Greece has some of the tastiest food in the Mediterranean. Try these traditional dishes on your Athens holiday.

Tzatziki is ubiquitous in Greece, served with almost every meal as a dipping sauce with fresh fish, grilled meats or just bread. It’s a refreshing herb, cucumber, garlic and yoghurt dip.
Souvlaki is the quintessential Greek dish and is a must-try in Athens. Small chunks of meat and vegetables are skewered and grilled to perfection, then served with pita and potatoes.
The succulent meat you’ll see turning on rotisseries in takeaway shops all over Athens is called gyros. Served inside a pita with tzatziki, it’s the ideal on-the-go snack.
With beautifully flaky pastry and a creamy cheese and spinach filling, spanakopita is addictive. It can be a main meal or take-out snack.
Pair your Greek mezze platter with a small glass of the traditional drink: ouzo. This anise-flavoured liqueur is made from grapes and can be a refreshing after-dinner drink.

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Nightlife in Athens

Athenians really know how to throw a party, so whether in chic new bars or at traditional tavernas, a night out in the Greek capital is not to be missed.

Alternative culture thrives in the Exarchia neighbourhood and with that comes a smattering of great little bars. Head to Emmanouil Benaki to find the best drinking holes.
If you’re after a night on the dancefloor, the pounding super clubs in Gazi will have you on your feet until the early hours of the morning.
For a more high-end and relaxed experience, hop between the chic bars of Koukaki. Sitting in the shadow of the Acropolis, it’s the ideal place for an aperitivo after a day of sightseeing.
Sophisticated cocktail and wine bars line the streets of gentrified Psyri, and the occasional nightclub will have you throwing shapes until dawn.
An Athens nightlife stalwart, Au Revoir Bar offers an atmospheric glimpse into the city’s past. As one of the oldest drinking establishments still going, it has got retro vibes and, of course, great ouzo.

Athens family holidays

Athens is an incredibly family-friendly destination with plenty to keep the kids occupied.

The little red Athens Happy Train makes exploring this city a breeze with kids. Buy a ticket and simply hop on and off as you please, stopping at top sights such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus or Plaka neighbourhood.
Kids will love the Goulandris Museum of Natural History in Kifissia, where they can see towering taxidermied giraffes, elegant deer and even a white tiger.
Allou! Fun Park is great for families seeking a thrilling day out. With swing rides and hair-raising rollercoasters, it’s bound to offer a day of unforgettable fun.
Asteras Beach is one of the most family-friendly in Athens, with plenty of facilities, food and drinks and a playground including a trampoline.
If there’s a budding artist in your family, head out on a street art tour with experts who can show you some of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods where creatives have been painting the town all sorts of colours.

What our local experts say

Eat your way around Greece

Mmmmmm. Greek cuisine, part of the famous Mediterranean diet, is among the freshest and most delicious in the world. Expect seafood plucked straight from the sea, locally reared free-range meat from the inland hills, an endless variety of flavour-packed fruit and vegetables, and a huge choice of cheeses and cured ...

Athens weather

Jan

12°C

Avg. Dry Days 16

Feb

13°C

Avg. Dry Days 14

Mar

16°C

Avg. Dry Days 19

Apr

19°C

Avg. Dry Days 20

Nov

18°C

Avg. Dry Days 19

Dec

14°C

Avg. Dry Days 17

Your Athens questions answered

What’s the best time to visit Athens?

The best time to visit Athens is during spring (March through May) and autumn (September through November), when the weather is warm enough and the crowds of summer can be avoided.

When is the cheapest time to visit Athens?

How can I get to and from the airport in Athens?

Which area of Athens should I stay in?

Is Athens family friendly?

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Prices last checked at 12:57 5 March 2021