Athens travel guide

Athens is a city where you book the Acropolis by time slot and link the other sites on foot.

Acropolis tickets cost 30 euros for adults and 15 reduced, with timed online booking required. It opens 8:00 to 20:00 in summer and 8:00 to 17:00 in winter.

From the airport, metro line 3 costs 9 euros and the X95 express bus 5.50 euros; both reach the Syntagma area. UNESCO listed the Acropolis in 1987. Hours vary by season and date, so check them on the booking screen, and plan 1 or 2 nights. Prices follow 2026 information.

Visa and entry requirements for Greece

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• Visas for foreigners traveling to Greece (Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

Acropolis tickets cost 30 euros for adults and 15 euros reduced. Entry is by time slot, and online booking is required; according to the Ministry of Culture, the official e-ticket service is hhticket.gr. In summer it's generally open 8:00 to 20:00 with last entry at 19:30; in winter 8:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:30.

UNESCO listed the Acropolis in 1987 as the outstanding monument of ancient Greek architecture, including the Parthenon. An early-morning slot helps you avoid the heat on the shadeless site. Times vary by season and date, so check on the booking screen.

Based on the Greek Ministry of Culture, checked on 23 October 2026.

According to Athens' transport authority, metro line 3 runs from the airport straight to Syntagma and Monastiraki. The airport metro ticket costs 9 euros one way and is valid for 90 minutes of transfers on the metro, buses, trams and trolleys.

The X95 airport express bus goes to Syntagma Square for 5.50 euros one way, taking about 60 minutes. You can pay contactless with a bank card or phone wallet. For two people, the metro costs 2 × 9 = 18 euros and the X95 bus 2 × 5.50 = 11 euros, a 7-euro difference.

With 1 night: stroll the lanes of Plaka on arrival day, and book a morning Acropolis slot the next day; walk the Ancient Agora in the afternoon. The Acropolis's stone surfaces are slippery, so wear shoes with firm soles.

With 2 nights: add another museum or rest on day three. All the sites have long outdoor stretches, so bring water and a hat. Last entry comes before closing, so pick an early slot.

Plan meals in Athens around Greek salad, souvlaki and moussaka. Souvlaki is grilled meat on skewers served with pita; moussaka is a baked layered dish of aubergine and meat, filling on its own. We don't pick restaurants or prices here. Eating lunch after the sites leaves more time for an afternoon walk.

The Acropolis needs a time-slot booking, so check the official e-ticket service once your date is set. Greece is in the Schengen Area; check entry requirements for your nationality. The local emergency number is 112, and the Tourist Police (1571) can help in English.