Things to do in Athens, splurging
Acropolis mornings, the Mikrolimano waterfront, coastal swims and Varoulko.
This is Athens for people who want the serious version: the right restaurant tables, the cocktail bars that actually deliver, and the design stops worth crossing town for. The plan moves from the ancient centre on day one out to the coast by day three, so the city opens up gradually rather than all at once. If you eat well and spend freely without apology, this is your itinerary.
Day 1: The historic centre, done properly
You start with Acropolis views over coffee, move through Roman ruins and a market lunch at ERGON House, climb the hill itself in the afternoon, and finish with a great-value dinner and one of the city's best cocktail bars.
- 9:30 AM
Couleur Locale
Critic-approved rooftop café with Acropolis views, the best start in the neighbourhood.
Map - 10:30 AM
Hadrian's Library
Hadrian's 2nd-century library walls and courtyard, ten minutes on foot from your coffee.
Map - 12:30 PM
ERGON House Athens
ERGON House is the city's go-to Greek market-restaurant, high-quality, well-sourced, effortlessly splurge-worthy at lunch.
Map - 2:30 PM
Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis itself, the unmissable cultural fixture of Athens, a short walk from Monastiraki.
Map - 7:30 PM
- 9:30 PM
Baba au Rum
Baba au Rum is a critic-endorsed cocktail institution, the best nightcap bar in this part of Athens.
Map
Day 2: Acropolis Museum to Mikrolimano
The Acropolis Museum, lunch at Point A, a walk over Philopappos Hill and sunset on Kastella Hill before dinner at Varoulko Seaside in Mikrolimano.
- 9:30 AM
Acropolis Museum
The Parthenon frieze in a glass gallery that faces the temple itself; go early, ahead of the tour groups.
Map - 12:30 PM
POINT A (Acropolis Point)
Lunch on the Herodion hotel's roof with the Acropolis rock right in front of you.
Map - 2:30 PM
Philopappos Hill
Pine paths up to the Philopappos monument for the long view of the Parthenon and the sea.
Map - 5:30 PM
Kastella Hill
The hill above Piraeus for sunset over the Saronic Gulf, then walk down the steps to the harbour.
Map - 8:30 PM
Varoulko Seaside
Lefteris Lazarou's seafood cooking on the Mikrolimano quay; book a table by the water.
Map
Day 3: Vouliagmeni coves and Pelagos
Day three is all water and light: a beach start at Vouliagmeni, lunch at abraOvata, an afternoon between rocky coves and the coastline, and Pelagos in the evening for the trip's best meal.
- 10:30 AM
Apollonia Beach Vouliagmeni A Paralia Apollonies Voulas Α
Voula's organised beach with sunbeds and calm water; small entry fee, easy first swim of the day.
Map - 12:30 PM
abraOvata
Seafood and Greek classics in Vouliagmeni, a relaxed long lunch without fine-dining formality.
Map - 2:30 PM
Second Limanakia Β' Λιμανακια
Rocky coves below the coast road where Athenians swim straight off the rocks; bring water shoes.
Map - 4:30 PM
Vouliagmeni Coast
Walk the Vouliagmeni shore past the marina and the little swimming coves before dinner on the cape.
Map - 7:30 PM
Pelagos
Seafood tasting menu at the Four Seasons Astir Palace, a long dinner facing the Saronic Gulf.
Map
Where to stay
Hotel Grande Bretagne
The Grande Bretagne sits on Syntagma Square and is the reference-point luxury address for this kind of Athens trip: central to days one and two, and with a rooftop bar that holds its own.
AthensWas
AthensWas is a sharp design hotel steps from the Acropolis with rooms that face the hill directly, which suits a traveller who cares about where things look as much as where they eat.
Make Athens your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Acropolis of Athens: weeks ahead
- Acropolis Museum: weeks ahead
- Acropolis and Acropolis Museum private guided tour: weeks ahead
- Temple of Poseidon: a few days ahead
- Archaeological Site of Delphi: a few days ahead
- Hydra: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Plaka and Adrianou view restaurants with a tout and photo menu: you pay for the view in food quality. Eat in Koukaki, Psyrri or Pangrati.
- Three island in a day mega cruises to Hydra, Poros and Aegina: hours in transit for an hour ashore per island.
- Temple of Olympian Zeus as a standalone paid visit: the columns are visible from the fence and Hadrian's Arch.
- Lycabettus funicular queues at sunset: walking up or a taxi is faster, and Philopappos gives the better Acropolis view free.
The full Athens travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around