How to spend 24 hours in Athens before your cruise

Highlights of a day in Athens before a cruise from Piraeus include the Parthenon, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Agora and the Acropolis Museum.

What is Athens like?

The place Greece’s capital occupies in the minds of classical scholars and cherishers of democracy doesn’t quite match the reality.

Serene is not a word you’d use to describe Athens, where motorbikes hurtle down cramped streets and street artists turn semi-abandoned buildings into canvasses. It’s grittily energetic, but interspersed with staggering reminders of the past.

Nightlife-filled streets can suddenly give way to millennia-old ruins, discovered when digging out a metro station or building foundations. And those jolting surprises are the source of Athens’ appeal.

If you’re booked on a cruise departing from Piraeus, it’s likely that you’ll have little time to explore Athens. But fortunately, you can pack a lot into one day. Here’s a suggested 24 hour Athens itinerary.

07.30: A walk in the National Garden

There are a few ancient remnants to be found in the National Garden, which spans from the back of the Parliament building, and contains trees from around the world.

Admire the turtles in the ponds, and soak of the peaceful greenery on a morning stroll, because it’s likely to be the last dose of serenity for the day.

08.00: Visit the original Olympic stadium

At the southern end of the park stands the remarkable Panathenaic Stadium, a hulking great 60,000 capacity horseshoe of marble. It was the host venue for the first modern Olympics in 1896, and is where the Athens marathon finishes every year.

More importantly, it looks like no other stadium on earth – and feels like a remnant of ancient Greece rather than a modern construction.

09.00: Take in the ancient wonders of the Acropolis

Want real ancient Greece? Then the Acropolis plays host to a cluster of some of the most important – and impressive – classical sites on earth. The Parthenon, designed as a perfect jigsaw puzzle with every element individually shaped, sized and curved to fit the ideal sightlines of the human eye, is usually billed as the star here, but there is so much more on the way.

This includes the Theatre of Dionysus, where the art of drama was born, and the Odeon – a 5,000-seater open air theatre from the Roman era that is now used for alfresco concerts in the summer.

The Acropolis is one of those places where a good guide is worth the investment. Someone with knowledge, who can bring the temples to life, explain what everything was used for and why it’s there, is invaluable.

11.00: Get a deeper understanding at the Acropolis Museum

Many Acropolis tours finish off at the Acropolis Museum, which could just have been a depository for old relics, but manages to be so much more. It is divided up into eras, showing how artistic and sculptural techniques changed as Athens evolved.

But the top floor, designed to be the same size and orientation as the Parthenon, is the crowning glory.

Some remaining original marble metopes, plus some reconstructions, are assembled exactly how they were, with the stories of gods and mortals told on them explained on panels below.

13.00: A traditional lunch

The Plaka area at the foot of the Acropolis is extremely touristy, and brimming with mediocre restaurants. Arcadia is a happy exception to the rule here – the “authentic” and “traditional” labels here are genuine rather than cynical bait.

14.30: Explore the Agora

If the Acropolis was the head of classical Athens – the preserve of the priests and VIPs – then the Agora was where real life happened. The excavations across the site have uncovered the ruins of temples, markets, libraries and theatres. No single building is a stand-out, and that’s rather the point – the strength of the Agora as a visitor attraction is that it gives an idea of how classical Athens fitted together.

You’ll need a timed entry ticket.

16.00: See Bohemian Athens on a walking tour

Athens isn’t all about old bits of stone, though. And to the north of the Agora is the Psirri neighbourhood, which offers a completely different vibe. Here are dozens of cafés, restaurants and terrace hangout, plus a magnificent collection of street art. Bohemian Athens walking tours focus on Psirri’s back streets and courtyards, showing off arts organisations and the best murals, before moving on to Gazi.

Here a former gasworks has been turned into a hip nightlife, concerts and events space, transforming the once-grim surrounding area.  

20.00: Dine with Acropolis views

Hidden away in the Monastiraki flea market, Café Avissinia is lovingly eclectic downstairs, with paintings all over the walls, stained glass windows and a piano in the corner. But ignore that and head straight upstairs to the rooftop, where the terrace has bang-perfect views of the Acropolis. The menu deliberately focuses on specialist regional dishes, such as the soutzoukakia – a traditional meatball favourite from what is now Izmir in Turkey.

Athens hotel recommendation

The Hera in Plaka is a discerningly classy affair, and usually incredibly good value. The lobby is all stained glass ceiling and rich wood panelling, while upstairs you’ll get plumply padded headboards and lavish green marble bathrooms.

If the Hera’s not your style, I’ve picked out some more Athens accommodation recommendations.

More Athens travel

Other Athens travel stories on Planet Whitley include:

• Athens hotel recommendations.
• A first-time visitor’s guide to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.
• A practical guide to the National Garden of Athens.
• How to get to the Theatre of Dionysus, Athens.
• Can you visit the Parthenon at night?

You can also choose from a wide range of Athens tours and experiences.