Acropolis & Parthenon
Go at opening or the last hour to dodge heat and crowds; the combined ticket covers six more sites.
The birthplace of the city, with a café culture that runs till sunrise.
When to go: April–June & September–October — hot but bearable; July–August is fierce.
Best places to visit
Must-see
Acropolis Museum
Glass floors over live excavations and the Parthenon marbles at eye level — cool, modern, essential.
Plaka & Anafiotika
Below the rock: island-white houses and stepped lanes that feel like a Cycladic village.
Mount Lycabettus
The highest point — a funicular or a short climb to the whole city and the sea beyond.
Central Market (Varvakios)
Loud, real and cheap; the tavernas tucked inside serve the city's best lunch.
Cape Sounion day-trip
The Temple of Poseidon on a cliff at sunset — an easy coastal drive from the centre.
Plan your trip to Athens
WTFly finds the cheapest dates to fly there across a whole flexible window — then activities and a car to round out the trip.