Want to visit Athens? You don’t need much time or money. With a modest budget, you can have a great few days in the Greek capital. Athens is an accessible city, and 3 days are enough to visit its main attractions.
As for the money you’ll need, it will range between €180 and €220 per person (adult) to see Athens in 3 days.
This amount, however, does not include flights and accommodation. If you haven’t booked flights and accommodation yet, you should budget around €450 per person, depending on your origin.
For your travel budget, you’ll first need to consider how many days are required to see Athens, so you can estimate your daily expenses on tourist activities, transport, meals, and drinks. If your trip is not yet booked, remember to factor in your flight and accommodation.
If you’re planning a trip to Athens, you’ll want to know the cost of its tourist attractions. You can set aside around €20 per day to see its main sights. An affordable activity is joining a free tour of Athens, where you’ll see the essentials and can book for FREE.
For example, if you want to take a nearby excursion, you’ll spend a bit more that day (around €100 per person).
Tourists visiting the Acropolis
Athens offers many free or reasonably priced activities, such as visiting the Parthenon or the Acropolis Museum. To save money, consider buying a pass that gives you access to multiple city attractions at a reduced price.
The Acropolis is undoubtedly the most popular tourist attraction in Athens. Admission costs €20 for adults and €10 for children (during the summer). If you want to visit the Acropolis Museum, you’ll also need to pay for museum entry, which costs €15.
Another popular site is the Agora. Admission is €5 for adults and €1 for children. You can also visit the Temple of Zeus, located in the Agora, for €5.
Ancient Agora, Athens
Other sites to visit in Athens include the Temple of Poseidon, the National Archaeological Museum, and the National Park of Mount Olympus. Ticket prices for these sites vary but are generally between €5 and €10.
Fortunately, there are many free attractions in Athens that you can visit without spending a euro.
Traditional greek gyros
The food in Athens is delicious and diverse. You can find everything from pizza and traditional Greek dishes to the best coffee and beer.
In general, prices are very reasonable. For example, a pizza costs around €6, a coffee €1, and a beer €2.
Breakfast is usually quite cheap; for instance, a croissant with coffee costs around €2.
For lunch, you’ll find plenty of reasonably priced options. A typical Greek meal costs around €10, and you can save even more by eating at a street stand.
Dinner prices at restaurants are slightly higher but still reasonable. A dinner for two costs around €30. In general, you can eat and drink well in Athens for a reasonable price.
To get around Athens, you can use buses, the metro, or walk. Buses are cheap and go everywhere, but traffic in Athens can be heavy, so the metro is a good option if you want to avoid congestion. Walking is the best way to see the city and meet locals, but remember that Athens is a large city.
If you’ll be using the metro, you’ll need a transport card. A 3-day metro pass costs €22. If you’re using buses, the card costs €4 per day.
A taxi ride from central Athens to the airport costs around €35. If you prefer public transport, the bus fare is €6 per person. You can also arrange a private transfer that picks you up at the airport and takes you to your hotel.
Peak season in Athens is from June to August. During this time, hotels are often full, and prices tend to be higher. If you plan to travel in peak season, it’s best to book your hotel in advance.
Athens offers a range of accommodation, from luxury hotels to budget hostels. If you’re looking for a good 3-star hotel in the city center, expect to pay around €80–€100 per night.
As for the best area to stay in Athens, I personally recommend Plaka. Located just below the Acropolis, it’s one of the most beautiful and picturesque parts of the city. Plus, Plaka has many restaurants, shops, and bars, so you’ll never be bored.
A flight to Athens from Spain generally costs between €80 and €150, depending on the season. Prices are typically lower during the off-season (October–April) and can be a bit higher in peak season (May–September).
In the low season, you might find low-cost flights from Spanish cities like Madrid or Barcelona, usually priced between €80 and €100, so if you’re thinking about a trip to Athens…
Enhance your travel experience with our 3-day Athens guide. Don’t miss it!