10:00

Getting oriented in Nea Ionia

Start around the Line 1 station, useful for all your trips over the next few days. Set aside about an hour for a stroll through the central streets and the neighborhood cafés; a coffee costs approximately €2–5.

The station is a convenient place to buy or top up your travel ticket.

11:30

Walk through the center and coffee break

Explore Nea Ionia’s shopping streets on foot, taking in local shops, pastry shops, and everyday life far from the tourist routes. For a simple snack, allow about €4–8 per person.

13:00

Lunch in the area

Stop at a taverna or casual neighborhood spot, choosing daily Greek dishes or souvlaki. Budget roughly €10–18 per person, drinks excluded or included depending on the place.

15:00

The Mall Athens

Reach Neratziotissa station on Line 1, usually about 5–10 minutes from Nea Ionia, then follow the pedestrian signs to the shopping center. It’s a practical stop for shopping, services, and an indoor break; entry is free, purchases are extra.

17:30

Olympic Athletic Center of Athens

From the mall, continue on foot or take a short local ride to the OAKA Olympic complex, designed by Santiago Calatrava. Stroll through the outdoor areas to see the stadium and monumental structures; access to the public areas is generally free, while events and special tours may have a fee.

08:30

Transfer to the city center

From Nea Ionia station, take Line 1 to Monastiraki, a journey of about 25–30 minutes. From there, walk to the Acropolis entrance in about 15–20 minutes, preferably in the morning to limit heat and crowds.

09:15

Acropolis of Athens

Spend about two hours on the Parthenon, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion, and the city viewpoints. The ticket may vary roughly from €20 to €30 depending on the season, discounts, and visit type; check availability and opening hours before you go.

Wear shoes with good grip: the stone can be slippery.

11:45

Acropolis Museum

Head down to the museum, about 10–15 minutes on foot, and follow the route from the archaic sculptures to the Parthenon finds. Allow two hours and an approximate admission of €10–20, with possible reduced or seasonal rates.

14:15

Lunch and a stroll in Plaka

Reach Plaka on foot and choose a taverna in the side streets, then wander among neoclassical houses, stairways, and small shops. For lunch, budget around €15–25 per person; the streets closest to the monuments tend to be more expensive.

16:30

Roman Agora and Hadrian's Library

Visit the remains of the Roman Agora and, not far away, Hadrian's Library: highlights include the Tower of the Winds and the monumental columns. Allow about an hour and a half in total and an approximate cost of €5–10 for each site if tickets are bought separately.

18:30

Monastiraki Square

Wrap up between the square, the market, and the cafés, taking in the contrast between ancient ruins and modern traffic. From the square, you can return to Nea Ionia on line 1; a drink or dessert costs roughly €3–8.

09:00

Ancient Agora of Athens

Take the metro to Monastiraki and head down to the city’s ancient civic center, allowing about two hours for the site and museum. Admission costs roughly €10–20, with seasonal variations and possible discounts.

11:15

Temple of Hephaestus

Inside the Agora, stop at the best-preserved Doric temple in Athens and admire the proportions of the columns and its commanding position on the site. The visit is included in the Agora ticket; allow 30–45 minutes to explore it at an easy pace.

12:30

Lunch in Thissio

Head out to Thissio for a break on one of the pedestrian streets along the edge of the archaeological area. A casual lunch costs roughly €12–22 per person; booking ahead can be useful on weekends.

14:00

Archaeological site of Kerameikos

Walk for about 15 minutes or take a short metro ride to Kerameikos, the ancient necropolis and former gate area of the city. Spend 60–90 minutes at the site and small museum; admission is roughly €5–10.

16:30

Philopappos Hill

Return toward the Acropolis area and follow the paths up Philopappos Hill for a scenic walk of about an hour. Access is free; bring water and keep in mind that some sections are uneven.

19:00

Syntagma Square and the changing of the guard

Reach Syntagma by metro or with an approximately 25-minute walk and take in the square and the Parliament from the outside. The changing of the guard takes place at regular intervals, but times may vary; entry to the square is free.

09:00

National Archaeological Museum

From Line 1, get to Omonia and continue on foot or by a short bus ride to the museum. Spend about two hours among the Mycenaean collections, sculptures and artifacts from all over Greece; the ticket is approximately €10–15.

11:45

Break in the Exarchia district

Walk for about 10–15 minutes toward Exarchia for a coffee break and a look at the neighborhood’s bookstores and urban scene. A drink and a snack cost approximately €5–10.

13:00

Athens National Garden

Reach the garden with about a 20-minute walk or by public transport and wander along the shaded paths among fountains, trees and small ponds. Entry is free; allow about an hour and bring water in the hot months.

14:30

Panathenaic Stadium

From the garden, continue on foot for about 10 minutes to the stadium entirely clad in marble, the venue of the first modern Olympic Games. The visit takes about an hour and the ticket costs approximately €5–12, depending on rate and season.

16:00

Benaki Museum

Head back toward the center with about a 20-minute walk and visit the collections that tell the story of Greek culture from prehistory to the modern era. Allow 60–90 minutes and an approximate admission of €8–15; check for any days with reduced hours.

17:45

Byzantine and Christian Museum

A short distance from the Benaki, the museum features icons, mosaics, and objects that illustrate Byzantine and post-Byzantine history. Set aside about an hour and consider an indicative ticket price of €5–10; alternatively, use the time for a walk in the nearby Kolonaki district.

10:00

Transfer to the Niarchos Center

From Nea Ionia station, reach central Athens via Line 1 and continue by bus or taxi toward Kallithea; the total journey may take 45–60 minutes. Check the day’s connections and budget around €2–10 for the transfer, depending on the chosen transport.

11:00

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Explore the public spaces, park, and architecture that house the National Library and the Greek National Opera. Access to the outdoor areas is usually free; exhibitions, performances, or guided tours may have separate fees.

13:00

Lunch and canal view

Stop at the complex’s dining spots or nearby venues, leaving time to relax in the park. A simple meal costs roughly €10–20 per person.

15:00

Flisvos Marina

Reach the marina by tram or bus, allowing about 20–30 minutes of travel, and stroll among boats, cafés, and the seafront promenade. Access is free; a stop for an ice cream or a drink costs roughly €3–8.

17:00

Piraeus and Archaeological Museum

Continue to central Piraeus by tram, bus, or taxi: allow about 20–35 minutes, depending on traffic and connections. The museum houses finds linked to the port’s history; set aside about an hour and expect an indicative ticket price of €5–10.

18:30

Piraeus Municipal Theatre

Reach the theater on foot from the museum in about 10–15 minutes, and admire its neoclassical facade and the surrounding square. Visiting the exterior is free; to attend a performance, ticket prices depend on the program and can start at around €10.

10:00

From Nea Ionia to Kifissia

Take line 1 north to the Kifissia terminus: the journey takes about 25–35 minutes. Once you arrive, walk between the museum, parks and shopping streets.

10:45

Goulandris Natural History Museum

Explore the collections devoted to Greek flora, fauna, geology and ecosystems, also suitable for a stop with children. Allow 60–90 minutes and an indicative ticket price of €5–12, checking the exhibits and opening hours in advance.

12:30

Lunch in central Kifissia

Choose a taverna or bistro around the station and the shopping streets. Lunch costs around €15–25 per person; at more refined places, prices may be higher.

14:00

Kifissia Park

Stroll through the public park among mature trees, paths and shaded areas, a pleasant break after the museum. Entry is free and the visit takes about 45–60 minutes.

15:30

Walk among the villas and shops

Spend an hour on the central streets, where period buildings, boutiques and cafés alternate. For a coffee and a pastry, budget around €5–10; get around on foot, as the sights are close together.

17:00

Kefalari Park

Continue on foot for about 15–20 minutes to Kefalari, a green neighborhood with gardens and cafés. Stop for a leisurely stroll and head back to Nea Ionia by metro; the park is free and the trip follows line 1.

10:00

Transfer and stroll in Kolonaki

Reach the city center on line 1 to Monastiraki and continue by metro or on foot toward Kolonaki; allow about 35–45 minutes from Nea Ionia. Wander among squares, boutiques and cafés, setting aside about an hour to get your bearings.

11:15

Museum of Cycladic Art

Visit the collections of Cycladic figurines, ceramics and ancient artifacts, arranged in a clear and accessible route. Set aside 90 minutes and consider an approximate admission of €8–15, with variations for temporary exhibitions.

13:00

Lunch in Kolonaki

Stop at a modern taverna or a neighborhood café, choosing a longer break before the climb. Budget roughly €18–30 per person for a sit-down lunch.

15:00

Walk toward Lycabettus Hill

Reach the base of the hill on foot or with a short bus ride; the walk up takes about 30–45 minutes and includes steep sections. If you'd rather save energy, the funicular has an approximate round-trip cost of €7–10, to be checked on site.

17:00

Lycabettus viewpoint

Make your way to the summit for views over Athens, the Acropolis and, on a clear day, the sea in the distance; stay for the late-afternoon light. Access to the viewpoint is free, while the bar and funicular are paid.

19:00

Dinner and return to Nea Ionia

Head down to Kolonaki for dinner, or return to the center and take Line 1 from Monastiraki toward Nea Ionia. Allow about €18–30 per person for a casual dinner and check the last convenient departure time for public transport depending on the day.