Athens holidays
Ancient sites and a dense, everyday capital share the same walkable centre, with the Greek islands within easy reach by ferry.
34°C AugustBest May, Jun, Sep, Oct2–4 nightsDirect from London Stansted
At a glance
- history and archaeology
- food and taverna culture
- island-hopping stopovers
Trip cost
- Return flight
- ≈€86
- Stay
- ≈€784
- Food & local
- ≈€210
Includes the return fare from London Stansted. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.
Stays
Stays in Athens
From €51/night · Typical €94 · 138 stays · 7-night stay assumed
Booking.com (opens in a new tab)- Best 3-star
ATHENS O'GERA escape5.4 km from the centre€58 a night (opens in a new tab)See more 3-star options
- Best 4-star
Link by Zoia Living4.8 km from the centre€154 a night (opens in a new tab)See more 4-star options
- Cheapest
Zwgrafou Supreme Deluxe For 4 Pers5.4 km from the centre€51 a night (opens in a new tab)See more options, cheapest first
Map
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Getting to Athens
- AirportAthens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)
- Transfer optionsMetro, train, bus, taxi
Athens International Airport is 33 km southeast of the city centre. Metro Line 3 runs directly to Syntagma, with express buses, the suburban railway and taxis also serving the airport.
Indicative, per traveller. You book with Aviasales.
Areas of Athens
A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.
- PlakaBest for first-time visitors who want to be inside the old town's lanes, steps from the Acropolis, and don't mind paying a premium for it.
- MonastirakiSuited to travellers who want markets, ancient ruins and transport links on the same square, with more noise and foot traffic than Plaka.
- KoukakiGood for visitors wanting a quieter, more residential base with easy walking access to the Acropolis Museum and the main sites.
- KolonakiWorks for travellers wanting upscale shopping and dining, on the smarter, quieter slopes of Lycabettus Hill.
- PangratiA practical choice for a longer stay, with everyday neighbourhood life and a strong local food scene away from the tourist core.
When to go
Monthly climate normals (multi-year reanalysis data). Gold months are the best weather fit.
- Best overall
- May · June · September · October
- Hottest
- July · 36°C
- Wettest
- December · 101mm
- Jan14°62mm
- Feb14°45mm
- Mar17°34mm
- Apr21°38mm
- May26°36mm (good month)
- Jun32°25mm (good month)
- Jul36°9mm
- Aug34°16mm
- Sep29°18mm (good month)
- Oct24°27mm (good month)
- Nov20°85mm
- Dec16°101mm
What each season is like
- Spring
- Mild and green, a comfortable season for walking the ancient sites before summer's heat and crowds arrive.
- Summer
- Hot, dry and the busiest, most expensive season, with the Acropolis and other exposed sites best tackled early in the day.
- Autumn
- Still warm with thinner crowds, a reliable season for pairing the city with a following island trip.
- Winter
- Mild by northern European standards but wetter, with shorter days and some island ferry routes reduced or suspended.
What’s on in Athens
Thu 20 AugMayans w/ David Morales
Fri 21 AugΜετακίνηση Με Λεωφορείο από και πρός την Επίδαυρο για "Λυσιστράτη"
Fri 21 AugJohn Digweed
Thu 27 AugΚωνσταντινούπολη, εξαήμερη εκδρομήSee all events in Athens on Wanderistan (opens in a new tab)
Compare Greece destinations
Still deciding? Other Greece destinations, with the same weather and typical-stay data behind them.
| Destination | Aug | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Chania | 31°C | 3–7 nights |
| Heraklion | 32°C | 2–4 nights |
| Mykonos | 29°C | 3–5 nights |
| Santorini | 30°C | 3–5 nights |
| Thessaloniki | 33°C | 2–4 nights |
Good to know about Athens
Worth it for
The Acropolis, the ancient Agora and a cluster of major museums sit within walking distance of each other in the historic centre.
Keep in mind
The Acropolis and other major ruins offer little shade, and the ancient sites are at their most uncomfortable in the middle of a summer day.
Why go
- The Acropolis, the ancient Agora and a cluster of major museums sit within walking distance of each other in the historic centre.
- A taverna, mezze and wine-bar culture that runs late and stays affordable by Western European standards.
- Ferries from Piraeus put the Greek islands within easy reach before or after the city stay.
Worth knowing
- The Acropolis and other major ruins offer little shade, and the ancient sites are at their most uncomfortable in the middle of a summer day.
- Traffic, noise and visible wear are heavier in central Athens than in more orderly Western European capitals.
- Many island ferry connections thin out or stop entirely outside the warmer months, so pairing Athens with an island trip is easiest in spring through autumn.