This itinerary assumes the warmer half of the year, roughly May to October, when Athens is hot but the evenings are long and the Peloponnese later in the week is properly swimmable. From the airport, the blue Metro Line 3 runs straight into central Athens (Syntagma or Monastiraki) in around 40 minutes, which is usually easier than a taxi in city traffic. Book flights →

Base yourselves in Plaka or Monastiraki so the Acropolis, the old lanes and the evening food scene are all on foot. These are the walkable historic quarters below the Acropolis, and staying here means you never need a taxi after dinner. Search hotels →

Plaka is the oldest neighbourhood in the city, a tangle of neoclassical houses and stepped lanes under the Acropolis. Climb its northern edge into Anafiotika, a pocket of tiny whitewashed Cycladic-style houses built by island stonemasons in the 19th century, which feels more like a village than a capital city. Go late afternoon when the heat eases and the light softens on the rock above.

Monastiraki Square sits at the meeting point of the flea market, the Ancient Agora and Plaka, and the surrounding lanes are full of tavernas and rooftop tables with Acropolis views. Keep the first night simple with a few mezedes and a carafe of house wine rather than chasing a specific spot, and let the jet lag settle.