Best Day Trips from Athens, Greece

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world and there are wonderful ancient ruins and monuments to see here. We spent 3 days in Athens and had a great time. But the amazing part about Greece is that a few important archeological sites lie beyond the capital city, making them as perfect Athens day trips. Plus, there are charming small towns and villages that can you visit as day trips from Athens. So let’s dive into the best day trips you can take from Athens, Greece.

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6 Best Day Trips from Athens for history, culture, and quaint islands

Delphi: Ancient Splendour amidst a stunning setting

Delphi has to be the most popular Athens day trip. And rightly so! Delphi is one of the most famous historic sites in Greece. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi.

This was an ancient religious sanctuary dedicated to the Greek God Apollo. The sanctuary was home to the Oracle of Delphi and the priestess Pythia, who was famed throughout the ancient world for divining the future. 

Outside of Athens, this was my favourite ancient ruins on the Greece mainland itinerary. There is a museum at a walking distance from the archaeological site. Most of the artefacts discovered at the site are now displayed at the museum. It is easy to cover both the site and the museum in 2 to 3 hours. There is also a small gift shop to buy Greek souvenirs. The town of Delphi has some lovely options for lunch.

How to reach: Discover the wonders of Delphi on a guided tour from Athens where transfer is arranged to and from Athens. Or you can rent a car and drive down to Delphi. Take the National Greek Road, Athens to Lamia. The driving distance is about 180 km. Either buy just the Delphi entry tickets (entry to Museum included) or opt to take a 1.5 hr guided tour.

If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can take a KTEL bus from Liosion Bus Station to reach Delphi. The bus ride from Athens to Delphi takes about 3 hours. Another option is to take the Hellenic train from Athens to Levadia, and then a taxi ride from Levadia to reach Delphi. The train operates 5 times each day and is the fatest way to reach Delphi.

Epidaurus and Mycenae: Historical sites in Peloponnese region

Epidaurus and Mycenae are 2 of the most important ancient ruins in the Peloponnese region of Greece. 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Epidaurus is a popular spot that offers visitors the chance to explore its rich history, architecture, and natural beauty. Epidaurus’ Theatre is the most famous ruin here, this stadium is well preserved. But there is much more to see beyond the famous theatre. The site of Epidaurus is very big, built around the Sanctuary of Medicine God Asklepios.

According to ancient Greek mythology, Epidaurus was the birthplace of Asklepios, the healing god, and son of Apollo. In fact, Epidaurus is home to the most popular healing center of antiquity. It takes about 2 hours to visit the entire site at Epidaurus.

The archaeological site of Mycenae is at a distance of about 46 km from Epidaurus. Much before Ancient Greeks consolidated their power at Athens, the Mycenaeans were a great empire that ruled the region. And between 16^th and 12^th century BC, their civilisation spread to all known areas in the Mediterranean region. 

There is a lot to explore at the Mycenae site now, and you can spend an hour here. Do note that we visited Greece in late May and these ancient sites were hot during daytime. The Tombs of Agamemnon, Aegisthus and Clytemnestra are popular structures to view here. The Tomb of Agamemnon is the most elaborate and largest tomb constructed since the Bronze Age. 

How to reach: To cover these 2 sites, the easiest is to book a day tour from Athens. There are different combinations of sites at Peloponnese area you can choose from:

Or you can rent a car and drive down the distance of 126 km from Athens to reach Epidaurus. The driving distance further to reach Mycanae site is 43 km from Epidaurus.

You can also take a bus or train to reach Cornith from Athens. It takes about 1 hr to reach Cornith from Athens. From Cornith, you can take a taxi to reach Epidaurus site (distance of about 65 km). The bus journey takes about 3 hours. 

Nafplio: Explore modern Greece’s first capital city

Nafplio is a coastal city located in the Peloponnese in Greece. If you are taking a day trip to the Peloponnese region from Athens, you can make a quick stop at the Cornith Canal before going to Nafplio. This is the narrow canal that isolates the Peloponnese region from mainland Greece.

Impressive castles, museums, historic churches, beautiful neoclassical buildings and paved cobbled paths await you in Nafplio. It was modern Greece’s first capital and is considered one of the most romantic cities in the country.

The medieval old town is very well preserved in this coastal city. You can admire important historic buildings and monuments in the Syntagma Square here. Another famous tourist attraction here is the Palamidi Castle, which stands 216 m above sea level. But be prepared to climb all the 999 steps to reach here. The view from above here is worth the climb. 

The most photographed spot of Nafplio is Bourtzi castle, the Venetian small fortress standing on a rocky islet. You can stroll around the Arvanitia Promenade, the most popular walk in town. Sipping a drink at any of the cafes is a nice way to view the harbour and the Bourtzi. 

How to reach: You can opt for a Athens day tour that includes Nafplio. Many day tours to Peloponnese region also include a stop at Cornith Canal, you can marvel at the colossal engineering work that went into building the canal.

There are direct buses plying between Athens and Nafplio, this takes about 2 hours 10 minutes. You can rent a car in Athens and reach Nafplio a bit faster, in less than 2 hours. There is no direct train to Nafplio. But you can take the “Proastiakos” train from Athens airport to Corinth and hire a taxi from there to Nafplio.

Temple of Poseidon: Sea, sunset and an enigmatic temple

One of the most popular day tours from Athens is to see the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. This enigmatic temple has stood watching out over the sea for nearly 2500 years, and was an important sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon in Ancient Greece.
 
The Temple of Sounion is an ancient Greek temple, dedicated to the God Poseidon. The Greeks considered Poseidon to be the “master of the sea”. This Temple is open daily, all year round except for major public holidays, from 9:30 am until sunset. The last admission is 20 minutes before sunset. En route to this temple, you can make a stop at the ancient Theatre of Thorikos, the oldest preserved theatre in the world. Admire the surrounding views of the area, including the historic ancient silver mines of the region.
 
Besides the historic ruins, you also get stellar views of the Aegean Sea from Cape Sounion. You can also swim on a nearby beach during the summer months. It is the perfect spot to enjoy a sunset. The view is great and if you are lucky, you can experience the golden-orange illumination on the temple.

How to reach: Cape Sounion is at a distance of 68 km and is easy to reach from Athens. There are 4 ways to get there: by bus, subway, taxi, or car. You can rent a car in Athens and reach Sounion in an hour. If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can take a KTEL Bus or a subway to Sounion. Or book a day tour from Athens.

Aegina: Island with close proximity to Athens

Aegina is a beautiful, fertile, and verdant island near to Athens. It offers interesting archaeological monuments, such as the beautiful Temple of Aphaia, built in the 5th century BC. The island is very popular for its museums & other sights. It is known for its nightlife, food, beaches, and shopping. 

You can wander around Aegina Town on your day trip from Athens. There are plenty of museums to delve into the island’s history, or you can relax at one of the multiple cafes in the town. You can also visit the Monastery of Agios Nektarios, this ranks among the largest monasteries in Greece. Just a short distance from the port is the Temple of Apollo, dating from the 6th century BC. One of the main reasons to visit Aegina is its beaches, with their clear azure waters. And do find a taverna by the sea and indulge in fresh seafood.

How to reach: You can get from Athens to Aegina by ferry from the port of Piraeus.  Athens to Aegina ferry duration can range between 40 minutes and 1 hour 10 minutes depending on the operator you are sailing with.

You can also check out different tour options from Athens:

Hydra: Car-free island with a picturesque setting

Hydra has one of the nicest waterfronts in Greece with the village cascading down to the waterfront. This island is famous for its picturesque setting, car-free setting, and beautiful old town. The island offers both sandy and pebbly beaches, offering a range of cosmopolitan and secluded options that can meet the tastes of all visitors. 

Hydra’s capital town is built amphitheaterically around the port. It is easy to lose yourself in the lovely alleys here. Hydra has a rich historical background, mainly because of its contribution to the Greek War of Independence. Several impressive mansions now function as museums or cultural venues, where you can learn more about the island’s history.

The traditional wonderful architecture, the absence of vehicles, the hospitability of the inhabitants, the lively nightlife, and the cosmopolitan flair contribute to the high popularity and the incredible charm of Hydra.

How to reach: The best way to get to Hydra is by ferry from the port of Piraeus in Athens. There are daily connections all year round that last 2.5 hours on average. Or opt for a day cruise from Athens that includes Hydra.

Bonus Tip: Where not to visit as day trip from Athens

Many tourists book a day tour from Athens to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Meteora, to see some of its stunning monasteries and the fantastic landscape there. Meteora is about a distance of 350 km from Athens, and while this long day tour is doable, I would suggest an overnight trip to truly appreciate the splendour of Meteora. Apart from the monasteries, the sunset and the morning hike was the highlight of visiting Meteora for me.

If you want to visit the famous Cycladic islands of Mykonos and Santorini, make sure it is at least an overnight trip. A day tour to Mykonos or Santorini is too rushed in my opinion.

Planning a trip to Greece? Check out –

Itinerary Suggestions: Greece in 2 weeks, Greece 10-day Itinerary with kids

Greece Cities: 3 days in Athens, Athens 1 Day Itinerary

More on Greece: Complete Guide to Visiting Meteora, Best hikes in Greece

Greek Islands: Crete Itinerary, Beautiful Greek islands for a family holiday, Santorini Itinerary, Crete vs Santorini, One day in Mykonos, Santorini vs Mykonos

And finally, the Famous Greek Landmarks and a packing list for Greece

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