Athens is a perfect base for discovering central Greece. Many of the country's most famous sights can be reached in a day, by hire car, by KTEL intercity bus, by train or by hydrofoil from Piraeus. Here are the best trips, from nearest to furthest.
Overview
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | Suggested length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eleusis | 20 km | 30 minutes | Half day |
| Marathon | 42 km | 1 hour | Half day |
| Aegina | Hydrofoil | 40-75 minutes | Day |
| Cape Sounion | 70 km | 1.5 hours | Half day |
| Corinth Canal | 80 km | 1 hour | 1-2 hours, on the way to the Argolid |
| Poros and Hydra | Hydrofoil | 1-2 hours | Day |
| Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio | 120-150 km | 1.5-2 hours | Day |
| Delphi | 180 km | 2.5 hours | Day |
| Meteora | 350 km | 4-5 hours | Better with a night |
Cape Sounion
The temple of Poseidon on the headland at sunset is the classic trip. You get there along the Riviera coast, with stops for a swim. See Cape Sounion.
Delphi and Arachova
The sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, seat of antiquity's most famous oracle, lies on the slopes of Mount Parnassus in one of Greece's most spectacular landscapes. The site and museum, with the bronze Charioteer, need at least three hours. On the way you can visit the Byzantine monastery of Hosios Loukas, a UNESCO site, and the mountain village of Arachova, famous for cheese and rugs. KTEL buses leave from the Liossion terminal; many agencies run day tours.
The Argolid: Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio
A full but memorable day. Start with the Corinth Canal, cut through the rock in 1893, with walls almost 80 metres high above the water. Then Mycenae, Agamemnon's city, with the Lion Gate and the tholos tombs, and Epidaurus, with its ancient theatre of perfect acoustics. Finish in Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, with the Venetian Palamidi fortress and an elegant old town. See the Peloponnese.
The Saronic islands
Hydrofoils and ferries leave Piraeus daily for the nearby islands. Aegina, under an hour away, has the temple of Aphaia and pistachios; Poros faces the Peloponnese across a narrow channel; Hydra is the car-free island of captains' mansions. Some day cruises call at all three, with short stops. See the Saronic islands.
Marathon
On the plain of Marathon, in 490 BC, the Athenians led by Miltiades defeated the Persian army. You can visit the burial mound (Soros) of the 192 fallen Athenians, the archaeological museum and, nearby, the marble dam of Lake Marathon. The Authentic Marathon starts from the town and finishes in Athens.
Eleusis
West of Athens, Eleusis was the seat of the Eleusinian mysteries, the secret rites in honour of Demeter and Persephone into which people from all over the ancient world were initiated. The archaeological site and museum are surrounded by the modern industrial town, European Capital of Culture in 2023. See ancient Greek religion.
Other ideas
- Brauron (Vravrona): the sanctuary of Artemis where Athenian girls served the goddess, with a fine museum.
- Rhamnous: the ruins of the sanctuary of Nemesis in a remote spot by the sea, to the north-east.
- Lavrio and Thorikos: the ancient silver mines and theatre.
- Mount Parnitha: a national park with trails, firs and deer, north of the city; at its foot the royal estate of Tatoi.
- Kaisariani Monastery on Hymettus, a few kilometres from the centre. See Byzantine churches.
Meteora
The monasteries perched on the rocks of Meteora, in Thessaly, can be reached in a day by train or on an organised tour, but the journey is long: if you can, spend a night in Kalambaka. The same goes for Olympia, in the western Peloponnese.
Tips
- A car gives freedom, but for Delphi and Meteora organised tours avoid the driving and parking.
- In summer leave early: archaeological sites are hot and crowded at midday.
- For the islands check hydrofoil times, which can change with the wind.
- Each site has its own ticket: see tickets and free entry.