How To Escape The Crowds In Athens: A Local’s Guide

Do you want to experience Athens without all the buzzing from the tourist masses? Our guide on how to escape the crowds in Athens might just be what you need!

You have just arrived in Athens. Welcome, we hope you enjoy your stay!

But, where to go first? What to see?

Well, you know the quick answer to these questions.

You can start with the highlights of Athenian sightseeing:

You can visit the Acropolis, you can walk around in Plaka, you can eat and shop around the Monastiraki Square.

However, what you also know is that a lot of other tourists have these destinations on top of their lists as well.

So, unless you really want to become best friends with all of them while waiting in long queues, here is a handy little guide we prepared on how to escape the crowds in Athens.

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The Basics

First, let’s take the basics out of the way. 

1. Plan Your Trip Either In Late Spring Or During Autumn

Yes, most people want to visit Greece during the summer months in order to explore both Athens and some of the islands on the same trip.

But Athens is so much more enjoyable during April to mid-June and September to mid-November and the reason, besides the beautiful (as in “not scorching”) weather, is because the city is not that crowded during those periods.

For more detailed tips on when to plan your visit, you can check our Best Season for Athens guide.

2. Book Tickets Online In Order To Save Queue Time

It would be really useful to get in the habit of booking your tickets online beforehand your visit to an archaeological site or museum.

That way, you can skip the long exhausting queues and make the most of your precious time when visiting iconic, and therefore very popular, sites such as the Acropolis or the Acropolis Museum.

Furthermore, look for Acropolis combo tickets and daily passes which give you the opportunity to visit several locations with the same ticket.

This online booking tip can also be very useful immediately upon arrival at the airport.

Make sure to pre-book your taxi and avoid starting your vacation by waiting in line.

3. Visit Sites Early Or Late

When you are in Athens, in order to escape the crowds, you have to think around them.

So, plan your visit to archaeological sites and museums early in the morning, as soon as they open, or late in the day, a few hours before closing for a less crowded experience.

Additionally, if your budget permits it, it would be better to book a guided tour with an archaeologist.

As locals, they definitely know how to avoid crowds in Athens.

4. Eat Like a Local

Find family-run taverns and quiet restaurants away from the bustling and usually overpriced eateries of the touristy areas.

Also keep in mind that dinner time in Greece is around 9pm, so opt to eat around that time for a quieter and more authentic local experience.

5. Avoid Tourist Trap Tours

Generic Hop-On Hop-Off open top buses might look very attractive to get a good look of the city center.

However, you should avoid them especially on a hot summer day.

Instead try to find smaller, more targeted, even specialized tours (food, wine, mythology etc.) to make sure you get your money’s and your time’s worth.  

Our comprehensive Guide on Athens Tours might help you find the one that mostly suits your needs.

Alternatively, you can book a free walking tour with a local guide for a more relaxed experience.

6. Explore On Foot

Discover the city’s authentic charm and local color by walking around a lot, choosing alternative routes away from the busy streets.

That way you can discover little hidden gems like small quiet squares, pretty neighborhood cafés, scenic spots or even interesting street art pieces.

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Off the Beaten Path

Now that we covered the basics, let’s explore a few more options for the ever curious traveller.

These options are not usually at the top of most tourists’ to-do lists.

However, they might be exactly what you need to escape the crowds in Athens.

1. Explore Alternative Archaeological Sites And Locations

• Pnyka Hill (or Pnyx) – Right next to the looming Acropolis rock, you can find this small hill.
  
  It is the historic site where ancient Athenians held their General Assembly to discuss and vote on issues concerning the city.
  
  Moreover, it is easily accessible, it is free, and it offers excellent views of the Acropolis and the city center.

• Kerameikos Cemetery – Located right next to Thissio, on the ancient potters’ quarter (hence the word “ceramic”), this ancient cemetery offers a serene and introspective experience.
  
  
• Akadimia Platonos – Another quiet spot, where the ancient Greek philosopher Plato founded his Academy in 387 BC.
  
  It is an ideal location to combine with a relaxing stroll or a picnic.
  
  
• Philopappou Hill – This beautiful hill, also known as the Muses Hill, is close to Pnyka.
  
  It is another perfect spot for a serene walk and offers magnificent views of the city.
  
  It features the Philopappos Monument, an ancient Greek mausoleum dedicated to Prince Philopappus, from which it takes its name.

• Panathenaic Stadium (or Kallimarmaro) – The only stadium in the world built entirely from marble (kallimarmaro means literally “beautiful marble”), it hosted the Panathenaic Games in antiquity.
  
  In modern times, it became known for hosting the opening and closing ceremonies of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, as well as some of the contested sports.

2. Visit Lesser-Known Museums

The Acropolis Museum and the Archaeological Museum may be the city’s flagships for classical antiquities.

Nevertheless, Athens also has several other fascinating museums to offer, which usually don’t attract large crowds.

• Museum of Cycladic Art – It is known for having one of the most significant collections in the world of Cycladic art (coming from prehistoric Cyclades Islands in the central Aegean Sea).
  
  Frequently, it holds temporary exhibitions spanning the entirety of Art History.
  
  
• Benaki Museum – This is a classic destination for museum lovers in Athens.
  
  It holds a very large collection of Greek culture (from prehistory to recent years), as well as important pieces of Islamic art.

• Byzantine and Christian Museum – One of the oldest museums in Athens (established in 1914).
  
  It features one of the most important collections in the world for Byzantine art, housed in a beautiful villa right in the city’s center.
  
  
• Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art – Located in the hip neighborhood of Pangrati, this recent yet spectacular addition to the city’s museum list is not to be missed.
  
  Featuring primarily a vast permanent collection of international and greek modern and contemporary art, it also holds temporary exhibitions which gather interest for their themes.

3. Explore Neighborhoods Beyond Plaka

Plaka is beautiful with its narrow pedestrian streets and traditional buildings, filled with shops and cafés and restaurants.

However, it is also very touristy and can get very hectic at times.

So, here are some suggestions for you to explore, which can be ideal on how to escape the crowds in Athens.

• Anafiotika – Even though this small scenic neighborhood is adjacent to Plaka, tucked right under the Acropolis hill, it is usually calm and quiet.
  
  It was first inhabited by carpenters and stone or marble masons from the cycladic island of Anafi (hence the name), who came to work on the restoration of King Otto’s palace.
  
  After all these years, it is still very well preserved and it’s like a time capsule, as it keeps all the local color and feeling of traditional Aegean architecture.
  
  
• Thissio – This is another traditional neighborhood, brimming with beautiful neo-classical buildings and stunning views to the Acropolis hill.
  
  Try to escape the main streets where all the cafés and eateries are.
  
  Instead, explore the backstreets for an authentic taste of old Athens. You can also visit the hill of Asteroskopio (National Observatory of Athens) for a unique experience.

• Koukaki – Nestled roughly between the Acropolis Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art and Philopappou Hill, Koukaki is a colorful yet laid back neighborhood. 
  
  Explore its cozy eateries and shops, and discover cool bars and cafés, and get lost in its quiet streets.
  
  You’ll get a strong sense of its vintage local color.
  
  
• Pangrati – Behind Kallimarmaro Stadium you can discover Pangrati, another vibrant neighborhood with a strong cultural essence and great vibes.
  
  Feel free to walk around and uncover its secrets.
  
  You can even combine your visit with a trip to the Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art for an enriching cultural experience.
  
  
• Exarcheia – Last but not least, you can explore the famous neighborhood of Exarcheia.
  
  Known for its intellectual and university student vibe, it is rich in political movements and history.
  
  Here, you can discover a lot of street art gems, political graffiti and political posters on the walls.
  
  Furthermore, you’ll find interesting cafés and bookstores, often merged into the same space.

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Beyond Central Athens

Athens is not just its city center.

Especially if the weather is nice, there are other interesting locations to explore and enjoy, ideal if you want to escape the crowds in Athens.

• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center – Located in Faliro and designed by the great architect Renzo Piano, the SNFCC combines culture, education and nature.
  
  It houses the National Library and the National Opera amidst a magnificent park, with great views of both the city and the sea from the rooftop, which you can visit.
  
  During the summer evenings you can find a variety of open air cultural events in the park, very often free of charge.
  
  
• Faliro Coastline – Flisvos Marina Park – In antiquity, Faliro was the main port of Athens.
  
  Today it is part of the Athenean coastline, perfect for a walk by the sea.
  
  The Flisvos Marina, specifically, was recently redesigned to become a hub for activities and leisure among yachts and sailboats and the floating Battleship Averof Naval Museum.

• Kaisariani Monastery – Located in the Kaisariani area, on the north side of Mount Hymettus, this important Orthodox Christian monastery dates back to the 11th century CE.
  
  You can enjoy the Byzantine architecture and admire the frescoes, some of which are from the 14th century.
  
  Alternatively, you can just take a peaceful walk through the olive groves and gardens.
  
  While you are there, you can also explore this area of Mount Hymettus and enjoy nature as you walk the different paths.
  
  Additionally, you can cool down at the refreshment kiosk of Kalopoula.

• Mikrolimano – Kastella – Forget the busy and noisy port of Piraeus as you might know it.
  
  Instead, discover the scenic and cosy neighborhoods of Mikrolimano and Kastella.
  
  Walk by the sea in Mikrolimano (meaning ‘small harbor’) and enjoy the fish-port ambiance, as well as a variety of cafés and -primarily seafood- restaurants.
  
  Alternatively, you can walk up Kastella Hill, named after an old Frankish castle on top.
  
  From there, you can enjoy the view of the Saronic Gulf and admire the old local architecture.

• Cape Sounio – Lastly, let’s not forget that if you are willing to travel just a little further from the city’s confines, there is always the much celebrated Sounio cape.
  
  There, at the most southern tip of the Attica region, you can visit the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon and admire the majestic view.
  
  Of course, it’s also one of the most famous spots in Athens for watching a breathtaking sunset.

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Daily Trips

If your trip is not just a couple of days passing from Athens, and you can fit it in your schedule, there is no better way to escape the crowds in Athens but to take a… trip outside Athens! 

There are a lot of conveniently located spots of interest just outside the Attica region, perfect for a daily trip.

You can find our suggestions -from archaeological and Byzantine sites on beautiful mountains to near-by sunlit islands- in our Best Day Trips Guide.

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Convenient Locations to Stay

Lastly, the best solution for your accommodation needs would be to stay in the city center where most major landmarks will be within walking distance.

That way, you can move around at your own pace and schedule, avoid the metro rush hour, or even the need to take a taxi, as city’s traffic can get very very hectic.

Additionally, this makes it easier to escape the crowds and discover quieter, more peaceful areas of Athens.

These are our hotel recommendations for the city center:

• Best Luxury Hotel: Electra Metropolis
  
  
• Best Mid-priced Hotel: Athens21
  
  
• Best Budget Hotel: Bedbox Hostel

Alternatively, you could choose some of Athens’ best neighborhoods for your stay, making sure there is a strong metro connection.

Our guide with the Top 10 Neighborhoods to Stay in Athens will tell you everything you need to know.

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