6 Best Day Trips from Athens, Greece: Ruins, Islands, History, & More!
No place in the world offers history the same way that Greece does. From the moment you land in Athens, Greece, you’ll be greeted with ancient ruins, friendly people, and delicious food. Perhaps best of all, with such a rich history and beautiful coastline, there are endless day trips from Athens to make exploring Greece easy, even if you want to use Athens as your home base.
Here are the 6 top day trips from Athens to make your trip to Greece memorable.
Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
1. Delphi
Located just over 2 hours away from Athens, Delphi is one of the most popular day trips from Athens, and it’s easy to understand why. The ancient city of Delphi was home to one of the most important Greek temples and known as being the “Center of the World” in ancient Greece. It is rich in history and sits at the foot of beautiful Mount Parnassus.
Today, this UNESCO World Heritage site is best known for the stunning ruins of the Temple of Apollo. It is also home to a lot of history, including the famous Oracle of Delphi and the Delphi Archeological Museum, where you can explore ancient artifacts of the long lost Greek world.
Do this day trip from Athens to explore the sacred center of the ancient Greek World. Walk the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo. Explore the Sanctuary of Apollo. Check out the Sphinx of Naxo, a creature with a woman’s head, lion’s body, and wings of a bird.
A day trip to Delphi is easy to do from Athens. If you have your own transportation, you can drive there yourself – in fact, it’s probably the best day trip from Athens by car. If you’re without transportation, don’t worry, you can still easily get there by one of the many organized day trips.
This small group Delphi day trip from Athens is the ultimate adventure as you’ll have a knowledgable guide to help learn about the area. Or, if you’d prefer, you can do a private Delphi Full Day Tour from Athens to get personalized attention and insight.
2. Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon
Another can’t miss day trip from Athens is the Coast of Apollo, home to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. Located just over an hour away on the Athens Riviera, the Coast of Apollo is a high-end tourist destination offering five-star resorts, spas, yacht clubs, and more!
During a day trip to the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula, you can explore the palm-fringed beaches and coastline, an important archaeological site at the Temple of Poseidon, and of course Cape Sounion with endless views over the sparkling Aegean Sea. This also makes it the perfect place to catch an amazing sunset.
A day trip to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon can be done via public transportation by taking the bus from the Ktel Attikis bus station in Athens. However, the easiest and most enjoyable way to do it is by taking an organized tour. This alleviates you figuring out all of the logistics about getting from place to place allowing you to maximize your vacation time!
Being a popular day trip from Athens, there are multiple tour options to choose from. Opt for a half day small group tour or a private day trip to be on your own agenda. Alternatively, you can also make it a more romantic journey with a private sunset tour with a seaside dinner.
3. Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Nafplio
About 2 hours outside of Athens you’ll find a cluster of important historical sites. Take in the ancient ruins of Mycenae – a Unesco World Heritage site, the Venetian Palamidi fortress in Nafplion, the first capital of modern Greece, and the ancient theater in Epidaurus.
Mycenae is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece, best known in Greek mythology as the city of Agamemnon. This fortified city was a military strong hold, perhaps you’ve heard about it as King Agamemnon is the one who led the charge against Troy during the Trojan War that Homer then wrote about in his epics.
Fortunately, there are lots of ways to visit Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Nafplio. Opt to join a small group for a Mycenae and Epidaurus day trip from Athens or if you’d prefer, there are private tours from Athens to Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio.
Looking to fit more into your day? You can join a Peloponnese Highlights Tour, which will take you through the Corinth Canal to Corinth as well as to Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidaurus!
4. Meteora
Hands down one of the best day trips from Athens is Meteora, famous for its giant rock formations topped with Byzantine-era monasteries. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the heart of Greece and a simple four hour train ride from Athens. This make it easy to get there and explore this unique part of Greece.
During your trip, you’ll want to visit a few of the six active monasteries of Meteora, the hermit caves of Badovas, and the town of Kalabaka. It will give you a feel for why Meteora is geologically and culturally important to Greece while taking in the unique, breathtaking views of the monasteries that sit perched on top of sandstone cliffs.
If you want easy access to the area, opt to join a tour to Meteora to fit it all into one day. This will make it easy to transfer from place to place, including getting a panoramic view of the six active monasteries, as well as visiting three monasteries and the hermit caves of Badovas!
With a four hour train ride on either end of your visit, some travelers opt to spend more time in Meteora by staying overnight. This gives you time to see more and experience the area in a different way. Plan a hike. Take a sunset tour. The options are endless.
To spend two days in Meteora, you can do it yourself by taking the train and booking a hotel in Kalabaka or Kastraki, or you can take a two day tour to Meteora from Athens.
5. Saronic Islands
A trip to Greece is not complete without visiting the Greek Isles. If you have the time, you can make it a multi-day adventure to visit the more famous Cyclades Islands, including Santorini and Mykonos. However, if you’re shorter on time, or even just want to visit smaller Greek islands, head to the Saronic Islands.
The Saronic Islands offer plenty of islands to choose from, with the most popular being Aegina, Agistri, Moni, Poros, and Hydra! These beautiful Mediterranean islands are close to the mainland and perfect to sail to from Athens.
Do a day trip to one island on your own taking the ferry, or opt to spend a day island-hopping from ancient temples to pristine beaches with an organized day trip.
Snorkel right off the boat. Rent a bike to explore the amazing beaches of Agistri. Stroll through the streets of Aegina to visit the ancient Greek temple of Aphaia – one of the best preserved places of worship. Explore the classic cobblestone alleys of Hydra. Visit the pine forest and lemon groves of Poros. It’s the perfect way to spend a day in sunny Greece!
For the best experience, choose to take an all day cruise from Athens to the Saronic Islands, including Aegina, Agistri, and Moni or one day cruise with live music and dancing to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina.
Most day trips to the Saronic Islands from Athens provide welcome tea, coffee, juice, and pastries as well as a delicious Mediterranean Greek food lunch with traditional wine and beer. Can it get any better?
6. Corinth
Looking for more amazing Athens day trips? Corinth is a popular one and can even be done as a half day guided tour! It will take you down the coast to Corinth where you can experience its historic sights, like the Corinth Canal, Temple of Apollo, and the Port of Cehrees.
The Corinth Canal is famous for connecting the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea and is quite impressive. It is named after the nearby historic town of Corinth. This once-prosperous city is where St. Paul lived and preached.
Today, you can visit the ruins of the city, including the large market – or agora – and the Temple of Apollo, first built in the 6th century BC. From there, you can head to the Port of Cehrees where St. Paul disembarked.
If you’d like to learn more about St. Paul, opt to take a private biblical tour of ancient Corinth & Isthmus Canal. This will give you further insight into St. Paul, his life, and the locations that he visited and preached as your knowledgable guide puts sights in context, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostle.
Another awesome option when visiting Corinth from Athens is to turn it into a full day trip by adding on the mythical underground Cave of Lakes. This option also takes you on the historic Odontotos Rack Railroad and visiting the areas’ wineries. It’s an excellent option for those looking to experience Corinth from a more exploratory angle versus religious standpoint.
Multi-Day Tours from Athens
Can’t decide on just one day trip from Athens? Consider taking a multi-day tour to check out a number of the amazing nearby locations. This will allow you to maximize your exploration while minimizing travel time. Not to mention, you’ll get to stay overnight in some amazing Greek cities and towns.
Here are three of your best options:
Other Must-Visit Locations in Greece
With so many amazing day trips from Athens, you’ll want to spend some quality time based in Athens. This will give you time to get out and explore many of the places that have made Greece so historically and culturally rich, including some of these day trips.
Athens is a great home base offering plenty of activities, hotels, and delicious restaurants – not to mention views of the lit up Acropolis at night!
Want to continue planning your time in Greece? Here are additional posts to help you make the most of your trip!
- How to Spend 1 Day in Athens, Greece: An Itinerary for First Time Visitors
- One Week in Greece: A First Time Visitor’s Itinerary
Cyclade Islands: Santorini and Mykonos
If you have the time, make your way to Santorini or Mykonos. While they are busier than some Greek islands, there is a reason they are so popular!
- 16 Money Saving Tips for Santorini: Visiting Santorini on a Budget
- Santorini Travel Guide for First Timers: 10 Things to Know Before You Go
- Where to Stay in Santorini: Fira or Perissa?
- 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Oia, Santorini: Where to Stay
- 25 Top Things to Do in Santorini, Greece
- How to Rent a Quad in Santorini to Explore the Full Beauty of the Island
- What to Expect of Mykonos, Greece
Like this post? Pin it!
