First-Time Athens Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore in Plaka

This post is part of my Greece travel series. Browse all my Greece travel guides in one place.

Athens surprised me the first time I visited. Now on my third trip to the city, I appreciate it even more.

What initially felt like a quick gateway to the Greek islands has become one of my favorite European cities for slow mornings, rooftop dinners, historic neighborhoods, and surprisingly stylish local culture. After visiting Athens multiple times, I can confidently say that where you stay makes a huge difference, especially if it is your first visit.

For first-time visitors, Plaka is one of the best areas to base yourself.

Located directly beneath the Acropolis, the neighborhood blends history, walkability, rooftop restaurants, boutique hotels, and easy access to many of Athens’ major landmarks. It is central, easy to navigate, and ideal if you want to experience both the historic and modern side of the city without constantly relying on transportation.

Here is my first-time guide to Athens and why I continue returning to Plaka during my trips to Greece.

Why Stay in Plaka

Plaka is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens. Narrow stone streets, neoclassical buildings, local tavernas, and Acropolis views give the area a timeless atmosphere while still feeling lively and approachable.

After visiting Athens several times, I still think Plaka is one of the best neighborhoods for first-time visitors because of how walkable and convenient it is.

You can easily walk to:

• The Acropolis
• Acropolis Museum
• Monastiraki
• Syntagma Square
• Anafiotika
• Rooftop restaurants and bars
• Local cafes and shops

Most of Athens can be explored on foot from Plaka, which makes the experience far more enjoyable than constantly calling taxis between neighborhoods.

The area also feels more relaxed than some of the busier commercial sections nearby. While Plaka is popular, mornings and evenings still feel calm, especially once you step away from the main pedestrian streets.

Where to Stay in Athens for First-Time Visitors

For a first trip to Athens, I would recommend staying in:

• Plaka
• Koukaki
• Syntagma

However, Plaka offers the best balance of atmosphere, location, and accessibility. We highly recommend A77 Suites by Andronis.

If you are going to slow down in Athens, your hotel needs to set the tone. A77 Suites by Andronis does exactly that. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, this intimate property sits on Adrianou Street in the heart of Plaka. It is one of the most storied streets in Athens, lined with Byzantine ruins, neoclassical buildings, and a surprising amount of quiet given how central it all is.

During my recent trip, I loved waking up early and wandering through the neighborhood before the crowds arrived. Athens feels completely different in the mornings. The streets are quieter, temperatures are cooler, and the city feels slower and more local before midday.

If possible, book a hotel or apartment with a rooftop terrace or Acropolis view. Seeing the Acropolis illuminated at night never gets old, even after multiple visits.

Best Things to Do in Athens for First-Time Visitors

Explore Plaka

Plaka is easily one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Athens. Expect narrow alleys, pastel buildings, bougainvillea-covered staircases, local boutiques, rooftop restaurants, and hidden cafes around nearly every corner.

The neighborhood is especially beautiful early in the morning before crowds arrive.

Visit the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is worth visiting, even if museums are not usually your priority while traveling.

The architecture is modern and beautifully designed, with natural light and direct views toward the Acropolis throughout the museum.

Start by booking your Acropolis Museum tickets for 2 PM. The museum closes at 8 PM most days in summer. That gives you a full two hours inside without rushing. The building itself is remarkable. It sits directly above an excavated archaeological site, visible through glass floors at the entrance. Work your way up through the collection floor by floor. The top floor Parthenon Gallery is the reason you are here. Original friezes are arranged in sequence alongside plaster casts of the pieces held in the British Museum. The effect of seeing the full narrative restored in one room is genuinely moving. Before you head up the hill, stop at the rooftop cafe. It looks directly at the Acropolis and is one of the better coffee stops in the area.

From the museum, walk up to the Acropolis. Aim to be at the entrance by 4:30 or 5 PM. We went up at 5 PM and it was close to perfect. By that point, the cruise ship groups have long since left. The afternoon heat has also broken. The light on the Pentelic marble is extraordinary at that hour, golden and long. It is completely different from the flat midday brightness that most visitors experience. As a result, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike all read differently at this time of day. You feel the scale of the place in a way that is harder to access when you are surrounded by crowds. One practical note: book timed entry tickets in advance through the official platform. Morning slots from April through October sell out weeks ahead. The 5 PM window is often easier to secure and, in my experience, far more beautiful.

Comfortable shoes are essential because the stone pathways can be slippery.

Walk Through Monastiraki

Monastiraki has a more energetic atmosphere with flea markets, rooftop bars, street performers, and late-night restaurants. It is touristy, but still worth visiting for the food scene and city energy.

Watch Sunset From a Rooftop Bar

Athens completely changes at night. Rooftop bars fill up quickly around sunset, especially those overlooking the Acropolis. Even if cocktails are overpriced, the views are worth it at least once.

Pro tip: take your time wandering here without an itinerary. Some of the best moments in Athens happen when you slow down and explore without rushing between landmarks.

Where We Ate in Athens

Taverna Saita, Kidathineon 21, Plaka, Athens 10558 Open daily

A classic Plaka koutouki that has been feeding the neighborhood since 1970, Taverna Saita operates out of a cozy dining room with wooden wine barrels and a tiny open kitchen, with tables that spill onto the marble-paved pedestrian street outside. On warm evenings, you eat under the stars while buskers play and the occasional chanting from the nearby Byzantine chapel drifts over. The menu is exactly what you want after a day on your feet: baked eggplant done from a family recipe, stuffed vine leaves, zucchini fritters with mint and yogurt, and a souvlaki special that justifies the walk alone. Order the house wine, order more than you think you need, and stay as long as they let you. This is the kind of taverna you describe to people when you get home.

The New Era Authentic Greek Cuisine Central Athens, near Monastiraki

Classic Greek done cleanly and without pretension. Baked feta, moussaka, souvlaki, Greek salad. Nothing overthought, everything done right. A good option when you want a straightforward, satisfying lunch between sights without navigating a reservation.

Arcadia Restaurant, Makrigianni 27, Athens 11742 Open daily from 8 AM

Time your museum visit to end with lunch at Arcadia, which sits directly opposite the Acropolis Museum on a pedestrian street that runs along the base of the hill. This is a proper neighborhood restaurant that has been serving traditional Greek food since 1977, drawing on recipes from the Arcadia region of the Peloponnese. The menu is extensive and entirely gluten free, which matters if that is relevant to your group. Order the stuffed eggplant, the shrimp saganaki, the kleftiko lamb if it is on the specials board, and fresh fried potatoes. The outdoor tables face the museum and the hill directly, and on a clear day the Acropolis is visible above the tree line. The service is warm and unhurried.

Onos Taverna, Drakou 14, Koukaki, Athens Daily 12 PM to 1 AM

Three blocks from the Acropolis Museum on the pedestrian stretch of Drakou Street, Onos is a family-run taverna that delivers exactly what you want after a morning of ruins and marble. We ordered the pork gyros and they were the kind you think about on the flight home. The menu runs wider than gyros though: lamb souvlaki, kleftiko, stuffed grape leaves, moussaka, fresh Greek salad. The outdoor seating on Drakou is relaxed and neighborhood-feeling in a way that is harder to find this close to the Acropolis. Prices are fair, the atmosphere is genuinely warm, and the food quality is consistently high. A strong lunch option on any day you are down in the Makrigianni and Koukaki area.

Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani, Sokratous 1 and Evripidou 52, near the Central Market, Athens 10552 Monday to Saturday 8 AM to 11 PM, closed Sunday

Half deli, half meze restaurant in a restored neoclassical building near the central market, drawing on the Karamanlides tradition: the Greek Orthodox communities of Cappadocia whose food sits at the crossroads of Greek and Anatolian culinary history. The counter is stacked with air-dried pastirma, sujuk, aged regional cheeses, and house-made charcuterie. At the table, order the stuffed vine leaves, the kavourma beef, the isli kefte, and a carafe of tsipouro. Reservations strongly recommended.

Street Souvlaki, Kolokotroni 30, Athens 10562 Sunday to Thursday 11:30 AM to 2 AM, Friday and Saturday 11:30 AM to 3 AM

When the only right answer is a souvlaki and you want it done well and fast. The pork is juicy, the pita is exactly right, and it is open until 2 AM on weekdays, which covers most situations.

Favorite Cafes in Athens

Tate Specialty Coffee, Central Athens

Small, minimalist, and entirely focused on the cup. Tate is a takeaway-first kind of place with only a couple of seats, but the coffee is precise and the team is genuinely warm. Perfect for grabbing an espresso before heading up to the flea market or the Agora in the morning.

In the Hood Bakery, Athens

A neighborhood bakery with real character. Pastries baked in-house, changing seasonally, strong coffee, and the kind of unhurried morning vibe that makes Athens feel like a city you could live in. The kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer before the day starts.

Where to go for Cocktails in Athens

The Clumsies, Praxitelous 30, Central Athens Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 2 AM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 4 AM

Consistently ranked among the world’s 50 best bars. Co-founded by award-winning bartenders Nikos Bakoulis and Vasilis Kyritsis, this all-day bar in a restored 1919 building is equal parts specialty coffee house, cocktail destination, and design experience. The cocktail list is genuinely creative, built around Greek ingredients including mastiha from Chios and Greek grape pomace spirits that you will not find in equivalent form anywhere else. The multi-room layout means you can always find a corner. Go for a late morning coffee, go for a late night, go twice if you can.

Best Rooftop Restaurants in Athens

One of the reasons I continue enjoying Athens so much is the rooftop dining scene.

Many restaurants and bars throughout Plaka and Monastiraki overlook the Acropolis. At sunset, the city begins glowing while the Acropolis lights up against the evening sky.

Reservations are highly recommended during peak season.

Some of my favorite memories from Athens are not necessarily the landmarks themselves, but long outdoor dinners with wine, seafood, warm air, and views across the city at night.

Point A at Herodion Hotel 4 Rovertou Galli Street, Makrigianni Open evenings May to October

Already covered under dinner, but worth repeating: this is the best Acropolis rooftop experience in Athens for anyone who wants a full dinner and drinks in an elegant setting rather than a crowded bar. Book it for the evening you come down from the ruins.

Art Lounge at New Hotel , 16 Filellinon Street, Syntagma

The rooftop bar at the New Hotel sits in a different register from the Monastiraki cluster. Quieter crowd, a well-curated wine list, and an Acropolis view that hits differently when the city starts to settle into the evening. The hotel itself is worth knowing: the building was the Olympic Palace, a mid-century modernist landmark reimagined by Brazilian design duo Fernando and Humberto Campana in collaboration with art collector Dakis Joannou. Old furniture, doors, and materials were salvaged and repurposed into walls, fixtures, and art installations throughout the property, and that same sensibility carries up to the rooftop. A short walk from Plaka and a good option when you want the view without the noise.

How Many Days You Need in Athens

For first-time visitors, I recommend:

• 2 full days in Athens before heading to the islands
• 3 days if you enjoy slower travel, museums, food, and neighborhoods

Many travelers underestimate Athens and only spend one night before taking a ferry to the islands. However, after visiting multiple times, I think the city deserves more time than most people give it.

Athens works best when you leave room for wandering between cafes, rooftop bars, historic sites, and neighborhoods without overplanning every hour.

Best Time to Visit Athens

Spring and early fall are ideal.

I visited Athens in May, and it was one of the best times to experience the city. The weather was warm but manageable, outdoor dining was lively, and the atmosphere felt energetic without becoming overwhelmingly crowded.

July and August are much hotter and busier. If visiting during peak summer, plan sightseeing early in the morning and slow down during the hottest afternoon hours.

What I Wore

Every outfit you see in these photos was chosen specifically for this trip, from what to wear on the plane to dinner on the last night. Shop my travel wardrobe and similar looks by destination on ShopMy.

What to Wear in Athens

Athens is far more stylish than many people expect.

Comfortable but elevated outfits work best, especially if you plan to move from daytime sightseeing into rooftop dinners at night.

For my Greece trip, I packed:

• Lightweight dresses
• Linen pants
• Comfortable sandals
• Neutral layers
• A lightweight sweater for evenings
• Sunglasses and a wide-brim or bucket hat

See what I recommend and pack on my curated list here.

Is Athens Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

After three visits, Athens continues to surprise me. The city blends ancient history, creative energy, rooftop dining, neighborhood culture, and modern design in a way that feels layered and authentic rather than overly polished.

For first-time visitors to Greece, Athens offers the perfect introduction before island hopping through the Cyclades.

Do not treat it as simply a stopover before Santorini or Mykonos. Give yourself time to actually experience the city beyond the major landmarks.

Need help planning Greece? Contact Nomoon Travel for custom Greece itineraries, boutique hotel recommendations, and island-hopping trips throughout Athens and the Cyclades.