Daphni Monastery
11th-century Byzantine monastery in Greece.
Set apart from the centre, this one repays an early start. The 11th-century mosaics inside are the reason to make the trip.
Morning · 1 hr 30 minDay 1
A monastery, a square and two western hills
Monastiraki
Square and neighborhood in Athens, Greece.
The square is the meeting point of several routes, and the neighbourhood around it holds the flea market, best taken as a wander rather than a plan.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Choragic Monument of Lysicrates
Ancient Greek choragic monument in Athens.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 min
Philopappos Monument
Ancient Greek mausoleum in Muses hill in Athens.
Go up as the day cools. The monument stands on the hill opposite the Acropolis, with the city spread out below.
Evening · 1 hr 30 minReach Daphni Monastery in the first hours of the day; the afternoon and evening stops sit close together on the west side of the old city.
Day 2
Plato's ground, a Roman library and Pnyx hill
Platonic Academy
Ancient philosophical, research and educative center, founded by Plato in Athens.
Little of the original academy stands, so come for the place itself and the story of Plato's school, then continue on foot.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Hadrian's Library
Roman library in Athens.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Pnyx
Hill and archaeological site in Athens.
Part of the point is the westward view over Athens; keep a few minutes to stand where citizens once gathered.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 min
Benaki Museum
Museum in Kolonaki, Athens, Greece.
The whole of Greek history sits under one roof here, which makes it a calm place to end a day. It is fine to leave rooms unseen.
Evening · 2 hrThe Benaki Museum works best at each person's own speed; it is fine to skip rooms and linger where the day has built curiosity.
Day 3
Graveyard, agora and an evening of treasures
Kerameikos
Ancient graveyard and neighborhood in Athens.
The ancient cemetery is quieter than the central sites, which suits the first hour of the morning.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Ancient Agora of Athens
Major archaeological site of Athens.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Ancient theater in Athens Acropolis.
The theatre is usually taken in from the walkways above rather than entered, so pause on the way between the agora and the museum.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 min
National Archaeological Museum of Athens
Museum in Athens, Greece.
Large enough that a two-hour visit should be planned. Pick the rooms the family cares about and leave the rest for another time.
Evening · 2 hrDecide before entering which rooms of the National Archaeological Museum matter most, so the two hours cover what the family came for.
Day 4
The Acropolis by day, its museum by night
Temple of Athena Nike
Ancient Greek temple built in the fifth century CE on the Acropolis of Athens in honor of Athena as the goddess of victory, located in Athens Municipality, Greece.
The little temple stands at the entrance gateway of the Acropolis; pause at it before passing through, while the rock is still quiet.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Erechtheion
Ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens.
The porch of the Caryatids faces the morning light; the temple itself gathers several older shrines under one roof.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Theatre of Dionysus
Ancient theater in the Acropolis of Athens.
The oldest theatre of the city sits on the lower slope of the Acropolis; walking the curve of the stone seating tells more than any sign.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 min
Acropolis Museum
Museum in Athens, Greece.
Its upper gallery faces the Acropolis, and the glass floor shows the excavation below. Pieces from the morning's walk sit in these cases.
Evening · 2 hrStart at the top of the rock while it is quieter, then let the sloped path carry the day down to the Acropolis Museum in the evening.
Day 5
Zeus's temple, Syntagma and the marble stadium
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Ancient Greek temple in Athens.
The columns stand in the shadow of the Acropolis; with a half hour, a slow circuit of the perimeter is the way to take it.
Morning · 1 hr 30 min
Syntagma Square
Square in Athens, Greece.
A brief stop with a clear purpose: the square faces Parliament, and the metro beneath makes it an easy hinge in the day.
Morning · 45 min
Lyceum
Public meeting place in Classical Athens.
Little remains above ground, so the visit is about the site and its place in the city; it sits a short walk from the stadium.
Afternoon · 1 hr 30 min
Panathenaic Stadium
Stadium in Athens, Greece.
Built in marble and the finishing line of the modern marathon, a short stay near the top of the stands is enough.
Evening · 45 minThe day ends where the marathon does; arrive at the Panathenaic Stadium as the evening light reaches the marble.
Good to know
Is Athens doable in five days with a family?
Yes. This pace pairs a morning site with an afternoon site and a shorter evening stop, with the Acropolis split across two days so no single day feels crowded.
Are the ancient sites close to each other?
Most lie within walking distance in the centre. Daphni Monastery is the one stop that needs a short ride outside town, which is why it sits first on the opening day.
Which museums does this itinerary cover?
The Benaki Museum and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens come on days two and three; the Acropolis Museum closes the fourth day, after the monuments its galleries overlook.
What should we bring for April days in Athens?
Walking shoes, water and sun protection. April days are mild but the rock of the Acropolis and the hills are fully in the open.
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