Are you one of those travelers who, when visiting a new destination, enjoys devoting a day or two to exploring nearby places? Then this is the right article for you if Athens is your next destination.
Athens is one of those European capitals that won’t disappoint when looking for activities, excursions, and trips outside the city’s limits. Besides, Athens’ surrounding areas are packed with incredible archaeological sites, unique natural scenery, and some picturesque cities and islands.
In this article, you will find some of the best Athens day trips to explore the regions around the Greek capital.
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Quick links to the most popular day tours from Athens if you want to book an organized tour:
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Day Trip From Athens To Nearby Islands
There are quite a few islands located on the Argo-Saronic Gulf that are just a short sail away from Athens and can be great places for a seaside escape or to experience a little bit of that famous Greek island life that every Greece visitor brags about.
These are the best day trips from Athens to some of the islands closest to the coast.
Hydra
One of the closest islands to the coast of Athens is Hydra, a tiny, picturesque island about an hour from the port of Piraeus, easy to reach in a day.
Hydra is one of those Greek destinations where cars are banned (but also motorbikes, bicycles, etc.) so all transport must be done on foot or riding a donkey.
Worry not, though… the island is really small and it’s easy to walk around following the few paths and coastal roads that take you to paradisiac beaches.
It’s a good idea to get there early in the morning with a fast hydrofoil ferry and get back to Athens after sunset.
There are also organized tours of Hydra that help you make the most of this day trip.
An easy day trip from Athens is the island of Hydra
Aegina
Another nearby island, also on the Argo-Saronic Gulf, is Aegina.
A bit bigger than Hydra, the most beautiful landmarks on the island can be easily visited on a day as public transport (or taxis) is an efficient way to move around to reach the most famous attractions.
When on Aegina, don’t miss a visit to the Temple of Aphasia, considered the best-preserved Doric temple from Classic Greece in the country.
In Aegina, you should also try the local staple products, pistachios… and of course, purchase a few bags to bring back home as a souvenir!
On the island, it is also possible to explore the main town, with its street market and picturesque fishing port, or spend a few hours on the beach.
Getting to Aegina is easy from Piraeus. You will jump on the same high-speed boat that leaves for Hydra, and your sailing time will be about 1 hour.
Alternatively, there are daily trips leaving from Athens too. For instance, this tour also includes a stop in the small islet of Mono as well as a visit to the nearby Agistri Island.
You can take a tour to Aegina along with Poros and Hydra all in one day trip!
Three Islands in a Day: From Athens to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina
Probably the most popular boat trip leaving from the port of Piraeus is this well-known three-island cruise that takes you to explore not just Hydra and Aegina but also the other Saronic gem: Poros with its impressive beaches and lush pine tree forests.
This tour is quite difficult to replicate on your own, so we always recommend joining an organized tour that, for quite an affordable fee, manages to help you explore the best of three different Greek islands on the same day.
There are several cruises available, these are the three we recommend:
- One Day Cruise to Hydra – Poros – Aegina from Athens
- Athens 1-Day Cruise to Greek Islands: Poros – Hydra – Aegina with an audio guide
- Hydra, Poros, and Egina Day Cruise from Athens with Optional VIP Upgrade
Salamina Island
This lesser-known island on the Argo-Saronic Gulf receives far fewer visitors than the previous islands, which can be a true blessing if taking any of these trips in summer and you’re eager to get away from the crowds.
Salamina, known as Salamis in the past, is an important historic spot in the country where the ancient Greeks fought the Persians in 480 BCE.
You can either get to Salamina on your own with a boat or join an organized experience.
If you prefer independent trips, it is easy to reach Salamina via ferry from the Athenian port of Perama. Ferries depart every fifteen minutes, and you can get on board with your car too. The trip is less than 20 minutes.
Organized excursions instead can be stress-free as they often include hotel or cruise port pick-up services.
Once on the island, get ready to visit the ancient port, the Archaeological Museum of Salamis, or some of the best beaches on the island.
Spetses Island
Another gorgeous island destination for a day trip from Athens is Spetses, about three hours from Athens by boat.
There are daily ferry connections from Piraeus to Spetses via high-speed vessels.
Once on Spetses, devote some time to explore the waterfront promenade, with its impressive Neoclassical buildings, enjoy the views, colors, and fragrances on the old fishing port, and, later on, spend a few hours exploring the best beaches on the island.
If you’d like to join an organized cruise that takes you to Spetses and offers you activities including sightseeing, visits, and even some free time, then this tour is a good alternative.
Take a ferry ride for a beautiful day at Spetses Island from Athens
Day Trip from Athens to Mainland Destinations
As you might already know, there are dozens of incredible archaeological sites, historic places to visit, and unique natural wonders about one to three hours from Athens in all directions.
And choosing one from these many day trip destinations can be hard because once you start reading about them or looking at the pictures of such places, you will want to see them all!
Some are perfect for those interested in Greek history and mythology, while others are more suitable for those who love unique panoramas and breathtaking views.
And, in some lucky cases, some fantastic organized excursions combine more than just one place for you to see a bit of all.
In our opinion, these are some of the best day trips from Athens to other incredibly beautiful mainland destinations; take a look!
Meteora
One of the best trips from Athens is certainly Meteora, and even when some believe that you might need at least three days to see the best of the area, there is a good trick you can use to check out Meteora in a day: by train!
You can easily organize the tour yourself, starting early in the morning.
Reaching Athens Train Station and catching the early 7:50 train to Kalambaka from where it can be easy to hire a private transfer or a local tour service that takes you on a sightseeing tour to explore the impressive rock formations or to visit one or two of the most famous Meteora Monasteries.
There is a train that takes you back from Kalambaka to Athens at 18:35. You will reach the capital a few minutes before 11 pm.
If you prefer a day trip from Athens to Meteora that takes care of the whole day and transport, check out this tour option.
For a gorgeous day away from Athens take a one-day excursion to Meteora
Delphi
During your Delphi adventure, you’ll be able to explore some of the most fascinating myths and monuments of classical Greece, starting with a visit to the UNESCO-listed archeological site of Delphi, a city that was once considered the Center of the World.
During the day, you can admire the Temple of Apollo and check out the Delphi Archeological Museum. Nearby visits include a stop in the towns of Arachova and Levadia.
This is another trip that is easy to arrange on your own if you enjoy medium-distance bus trips. To get from Athens to Delphi, you can take the KTEL bus to Delphi from Liossion bus station in Athens. The trip is about 3 hours.
There are also trips including transportation that can save you the hassle and stress of relying only on public transport which, in Greece, can be quite disorganized.
Delphi is home to an important archeological site
Cape Sounion
One of the easiest day trips (or even half-day trips) from Athens is a visit to Cape Sounion and its imposing Temple of Poseidon. This trip can be made on your own by bus, or you can even combine it with a morning tour of the Acropolis in the center of town.
There are also organized trips that leave from the popular Syntagma Square in the center of Athens and take you back there at the end of the day.
If you had to choose what time of the day to visit, I vividly recommend getting to Sounion in the afternoon, as this is one of the most advantageous places to witness the sun setting over the Aegean.
This is one of the best Cape Sounion trips available, offering flexible departure hours and very affordable fees.
Take a day trip to Cape Sounion from Athens – try to plan it for a sunset view
Mycenae
Located only 120 kilometers from Athens, the archaeological ruins of Mycenae will take you back to the Bronze Age, when Mycenae played a key role in Greek history as the most important center of the ancient Mycenaean civilization.
On the site, you can admire ancient ramparts, the famous Lion’s Gate, and the Treasury of Atreus, all ruins in excellent condition despite dating to ancient times.
It is possible to get to Mycenae on your own from Athens by car or bus, taking the medium-distance bus for Napflio, departing from Kifissiou Station early in the morning (the trip is about 2 hours).
However, the best option is to join a guided tour, especially if it also offers a stop along the road to admire the Isthmus of Corinth or the incredibly beautiful city of Nafplio, the former capital of Greece.
Some full-day trips also include a stop in the Ancient Epidaurus.
For an interesting trip from Athens go to Mycenae and visit the archaeological ruins
Nafplio
You can also check out only Nafplio if you have already visited Mycenae or if archaeological sites are not your cup of tea!
This is a picturesque seaside town with an elegant main square, Venetian buildings, incredible Neoclassical mansions, and an amazing theater.
And if city views are not enough, there are also a couple of pristine shores in the area where you can easily spend a couple of hours before heading back to Athens.
You can get to Nafplio by bus, taking the KTEL Argolias bus from Peristeri. The trip to Nafplio is a bit more than 2 hours.
If you prefer an organized day trip, then you can check out this combined tour with a stop at the Corinth Canal and the Palamidi Castle along the journey.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, it can be difficult to decide what day trip from Athens to take, with so many choices! With destinations available for every kind of traveler, you do have tons of options. Whether you’re into history, art, museums, and archaeological sites, or if you prefer old, picturesque cities, monasteries, beaches, or even outdoor adventures, the regions around Athens will offer exactly what you want. So, have you made up your mind yet?
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About the Author
Gabi Ancarola is a translator and travel journalist living in Crete. She regularly writes about Europe for several magazines about travel, gastronomy, and hospitality. She has published several travel guides about Greece and plans customized trips to the Greek islands. She loves cooking local dishes, taking photos, and driving on the mountain roads of Crete.