Day Trips from Athens: The Best Excursions Around Athens

Just mentioning Athens evokes centuries of history and evocative images: temples, archaeological ruins, ancient cities thousands of years distant from our modern civilization. Athens, the capital of Greece, offers an incredibly interesting journey into Greek history, and provides unique emotions thanks to its numerous attractions. But its surroundings are equally unique and can be appreciated through day trips! The most famous archaeological sites and the most picturesque landscapes are actually found outside the city, immersed in nature. Let's discover together the best day trips around Athens!

A trip to Delphi is truly an experience not to miss during your visit to Athens. Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, north of Athens, surrounded by wild nature, the ancient city of Delphi hosts the ruins of the Temple of Apollo from the 4th century BC, where the famous oracle was located. One of the simplest ways to reach it is through a guided tour from Athens.

Within the site, you can admire numerous ruins from various periods of ancient Greek history that were forgotten for centuries before being rediscovered in the 1400s by Cyriacus of Ancona. This beautiful site truly deserves a full day.

The Saronic Islands make up a beautiful archipelago located in the Gulf of Saronic, off the coast of Athens and around the Argolid peninsula. The main islands are Salamina, Aegina, Hydra, Poros, Spetses, Dokos, and Agistri. The most convenient way to visit them is with a 1-day organized cruise from Athens, allowing you to see the most interesting points and the most beautiful beaches. Alternatively, another very easy and economical option is with the ferry. You can get a 5% discount by entering the code FERRY365 reserved for our users.

The islands indeed feature beautiful rocky coasts that slope into crystal-clear waters, making it a joy to swim in these waters and experience the dreamy atmosphere of these charming and peaceful islands.

The best way to visit these three ancient cities is with a guided tour from Athens.

The archaeological site of Mycenae, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the Argolid peninsula, in an exceptional position very close to beautiful beaches. According to legend, it was Perseus who founded the city, but many other legends are woven around this site, as it was of great importance in the Bronze Age. Its history spans centuries and sees numerous dynasties commanding it until its decline.

The archaeological site was only discovered starting in 1841, when excavations began. The first notable find was the spectacular Lion Gate, which you can appreciate within the acropolis. Later, excavations resumed under Heinrich Schliemann, who, guided by Homer's description, sought the city identified as ancient Troy. This led to the discovery of numerous tombs of the kings of Mycenae and, in particular, the iconic golden mask of Agamemnon, found within the funeral attire and featured in all school textbooks. Numerous organized tours are available that combine the visit with the theater of Epidaurus, just a few kilometers from Mycenae, another archaeological gem.

Corinth is an ancient city that, according to mythology, was founded by a descendant of the sun god! It is absolutely worth visiting.

South of Athens, separating the Saronic Gulf from the Gulf of Petalioi, is Cape Sounion, a truly captivating place perched on the Greek coast. Surely because of its privileged position and the fabulous sea landscape, magnificent temples were built here in ancient times, namely for Poseidon and Athena Sounion.

The steep cliffs of Cape Sounion plunge into the crystal-clear waters of the sea, and from here, you can admire the islands of the Saronic Gulf in the distance. It is not surprising to think that a temple dedicated to the god of the sea was built in front of this idyllic landscape, with ruins that are, of course, visitable, standing out against the deep blue. Here, you can have a wonderful day by the sea and enjoy excursions to discover the ancient temples. We also recommend extending your visit to Cape Sounion to see the stunning sunset over the sea.

The ancient city of Corinth can also be included in another excursion, situated on the namesake canal that connects the Aegean and Ionian seas. In this magical place, the apostle Paul lived and preached for two years, so if you are interested in religious events, this trip will be for you.

You can visit it together with the Daphni Monastery, a beautiful example of Byzantine architecture from the 11th century included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inside, you can admire stunning mosaics.

Then, in Corinth, you can explore the ancient city, the 1st-century workshops, the remains of the agora where Paul was tried, and the ruins of the places where the apostle carried out his preaching activities. In this important archaeological site, you can also see the Temple of Apollo and the Pirene Fountain.

This archaeological site, located in the Peloponnese peninsula, is a bit farther from Athens, but considering its significance for the entire history of humanity, it is worth a visit, perhaps combining it with that of Corinth, which can mostly be done in the morning. Here in Olympia, in fact, the very first Olympic Games were organized and held, which give the games their name and which still engage teams from around the world in a traditional challenge to represent healthy and peaceful values. You can visit the Temple of Zeus, the stadium, the Temple of Hera, and many other important monuments.

You can visit by taking a ferry from Piraeus in Athens. Get a 5% discount on ferries by entering the code FERRY365 reserved for our users.

This location is not very close to Athens, but once you see the breathtaking landscape, you will feel rewarded for the long journey. The best way to visit Meteora is with a guided excursion from Athens. In this green valley north of Greece, near the town of Kalambaka, a group of ascetics established themselves in the 14th century and built with enormous sacrifices a total of 24 monasteries atop imposing cliffs that rise vertically from the ground to protect themselves from the Turkish attacks. These monasteries were, in fact, impregnable.

Today, unfortunately, only 6 monasteries remain, the most important of which is called Grand Meteora, but it is still a significant center for the Greek Orthodox Church. For this reason, we recommend appropriate clothing for entering the monasteries.