Things To Do In Athens: Your One-Day Cruise Excursion Guide
How to Make the Most of Athens, Greece
By Claire Heginbotham | Published on January 27, 2026
There’s no shortage of things to do in Athens on a Greek vacation. Even if you only have one day in Athens from a cruise, with some planning, you can still experience many of the city’s top sights as part of your itinerary.
The Greek capital has a history of more than 3,400 years to entertain you. Once home to Plato, the "father of Western philosophy," the birthplace of the first democracy, and the first higher education institution in the West, Athens never ceases to impress. The striking mix of marbled buildings built centuries ago and the bustling modern city makes Athens a place where the old doesn't just meet the new — it crashes together in one giant melting pot of history and culture.
Key Takeaways for One Day in Athens
- ● With good planning, you can explore Athens in a single day from the cruise port of Piraeus.
- ● The Acropolis is a must-see, featuring the Parthenon, Erechtheion and Temple of Athena Nike.
- ● Don’t miss the Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, and Hadrian’s Library for a step back into classical history.
- ● Markets like Monastiraki and the Plaka offer food, shopping and a break from the midday heat.
- ● End your visit with modern Athens highlights like Syntagma Square and the changing of the guard.
- ● Stop at Mandragoras Spice Market near the port to pick up edible souvenirs before boarding.
- ● Book your Greek Isles adventure with Royal Caribbean and make Athens a highlight of your journey.
Morning: Arrival and Ancient Wonders
Port of Piraeus
Part of the Saronic Gulf, the Athens, Greece, Port of Piraeus was the main port of Athens and one of the oldest ports of ancient times. It was built when the city of Piraeus was founded in the early fifth century B.C. and is now one of the largest ports in Europe. This is your gateway to Athens' most popular attractions and surrounding islands.
Piraeus is a bustling city with plenty to explore. When I arrived, I ensured I was wearing my comfiest walking shoes and set out to discover what hidden gems the port had to offer. Here's my recommended itinerary for exploring the port:
- ● First, wander over to the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, which has artifacts that date back thousands of years to the beginning of a distinctive Greek culture.
- ● Next door to this museum are the impressive ruins of the Ancient Theatre of Zea, which were excavated almost 200 years ago. It's humbling to realize that 19th-century archeologists found these ruins!
- ● Not too far away is another museum I highly recommend if you're interested in anything ocean-related: the Hellenic Maritime Museum. Its wall is home to an engaging collection of books, maps, flags, and weaponry.
- ● Lastly, if you're on your way back to your cruise ship, stop at Mandragoras Spice Market — a locally owned collection of shops overflowing with spices and traditional Greek foodie delights.
A quick tip: If you want to follow this route, consider taking a 90-minute walking tour from cruise port Terminal A. Once finished, it's a short walk to the metro. Catch the free shuttle buses to the train station to explore the port after the city. The trip from Athens to Piraeus' port takes around 45 minutes.
The Acropolis
As a frequent traveler, I find that nothing has the gravitas of a temple. Athens contains three of the most important temples in Greece, and, luckily for busy cruise travelers who have only one day in Athens, they're all on one hill: the Acropolis.
To visit the Acropolis, you must purchase a ticket online or in person, or check out the tours in Athens, Greece, from the cruise port and find a guide. I recommend buying your ticket online, entering at the side gate and visiting in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds. You can easily spend hours here looking over the city, but most groups plan for two to three hours to see all three temples and the surrounding area. To get to the Acropolis from the Athens, Greece, cruise port, subway, bus and taxi services are available.
The Parthenon
The Parthenon is perhaps one of the best things to do in Greece. It dominates the hillside of the Acropolis and was the chief shrine of Athena, a goddess, and patron of Athens. The exterior is built entirely of marble and, surprisingly, for such a blocky structure, contains no straight lines. So genius was ancient Greece's desire for visual harmony that the building was constructed with bowed and angled lines to create the optical illusion of a perfectly perpendicular structure.
The Erechtheion
The Erechtheion was built to house religious rituals and the many shrines over the ground it covered. One of the most exciting things about the Erechtheion is its complex ancient architecture, which is spread over uneven terrain. The east side of the temple was dedicated to Athena, and the west side to Poseidon Erechtheus (a patron saint). On Erechtheus's side was a rock that bore the marks of being struck with Poseidon's trident during a contest with Athena. The temple also contained a sacred olive tree said to be a gift to Greece from Athena.
The Temple of Athena Nike
Perhaps the most underrated temple, the Temple of Athena Nike, is dedicated to the worship of Athena and the goddess of victory, Nike, who was worshiped here in times of war. This is the smallest temple on the Acropolis hill and lies next to the impressive Propylaea gateway. This little temple is unique in many ways compared to its neighbors. Most notable is the smaller ratio of the column size to the building. Modern architects theorize that the larger columns were designed to keep in harmony with the giant columns of the Propylaea gateway. Visiting this temple requires a bit of a climb, but it is worth it once you get to the top.
Late Morning: Ancient Agoras and Roman History
The Ancient Agora of Athens
The Greek origin of the word Agora means "to congregate," and there were two places in the city center that were dedicated hot spots for public speaking, administration and commerce: Ancient Agora and Roman Agora.
The Ancient Agora of Athens is a short subway ride from the Athens cruise port. It is mostly an archaeological site today, but your first visit is not just about the views. It's about standing on the same ground as Sophocles, Socrates, Protagoras and other great philosophers and politicians. Here, governance and culture were discussed, argued and improved. I highly recommend walking into the Temple of Hephaestus, one of the best-preserved temples in Greece.
The Roman Agora
Just next to the Ancient Agora is the Roman Agora, a building funded by Augustus and Julius Caesar. The Roman Agora was an open-air courtyard marketplace once full of shops. Nearby is Hadrian's Library, constructed by Roman Emperor Hadrian in his rebuilding of Athens. Back in 132 A.D., when the building was erected, libraries were used as administrative hubs and places of learning. Today, some of the entrance facade and the walls are still standing, giving you a brief peek into what it might have been like to attend an ancient Roman lecture here.
Afternoon: Markets and Food Culture
The City of Athens
Athens is pleasant all year round, and if you visit Athens in the summer as I did, you can expect some seriously high temperatures in the 90-degree zone, so be prepared to wear loose and breezy clothes. That said, you may need to take a break from sightseeing in the heat to pop into some shops and cafes.
You don't even need to enjoy shopping to enjoy the many marketplaces of Athens — there's a beautiful variety of street food, coffee shops and casual luncheons. Head to these vibing marketplaces for a few hours of indulgence, sipping on “ouzo” (a potent liquor fondly referred to as "mother's milk" by Greeks), enjoying the best “tzatziki,” olives and wines, and browsing souvenirs.
Monastiraki
One of the most fascinating travel facts about Greece relates to the Monastiraki neighborhood. This neighborhood has been inhabited for 6,000 consecutive years. Visit the quaint Church of the Pantanassa, one of the oldest churches in Greece, and just one minute away from Monastiraki station. If you're lucky enough to be in Athens on a Sunday and love bargain hunting, don't miss the Monastiraki flea market.
The Plaka
The Plaka lies on top of ancient Athens' residential quarters and is packed with stores perfect for souvenir shopping. It's a bit more upmarket than Monastiraki and is an easy place to spend a warm afternoon devouring plates of mezze (Greek tapas). If you pass by the Plaka during lunch, you'll find so many restaurants and taverns serving the best traditional food. I loved most the tight and twisting alleys of the Plaka, which were lined with old-school cafés and bright pink bougainvillea flowers.
Evening: Modern Athens
At the fringe of the Plaka is Syntagma Square. The name translates to "Constitution Square," and it houses the Hellenic Parliament building, which foreign visitors can check out for free. One of the top attractions is the ceremonial changing of the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These sentinels are considered the elite of the elite and wear an army uniform reminiscent of soldiers in the late 1800s.
Return to the Port of Piraeus
As your one-day Athens adventure winds down, make your way back to the port with time to spare before boarding. On the way, stop by the Mandragoras Spice Market, where stalls overflow with colorful spices, teas, herbs and traditional Greek treats. It’s the perfect spot to pick up edible souvenirs — think oregano, saffron or locally made olive oil — so you can bring a taste of Greece back with you. From here, it’s just a short walk to your cruise ship and a well-earned evening of relaxation.
Ready to Plan Your Greek Isles Adventure?
In a packed port-of-call itinerary, you have to be a master of logistics! With careful planning, it’s possible to see the Acropolis, the ancient agoras, lively markets and pick up a few spices from Piraeus — all in a single day. Athens day trips deserve a few days of your time, so it's best to stay in Athens before or after your cruise to get the full experience.
With a few extra days, you can see more of the National Archaeological Museum. Of more than 11,000 exhibits, only five collections are permanent. This is a great place to escape the summer heat and spend a few hours soaking up the enormously rich history of Greece.
Whether you experience Athens in a whirlwind day or linger longer to dive deeper, this city is an unforgettable highlight of any Greek Isles adventure.
