Day trips from Athens: 10 destinations within reach, with times and tips
After two or three days in Athens, it is worth leaving the city. Here are ten day trips, from the nearest (Sounion, Aegina) to the longest (Delphi, Meteora), with travel times and how to get there.
- Closest and easiest: Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, about an hour away, best at sunset.
- An island for a day: Aegina (under an hour by fast boat) or Hydra (about 1–1¼ hours by fast boat).
- Longer trips: Delphi (just over two hours), Nafplio and Mycenae (about two hours), Meteora (about four hours each way; better to stay overnight).
With a rental car you can combine two places in a day (for example Mycenae and Nafplio). Without a car, choose an organised tour or a boat to the islands. On Sundays and holidays, check site and museum opening hours.
Day trips from Athens at a glance
| Destination | Distance / time from Athens | How to get there | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Sounion | 62 km, about 1 hour | Car, bus or tour | Everyone, sunset |
| Marathon | 44 km, about 1 hour | Car | History |
| Corinth Canal & Nemea | 86 km to Corinth, about 1 hour | Car | A stop on the way, wine |
| Nafplio, Mycenae & Epidaurus | 139 km to Nafplio, about 2 hours | Car or tour | History, a pretty town |
| Delphi | Just over 2 hours | Car or tour | An impressive ancient site |
| Arachova & Mt Parnassos | About 2 hours to Arachova | Car | Winter, skiing |
| Aegina | Under 1 hour by fast boat from Piraeus | Boat | Beach, pistachios |
| Hydra | About 1–1¼ hours by fast boat | Boat | A car-free island |
| Evia | 82 km to Chalkida | Car | Nature and sea |
| Meteora | 368 km, about 4 hours | Car, train or tour | Views, monasteries (stay overnight) |
Distances from Discover Greece. Times vary with traffic and season.
Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon
The classic trip: drive along the Athens Riviera to the temple on a cliff above the sea. It is most beautiful towards sunset. On the way, stop at Lake Vouliagmeni or one of the Riviera beaches.
Nafplio, Mycenae and Epidaurus
A full day in the Peloponnese: visit ancient Mycenae, stop at the theatre of Epidaurus and finish in Nafplio, a pretty port town with a fortress and picturesque streets. You pass the Corinth Canal on the way and can stop on the bridge. See our Nafplio guide.
Delphi
The famous oracle site on the slopes of Mt Parnassos above a valley of olive trees. The drive is just over two hours each way. You can add the village of Arachova, and in winter the Parnassos ski centre, about half an hour above it.
Aegina and Hydra: an island for a day
- Aegina: the nearest island. A fast boat from Piraeus takes under an hour. It has the Temple of Aphaia, beaches and the pistachios it is famous for. See ferry to Aegina.
- Hydra: a car-free island with a picturesque harbour and stone houses. A fast boat takes about 1–1¼ hours. See ferry to Hydra.
In summer there are also organised day cruises visiting three islands (Aegina, Poros and Hydra).
Meteora: possible in one day?
Possible but tiring: about four hours' drive each way. It is better to stay one night in Kalambaka. See our Meteora guide.
Day trips with kids
- Best: Aegina (beach plus a boat ride), Sounion (short), Nafplio (fortress and old town).
- Less suitable: Meteora in a single day, and Delphi in the July–August heat.
- See also Athens with kids.
Tips
- A car: the most flexible option. See renting a car in Greece.
- Opening hours and tickets: archaeological sites open early. In summer arrive early, before the heat.
- Strikes: seamen's strikes affect boats to the islands. Check today's strikes.
FAQ
What is the easiest day trip from Athens? Cape Sounion: about an hour's drive along the coast, and you can add a swim or Lake Vouliagmeni on the way.
Can you do Delphi as a day trip from Athens? Yes. The drive is just over two hours each way, which leaves enough time for the site, the museum and a meal in Arachova or Delphi village.
Which island is best for a day trip from Athens? Aegina, because it is the closest (under an hour by fast boat). Hydra is a little further but is considered prettier.
Can you do Meteora in one day from Athens? Possible, but it means about eight hours of driving. It is better to stay one night in Kalambaka.
