Side quests
Day trips from Athens
3 easy escapes, most by public transport.
Photo: Stavros Kallis / Pexels · Pexels License
Heads-up: this page contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks. How we make money.
Athens is a good base for the coast, the islands and Delphi. Times are approximate; check the timetable for your date.
Side quest 1
Cape Sounion
The Temple of Poseidon on a cliff above the sea, best at sunset.
- How to get there
- KTEL coastal bus (suspended from 4 October 2026, check) or a tour
- Travel time
- About 2 hours by bus
Side quest 2
Aegina
An easy island day: harbour town, pistachios, beaches and the Temple of Aphaia.
- How to get there
- Ferry from Piraeus
- Travel time
- About 40 min (fast boat) to 1 h 25 (ferry)
Side quest 3
Delphi
The sanctuary of Apollo and its museum on Mount Parnassus. The ticket is €20 (2026, check hh.gr).
- How to get there
- KTEL bus from the Liosion terminal, or a tour
- Travel time
- About 2.5–3 hours each way
Get the free city map + checklist
A printable highlights map and 48-hour tick-off plan (Amsterdam, Porto, Prague and Edinburgh ready, more cities soon) plus our best money-saving tips, straight to your inbox. One useful email a week at most. Unsubscribe any time.
By signing up you agree to receive emails from us. See our privacy policy.