There’s an endless list of cheap things to do in Athens, and it does depend on what you’re interested in. I knew I would as I’m interested in history. So I immediately fell in love with Athens when I visited with my partner. As a Londoner, I see history wherever I walk in my city, and Athens is no different. The ancients mingled with the present day as I explored Athens and it felt like I was walking a fine line between time.
I would walk along a cobblestoned road, and between two buildings unfolds an archaeological site, once forgotten but now remembered. A lot of people pass these small sites by, but next time stop and read the plaques. Importantly, read them. Imagine what it must’ve looked like in all its splendour, and the people that walked the same route as you.
History comes alive and unquestionably makes an experience much more memorable. The city is saturated with this history, theatre, and art, and there is no shortage of things to see and do.
So without further ado, here is a list of things to explore in Athens. They are all cheap or free to do, so it won’t break the bank! They are full of interesting little facts too. Some of them are quite touristic, some not so, and some you may walk straight past without realising their fascination.
That’s the great thing about reading about a place before you visit – make sure you find everything you want! It’s an uncomfortable feeling when you read about something really interesting after you have already left
Cheap things to do in Athens
1. Magic Sphere of Helios
Firstly, one of the more mystical things to do in Athens is to contemplate the Magic Sphere of Helios. Located in the Acropolis Museum, this marble sphere has been quite enigmatic with its true purpose. What’s more, it dates back to the Roman period, around 3AD. It was found in the Theatre of Dionysus, on the slopes of the Acropolis, in 1866. At first, people had no clue what it was. What was a weird-looking sphere doing in a sporting theatre? Historians think the figure is Helios, the God of the Sun. Sitting at his feet are two dogs which are thought to represent two stars, Sirius and Procyon.
Uniquely, it’s also decorated with a variety of symbols, from alchemical to geometrical. Interestingly a word can be seen on the sphere, “ΑΙΘΗΡ”, meaning “Ether” in Greek. This hints at something to do with the natural elements. Some researchers believe that the sphere might have been used in magical rituals by those hoping to win in the arena. Definitely weird.
Cost: Summer = €10. Winter = €5.
Location: The Acropolis Museum. First floor, north side. Note – the museum is not included in the Acropolis ticket, it is a separate entry outside the Acropolis.
2. Tower of the winds
When looking for cheap things to do in Athens, it’s worth visiting the first meteorological station in the world. Built in the second century BC, the structure is octagonal, and dedicated to the eight wind Gods of Ancient Greece. Atop the tower used to sit a bronze weather vane of the Greek Messenger of the Sea Triton. His hand used to point in the direction the wind was blowing. It’s had several uses over time, including a Christian church and a place of worship by Sufi Muslim Whirling Dervishes. This is not uncommon for such buildings and places of worship in Athens.
What makes this tower special, however, is that it’s made from pentelic marble, like the Parthenon. It was rare for this marble to be used for anything other than temples. This was a temple dedicated to Time.
To find the Temple of the Winds, you will need to purchase a ticket for the Roman Agora. This agora in itself is fascinating to visit, and it’s easy to imagine the bustling life that was once here.
Price: €8
Location: Polignotou 3, Athina 105 55, Athens.
3. First cemetery of Athens
Thirdly, as it’s claimed the first cemetery of Athens, it is the first cemetery of modern Athens. It was built in 1837 and is the city’s official cemetery. The tombstones are grandiose, just like the people buried there. It’s the final resting place of many prestigious Greek figures, like politicians, artists, and actors. The mausoleums are surrounded by the beautiful park of the cemetery, making it an amazing walk through history and nature. It’s a beautiful place for a stroll, much like Highgate cemetery in London.
There is also reportedly a ghost that haunts the cemetery, which is of course custom for every graveyard. It’s said the ghost is of an undertaker who used to argue with co-workers about carrying funeral wreaths. He worked there until his death and has been seen roaming around wearing a wreath around his neck. Spend some time wandering through the tombstones, and see the lives of the individuals who once lived in Athens.
Cost: Free.
Location: Logginou 3, Athina, 116 36.
4. Dromeas
If you like public art, then this one is definitely for you. The Running Man stands 12 metres tall and is made entirely of broken, jagged glass. It looks like it’s running towards the Byzantine and Christian museum. Made by Costas Varotsos in 1994, it originally stood in Omonia Square. But people became worried that the vibrations from the nearby underground metro would cause bits of glass to break off. Which is fair enough, it does look pretty pointy. So it was moved to its current place where it now happily runs on the spot, unhindered.
It’s a testament to Athen’s history of running, with the story of Pheidippides’s run from the Battle of Marathon well known. If you look down you can see some small bits of glass that have broken off over time, but you are safe. Is anyone suddenly in the mood for running a marathon? Nah, me neither!
Cost: Free.
Location: Leof. Vasilissis Sofias 61, Athina 115 21.
5. Agia Dynamis
It’s normal to walk around Athens among modern buildings, and suddenly find an old church tucked in between buildings. Sometimes, modern buildings are just built right over the top, instead of going around it. The Ekklesia Agia Dynamis – The Holy Power of the Virgin – is nestled underneath the Electra Metropolis Hotel.
It was built in the 16th century over the ruins of an ancient temple to Hercules. The name refers to the Virgin Mary so that all Athenian women would give birth to strong children. It’s a very small building, but its history is not so. Under the floor is said to be a cave stretching back 15 metres, which leads to a tunnel. This tunnel is said to go all the way to the Kaissariani area. Interestingly, another one is said to lead to the Acropolis.
Legend has it that during the Turkish occupation, the priests hid precious treasures, documents, and archives. These were, however, all lost during the invasion of the Turks under Omer Vryonis. In 1963, a bell tower was built over the tunnel to seal it up. So the stories turn into legends.
Cost: Free.
Location: Voulis, Athina 105 5.
6. Syntagma Square metro station
Another one of my cheap things to do in Athens is to visit here. Syntagma Square is a busy area with a busy metro station. When ticking off your “things to do in Athens” list, you will most likely pass through here. What a lot of people miss in their hectic commute is it’s a historical site. Athens is filled to the brim with archaeological sites. There is no better combination of the new mixing with the old than here. When building Athens’ first subway, engineers worked alongside archaeologists in what was the largest excavation in the city’s history.
The result – a cross-section of the ground that allows you to see back to prehistoric times. It holds the secrets of the city, built up over the centuries, allowing a glimpse into past lives. Within the station is a small museum holding some of the found artifacts. Take the time to look next time you pass through, and think about the layers of time you travel through.
Cost: Free.
7. Little Kook
Next up is Little Kook. I’ve mentioned Little Kook cafe before because it’s just such an amazing place. It changes seasonally so there’s always a reason to keep going back. When I visited Athens it was during Autumn, so I was treated to the Halloween theme. The cafe makes great coffee and desserts, and it’s always an experience of the senses. Atop the building sits a dragon that stands sentry all year round. It’s quirky and fun, and always Insta-worthy. During the summertime, it’s great to sit at the tables that spill out onto the surrounding small streets.
Even the staff have seasonal uniforms, although I’m not sure they’re too happy about that! It seems like a place I would work. It’s nestled in the Psyri area of Athens which is beautiful to wander around. It’s always a fun thing to do in Athens! Just don’t catch it on the weekend when they close it to re-decorate, like I did!
Cost: Free to see the outside. Buy a coffee for the experience.
Location: Karaiskaki 17, Athina 105 54.
8. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and changing of the guard
A further attraction is located in Syntagma Square, in front of the Hellenic Parliament building, sits a tomb. It’s a monument honouring all Greek soldiers who were killed in war, and is dedicated to every soldier. It was finished in 1932 by sculptor Fokion Rok, and is guarded by soldiers of the Presidential Guard called Evzones. Every hour there is a changing of the guard which is a small ceremony. Undeniably the best time to see it is at 11am on Sundays, where there is a larger ceremony with a band that marches alongside. It’s a really interesting site to see!
Everything these traditional soldiers do is steeped in history. From their uniform to their march, and the modern-looking soldier who makes sure their uniform is constantly perfect.
Cost: Free.
Location: Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 133, Athina 105 57.
9. Museum of Cycladic art
This museum is a great gem of a find. Near the Dromeas, the building itself is beautiful to look at, with its white walls and grand entranceway. It houses the collection of Nicholas and Dolly Goulandris, who were interested in prehistoric art from the Cyclades Islands of the Aegean Sea. This was around the early bronze age, 3,000 BC. Since then the collection has flourished.
Each floor takes you through a different era, transporting you through time. It’s a fascinating insight into how the art depicted everyday life, and it’s explained beautifully throughout. The artful figurines are carved from marble and were originally colourfully painted, but now these figures are pearly white in their stand cases. Here is the “Vase Pigeon”, a female figurine with a height of 1.4 metres. This makes it the second largest in the world!
After a wander, the cafe is a lovely place to rest momentarily before continuing your exploration of the city.
Cost: €7.
Location: Neofitou Douka 4, Athina 106 74.
10. Kapnikarea church
Lastly, this Greek Orthodox church is one of the oldest churches in Athens. It sits in the middle of the shopping complex on Ermou Street. Nestled within modern clothing shops, it’s also known as the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Quite a mouthful, that one. It’s said to have been built around 1050 and was built over the temple of either Athena or Demeter. This was common practice to build over temples, especially in Greece. As I entered, the warm sunshine outside seemed to disappear. The interior is simplistic and beautiful, with elegant paintings covering every surface. It was quiet, and quite dark, lending to an atmosphere that I only feel when I’m in a church. Especially an old one such as this.
The building itself has three different parts – the southern part is the main church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary; the northern part is the chapel dedicated to Agia Varvara; and the western side is the exonarthex.
Cost: Free.
Location: Ermou 55, Kapinkareas 2, Athina 105 63.
So, these are my 10 cheap things to do in Athens! There’s so much to see and do in this beautifully historic city that it’s hard to cover everything. It’s easy to do it on a budget and still experience Athens. If you want more advice on how to visit Athens on a budget, I’ve written a handy article here. You may also want to read this article for some tasty tips on gyros!
Explore, and ultimately find your gems. You never know when you will stumble across one.
These are some great ideas! Athens is on my bucket list and I’d love to visit some of these places! Tower Of The Winds looks amazing and such a fascinating place! I also have a weird obsession with cemeteries so would likely end up there too! Thanks for the great guide!
I’m so glad someone else shares my interest in cemeteries! I hope you get to visit these incredible places, I would love to hear your opinion of them.