Things to Do in Athens in April

The trails winding from the Acropolis south entrance up to the Philopappou Monument pass through thick carpets of red poppies, wild chamomile, and purple vetch in April. The path is about 1.5 km each way, mostly packed dirt with some stone steps. From the top, the Parthenon sits directly at eye level across the saddle.

Booking tipNo booking needed. Go before 9:00 AM to avoid midday warmth and catch the best light on the Parthenon from the summit.

On Easter Saturday night, congregations gather outside churches across Athens. At midnight, the priest emerges with a single flame, passed candle to candle through the crowd. Firecrackers and fireworks erupt, and people greet each other with 'Christos Anesti.' The Church of Agios Dionysios in Kolonaki and the Metropolitan Cathedral in Syntagma are two of the larger gatherings, but neighborhood churches in Pangrati and Koukaki feel more intimate.

Booking tipArrive at least 45 minutes early to get a spot near the church entrance. Bring a candle or buy one from the vendors outside.

The Ancient Agora, the civic heart of classical Athens, spreads across 12 hectares below the Acropolis. The Stoa of Attalos, rebuilt in the 1950s, houses the Agora Museum. The Temple of Hephaestus, the best-preserved Doric temple in Greece, sits on the western hill. In April, pomegranate and almond trees are flowering among the ruins.

Booking tipThe multi-site archaeological pass covers the Agora. Buy it at a smaller site like the Roman Agora or Kerameikos where the queue is shorter.

The Pnyx hill, where Athenian citizens voted in the 5th century BCE, faces directly east toward the Acropolis. At sunset, the Parthenon turns from white to amber to rose. The flat stone platform sits about 300 meters from the monument. The walk up from Thissio metro takes 10 minutes.

Booking tipFree access. No reservation needed. The platform gets busy 30 minutes before sunset on weekends.

The Varvakeios Agora fills an iron-roofed hall between Monastiraki and Omonia. The meat hall's marble counters display whole lambs, goat heads, and kokoretsi coils in the weeks before Easter. The fish hall opposite smells of brine and iodine. The surrounding streets sell spices, olives, dried herbs, and wheels of graviera cheese.

Booking tipGo before 10:00 AM on a weekday. The market closes early on Saturday and is shut on Sunday. Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet.

The Temple of Poseidon stands on a cliff 65 meters above the Aegean at the southern tip of Attica, about 70 km from central Athens. Fifteen of the original 34 Doric columns still stand. The drive along the Apollo Coast road passes beaches and small harbors. The temple faces west, making it one of the best sunset viewpoints in Greece.

Booking tipKTEL buses run from the Pedion tou Areos terminal. The last bus back leaves in late afternoon, so check the schedule if you want to stay for sunset. A rental car gives more flexibility.

The 15.5-hectare National Garden behind the Hellenic Parliament building contains over 500 species of plants and trees, many labeled in Greek and Latin. Paths wind past duck ponds, Roman ruins, and a small botanical museum. In April, the Judas trees bloom purple and the citrus groves smell sweet.

Booking tipFree entry. Open from sunrise to sunset daily. The cafe near the Zappeion end serves Greek coffee and koulouri.