Hi All,

Heading to Athens in a few weeks. Spending two nights (so 1.5 days). We would like to take in all the major sites (if possible). Any suggestions on what to hit / tour companies (walking tours preferred). My friend and I are budget travelers so we are hoping to find a good, basic tour.

Thanks!
Allie

It depends on what you're interested in. For me I would not miss the Acropolis, ancient Agora, and the National Archaeological Museum. You may want to go to a bookstore and check some guides for Athens to help make your decision. I liked the DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Athens book as a place to start. You can take a tour or DIY. I would search "athens walking tours" on this forum in the search box. Can also post same on Trip Advisor Forum-Europe-Greece-Athens.

We visited the Acropolis last June and arrived right at opening. We passed a tour group at the entrance spent a luxurious hour wandering around a relatively empty site and then left as the tourist hoards were arriving. As we left we passed the guided tour and they hadn't even gotten onto the Acropolis proper. Now maybe a walking tour isn't that intense or perhaps I am ADD but I would not be happy listening to someone talk, while all that interesting stuff is calling my name to look around. You can get a book of ticket that get you into all the major ancient sites for 12 euros. Grab a tourist map from your hotel, keep the acropolis in site and you simply cannot get lost everything is close together. I say do it yourself. Here are our pictures.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/570719132pdjjHG

Aside from the Acropolis, we had our best times getting to the top of some of the hills in Athens, such as Lykavittos Hill, and enjoying the views. Another hill which I cannot name for some reason is just to the southwest of the Acropolis. Very pleasant.

I would go to the Acropolis first thing in the morning and then visit the Ancient Agora. I think it is worth it to climb the small hill to the Temple of Temple of Hephaestus (The Theision). It is very well preserved, and there are nice views.

The new Acropolis Museum is interesting, but I would probably skip it in favor of the National Archeological Museum which I found fantastic.

In your short time I probably wouldn't go to the top of Lykavittos unless it was in the evening. The other hill near the Acropolis is Filopáppos Hill, and there are the ruins of a large monument on top (quite a hike). The small, rocky Areopagos Hill is next to the Acropolis, and it is from here that the Apostle Paul gave his "men of Athens" sermon (just a few stairs).

Near the Acropolis are the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch. In my opinion, they would be worth a quick look.

I also enjoyed walking around the Pláka area and seeing the Choregic Monument of Lysikrates and the small area called Anafiótika that looks like it was transported from the Cycladic Islands. There is abundant shopping and lots of tavernas.

Finally, if you like ancient Roman ruins, the Roman Forum is interesting, especially the Tower of the Winds.