Four Days in and around Athens in May

For daytrip - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/greece/visiting-aegina - has my lengthy recent description of the Aegina option, highly recommended in May.

As for planning 3 days in Athens before you ask us to create a detailed itinerary, why not first use the great resource of this Very website?? Here's the link - https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/greece/athens - to Read - Decide - Plan your Athens agenda. it even has FREE downloadable Audio Tours for 4 key sightseeing options -- Walk around Athens - Acropolis - Ancient Agora - Nat Arch Museum (latter is great time-saver; Top 10 dont-miss exhibits).

And since u are coming off a major cruise, I'm assuming you can afford a copy oof R Steves Greece book, which has a VERY Detailed section on exploring Athens (used copies available online even under $10 -- and this website includes latest updates in Athens info) This is a great way to learn basic info. Then, when you know enough to list priorities for this forum, we can help you wiinnow them down, based on our experiences (Without having to keyboard Greece 101 on this forum).

IF you prefer a personalized 1-day tour, a highly praised agency is https://www.athens-walks.com (be aware that personal tours from any such agency would involve a LICENSED guide, the only kind permitted to take you thru ruins & museums, and as such, cost about €60 per hour). At lesser rates, Athens-walks also has group tours of various kinds/configurations. You can inquire online to decide what suits you.

We had a guided walking tour of the Acropolis with Athens Walks, and it was well worth it. Highly recommend! They offer all kinds of walking tours, not just the Acropolis.

I am sure you are aware that Athens has many ruins and museums. If you are interested in doing something a bit different and if you have the time, I highly recommend visiting the Athens Central Market, which consists of the fish market and meat market. Very interesting and fun. And there are restaurants within the market where you can have lunch.

Thank you very much Janet and kmkwoo for your wonderful suggestions. I'm going to do my homework now and read through the many questions/responses and as you suggested Janet the RS background on Athens and surrounding areas. As I go through these reviews, I'll be jotting down questions for further posts. We like your suggestion of visiting Aegina for our one day trip - unless we find a nice land-based town/village along the coast. Our cruise ship will be making a stop in Mykonos for about nine hours before docking at Athens. Thanks again.

Just be aware that the climb up to the Acropolis is quite steep with slippery marble steps, very dodgy in wet weather. There is an elevator for disabled use but I’ve heard it can be difficult to access. Maybe if you do a guided tour they can help with that. Do visit the Acropolis Museum, not only does it display the artifacts from the Acropolis, a significant site was discovered on the site which is now open to the public. Have lunch on the cafe Terrace at the Museum admiring the Acropolis. Make sure you get a seat under the shade….it’s too hot otherwise!

Regarding your walking issues ... you might consider bringing along, not a cane, but a "trekking stick" ... something I've found VERY useful in Greece, just in general (and it gives a sporty vibe rather than a disabled one). A terrific lightweight one that folds up like a W, to the size of a book, and fits nicely in a 20" rollaboard is called Earthtrek, online for about $28. A great help not only for Acropolis but just walking around in general. As for Acropolis, if you are at box office by 8:15, in May, you'll beat the crowds, and can take your sweet time going up the sloped path & the final steps. Because not crowded, can stop and take a rest on the way... there's always a rock or a step to sit on. As this video shows, much of the way up is on inclined ramp segments - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3MFso8_01Q so it's very do-able if you take your time.

Hello Janet. Your suggestion of using a walking stick is a great idea! And I am now viewing the video of the Acropolis ramp and you're right - there are many places to to sit and have a short rest on the way up. I just spent three months in a wheel chair and and another two weeks on crutches after my accident and so a bit concerned about having to deal with a lot of stairs and rough ground, but seeing the video I believe that I can manage the trek up to the Acropolis. Thanks again.

Agree on the museum and central market-both are both amazing and were highlights of our time in Athens. Loved wandering the streets of Plaka, etc at our own pace.

My wife tries to avoid stairs whenever possible and wasn't looking forward to the Acropolis, though she was determined to get up there. She was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was compared to her expectations. Most of the steps are some distance apart, so it's more like going up a sloping paved surface than climbing a lot of stairs. I don't know what it would be like in wet weather but it's not really very steep, and several switchbacks to make it easier. Also all that beauty and history to distract you from how your leg feels!

Janet is a great source and she's right about the Acropolis Museum, which is fully accessible. Other Athens highlights for us were the National Archeological Museum (a taxi would be a good idea since it's away from most other sights), the Forum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Benaki Museum, Syntagma Square, and the Monastiraki neighborhood. Three days would be cnough for all that and more, and of course some of your choices might differ.