The best free things to do in Athens

It doesn't have to cost a lot to see the sights in Athens. The Greek capital is an ideal European bargain destination because of it's large number of world-class sights.

Entry fees to top-tier sights can add up, but you won't be left out even if you count every euro. There are many ways to experience this historic city for free.

Some of the best ways to visit Athens are listed here.

1. Syntagma Square

You can get your bearings in front of Athens' Parliament building on Plateia Syntagmatos. People watching from the plaza's broad stairs. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is where the legendary evzones kick up their toes every hour.

If your schedule allows, come by on Sunday at 11am when a platoon with a marching band leaves the Presidential Guard barracks for the tomb. The evzones go through their rituals even when no one is watching.

2. Ancient sites

Most Athens visitors will pay 30 for a combo ticket to the Acropolis and other top Athens sites. If you are on a tight budget, you can get a good look at these ruins. The Temple of Olympian Zeus is a great place to look at. Hadrian's Arch is a Roman landmark that is located next to it. The view from the Tower of the Winds is better from this location, as you can see the bas-relief decorations better from here.

You can see the stadium from the outside. You can register for a jog in the morning for free if you stop by the site and fill out the Waiver form. The Acropolis can be seen from all over town without a ticket. The Hill of the Pnyx is a great place to take a photo.

If you don't want to look in from the outside, go to one of the official free days at the big state-run sites. The first Sunday of every month from November through March is when the monuments and museums are open.

3. Free museums

Even though most Athens museums charge for admission, there are other ways to see the world-class collections for free. The National Archaeological Museum and the National Historical Museum are both free on Sundays.

The Benaki Museum of Greek Culture is one of the best museums in the world and is open until midnight.

There are a number of good museums that are free.

• Museum of Greek Popular Instruments: Learn all about Greek folk music at this interesting collection; check the schedule for free concerts in the garden.
• Museum of the Athens-Piraeus Electric Railways: Rail fans will enjoy this history of the city’s transportation system, located in in the old train hall at the Piraeus metro station. Displays are in Greek, but staff are happy to explain.
• Museum of Folk Art & Tradition: Come here to roam around the Plaka mansion of a famous Greek folklore specialist.
• Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre:Great for kids, this city-run space contains a detailed exhibition of Greek shadow puppetry – called karaghiozis, after one of the form’s stock characters – often with performances on Sundays. Upstairs is a “Travelogue of Old Athens” – a mock city street with dioramas of old businesses.
• Koraï 4: Tour the literally and figuratively chilling basements where Nazis held Greek political prisoners during the WWII occupation.
• Municipal Gallery: Some beautiful paintings by Greek greats are displayed at this big hall in Metaxourgio. 

4. Art, exhibitions and events

In the neighborhoods of Psyrri, Metaxourgio and Exarhia, you'll find some of the most eye-catching street art in Europe, and it's usually political. Free parties and other cultural events can be found in the galleries. The Athens Art Map has a list of galleries. Check out the top places to visit.

• Breeder Gallery: One of Athens’ most commercially successful galleries, on the fringes of Metaxourgio.
• Romantso: Formerly a printing press for the widely popular Athenian magazine of the same name, Romantso is one of several great multipurpose arts spaces in and around Omonia. Expect exhibitions, installations and performances across its industrial spaces and atop its roof. Other who-knows-what-you’ll-stumble-on art spaces nearby include Bios on Pireos, which has its own cinema, and TAF on Normanou.
• Dio Horia: This contemporary gallery with an international slant is located in the northern suburb of Psyhiko, providing a great excuse to explore beyond the center.
• Victoria Square Project: Another good way to get under the skin of Athens, this “social sculpture” established by MacArthur-honored artist Rick Lowe is a kind of artists’ community center in a multilayered immigrant district.
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center:A mega-millions art institution a little way from the center of the city in Kallithea, whose grand building is usually bursting with free exhibits and performances.
• Onassis Cultural Centre: An eye-catching piece of architecture in Neos Kosmos, with exhibitions of eye-catching art, many free.

5. Browsing Athens’ markets

There are many street markets in Athens. It doesn't cost anything to see, and you may be tempted to shell out for something. Vendors selling everything from lamb carcasses to still-flopping fish can be found in the big old hall of the Varvakios Agora. Fruit and vegetables can be found across the avenue to the west, as well as the wonderful scented Spice Shops along the way.

The laki agora is the produce market that takes over a main street in each neighborhood for one day each week. Everyone from old folks to kids rush out to grab the best fruit and veggies, and other basics, when a vendor has a creative display.

It's a good idea to compare the market on Kalidromiou in Exarhia on Saturdays to the market on Xenokratous in Kolonaki on Fridays.

6. Historic streets

Taking a walk around the Acropolis is one of the easiest ways to get a feel for ancient Athens. Plaka is located on the northeastern slope of the citadel. If the Oldest House in Athens is open, you can find your way via Adrianou or a smaller street.

It is hard to believe that the promenade was only created for the Olympics. It was a traffic-clogged cross-city thoroughfare prior to that. You can take the route past the museum and explore the hill. The road leads to Thisio, with many Acropolis-facing cafes, before taking you to the Monastiraki area and Adrianou. You can complete the loop by passing the Ancient Agora and Roman Agora.

7. A free walking tour

A city-run program pairs visitors with enthusiastic Athenians who will show you what they love about the city at no cost.

It's a good idea to book at least three days in advance.

The article was first published about a year ago.