Greece, Europe

Athens in April

Ideal sightseeing weather. Greek Orthodox Easter usually lands in April; it is moving to witness, but many shops and some sites close or shorten hours around it.

BestPleasant, highs near 68F (20C), mostly dry

Acropolis of Athens, Greece — AthensPhoto: A.Savin, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

April is one of the best months of the year to visit Athens. Ideal sightseeing weather. Greek Orthodox Easter usually lands in April; it is moving to witness, but many shops and some sites close or shorten hours around it.

Weather: Pleasant, highs near 68F (20C), mostly dry
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What April is like in Athens

April is ideal sightseeing weather. Highs are near 68F (20C), days are mostly dry and sunny, and the city is green and in bloom. Crowds and prices rise to the middle of the range. Greek Orthodox Easter usually lands in April, and it is moving to see, but many shops and some sites close or shorten hours around it. Sites move to longer summer hours during the spring.

It suits nearly everyone: first-timers, families, couples and anyone who wants to walk the ruins in comfort. The sea is still cool for swimming. If you want a warmer sea, go in late May, and if you want to avoid Easter closures, check the date and plan around it.

Make the most of April

What is especially good about Athens this month.

Greek Orthodox Easter

Candlelit processions on Good Friday, midnight services and fireworks on Saturday, and lamb roasts on Sunday. Plan meals ahead, since many places close.

Perfect Acropolis weather

Mild sun and cool breezes make the climb easy. Enter at 8am opening or in the last two hours before closing.

Sunset at Cape Sounion

Longer days make a sunset trip to the Temple of Poseidon easy, and the spring air is clear over the sea.

What to pack for April

A light jacket for cool evenings
Grippy shoes for the Acropolis
Sunscreen and a hat, since the spring sun is strong
A modest layer for church services at Easter

Our timing tip

Buy Acropolis timed tickets online in advance from April onward, and pick the 8am slot for the coolest, calmest visit.

Book Athens for April.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Athens
Opens a hotel search for Athens in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for April
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Athens
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Athens
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Athens for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in April

Greek Orthodox Easter

April or early May, varies by year

Candlelit processions on Good Friday, midnight services and fireworks on Saturday, lamb roasts on Sunday. Many shops close; plan meals ahead.

Things to do in Athens

Full guide

The Acropolis

Enter at the 8am opening or in the last two hours before closing. Tickets are sold in timed slots; buy online in advance for spring through fall.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Acropolis Museum

Do it after the rock, not before, so the sculptures make sense. The top-floor Parthenon Gallery is the reason to come.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

National Archaeological Museum

The Mask of Agamemnon, the Antikythera mechanism, and the bronze Artemision god. Budget at least three hours.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus

The best-preserved Doric temple in Greece and far fewer people than the Acropolis. Shade trees make it a good late-morning stop.

Tickets and tours →

Plaka and Anafiotika

The old town under the north slope. Anafiotika's whitewashed lanes feel like an island village dropped into the capital; go early before the tour groups.

Tickets and tours →

Lycabettus Hill at sunset

The highest point in central Athens. Walk up in about 30 to 40 minutes or take the funicular; the view over the lit Acropolis is the payoff.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Be at the Acropolis gate for the 8am opening. Cruise groups typically arrive from about 9:30am, and by late morning the Propylaia entrance is a slow shuffle.
Check the cruise schedule for Piraeus. Big ship days put thousands of extra visitors on the rock; on those days do the Acropolis at opening or in the final two hours.
Buy a timed Acropolis ticket online in advance from April through October. Same-day tickets exist but the preferred slots go first.
Use the combined ticket for the lesser sites (Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Olympian Zeus). They are rarely crowded and cover the city's history better than the Acropolis alone.

Know before you go

Athens does not have an off season in the island sense. Museums, sites, restaurants, and hotels run year-round.
Archaeological sites run shorter winter hours, typically closing in the late afternoon from about November through March. Check the day's hours before planning a sunset visit.
During extreme heat waves the Acropolis has been closed during the hottest afternoon hours. It usually reopens in the early evening, but confirm on the day.
Sites close or shorten hours on major holidays, including January 1, March 25, Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday, May 1, and December 25 and 26.