15 Things To Do On A Rainy Day In Athens [with Tickets & Map]

What to do in Athens when it rains? 

Despite Athens' reputation for sunny skies and hot temperatures, the city experiences its fair share of rainy days. But don't let the weather put a damper on your plans.

There are plenty of indoor attractions and experiences that will keep you entertained and make the most out of your rainy day in Athens.

Read our list of the BEST 15 things to do on a rainy day in Athens:

1. Classic Museums

Visiting a museum is a great way to learn more about Greece's rich history, culture and traditions. Instead of exploring the Acropolis, the Parthenon and other archaeological sites, which can be dangerous due to the slippery nature of the marble stairs, you can visit classics like the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, the Benaki Museum, and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.

Popular Ticket Options:

• Acropolis Museum + Athens Acropolis & Parthenon Ticket (Recommended)
  
• Skip-the-Line Athens Acropolis Museum Tickets + Optional Audio Guide
• Athens Pass 
• Temple of Olympian + Museum Of Cycladic Art Tickets
• Tickets for National Archaeology Museum
• Benaki Museum of Greek Culture Tickets 
•  Hellenic Motor Museum Tickets 

2. City Tour

When it rains, Athens can be wonderfully discovered during a city tour. Inside the sightseeing bus you can admire all the highlights of the Greek capital from the outside without getting wet. And if the rain should let up, you can simply get off during a hop on hop off bus tour, take a closer look at the sights and get back on board later.

Popular Ticket Options:

• 2-Day Ticket: Athens, Piraeus, and Coastline by Sights of Athens (recommended)
  
• 1-, or 2-Day Ticket: Athens, Piraeus, and Riviera by Athens Open Tour
• 1-, 2-, or 3-Day Ticket by City Sightseeing
• Hop-on Hop-off Bus Athens + Acropolis tickets
• Acropolis & Archaeological Sites + Sights of Athens: Hop-on Hop-off Tour
• 2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket & 1-Full Day Island Cruise with Lunch
• Sights of Athens 2-Day Hop-On Hop-Off Tour Athens + Acropolis Tickets (Bestseller)

3. Shopping Trip

Whether large you like shopping malls, unique boutiques, markets or shopping streets, a rainy day in Athens is perfect for a shopping trip! The ideal shopping district is Monastiraki, which is home to "Attica, The Department Store", one of the most famous shopping centers of Athens, as well as the famous Ermou shopping street and the Monastiraki flea market.

• For more shopping tips, check out our Athens Shopping Guide.

4. Enjoy Greek Cuisine

What better way to enjoy rainy weather than to taste Greek cuisine, which is marked with influences from the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. In the authentic restaurants and taverns in Monastiraki and Psyri neighborhoods, you can enjoy wonderful Greek food. Or take the short metro ride to the port of Piraeus, where freshly caught fish and delicious seafood overlooking the harbor await you on every corner.

• If you are curious what you should try while in Athens, take a look at our list with the best Food in Athens: 40 Greek Cuisine Dishes.

Popular Ticket Options:

• Athens Street Food Tour (Bestseller)
• 4-hour Greek Food Walking Tour  
  
• Athens Food Tour: The Ultimate Culinary Experience
• Athens: Food Market Visit and Cooking Class with Wine
• Athens: Greek Cooking Lesson & 3-Course Dinner

5. Day Trips

Get out of rainy Athens and head to the many destinations in the surrounding area. A day trip is the perfect way to discover UNESCO world heritage sites and fascinating places in Greece. Popular day trip options include the Oracle of Delphi, the Meteora Monasteries, and Cape Sounion with the Poseidon Temple, and more...

• Read more about the Oracle of Delphi and how to get there from Athens in our comprehensive article: Day Trip to Delphi from Athens: Oracle, Things to Do, Tours & Map

Popular Ticket Options:

• Athens: Delphi Site & Museum Guided One-Day Trip with Pickup (Recommended)
• Athens: Cape Sounion & Temple of Poseidon Sunset Tour
• Athens: Meteora DayTrip by Train, English or Spanish & Lunch
  
• Nafplio-Mycenae-Epidaurus Day Tour from Athens
• Private Biblical Tour of Ancient Corinth & Isthmus Canal from Athens

6. Cafés in Athens

Greek coffeehouse culture is famous all over the world. A rainy day is perfect to sit down in one of the many traditional cafes, hipster bars or coffee shops and watch the pouring rain. A hot coffee or a typical Greek frappé tastes especially good in the cozy and warm café.

• Read more: Check out our list of the best cafes in Athens.

7. Theaters, Concerts and Art Galleries

Spend a day of culture in the birthplace of ancient theater! Athens has a number of theaters, operas and art galleries that give visitors a deep insight into the country's culture. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in the Athens suburb of Kallithea is highly recommended. It includes the National Library and the Greek National Opera, which regularly hosts opera, ballet and musical performances. Temporary exhibitions enrich the cultural center's offerings.

Popular Ticket Options:

• Tickets for Dora Stratou Theater: Greek Dance Show
• Athens: Ancient Greek Theater Performance

8. Central Market

As a covered market, the Central Market not far from Omonia Square is an ideal bad-weather activity. The lively market has rich offerings of fresh food, regional specialties, as well as household goods. The ambiance of the market is also exceptional, where a wide variety of smells and loud market cries prevail. The central market is open from Monday to Saturday from early morning until late afternoon.

• More information: For more details about the marketplace, take a look at our dedicated article on the Central Market in Athens.

9. Planetarium

(Link to the map)