Athens travel guide
Athens Tourism | Athens Guide
You're Going to Love Athens
With a population of 116,714, Athens is a must-see destination in Georgia, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Athens deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Athens
Where to Eat in Athens
If you’re looking for affordable options, Five and Ten (1073 S Milledge Ave) and The Falls (8851 Macon Highway) are great picks.
When to visit Athens
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Athens in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 91.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 33.8 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 4.5″. In contrast, May is usually the driest month of the year in Athens, with an average rainfall of 3″.
How to Get to Athens
Plane
Although Athens doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport (ATL), which is located 65 miles from Athens. Greenville is the most popular, with regular flights from Delta, WestJet, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Athens departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 1h 55m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Athens. The train journey from Athens to Greenville takes 3h 12m and costs around $37 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about $26 for a 4h 36m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Athens is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 61 miles from Athens. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Kyte, among others, in Atlanta.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Athens, including Megabus, RedCoach and FlixBus. From Charlotte, the bus ride to Athens takes 285 miles and will cost you around $48. From Jacksonville, the ticket costs about $28 for a journey of 365 miles. The most popular bus station is Athens 4020 Atlanta Hwy, located 7 miles from downtown Athens. Athens West Broad St 1000 is also a commonly used station, and is 1.9 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Athens
Where to stay in Athens
Average rates range from around $206 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $366 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Americas Best Value Inn Athens, Ga and SpringHill Suites by Marriott Athens Downtown/University Area.
Where to stay in popular areas of Athens
Most booked hotels in Athens
Renting a car in Athens
Renting a car in Athens costs $61 per day, on average, or $123 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 8% more expensive than at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Athens (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Athens is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Honda Civic or similar) are, on average, 64% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.