Introduction
What to do
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Athens travel guide

Athens Tourism | Athens Guide

You're Going to Love Athens

With a population of 13,458, Athens is a must-see destination in Tennessee, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Athens has to offer.

Activities & attractions in Athens

Movie theater
Art & Performing Arts•Entertainment

When to visit Athens

Athens in November
Estimated hotel price
$95
1 night at 3-star hotel
Athens in November
Estimated hotel price
$95
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Athens in July, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 32 °F, with an average temperature of 41 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 4.7″. In contrast, October is usually the driest month of the year in Athens, with an average rainfall of 2.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Athens

Plane

Although Athens doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), which is located 42 miles from Athens. Chattanooga Lovell Field is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Delta, WestJet and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Athens departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 34m.

Car

Another option to get to Athens is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 117 miles from Athens. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Ace, among others, in Atlanta.

Plane

Although Athens doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), which is located 42 miles from Athens. Chattanooga Lovell Field is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Delta, WestJet and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Athens departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 34m.

Car

Another option to get to Athens is to pick up a car rental from Atlanta, which is about 117 miles from Athens. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Ace, among others, in Atlanta.

Airports near Athens

CHAChattanooga Lovell Field
TYSKnoxville McGhee Tyson

Airlines serving Athens

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,616 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,013 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,563 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,072 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,040 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,676 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,431 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,502 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,512 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,596 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,408 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (903 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (375 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,480 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,090 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,889 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,018 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,640 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Athens

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Holiday Inn Express Athens By IHG and Baymont by Wyndham Athens, TN.

Where to stay in popular areas of Athens

Most booked hotels in Athens

See all
Holiday Inn Express Athens By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (9.2, 262 reviews)
$99+
View
Comfort Inn Athens
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 568 reviews)
$98+
View
Baymont by Wyndham Athens, TN
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 343 reviews)
$67+
View
Quality Inn Sweetwater West
2 stars
Good (7.8, 504 reviews)
$79+
View
Serenity Inn Sweetwater
2 stars
Good (7.8, 317 reviews)
$77+
View
Red Roof Inn Etowah - Athens, Tn
2 stars
Good (7.7, 429 reviews)
$63+
View

Renting a car in Athens

Renting a car in Athens costs $57 per day, on average, or $172 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 14% cheaper than airport locations in Athens.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Athens is Standard (Kia Sorento or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 7% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Athens costs $57 per day, on average, or $172 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 14% cheaper than airport locations in Athens.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Athens is Standard (Kia Sorento or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 7% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Athens