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. Athens deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Activities & attractions in Athens

Movie theater
Art & Performing Arts•Entertainment

When to visit Athens

Athens in August
Estimated hotel price
$91
1 night at 3-star hotel
Athens in August
Estimated hotel price
$91
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 Emirates, United Airlines, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Athens departs from Jacksonville and takes around 1h 16m.

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 Turo, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Athens using Greyhound or FlixBus. From Atlanta, the bus ride to Athens takes 240 miles and will cost you around $59. From Chicago, the ticket costs about $191 for a journey of 930 miles.

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 Emirates, United Airlines, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Athens departs from Jacksonville and takes around 1h 16m.

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 Turo, among others, in Atlanta.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Athens using Greyhound or FlixBus. From Atlanta, the bus ride to Athens takes 240 miles and will cost you around $59. From Chicago, the ticket costs about $191 for a journey of 930 miles.

Airports near Athens

CHAChattanooga Lovell Field
TYSKnoxville McGhee Tyson

Airlines serving Athens

Lufthansa
Good (7,046 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,844 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,933 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,697 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,216 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,251 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,972 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (769 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,076 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (7,963 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,287 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,317 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (852 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,464 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Athens

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Athens and Days Inn by Wyndham Athens.

Where to stay in popular areas of Athens

Most booked hotels in Athens

See all
Holiday Inn Express Athens
2 stars
Excellent (9.2, 243 reviews)
$145+
View
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Athens
2 stars
Excellent (9.1, 172 reviews)
$152+
View
Comfort Inn Athens
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 530 reviews)
$120+
View
Serenity Inn Sweetwater
2 stars
Good (7.8, 263 reviews)
$85+
View
Quality Inn West
2 stars
Good (7.5, 438 reviews)
$89+
View
Red Roof Inn Etowah - Athens, Tn
2 stars
Good (7.4, 411 reviews)
$75+
View

Renting a car in Athens

Renting a car in Athens costs $106 per day, on average, or $213 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, 33% more expensive than at Knoxville McGhee Tyson.

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.

Renting a car in Athens costs $106 per day, on average, or $213 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, 33% more expensive than at Knoxville McGhee Tyson.

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.

Find car rentals in Athens

Athens Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Athens city guide for the best Athens travel tips. To help you organize your Athens trip ideas, this Athens visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.