Overview
Athens is a city with a major university (population 26,000 -2010) and county seat of Athens County (population 68,000 2010 Southeast Ohio, best known for being home to over 29,000 Ohio University students. Athens was settled in 1797, and the university was the first to be founded in the Northwest Territory in 1803.
8 sights · 12 things to do · 13 places to eat · 16 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Athens
Ohio University
Athena Cinema
Wayne National Forest
Athens Skate Park
18,000 sq ft skate park. Skateboards and inline skates only.
Athens County Fair
Has a tractor pull, demolition derby, and a livestock showcase.
Pawpaw Festival
A festival dedicated to the PawPaw, a fruit native to Ohio.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Columbus)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PKB Mid Ohio Valley Regional Airport, Parkersburg (Williamstown) — 35 mi away. Directions
- LCK Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus — 56 mi away. Directions
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 63 mi away (major hub). Directions
SR 33 and SR 50 intersect at Athens.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Ohio University, Ohio University Aquatic Center, Ossian C. Bird Arena
- Lunch Casa Nueva
- Afternoon Peden Stadium, Ohio University Golf Course
- Dinner China Panda
- Evening Union Bar & Grill
Day 2
- Morning Athens County Fair, Pruitt Field, Bob Wren Stadium
- Lunch O'Betty's Red Hot
- Afternoon Convocation Center, The Seabury Quinn, Jr. Playwrights' Festival
- Dinner HangOverEasy
- Evening The Smiling Skull Saloon
Day 3
- Morning Wayne National Forest, Ohio University School of Theatre
- Lunch Avalanche Pizza
- Afternoon Lost Flamingo Company, Pawpaw Festival
- Dinner Bagel Street Deli
- Evening Jackie O's
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
Go Gordon K. Bush Airport (ATO Snyder Field)
A General aviation airport operated by Ohio University.
By car
SR 33 and SR 50 intersect at Athens.
By bus
Go GoBus
Provides intercity between smaller cities in western Ohio, Cincinnati and Columbus. Greyhound with partner companies serves the city with several daily departures from nearby larger cities. Many local taxi companies in Athens also offer shuttle service. Long distance buses stops at Athens Community Centre station and Athens - Ohio University station. It is possible to change to local buses at both stations.
Get around
By foot
- Athens is a small town that can be easily traversed by foot.
By taxi
- There are many different taxi companies servicing Athens, all with easy numbers to remember.
Go RIDE
Has been servicing Athens for over 10 years. The types of car include 2007-2008 Aveos and Limos. Great service.
By bus
See
Arts and culture
See The Seabury Quinn, Jr. Playwrights' Festival
Graduate playwrights' festival held each year, usually at the end of May. Features readings, staged readings, and full productions of graduate work.
See Midnight Madness
Each week the graduate playwrights write a ten minute play based on a theme they receive that Monday.
See Lost Flamingo Company
Ohio University's student run theatre company. Features nine to twelve productions a year, as well as yearly productions of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Fall Quarter), The Vagina Monologues (Winter Quarter), and Short Stack, a collection of ten minute plays written by Ohio University students (Spring Quarter).
See Comedy for the Masses
Ohio University's student sketch comedy group. Features six shows a year, as well as an annual Stand-Up Showcase. Founded in 2001, in part by Michael Busch (An actor who worked on Conan and Glee).
See The 48-Hour Shoot Out
An annual competition sponsored by the School of Telecommunications in which students are given two days to write, film, and edit a short movie based on a line of dialogue, a prop, and a genre.
Do
Sports
Do Pruitt Field
Pruitt Field hosts the Bobcats Field Hockey team. It is surrounded by the Goldsberry Track for the Bobcats track teams.
Do Convocation Center
The basketball arena for Ohio University. A distinctive building in its own right, its dome is a good landmark.
Buy
Eat
Eat Casa Nueva
Great "Mexican" (non-authentic) food, vegan and vegetarian options, dedicated to using local resources. Restaurant has been worker-owned since 1984.
Eat China Panda
Sitdown & takeout. Excellent American Chinese cuisine (includes General Tso's Chicken and California Rolls.)
Eat O'Betty's Red Hot
Burlesque-themed hot dog joint.
Eat HangOverEasy
Greasy spoon diner.
Eat Avalanche Pizza
Cheap, internationally award winning pizza. Insanely great deals (especially if you pick-up rather than get delivery) and an obscene amount of topping choices and specialty pizzas.
Eat Bagel Street Deli
Charming deli featuring nearly 200 different bagel sandwiches and other fares, ranging from vegan to ultra-carnivore. Walls are decorated with tin foil sculptures and chalk signatures of past customers. Home of the annual Pickle Fest (pickle eating contest).
Eat Donkey Coffee
17 rated best coffeehouse in the state by Ohio Magazine. Features calming music, great coffee, board games, open mic nights, poetry nights, local art, and is open 24 hours during finals week.
Eat Souvlaki's Restaurant and Deli
Late night gyros and baklava.
Eat Big Mamma's Burritos
A local option for those who loathe Chipotle. Many burrito and salsa options. Chipotle Ranch is a customer favorite.
Eat Burrito Buggy
A stand that sells amazing burritos at the intersection of Court St. and Union St. It's bright orange, yellow, and purple; you can't miss it.
Eat Stephen's
Amazing restaurant with a constantly changing menu
Eat Village Bakery & Cafe
Uses locally grown organic vegetables, non-GMO meats, and free-range eggs. Serves Fair Trade organic coffee, Herbal Sage teas, and bake with organic dairy, flour and sugar to create a variety of freshly baked hand crafted loaves, flaky quiches, sweet and savory pastries, breakfast pizza and a selection of tasty soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch. For dessert, they serve cookies, brownies, tarts, and cakes. The Sunday brunch menu includes individual omelettes, French toast, and sides of locally produced sausages, ham, polenta or home fries. They offer no espresso-based drinks.
Eat Fluff Bakery
Fresh-baked goods and sanchwiches.
Drink
There are many bars on Court Street located near Ohio University's College Green.
Pubs
Drink Union Bar & Grill
Voted one of the best dive bars in America by Maxim Magazine. Features $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon, live indie rock of varying volumes, and Dance or Die, a monthly dance party. They shut down the grille, and the roaches left in protest.
Drink The Pub
Well known for their Beer Cheese Soup, Aquarium Night (beer in obscenely huge glasses), and for being massively packed during the weekend.
Drink Pigskin Bar and Grill
Very well known for their signature drink The Black Widow, a one of a kind dark purple concoction that is a must have for any visitor to Athens.
Drink Red Brick Sports Pub
Many flat screen TVs and a pretty decent menu.
Drink Tony's Tavern
Considered a "townie bar." Tony's is very well known for their 'Hot Nuts' shot. Daily specials on Killian's and a very laid-back, friendly dive bar atmosphere. Be there on Friday night for Tony's happy hour (free food!).
Drink Casa Nueva & Cantina
Great food, warm and friendly bar. The nation's oldest co-op restaurant.
Bars
Drink The Smiling Skull Saloon
Known as Athens' biker bar. Great jukebox ranging from Johnny Cash to Dylan to The Clash. Open 365 days a year. Very reasonable drinks and nearly guaranteed to be free of frat and sorority types. Two dollar "Black and Tans" on Tuesdays. Your (well-behaved) dog is welcome to come inside!
Drink Jackie O's
Home of the only micro brewpub in Athens, offering live music, food and outdoor patio. A great alternative to the typical Athens bar scene.
Drink The J Bar
Features the signature drink Junction Punch. Gin is probably an ingredient and one is more than enough.
Drink Pawpurr's
A "dive bar" with a small (and mostly unused) dance floor.
Drink The Crystal
Very easily the #1 frat/sorority bar.
Drink The C.I.
The Hockey Bar. Crowded on weekends, College to Locals.
Drink Cat's Eye
A mix of locals and college kids.
Drink Lucky's
The official Steelers bar of Athens. Very good daily specials.
Drink Broney's
At the very end of Court Street. Kind of sterile compared to the rest of the bars in town.
Drink Courtside
Sports bar that has a beer garden ideal for day drinking on a spring day.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Stay Burr Oak State Park Lodge
Bed & Breakfast
Go next
- Burr Oak State Park and Resort Lodge, Athens County, north of Glouster and east/adjacent to the Wayne National Forest off of Route 13. A variety of overnight accommodations, cottages and campground. Cottages: 30 family cottages, air conditioning, cable TV, sleeps six people, bath/shower, living room, complete kitchen, dining area, screened porch. Linens, towels, cooking, eating utensils are furnished. Camping: 100 non-electric campsites, showers, flush toilets, 21 primitive sites, pet camping. Fishing, hunting, swimming, beach, bathhouse, showers, changing booths, snack bar, twenty-eight miles of hiking trails, Burr Oak Backpack Trail, horseshoe court and playground.
- Lake Hope State Park, eastern Vinton County, approx. 20 miles west of Athens. Lake Hope State Park is entirely within the 26,824-acre Zaleski State Forest and adjacent to part of the Wayne National Forest. Dining lodge. Cottages: 72 cottages, all cottages have linens, towels, complete kitchens, microwave ovens, heat, air conditioning, outdoor grills and fire rings. Camping: 219-site campground, heated showerhouses, pit latrines, waste disposal, laundry facilities, picnic tables, fire rings, 46 sites have electric hookups, pet camping, three Rent-A-Camp units, one camper-cabin, one Rent-A-Tepee. Boats with electric motors only, 120-acre lake, canoes, kayaks, and rowboats, available for rent. Swimming beach, beachhouse, sun deck, restrooms, concession building, fishing, hunting, seventeen miles of hiking trails, 21-mile backpack trail with primitive campsites, 33 miles of bridle trail and 23-mile singletrack bike trail.
- Stouds Run State Park, Athens County, east of Athens, on Route 690, inside of Wayne National Forest on Dow Lake. 75 non-electric campsites, picnic tables and fire rings, pet camping, three Rent-A-Camp sites, boating, fishing, hunting, 15 miles of hiking trails, birdwatching, nature study, 8½ mile bridle trail, 900-foot sand beach, change booths, drinking water, restrooms, scuba diving with proper equipment, picnic tables, cooking grates, three shelterhouses, basketball court, playground equipment, boat rentals, volleyball court and another playground.
Go to Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh or West Virginia.
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