Get to know Athens
The Area
The Area
Narrow streets & Marble
Plaka
Old Town of Athens
Climb up the stairs in front of the building. On the main street, turn right and walk round Filopappou hill. In 12-15’ walk you will find yourself at the foot of Acropolis hill. Do walk up to see Acropolis (open from 8:00 till 20:00 every day). Do go either very early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the heat and crowds.
Filopappou hill is also worth wondering around, with nice views to Acropolis.
Right below Acropolis, you will find Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a spectacular Ancient Theater. You can go for a visit, or look out for performances, during the period from June to September – although they’ve now been narrowed down due to COVID-19.
Walk down Dionissiou Aeropagitou street, this beautiful pedestrian street in front of Acropolis hill, and in a few meters, you will see the new Acropolis Museum on your right-had side. It’s worth a visit. Great building Architecture, short and beautiful exhibition, and nice view from the restaurant-cafe.
At the end of Dionissiou Aeropagitou, turn left on the small street and you will start wondering in Plaka area. Keep wondering around Plaka, Monastiraki and Thission, the old town of Athens. Ancient Agora, Roman Agora and Hadrian’s library worth a visit (you can buy a combined ticket in Acropolis).
Narrow streets & Marble
Vibrant &
full of life
New Town
Walk up Ermou street in Monastiraki, and you start entering the commercial center of Athens, the new town if we may say so. At the end of Ermou street, you will see Syntagma square and then the Greek Parliament building. The Change of Guards in front of the Parliament is every hour.
You can have a cocktail in the evening at the roof terrace of Grande Bretagne Hotel in Syntagma square, for a beautiful sunset overlooking Acropolis and Athens.
You can then walk down Panepistimiou street, or wonder around Perikleous, Kolokotroni and Aiolou streets, for a nice dinner, or coffee and lunch during the day.
You can also walk around the elegant Kolonaki area and take the funicular to go up to Lycabettus Hill, in Aristippou 1 street.
Explore Athens
Other things worth seeing
The Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center
Don’t miss it! This is a real proof that modern Greeks can make it too. It hosts the National Opera and National Library. The building itself was designed by the Italian Architect, Renzo Piano, and it is spectacular. But the surrounding area of the building makes it even more worth it to visit. Due to COVID-19, most performances have been cancelled, but you can still enjoy guided tours and enjoy a walk on the parks. It is a must visit if you have children. You can get on a shuttle bus next to Syngrou-Fix metro station or get on a taxi in Gennaiou Kolokotroni street and ask them to take you to Stavros Niarchos Foundation. About 5’ ride and c. 5 Euro cost.
The Archeological Museum
The Museum of Greece. Very interesting, but huge. Pick up the areas of your interest to see, if you don’t want to spend a full day there. You can get there by trolley or metro (the red line from Syngrou-fix).
Benaki Museum
On Koubari 1 street, and Museum of Cycladic Art (cycladic.gr), on Neofytou Douka 4, street, are both small and very interesting. They usually host contemporary exhibitions in addition to their permanent ones. They both have interesting Art Shops and nice lunch and café places.
Goulandris Museum
Brand new, on Eratosthenous 3 street, it hosts the private collection of shipowner Vassilis Goulandris and his wife Eliza. So much worth the visit.
The Market (fish, meat, olives, herbs etc.)
In Athinas street. It’s called Varvakeios Agora. If you don’t mind the meat smell, you can have lunch inside the market for a proper Greek lunch experience. Or you can try ouzo with meze at Karamanlidika on Evripidou 52 and Sokratous 1 streets.
National Observatory of Athens
At the left end of Filopappou hill. Do go there for their evening tour of stars! A unique experience indeed, inside the trees, with beautiful smells and the best view of Acropolis. There is an English Tour at 22:00 for the month of August and at 21:00 for the month of September. From Wednesday till Saturday in August (there will be no performances from the 12th till the 16th of August), and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in September.
Open Air Cinemas
Another unique experience! Try the one in Petralona, called Zefyros, on Troon 36 street. Performances usually start at 21:00 and you can watch old international movies.
Nice walks by the beach
Get on the tram from Syntagma or Kasomouli stations and get off either at Flisvos Marine or at Paralia Glyfada’s stations.
Getting around with Transportation
Take the trolley (bus with cables)
Walk down to the main street, Gennaiou Kolokotroni, and you will find a playground. There is a trolley stop for no. 15 in front of the playround, and one for trolley no. 1 and 5 on the side of the playground. The trolley will take you to Syntagma square or to Omonia Square on a beautiful ride.
To get back on a trolley, take no. 15 or 5 or 1, in one of the stops on Stadiou street or on Syntagma square and get off at Paidiki Chara station. No. 15, only, will bring you closer to the apartment, at Agios Nicholaos station.
Syngrou-fix metro station
Turn left on Gennaiou koloktroni, and once in the playground turn left on Dimitrakopoulou street. Walk down on the second square you will see on your right-hand side and you will see Syngrou-fix metro station. 12’ walk from the house.
Petralona metro station
Walk down the house to the main street, Gennaiou Kolokotroni, turn right and once you are in Melina’s Merkouri square in 8’ walk, walk down Dorieon street. In 2’ you will find the station.
We provide you with one-ride ticket to get you started
You can then find tickets in metro stations and in ticket booths in Syntagma square. There is one ticket for all Transportation (trolley, bus, metro, tram).
