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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 10 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: John Malathronas

Hugging the eastern and northern slopes of the Acropolis is the neighbourhood of ‘Plaka’, the city’s old town heart. This maze of jasmine-scented alleys and colourful neoclassical houses – now protected by a preservation order – has been continuously populated since antiquity.

Strolling through Plaka feels like strolling through a 19th-century film set. Though the area’s tacky souvenir shops and terrible tavernas teem with tourists, the winding lanes and shaded squares, dotted with Byzantine churches and ancient ruins, have retained their charm.

The northern reaches of Plaka are the prettiest. This maze of whitewashed alleys is called Anafiotika, after the islanders from Anafi who built the capital of newly-independent Greece in 1841.

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: +
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Start from the Akropoli metro station and go north; Plaka is nestled in the eastern and northern foothills of the Acropolis. Adrianou is the main shopping street.

The best way to explore the area is simply to get lost in the meandering lanes, dipping into the little churches, cafes, and museums at your leisure.

When to do it

As with everywhere outdoor attraction in Athens, things heat up in the summer months. The best times to visit are the shoulder seasons (May-June and September-November).

Dusk is a lovely time to roam around. Shops and restaurants stay open late, and the heat of the day starts to wane.

Patrons of Brettos bar smile at the camera. The bar behind them is lined with rows of multicoloured bottles up to the ceiling
Experience

Brettos

Athens, Central Greece, Greece

Pop into Brettos, the oldest distillery in Athens, for a shot of ouzo or mastic liqueur. The cosy interior, lined with multi-coloured bottles and barrels, dates from 1909.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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People sat on steps outside of Yiasemi cafe in Plaka
Experience

Yiasemi

Athens, Central Greece, Greece

After a wander around Plaka, unwind with a Greek coffee and lemon cake at Yiasemi (Mnisikleous 23). With tables spilling down whitewashed steps, it’s like escaping to an island. There’s occasional live music on weekends.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Acropolis monuments, Parthenon and Plaka, Monastiraki walking tour

Acropolis monuments, Parthenon and Plaka, Monastiraki walking tour

Athens

Escape the buzz of downtown Athens and head to Acropolis peaceful hill for a 3.5-hour leisurely-paced walking tour, finishing with a walk to...

€75 | Rating 4.88 / 5 [153 ratings]

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Athens Full Day Private Tour

Athens Full Day Private Tour

Athens

If you are a fan of Greek History and Mythology this is your tour! See all the highlights of Athens and learn everything about the iconic si...

€140 | Rating 4.88 / 5 [799 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Acropolis & Plaka Neighbourhood Private Tour with Licensed Expert

Acropolis & Plaka Neighbourhood Private Tour with Licensed Expert

Athens

A private tour exclusive to your group, what could be better than having the History of Ancient Greece brought to life before you with your ...

€146 | Rating 5 / 5 [15 ratings]

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Tour supplied by:

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Athens Highlights Half Day Private Tour

Athens Highlights Half Day Private Tour

Athens

If you want to visit Athens but have only 5 hours, this is your best option. See the highlights of Athens skipping traffic on a private tour...

€148 | Rating 4.91 / 5 [110 ratings]

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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

NEW Hotel

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.3 miles]

Favela chic with a strong sense of humour and place, this quirky downtown hotel is a sustainable design landmark.

Official star rating:

Hotel Grand Bretagne

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.6 miles]

A heritage hotel with an immaculate pedigree that doesn’t skimp on contemporary luxuries, bang in the heart of Athens. The choice for visiting VIPs.

Official star rating:

Divani Palace Acropolis

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.7 miles]

A modern, five-star hotel in a hip neighbourhood, within walking distance of all the capital’s most impressive sights.

Official star rating:

Athens4

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.8 miles]

A modest, excellent-value hotel, superbly sited for the Monastiraki nightlife and with comfortable, family-friendly suites.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Athens

Central Greece, Greece

Antiquities galore, contemporary culture, scintillating nightlife and fantastic food: there’s something for everyone in Greece’s cosmopolitan capital that’s continuously reinventing itself.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

The Acropolis

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.4 miles]

This dazzling ancient citadel, perched on a hilltop rising above the city, houses some of the most impressive ancient buildings in the world. The jewel in the crown is the Pantheon, a 2,500-year-old temple dating back to 438 BC.

Best for ages: 7+ | £9

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Acropolis Museum

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.5 miles]

A jaw-dropping array of antiquities – all the Acropolis’ treasures – in one very modern museum designed by starchitect Bernard Tschumi.

Best for ages: 15+ | £4

Grand Promenade

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.8 miles]

A unique and extraordinary 3km pedestrian promenade peppered with world-class antiquities – triumphant arches, ancient amphitheatres, Greek temples, and ‘Socrates’ Prison’.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 3 kilometres

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National Archaeological Museum

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[1.9 miles]

The largest archaeological museum in Greece and one of the best in the world, with a collection ranging from Mycenaean-era jewellery to some of the best-known classical sculptures.

Best for ages: 18+ | £5

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

People watching a film on an outdoor screen
Experience

Cine Paris

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.1 miles]

On Kydathinaion Square, Cine Paris is one of the loveliest outdoor cinemas in Athens. If the film disappoints, you can just gaze at the Parthenon under the moonlight. Open May to October.

Best for ages: 10+ | £7 | 2 hours

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The Theatre of Dionysus visible from above
Experience

Theatre of Dionysus

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.3 miles]

Just below the Acropolis complex on the eastern side, this ancient amphitheatre was the largest theatre in Athens with a capacity of 17,000. First built in the 6th century BC, it operated continuously for 1,000 years, until it was abandoned.

Best for ages: -218+ | £10

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large hexagonal stone tower set amid Roman ruins in Athens
Experience

Roman Agora and Tower of the Winds

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.3 miles]

Athens’ Agora and the adjacent Roman Agora were the centre of the ancient city. The many monuments here include the massive Stoa of Attalos and housing a museum.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Tourists look small in comparison to the large ruins of the Temple of Zeus
Experience

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Athens, Central Greece, Greece[0.4 miles]

Designed to honour Zeus, the head of the Olympian Gods, with the largest temple in Greece, construction started in 6th century BC. When it was finally finished (ca 131 AD) it comprised no fewer than 104 gigantic columns, although only a dozen or so remain today.

Best for ages: 13+ | £5

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