5 Best Neighborhoods to Visit in Athens

Located between Thissio and Syntagma Square, the Acropolis, or Makrigianni neighborhood as it’s also called, is the one that most people envision when pictureing Athens. It’s one of the most central as well as being home to the city’s most famous attraction, Acropolis Hill and its 5th-century BC monuments like the Parthenon and Temple of Athena Nike. This is also where you’ll find Athens’ best museum, the Acropolis Museum, which holds countless artifacts from the Acropolis with two floors devoted to permanent exhibits and other two with multimedia galleries, temporary exhibitions, shops, cafes, and restaurants. Lively, pedestrianized Dionysiou Areopagitou street is here too, offering fabulous views of the Acropolis along with fashionable boutiques, designer jewelry shops, avant-garde art galleries and enticing cafes. It runs from east to west, starting from Amalias Avenue near the Arch of Hadrian, ending near Philopappos Hill.

This picturesque neighborhood in the heart of the city is famous for its ancient sites, neoclassical homes, and a famous open-air market. You can find just about anything here with the market and the entire neighborhood known for offering some of the best bargains in the city. There are rare antique dealers right alongside souvenir shops selling the usual tourist wares like t-shirts, along with fashionable clothing and jewelry. It’s also a hotspot for people-watching, worth visiting just to experience the atmosphere. Enjoy a glass of wine or another beverage in one of the hip cafes while sipping a drink at one of the cafes overlooking the ancient agora as you take in the scene with all the shoppers coming and going. There’s almost always street musicians to complete the experience too.

Kolonaki is known as the place where affluent Athenians live, dine, and shop, with lots of major international designer names along with Greek designers and jewelers here. Some of the top shopping streets include Pindarou, Solonos, Likavittou, Tsakalof, and Ippokratous but there are boutiques, shoe stores, and art galleries scattered about the side streets too. This chic neighborhood is also home to a diverse array of restaurants, including many Japanese, French, and Italian eateries. If you want to try authentic souvlaki, those in the know will direct you to Kalamaki Kolonaki. Have your fill without guilt by taking an energizing walk up Lycabettus Hill, with Kolonaki spread across the lower slopes. From here you’ll get an amazing view over the city, out to the sea and nearby islands.