Athens Info Source

Athens District Source

• PLAKA. It is Athens''s most beautiful neighbourhood, with a mostly neoclassical architecture dating from King Otto''s time. Plaka and the Parliament were the only composites of the city of Athens when it first became a capital in 1834. It is like an historic centre, full of beautiful buildings, Byzantine churches, little touristy shops, café, bars and taverns (Greek restaurants).
  It is a delight to walk in the small streets of Plaka, even in summertime when it is quite crowded with tourists. Plaka is the neighbourhood where you can see the Ancient Roman Agora, the Tower of the Wind, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Acropolis and the Herode Atticus theatre.
  
• THISSION. District well known for its coffees populated by students and elegant streets. In Thission you will find the remarkable old Temple of Hephaestus, situated above a small hill. Not far from here you will find the district of Monastiraki, known for its shops and its markets (most of all the flea market). Some steps away there’s the district of Plaka, that will allow you to discover an interesting neoclassical architecture. Athens disposes of a dense network of trolleybus and buses. The subway, whose first line named ISAP was built in 1904, was completed in 2000 by two modern lines which get until the airport. Two tramway lines are working 24h per day.
  
• PIRAEUS is a suburb located 9 km to the south-west of Athens’ city centre. It is the capital of the Piraeus Prefecture and belongs to Athens’ urban area. According to Athens municipality, Piraeus is the second most populous municipality of the Greek capital. It was the port of the ancient city of Athens and was chosen to serve as the modern port when the city re-emerged in 1834. Piraeus is the largest port in Europe and the third largest in the world in terms of passenger transportation, transporting almost 20,000,000 passengers annually. The Piraeus station is the terminus of Line 1 (the "green line"), the electric train service now incorporated into the Athens Metro.
  
• KOLONAKI. Smart residential district of Athens, Kolonaki is between Lycavittos Hill and Syndagma square. It is the home of Athens chic, offering expensive and luxurious shops, cafes, and bars. It is quite enjoyable to walk around in Kolonaki''s street, admiring the beautiful buildings and shops.
  
  
• GLYFADA is an elegant and stylish suburb of Athens, situated in the southern parts of the Athens Metropolitan Area. Glyfada stretches out from the foot of the Hymettus mountain and reaches out to embrace the Saronic Gulf. It is the largest of the Athens'' southern suburbs, divided into Kato Glyfada, located by the sea, and Ano Glyfada, the area next to Mount Hymettus. The area is known in greece for its upmarket cafe and night life, well-known restaurants, shops and seasonal summer clubs; and its popularity with celebrities, singers, actors, athletes and journalists.
  Glyfada is 15 km away from Athens city centre if you go by taxi, bus or tram.
  
  
• KOUKAKI : Koukaki is bordered to the north by the neighbourhoods of Makrygianni and the historic neighbourhood of Plaka (the historic neighbourhood of Athens), to the south by the neighbourhoods of Kallithean and Petralona, to the East the neighbourhood of Neos Kosmos and to the West by the neighbourhoods of Filopappou and Thisio. Koukaki is very well connected to Athen’s city centre using all public means of transportation, metro, tram, bus and trolley bus. The points of interest of this area are: St John’s church, the old Fix Brewery Ruins, Socrates'' Prison and Drakou pedestrian zone. You will of course find any kind of shop which you may need for daily necessities.
  
  
  
• PANGRATI is a suburb of Athens bordered by Kolonaki to the north, Kaisariani to the east, Vironas to the south, and Mets to the west. Pangrati is one of the 73 municipalities in Athens, and considered part of Athens'' eastern suburban area. Pangrati is served very well by public transport and is a lively part of central Athens. Pangrati’s green parks, squares and café-lined streets impart a village-like quality to this urban neighborhood, which is within walking distance of the city centre. If you are in Greece for more than a few days, we recommend you checking out one of the local fresh fruit and vegetable markets known as Laiki. There is one every Friday morning in the Mets section of Pangrati.
  
• AMBELOKIPI is a large, central district of the city of Athens and is located in the centre of Athens, near Zografou, Goudi, Psychiko, and Pagkrati. It is a lively area at the border of the city centre of Athens with many restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas and shops. The area is served by an excellent transport system (3 major avenues are passing through the area, 2 metro stations, and bus stations) so wherever you are planning to go it is always very easy and quick.
  
• PATISSIA is a borough of Athens which is extended 5km from the historical centre of Northern Athens (Acropolis) and is part of the Athenian district (Athens’ central district). In former times this borough was the place where Athenians went for walks, nowadays it is one of Greece’s most populated areas. The borough is divided in two: ano and kato Patissia which are also metro stations which will take you to the historical centre, boutiques and typical Greek restaurants. The nightlife is great. It is a very lively area; you can get to the centre by many means: metro, buses, taxi.
  
• LYCABETTUS (In Greek: Lykavittos) is a Cretaceous limestone hill in Athens 277 meters above sea level. The hill is the highest point in the city that surrounds it. Pine trees cover its base, and at its peak are the XIX th century Chapel of St. George, a theatre, and a restaurant. The hill is a popular tourist destination and can be reached by a Funicular which climbs the hill from a lower terminus at Kolonaki. This is the site where you can get a panoramic view over Athens and the Acropolis.
  
• METS The Mets neighbourhood is situated in a strategic area of Athens, with many sightseeing spots which will allow you to admire the Lycabettus Hill and the Acropolis. The neighbourhood is located in the heart of the capital city, near the parliament (Syntagma) and near the Zappeion (exhibition and conference centre). The reformation of the public transport (tramway, underground and bus stations) has meant that the comfort of the traveller has much improved. If you like art, we suggest that you visit : the National Pinacotheque (Ethniki Pinakothiki) which hosts Greek modern-art masterpieces as well as Elgreco paintings, the Goulandris Museum and the Benaki Museum (which has a priceless collection of modern and ancient art).
  
  
  
  
• KYPSELI Built in the sixties as one of the first Athens districts with multi-floor houses. Kypseli was the trendy place for celebrities like actors, film makers, writers and others. Kypseli nowadays is a very well known highly populated and safe area at the centre of Athens. Fokionos Negri pedestrian road is a must see, big park, fountains, coffee shops and restaurants on both sides. The Archaeological Museum, the biggest museum of the city is less than a km away and so are the Victoria metro station and Exarhia neighbourhood. The Acropolis, Plaka, Thissio and the other archaeological sites of Athens are in distance of a couple of kilometres. The neighbourhood is very well connected with public bus service to any destination in Athens or Pireas.
  
  
  
• NEOS KOSMOS Neos Kosmos offers quick and easy access to the business and cultural districts of Athens, together with the peaceful and quiet environment of its neighbourhood. Within walking distance you can reach the historic, cultural and commercial centre of Athens, Acropolis, Plaka, Thissio, Monastiraki flea market, Kolonaki, Ermou str., Syntagma square, the Greek parliament, Ancient Agora, Marble Stadium, Athens National Gardens, the Theatre of the Herodion. Moreover, within one metro station distance away from the apartment you can find the National Archaeological Musuem, the Benaki Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art, and the Folk Art Museum.
  
  
  
• TAVROS, which means "bull" in Greek is a typical urban residential and partly commercial neighbourhood situated 4 km southwest of the city centre of Athens. The two main streets are called: Piraios and Konstantinopouleos. If you want to find out some facts about Greek culture and history you will have to visit the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre. The underground line, buses and taxis will take you quickly to Piraeus as well as to the centre of Athens. Tavros has schools, lyceums, fitness clubs, banks, post offices and squares. Of course your daily needs will be fulfilled as all kind of services are offered to you : restaurants, bars, supermarkets.
  
• ACROPOLIS. It is the residential area which surrounds the Sacred Rock of Acropolis. All the archaeological sites of Athens are within walking distance, the Odeon or Herod Atticus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Ancient Agora, the Pnyx, Filopappou hill, Plaka (Old Town) as well as the New Acropolis Museum (expected to open on Dec 2008). It is a quiet neighbourhood very central and strategically located to explore the city and its ancient sites. Parliament Square
  (Syntagma), the National Gardens as well as shopping and eating areas of Kolonaki and the large Attica Shopping Mall, are less than 10 minutes walk.
  Driving down Syggrou Avenue you can reach the trendy shopping and dining sea side Marina of Flisvos. The area is well served by tram, metro (acropolis station) as well as sight seeing routes and buses.