Local gems

Not the Athens you seeon postcards.

Island alleys under the Acropolis, hills with no queue, harbours where the city takes its coffee slowly. Places most visitors walk straight past — with the full story behind each one.

Anafiotika — Plaka, Athens

Plaka

Anafiotika

A Cycladic island village hidden under the Acropolis — whitewashed houses, no street names, cats in the sun.

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Prison of Socrates — Acropolis, Athens

Acropolis

Prison of Socrates

A rock-cut cave on Philopappos Hill that legend ties to the philosopher's final days.

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Kerameikos & Gkazi — Gkazi, Athens

Gkazi

Kerameikos & Gkazi

The ancient potters' quarter on one side, the city's loudest nights on the other.

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Lycabettus Hill — Lycabettus, Athens

Lycabettus

Lycabettus Hill

The highest point in Athens: morning hikes, a whitewashed chapel, and concerts under the stars.

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Flisvos Marina — Paleo Faliro, Athens

Paleo Faliro

Flisvos Marina

Yachts, sea air and the largest playground in the Balkans, 6 km from the centre.

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Kynosargous Hill — Neos Kosmos, Athens

Neos Kosmos

Kynosargous Hill

A 360-degree view of Athens from a hill almost no visitor climbs.

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The Pnyx & Old Observatory — Thissio, Athens

Thissio

The Pnyx & Old Observatory

Where democracy was invented — and where you can still look at the Moon through a 19th-century telescope.

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Pasalimani — Piraeus, Athens

Piraeus

Pasalimani

A round harbour of sailboats and cafés where Piraeus takes its coffee slowly.

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Peiraiki — Piraeus, Athens

Piraeus

Peiraiki

Ancient walls, open sea and the best sunset walk in the city — with ouzo waiting at the end.

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Psirri & the street art streets — Psirri / Monastiraki, Athens

Psirri / Monastiraki

Psirri & the street art streets

One of the oldest quarters of Athens, now an open-air gallery of murals and workshops.

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Kaisariani Shooting Range Park — Kaisariani, Athens

Kaisariani

Kaisariani Shooting Range Park

An Altar of Freedom turned memorial park, with a view that dissolves the city below.

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Stavros Niarchos Park & Cultural Center — Kallithea, Athens

Kallithea

Stavros Niarchos Park & Cultural Center

Mediterranean gardens, the Opera and a National Library open until midnight.

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Strefi Hill — Exarchia, Athens

Exarchia

Strefi Hill

Exarchia's green lung: air raid shelters, grassroots culture and a full view of the city.

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The parking-roof Acropolis view — Syntagma, Athens

Syntagma

The parking-roof Acropolis view

Hidden in plain sight above the public toilets by Zonars — one of the cleanest Parthenon views in the centre.

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