Athens: The best addresses for Greece's metropolis

Stay

• Hotel Pi Athens. The tiny boutique hotel is located on a quiet side street - in the immediate vicinity of the Panathenaic Stadium, where in 1896 the first modern-day Olympic Games were held. From the roof terrace you have a magnificent view of the National Garden. DZ / F from 122 Euro (Fokianou 4, Tel. 00 30/21 07 51 23 45, www.piathens.com).
• City Circus. The hostel is for those who do not necessarily like the classic: its creative design actually looks like a circus world, the rooms have been decorated with sixties furniture, and instead of the TV in the living room there are long dinner tables in the common area , Photo actions and ouzo tastings to get in touch with people from all over the world. DZ / F from 85 Euro (Sarri 16, Tel. 00 30/21 30 23 72 44, www.citycircus.gr).
• AthensWas. This new design hotel is located in the pedestrian area, just steps away from the new Acropolis Museum and the Archaeological Boulevard. The rooftop restaurant on the seventh floor offers spectacular views, serving Greek cuisine with French and Japanese influences. DZ / F from 180 Euro (Dionysiou Areopagitou 5, Tel. 00 30/21 09 24 99 54, www.athenswas.gr).

Enjoy

• Zampano. Fellini's hero from the movie? La Strada? would feel at home in the bistro and wine bar named after him: a fanciful place full of vintage charm, with good drinks, brunch and jazz in the hip Psiri district. Recommended is z. For example, pomegranate salad with goat's cheese for 9 euros (Sarri 18, Tel. 00 30/21 30 23 32 44, www.zampano.gr).
• Bel Ray. Where used to be a car repair shop, today young Greeks come to drink a café frappé (2.50 euros) in the sun, a? Croque Monsieur? (8 euros) to order or to meet with friends for some delicious cocktails (from 6.50 euros) - after all, you're here in Koukaki, which is currently developing into a trendy district (Falirou 88, www.belraybar.gr).
• Mavro Provato. Somewhat remote, but largely tourist-free restaurant with a family atmosphere and fresh market cuisine. The lamb dishes (14 euros) are a revelation, as are the "sarikopita" cakes with honey and sesame for 6 euros (Arianou 31, tel. 00 30/21 07 22 34 66, www.tomauroprovato.gr).
• Feedel Urban Gastronomy. A hidden gem in the chic Kolonaki district. The small, fine menu is designed to share several dishes with his company. Not to be missed: the beetroot salad with walnuts, the veal cheeks with chickpea puree and the Greek tiramisu. There are beers from microbreweries. Definitely book (Ktena 1, Tel. 00 30/21 03 21 05 51).
• Noel.Although you can find here, otherwise the Christmas name suggests, neither tinsel nor Christmas tree, nevertheless, the bar has something festive with its chandeliers, golden Palmwedeln and mirrors. Is it known? Noel? but mostly because of the cocktails like? Elisabetta? with gin, basil and cinnamon for 9 euros (Kolokotroni 59 b, www.noelbar.gr).
• Le Greche. ?Baklava Cream ?, mascarpone with figs, salted toffee: the extraordinary varieties of ice cream parlor near Syntagma Square addictive. Experimenters will taste a scoop of Cretan Anthropyro ice cream with bergamot (Mitropoleos 16 a, www.facebook.com/legreche).

shopping

• Apivita. The natural cosmetics line of pharmacists Nikos and Niki Koutsianos is based on bee products and Greek plants such as thyme, cedar and olives. In the Apivita Experience Store you can try all the goodies, and on the first floor there is a juice bar with sensational green smoothies (Solonos 6, www.apivita.com).
• Ippolito. Designer Pavlina Papailiopoulou studied in Milan, London and New York before founding her own label Ippolito in Athens' In-Syntagma. Since 2009, she has created handbags made from the finest Italian leather, which are receiving worldwide attention. A classic is the model? Sui Midi? for 240 euros (Voulis 38, www.ippolito.gr).
• Anamesa Concept Store. "Chic with a twist? is the motto of Annousa Mela. The blogger sells selected pieces from the collections of Greek designers and exchanges her entire range every few weeks. Plus there's cool design accessories - and a coffee bar with hot drinks from the micro-roasting (Nikis 24).
• Yoleni? S The flagship store in chic Kolonaki has the perfect gift: select olive oil, Greek saffron, the sesame-honey bars "Pasteli", liqueurs ... (Solonos 9, www.yolenis.com).

Experience

• Acropolis. Make a pilgrimage to the Götterfelsen - a must! Alternative Athens? offers the four-hour? Mythology Highlights Tour? In addition to the Acropolis Hill with Parthenon and Nike Temple, the Dionysus Theater, the ancient Agora, where once Socrates spoke, and the Kerameikos Cemetery are also visited.By the way, one hears the Greek idols, which provide enough material for a modern soap opera (in English or French, 55 Euro / person, www.alternativeathens.com).
• Flea market in Psiri district. On Sundays, street vendors offer their junk and antique treasures in the lanes. Let's start at Monastiraki Square in the direction of Iroon Square, where you can pause in the taverns around the church of Agioi Anargyroi.
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The open-air theater, built in 161 below the Acropolis, is so well preserved that it hosts performances and concerts during the Athens & Epidaurus Festival in summer. It can accommodate 5000 spectators. Next to it is the Dionysos Theater, where in the fifth century BC. Already the comedies of Aristophanes were premiered (greekfestival.gr).
• Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.(SNFCC). The newly opened cultural center is an architectural highlight and houses the Greek State Opera and National Library. In the 17-hectare park (mostly free) concerts, garden workshops and on a canal even sailing courses take place, also you can walk on the roof and enjoy the fabulous sea view during a picnic (Leof. Andrea Syrgrou 364, www.snfcc.org) ,

So much time has to be

... for a walk through the old quarter AnafiotikaWinding streets, quaint houses and little chapels make you forget the tourist bustle.

... for an evening with a view: Bars on roof gardens are a megatrend in Athens. The best view of the illuminated Acropolis is in the "Thissio View". Frozen Margarita? with rosemary syrup (Apostolou Pavlou 25).

... for a cable car ride up to the Lycabettus Hill, Here you sit on 277 meters - even higher than the Greek gods on the Acropolis.

More information can be found here: www.discovergreece.com

Athens, the Capital and Largest City of Greece (May 2024).