9 Best Hidden Gems in Athens Greece
Athens, Greece is an ancient city filled with a blend of cultures and hidden gems. The city also has plenty of opportunities to capture the best elements of Greek culture including food and architecture.
My visit to Athens mostly involved the typical tourist attractions that bring quite the crowd in July and August. You can’t get any closer to Greek history than the Acropolis.
But here are some hidden gems to enrich your travel experience when visiting Athens, Greece.
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1. Monastiraki Flea Market
Monastiraki is a famous neighborhood in Athens that provides a mixing pot of food, shops, and hotels. Just a few metro spots away from the Acropolis, you can find just about anything including souvenirs and Roman ruins.
However, it is smart to be aware of your belongings while walking busy streets during the summer. When visiting Monastiraki, make the most of your trip by trying out the local restaurants and cafes.
Some people say it’s more or less a bazaar than a flea market, and I definitely agree as I felt like I was traversing through the streets in the Middle East.
Monastiraki is usually covered with tourists during the peak season and the streets can get a little narrow but the experience is well worth the metro ride.
2. Akadimia Platonos
Also known as Plato’s Academy, this Greek gem is a neighborhood in Athens. This residential area is home to high-rise buildings, churches, and schools.
You definitely won’t find many tourists exploring Akadimia Platonos, but it is close to the Metaxourghio metro station. The academy was established in 387 BC but was destroyed by a Roman dictator.
The most fascinating part about this neighborhood is its history and architecture. If you choose to book a stay here, there are plenty of gorgeous hotels around the area.
3. Evripidou Street- Spice Market
Evripidou Street is not only the opportunity to take in different spices and foods but as well as different races and cultures. Located in central Athens, the Spice Market provides all of the essentials to cooking the best meals.
Evripidou Street gives family-owned businesses the chance to flourish. Even if you’re not a foodie, visiting this hidden gem in Athens will make you feel like a local.
Besides the spices, there are a few stores that stand out at least for the Athenians. Arapian provides flavors that are specifically found in the Middle East while To Fthino Ypogio has a range of different kinds of pasta.
4. Strefi Hill
Get ready to pack your best walking shoes when visiting Strefi Hill. This park in Greece is a limestone hill and is open to the public for the perfect gathering location.
Even though the park used to be owned by the Strefis family, the urban park has beautiful landscapes with views of the Acropolis and the city of Athens. There is also an open-air cinema and even a playground for kids.
5. Diomidous Botanical Garden
Diomidous is an enchanted playground for history and nature buffs. The garden isn’t too far from the central part of the city and is worth the taxi ride.
With over 3000 plant species, Diomidous is a reliable place to not only learn about the plants grown in Greece but also to learn about the promotion of scientific research on the plants.
A true getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, Athen’s paradise allows visitors to indulge in the garden’s cafe and picnic areas.
6. Open Air Cinemas (Lais)
Open-air cinemas are more common in Athens than in other parts of the world. Watching a movie in an outdoor setting reminds people of the Athenian entertainment of the past.
Here are some of the most recommended open-air cinemas:
- Thision
- Dexameni
- Aegli (probably the best cinema)
7. Kefalari Square
Kefalari Square is in Kifissia, Greece, and is next to the main square. Many of the locals spend part of their time here as it’s more beautiful than Downtown Athens and cooler during the warm months.
Kifissia does have a variety of options for entertainment including concerts and other events. You will also most likely find villas and gardens as well.
8. Pittaki Street
Pittaki Street is small but near Monastiraki. A street that tourists are most likely to pass on, Pittaki offers a creative twist to the ancient city of Athens.
If you’ve seen photos of this street on Google, you know about the colorful lamps that illuminate it.
Pittaki Street could become a rising hotspot for growth due to Ermou being close by as well as the number of vintage shops, bars, and restaurants. Who doesn’t want to shop in one of the best shopping streets in Athens?
9. Piraeus
Piraeus is known as the port city in Athens, Greece. Even though it may look like the usual port city with nothing to do, there are actually a ton of places worth exploring. Piraeus is home to the Electrical Railway Museum, Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, and even Votsalakia Beach.
If you’re a fan of sports, you might be interested in Piraeus as it is the center for traditional Greek sports like football and water polo. Karaiskakis Stadium is the home of the best football club in Greece known as the Olympiacos F.C.
It can be difficult to pass up some of the most popular tourist attractions in Greece with the jaw-dropping view of the Acropolis and the gigantic columns of the Temple of Zeus.
But if you have the chance to explore more of what Athens, Greece has to offer, visit these hidden gems to dive even deeper into Greek culture.
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