Location: Plaka
Top Things to do in Plaka
The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Plaka, Attica
Once known for smog, traffic and tacky architecture, Athens is a city reformed thanks to fortunes brought by the 2004 Summer Olympics. Spotless parks and streets, an ultra-modern subway, new freeways, an accessible airport and all signs in perfect English make the city easily negotiable. Meriting more than a stopover en route to the islands, sophisticated Athens sites include many pillars of Western history, from the Acropolis to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, as well as treasures in the National Archaeological Museum.
Restaurants in Athens
1. Melina Mercouri Monument
2. Kidathineon Street
3. Plaka
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,134 reviews
Historic neighborhood located at the base of the hill topped by the Acropolis.
Reviewed By megan-woodruff - Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine
This area of town came highly recommended from friends that have visited Athens multiple times. It is full of delicious restaurants, great shopping (touristy stuff and clothes/shoes), and has a very young and hipster-ish vibe. There is plenty to do and see, but it gets pretty crowded and busy, so steer clear if that isn't your scene.
4. Anafiotika
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,233 reviews
Reviewed By MargieD300 - York, United States
I had read about this group of island-like houses and it was a highlight for me to not only find it but explore this small area of only about 45 homes. Part of the Plaka neighborhood set at the "back" side of the Acropolis, it is picturesque! Built in the 18th century by workers from the island of Anafi, there are small, narrow walkways, steep steps, and worth the climb to the top for a beautiful view of Lycabettus Hill, one of the highest points in Athens!
5. Ekklisia Agias Ekaterinis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By RogerL691
We walked past this church on a number of occasions whist walking down Lysikratous to our hotel in Plaka, and we only visited on our last morning in Athens. The church is shielded from the street behind a street kiosk and two columns of a Roman temple upon whose site this small 11th Century church was built. In front of the Church is a small shielded square, The church houses the holy remnants of St. Polydoros of Cyprus, St. Athanassios of Persia, and St. Tryphon to the church and were brought here from Sinai by visiting priests. The interior was typical of an orthodox church and was cool and quiet. There was a small counter selling books, icons, and artefacts and when we visited there was a lady "care taker" on duty. This is a little haven in this part of the city
6. Pandrossou
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 140 reviews
A touristy street lined with shops and restaurants.
Reviewed By permia
Traffic free and bustling for many hours daily it is a grand stroll from Monastiraki. Our first rendezvous was late afternoon midweek and it was at its busy-ness. Multitudes of shops and outlets offer souvenirs aplenty. Antiques and local craft works we found to be of most interest. Lovely carved wooden gifts are there including those of fine olive wood. Traversing it numerous times, with the last being early on a Sunday as it began to open up, was always enjoyable.
7. Tower of the Winds
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 343 reviews
A graceful stone tower dating back to the first century AD.
Reviewed By permia
It makes for a fabulous sight within the atmospheric centre of the Roman city of antiquity. Ingeniously constructed as a weather vane and water clock around the end of the 2nd century BCE, one of its most arresting features is the sequence of friezes on each octagonal side depicting the eight winds of Greek mythology. Each is shown personified as in their legends. Apeliotes is portrayed as a young man bearing fruit and grain. Lips holds the ornament of a ship's stern as he steers a swift voyage. Stepping inside is to gaze at a marvellous ceiling in stone with triangular lengths culminating in the dome. On the floor is a semblance of the elaborate water clock that was intact until Ottoman times.
8. Institute for Research on Music and Acoustics
9. Old Temple of Athena
10. Roman Agora
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 830 reviews
Reviewed By permia
Passing by the marvellous monumental Gate of Athena Archegetis that was established by contributions from both Augustus and Julius Caesar is to view the impressive expanse of the site. Completed in the last decades BC it served as a market place, in contrast to the Ancient Agora that was a place of political undertakings. Much is well extant including the Agoranomeion that dates from the mid-1st century CE. It is speculated that it may have served as a Basilica for the worship of Emperors. Not far away are the remains of a Basilica, a substantial public building from Hadrian’s reign. It had many functions including the holding of court hearings. A most remarkable edifice is the beautiful Tower of the Winds. Creatively built as a weather vane and water clock, it has fabulous friezes of the eight winds on each octagonal side depicting the eight winds of Greek mythology. These include Apeliotes bearing fruit and grain, Euros Bearded male with a cloak billowing in the wind and Boreas blowing the cold north wind through a large conch shell. From Byzantine times is the grand Fethiye Mosque. It hosts special cultural exhibitions but none was current during our time.
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