Hidden Athens

19th December 2023

Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple. Apart from the major tourist sites there are also a large number of ‘hidden’ attractions for the more adventurous to explore.

Here are a few of our preferred off-the-beaten-track places in this brilliant city

One of the best hidden gems in Athens, Greece is the Lycabettus Hill. This is the tallest point in the city and it is a great place to visit.

Usually, tourists go to the Acropolis, which is the most famous sight of the city and also a lovely viewpoint.

However, you should not miss out on Lycabettus Hill when going to Athens. You can get to the top of this place either by walking or by using the funicular.

From the top of the hill, you have an incredible view of the whole city. From there, you can see the Acropolis and many other sights, such as the Panathenaic Stadium and the Temple of the Olympian Zeus. At the top, you can also find a restaurant and an open-air theater where concerts often take place.

According to mythology, the goddess Athena created the hill when she dropped a stone she carried while creating the Acropolis. This story makes visiting the hill even better!

Next up is Anafiotika. This is a small part of the Plaka neighbourhood, located at the bottom of the Acropolis. This cute district is just a few hundred years old, and the best part is that you won’t find it crowded with tourists like other popular attractions in Athens. This is an incredibly beautiful place that features Cycladic architecture, narrow cobbled passageways, white houses with flat roofs, and colourful doors and windows. On top of these, Anafiotika offers amazing views over Athens and Mount Lycabettus.

It is a great place to take beautiful pictures of these picturesque houses and narrow streets.

At night the area is very busy with small tavernas spread all over. There are some amazing viewpoints from where you can enjoy the views of the red roof tiles of downtown Athens.

On to the Kaisariani Monastery. This lies in a beautiful wooded area on the western slopes of Mount Hymettus.

It is the perfect place for an afternoon escape from the city filled with nature, history, and amazing views of Athens.

The Byzantine monastery dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest monasteries in Athens. During your visit, you’ll get to admire its main church, the Catholicon, with 16th-century frescoes, a refectory, a bathhouse, and a couple of monks’ cells.

The forest surrounding Kaisariani Monastery is an excellent hiking destination. It is crisscrossed by many marked hiking trails leading to picturesque chapels hidden in the woods, amazing lookouts, and all the way to the mountain top.

Now for Taf – The Art Foundation. Blink and you’ll miss this unique bar, hidden behind a single doorway in a side street off Monastiraki Flea Market.

TAF is housed in a neoclassical building from the 1870’s.  Open the door onto an initially unremarkable inside area – but this opens out into a tree clad courtyard with a bar and young locals sitting and relaxing, drinking a coffee during the daytime.

Around the courtyard are two floors of buildings, the second floor divided into rooms where locals used to live and further back, cells, now housing art exhibits in an atmospheric environment.

It’s one of our favourite places to come and escape the sometimes-hectic rush of the outside tourist area.  It’s not well known to tourists so if being with the locals is your thing, TAF is definitely the place to be.

The Pnyx, located in the heart of Athens, is the perfect, but usually not too crowded, place to visit to get the full Athenian experience. Dating back to 507 BCE, it was where Ancient Greeks gathered to discuss political issues and pass laws. It was also used as a place of public assembly and even served as an open-air amphitheatre for artistic performance. So visiting The Pnyx provides insight into the long history of Athens and also shows how democracy still plays a large part in life in this bustling city today.

The sheer energy of its past inhabitants is almost palpable while visiting this area of Athens. Whether visiting alone or with friends or family, it will be an unforgettable adventure that honours the legacy of democracy and free speech started by the ingenious Greek mind thousands of years ago.

And finally some excellent Greek food. Exploring hidden gems in Athens can be a wonderfully rewarding experience, and eating at the taverns of Ano Petralona is no exception! Here, visitors will find traditional Greek dishes cooked to perfection with fresh local ingredients. The atmosphere of the restaurants is lively and inviting, and the menu options are sure to keep even the pickiest eater coming back for more.

Travellers come from far and wide to sample novel delicacies such as sweet-savoury spanakopites or succulent souvlaki, a taste that can only be experienced in this hidden corner of Athens. Diners of all backgrounds will feel like one of the family as they sample authentic Greek cuisine at these petite hidden gems—a truly inspiring experience.

We hope you enjoy your virtual tour of hidden Athens! And click here to see our listing of ten great books set in the city.

Tony for the TripFiction team

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