In the shadow of the Acropolis Hill, Plaka will take you back in time. It is the oldest and most picturesque neighborhood in Athens. Antiquities, museums, architectural gems, small taverns, and pleasant smells will surely impress you.

Plaka Tour  | Cultural Places

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We hope you had a great time exploring Plaka. This tour has been designed by the Cultural Places team.

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Acropolis Tour

Ancient and Roman Agora Tour

Vasilissis Sofias Tour

Plaka is the oldest and most picturesque neighborhood in Athens. In the shadow of the Acropolis hill, the small houses, neoclassical buildings, narrow streets, antiquities, and the smell of bougainvillea combine to create a unique atmosphere.
The entire history of Athens, from antiquity to modern times, is outlined in Plaka.
 Are you ready to be impressed? Then let’s explore Plaka.

Welcome to Plaka

This monument is dated between 335-334 BC, according to the inscription preserved on the monument. It was erected by Lysicrates, a wealthy Athenian, who was a sponsor (choregos in Greek) of musical and theatrical contests that took place in the Theater of Dionysus on the slope of the Acropolis hill.
The monument is a circular structure consisting of six columns among panels of marble.
It is decorated with a frieze depicting scenes from the life of the god Dionysus.

Choragic Monument of Lysicrates

This church dates to the 17th century AD.
A marble sign at the entrance refers to a hero of the Greek War of Independence, Athanasios Diakos, who served here as a deacon.
 Athanasios Diakos fought heroically against the Turks in 1821.
After a battle, he was injured and arrested by the Turks. They asked him to embrace Islam, but he refused, saying “I was born Greek, I shall die Greek.” They then brutally killed him by impalement.

Church of Saint Dimitrios and a Greek Hero

Plaka is full of restaurants!
They offer a wide range of delicious traditional and modern Greek dishes: be sure to try pastitsio, moussaka, or souvlaki, as these are the most traditional dishes in Greece. Some places even have a rooftop where you can enjoy a view while you eat.Keep in mind that there are a lot of landmarks and interesting places to visit in Plaka. After your tour, it is always a good idea to stop and relax here.

Explore Greek Gastronomy

The School Life and Education Museum takes you on a journey through school life from the 17th century to today.
It consists of three levels of exhibitions full of books and other related objects. Don’t leave this neoclassical building without admiring its architecture. It dates back to 1850 and both the exterior and interior have unique characteristics.

School Life and Education Museum

This is a simple four-columned, cross-in-square church dating back to the 11th century AD.
The masonry follows the typical Byzantine form, with stones fitted together and surrounded by rows of bricks.
 In the entrance of the church, you will find the church bell. This bell is a part of one of the most important moments in Greek history. In 1833, when the Ottomans abandoned Athens, this bell was the first to ring, announcing the liberation of the city to its citizens.

Byzantine Church of St Nicholas Rangava and the Story of its Bell

This was the main church of a female monastery in the 17th century AD.
When the monastery stopped operating, the church became an embassy church (metochion) of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
Kolokynthoi is the name of the family that first owned the church.
 The long and narrow single-room church is covered by a barrel-vaulted roof.Renovation programs in the 19th century changed the original look of the church.
The interior decorations were added in the 19th century.

Saint Anargyroi Kolokynthoi

This church dates to the end of the 11th century AD.
 The exterior masonry is well preserved. It is made of stones fitted together and surrounded by rows of bricks.
Architectural fragments from older buildings were embedded into the walls and used in the construction of the interior
 The church holds paintings dating to the 13th century AD.
To the left of the altar there is a unique fresco depicting a saint on horseback, probably Saint George.

St. Ioannis Theologos, the Hidden Byzantine Church

Dating back to the 17th century, this church was modified in the middle of the 19th century, when the new citizens of the neighborhood, coming from Anafi Island, renovated the church and added a bell tower.
They painted the building white in order to make it look similar to churches in the Greek islands. 
 From Saint George of the Rock starts the neighborhood of Anafiotika, one of the most picturesque areas in the city.

Saint George of the Rock

The name Anafiotika comes from the name of the Greek island Anafi, known for having the best builders in Greece.
Craftsmen from Anafi were hired to build mansions for wealthy Greeks in Athens in the middle of the 19th century. When they came to the city, they built their own houses in Anafiotika. Nowadays, the 55 small white houses with painted doors and little gardens, combined with the narrow streets and stairs, make for a truly unique atmosphere.

Anafiotika, an Island in Athens

This is a small cruciform church dates to the 11th century AD.
 Over the years, many changes and architectural additions have been made, altering the original look of the church. The masonry consists of stones fitted together and surrounded by rows of bricks.
 Inside the church, some wall paintings are still preserved. These are dated to the 14th and 15th century AD.

Byzantine Church of Metamorphosis Sotiros

The Canellopoulos Museum hosts thousands of items from the prehistoric to the recent past.
In 1976, the museum was opened to the public. The exhibits are from the private collection of Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos, which was donated to the Greek state in 1972.
The antiquities are displayed over three floors and in the basement.
Here, you can find figurines from the Neolithic period, black- and red-figured vessels from the Classical period, Byzantine paintings, and much more.

Canellopoulos Museum, from the Prehistoric to the Recent Past

This is one of the few examples of architecture dating to before the 17th century AD and the Ottoman Period.
 In 1831, two architects, Kleanthis and Schaubert, bought the house and used it as their residence.
Between 1837 and 1841, it housed the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
In the early 20th century, it was a home for Greek refugees from Asia Minor. Then, it became a tavern called “The Old University.”
Since 1987, it has housed the Athens University History Museum.

Athens University History Museum, the First University

This is one of the most photographed areas in Athens. The stone stairs lined with the outdoor tables of cute cafés create a unique atmosphere.
 This area is always very popular, with tourists and locals alike choosing this narrow street to have coffee.
 Take the opportunity to take pictures or just relax and have a drink when you finish exploring Plaka.

The Famous Plaka Stairs

This is the only preserved public bathhouse in Athens, dating to the first period of Turkish occupation between 1456 and 1687. The bathhouse was known as the Hammam of Abid Efendi. Now it is known as the Bathhouse of the Winds.
At the end of the 19th century, it underwent many changes. One of these was the neoclassical façade of the building.
The bathhouse was in operation until 1965. Nowadays, following a restoration program, the baths have been transformed into a museum.

The Bath House of the Winds

Benizelou Mansion is considered the oldest house in Athens. It is a two-story structure with a stone-built ground floor and its superstructure is mainly made of timber. The current incarnation of the house was most likely constructed in the first half of the 18th century, but the original building has been dated to the 15th or 16th century.
It belonged to a prominent Athenian family, the Benizelou family.
 Nowadays, Benizelou Mansion has been transformed into a museum that is open to the public.

Benizelou Mansion, the Oldest House in Athens

This museum collection includes 1200 instruments dating from the 18th century to today. Its permanent exhibition is spread over three floors and offers the amazing experience of viewing original folk instruments while listening to each instrument being played. The building that hosts it is one of the oldest mansions in Athens and is dated to the middle of the 19th century. In summer, the lovely garden hosts musical performances.

Museum of Folk Instruments

You have now thoroughly explored the history of the city through this unique neighborhood, have visited antiquities, museums, and churches. You have enjoyed multiple views of Athens, as well as admired Greek architecture from impressive mansions to quaint houses. It is time to relax and enjoy a refreshment. You have earned it!

Good Bye

Plaka: The Most Picturesque Area in Athens

Introduction

Introduction – Plaka Tour

Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, the Landmark

Plaka is the oldest and most picturesque neighborhood in Athens. In the shadow of the Acropolis hill, the small houses, neoclassical buildings, narrow streets, antiquities, and the smell of bougainvillea combine to create a unique atmosphere. The entire history of Athens, from antiquity to modern times, is outlined in Plaka. Are you ready be impressed? Then let’s explore Plaka.

Plaka Tour

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