Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Entertainment
29
Aigli Cinema
F6
30
Cafe Alavastron
H7
32
Half Note Jazz Club
E7
Sights
Sq; translated as Constitution Sq), dominated by the Parliament, with most major sights
located within walking distance (
Click here
for a DIY walking tour). South of Syntagma,
the old Turkish quarter in
Plaka
is virtually all that existed when Athens was declared
capital of Greece. Its paved, narrow streets nestle into the northeastern slope of the Acro-
polis and encompass many of the city's ancient sites. Touristy in the extreme, Plaka is
still the most character-filled part of Athens.
Centred on busy
Plateia Monastirakiou
(Monastiraki Sq), the area just west of Syn-
tagma is the city's grungier but nonetheless atmospheric market district.
Psyrri
(psee-
ree), just north of Monastiraki, has a bit of a bar-and-restaurant quarter. The
Thisio
neighbourhood's Apostolou Pavlou is a lovely green pedestrian promenade under the
Acropolis, with a host of cafes and youth-filled bars. The red neon-lit chimney stacks at
the renovated gasworks in
Gazi
illuminate the city's densest nightlife district, packed
with bars and restaurants. It is one of the burgeoning gay-friendly neighbourhoods of
Athens.
undeniably chic. Its streets are full of classy boutiques and art galleries, as well as dozens
of cafes and trendy restaurants. To the east of the Acropolis,
Pangrati
is an unpretentious
residential neighbourhood. The quiet neighbourhoods of
Makrygianni
and
Koukaki
,
south of the Acropolis, around the Acropolis Museum, are refreshingly untouristy.
The commercial district around
Omonia
was once one of the city's smarter areas, but
despite ongoing efforts to clean it up, it is still super-seedy, especially at night - exercise
caution.
Exarhia
, the bohemian, graffiti-covered neighbourhood squashed between the
Polytechnio and Strefi Hill, is a lively spot popular with students, artists and left-wing in-
tellectuals.
