Walks · 5 of the best in Athens
Plaka and Anafiotika
Lanes below the rock
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © George E. Koronaios · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © C messier · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Ranssom · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 3
About Plaka and Anafiotika
Begin at the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in the heart of Plaka and wander uphill towards the north slope of the Acropolis. Anafiotika, a cluster of whitewashed houses built by stonemasons from the island of Anafi, feels like a Cycladic village dropped into the city: keep your voice down, as these are homes. Come down through Plaka’s lanes to the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds, and finish at Monastiraki Square. Our advice: go in the morning, before the tour groups, and stop for coffee on the way down.
Why it's on our list
- Island village in the city
- The Tower of the Winds
- Ends at Monastiraki
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Plaka and Anafiotika before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Plaka and Anafiotika are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest metro & tram stops
- MonastirakiM1M3200 m3 min walk
- ThiseioM1600 m8 min walk
- AkropoliM2650 m8 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Souri700 m9 min walk
- Taxi rank, Othonos750 m9 min walk
Key sights
- Monastiraki Flea Market250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Plaka & Anafiotika250 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- The Acropolis350 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Ancient Agora350 mWalk 5 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 4 min
- Acropolis Museum700 mWalk 9 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Temple of Olympian Zeus800 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Syntagma Square850 mWalk 11 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 6 min
- National Garden950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Panathenaic Stadium1.5 kmWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Lycabettus Hill1.7 kmWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 8 min
Getting around
- Port of Piraeus9.7 kmCycle 39 minCar or taxi 32 min