Plaka, Historic neighborhood under Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Plaka is a central neighborhood of Athens with narrow, stone-paved streets and two-story neoclassical buildings dating from the 19th century. The entire district is car-free and characterized by small squares, staircases, and hidden passages that give it a maze-like quality.
The area shows signs of habitation since ancient times, but most buildings visible today were built in the 19th century when Athens was rebuilt under Western influence. In the 1970s it was protected from demolition and transformed from an entertainment district into a residential neighborhood with cultural focus.
Taverns, shops, and street musicians shape daily life in the narrow lanes, where locals and visitors gather at small squares and cafés. The museums here tell stories about Greek traditions, Jewish heritage, and folk crafts that remain important to the neighborhood's identity.
The neighborhood is easily reached via three metro stations - Acropolis, Monastiraki, and Syntagma - all within short walking distance. Wear comfortable walking shoes since the streets are steep and uneven with many staircases running through the hilly lanes.
The Anafiotika section is unexpected: white Cycladic-style houses with flat roofs were built by settlers from Anafi island and create a small island landscape in the middle of the city. These white houses feel like another world and offer a surprising contrast to the neoclassical buildings around them.
Location: 1st District of Athens
Website: http://cityofathens.gr
GPS coordinates: 37.97285,23.73006
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:00
Greece is home to many secluded beaches, away from main tourist routes and resorts. These lesser-known coastlines are found on the islands of Crete, Lefkada, Zakynthos, Cephalonia, Milos, and Karpathos. Some feature fine light-colored sand, others black volcanic pebbles from ancient eruptions, and all are surrounded by turquoise waters where the seabed is visible from the surface. Accessing these sites often requires extra effort: steep paths descending from cliffs, unpaved roads crossing Mediterranean scrub, or boat trips from coastal villages. Seitan Limania is nestled in a gorge with rocky walls over 100 meters high, while Egremni Beach is accessible after descending 350 carved steps in the cliffs. Mavra Volia is distinguished by its black lava stones, remnants of an eruption 2200 years ago, and Kedrodasos is home to centuries-old junipers casting shadows on the sand. These beaches generally have little or no tourist infrastructure. The lack of restaurants, parasol rentals, or paved parking preserves their natural state and limits the number of visitors, even during peak summer season. Some areas, such as Marathonisi Island, are partially protected to allow nesting of loggerhead turtles.
The historic districts display local architecture from medieval to baroque periods. The streets connect markets, cafes and old houses. The quarters preserve elements from their time of origin, from Romanesque churches to neoclassical facades.
Athens offers numerous locations for photography that range from ancient structures to modern urban spaces. The Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus rank among the city's most significant archaeological sites, while neighborhoods like Plaka and Anafiotika provide narrow streets and traditional architecture that contrast with the modern metropolis. Lycabettus Hill and Areopagus Hill offer elevated viewpoints over the city and its ancient ruins. Markets like Varvakios, squares such as Monastiraki and Syntagma, and museums including the National Archaeological Museum and the Benaki Museum document different aspects of Greek history and culture. The Panathenaic Stadium and Zappeion Hall showcase neoclassical architecture from the 19th century, while the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center represents contemporary design. These locations provide different perspectives on a city whose history spans more than 3,000 years.
Choragic Monument of Lysicrates
202 m
Anafiotika
158 m
Benizelos Mansion
168 m
Peripatos (Akropolis)
183 m
Agia Aikaterini (Athens)
210 m
Aglaureion
183 m
Greek Folk Art
209 m
Frissiras Museum
198 m
Agios Nikólaos Ragavás (Athens)
87 m
Aggelike Chatzimichali house
101 m
Metochion of the Holy Sepulchre
169 m
Paparigopoulos mansion
180 m
Sotira Kotaki church (Athens)
190 m
Agios Ioannis Theologos (Athens)
119 m
Gasparis house
83 m
Finlay House
91 m
Capuchin monastery of Athens
206 m
Church House
30 m
Hagia Irene church (Plaka)
96 m
Amfi-theatro
86 m
Church of Ayios Georgios of the Rock
159 m
Bust of Dimitris Kambouroglou
195 m
Bust of Nikos Hatziapostolou
174 m
Ioanna Tsatsou (bust)
172 m
Konstantinos Tsatsos (bust)
177 m
2nd Primary School, Athinon (now 74th)
89 m
House of Koutzalexis
221 m
School Life and Education Museum
147 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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