Things to Do in Athens Greece: Plaka District
- Dec 30, 2025
- 7 min read
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Located at the foot of the Acropolis, Plaka is Athen’s oldest neighborhood. The area charms with twisting cobblestone streets, traditional tavernas, and ancient ruins. This article on things to do in Athens Greece focuses on the Plaka district.
Sometimes called the “neighborhood of the gods,” Plaka is the heart of Athen’s historic center. In the region’s flower-filled alleys find outdoor cafes, local artisan shops, and souvenirs. See the Roman Agora, Byzantine Churches, and Ottoman mosques in the shadow of Acropolis. Plaka is the perfect destination for sightseeing and people watching on your Athens itinerary.
ATHENS GREECE TOURS & ATTRACTIONS
WHY ADD PLAKA TO YOUR ATHENS ITINERARY
Plaka is packed with 3,000 years of history. Stroll the same streets that Pericles and Alexander the Great once walked. See ancient ruins like Hadrian’s Library and the Tower of the Winds. Or, visit one of Plaka’s museums or churches for a dose of Greek culture.
Go to Plaka to soak up the Athenian vibe. In the Plaka district claim a sidewalk table and savor a cup of coffee, look for bargains at the Monastiraki Flea Market, or listen to live music on the Mnistrikus Stairs. Mix with the locals in a kaleidoscope of color, noise, food, and commerce.
WHERE IS THE PLAKA DISTRICT
Plaka is located under the northeastern slopes of Acropolis Hill, roughly between the neighborhoods of Monastiraki and Syntagma. If you are arriving via the metro, use the Monastiraki or Syntagma metro stations.
There are two main avenues running through Plaka: Adrianou and Kydatheneon. The point where these two busy streets connect is generally considered the center of Plaka. A labyrinth of alleys diverge from the two streets. Take one, and the crowds quickly dissipate.
The Plaka district is largely residential and pedestrianized (only local traffic allowed). This makes wandering the area’s many restaurants, jewelers, and boutiques fun and relaxing. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestones.
TRUSTED TRAVEL RESOURCES
HOTELS IN PLAKA DISTRICT ATHENS
You will love rambling around picturesque Plaka. Its walkable streets, cozy cafes, and galleries will win over even the crankiest travelers. By choosing a hotel in Plaka, you will appreciate the area’s close proximity to many of the best things to do in Athens such visiting the Acropolis, Varvakios Market, and Panathenaic Stadium.
Try one of these hotels in the Plaka district:
Acropolis Stay: Budget friendly, short walk to major sites
Plaka Hotel: Budget friendly, short walk to major sites
The Athens Gate Hotel: Rooftop Dining with Views of Acropolis
Herodion Hotel: First-class hotel with pool and hot tub
ATHENS GREECE TOURS & THE PLAKA DISTRICT
Athens is a large city with over 3.6 million residents, and many neighborhoods. A tour with a knowledgeable guide, reservations, tickets, and included transportation can greatly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of the sites being visited.
Many Athens tours to the Acropolis and other ancient ruins will include the Plaka district. Look for a tour where Plaka is the last stop, so you can linger in the neighborhood at the tour’s conclusion.
Consider these well reviewed Athens Greece tours that visit the Plaka district:
ATHENS GREECE MAP
Use this map to orient yourself to Plaka’s position in the city.
BEST TIME TO GO TO ATHENS GREECE & PLAKA
Winters in Athens average in 40’s (F) with lots of rain. Tourist sites are the least crowded. Temperatures in the summers average in 90’s (F) with lots of sun. Tourist sites are the most crowded.
The best time to go to Athens Greece and the Plaka district is in the shoulder season. In the months of April, May, June, September, and October the weather is warm, all businesses and tourist sites are open, and the crowds are not at peak level.
FUN THINGS TO DO IN ATHENS
THINGS TO DO IN ATHENS GREECE: PLAKA DISTRICT
Note: In the next section (below), find a map that weaves all the things to do in Plaka we have identified into a handy self-guided walking loop.
Athens Plaka Walk
Treat yourself to a walking tour of Plaka. You won’t regret allocating a few hours with nothing on the agenda but wandering Plaka’s quaint avenues and shops. Use Kysathineaon and Adrianou streets as you’re anchors. Then, veer off to explore the quieter alleys along the way.
As you walk you will encounter wares of many kinds; jewelry, salty tee-shirts, Hellenistic glass, olive oil, ouzo, folk art, and more. There are street musicians with accordions, girls selling flowers, balloon vendors, and people who will write your name with grains of rice for a fee. As you stroll, be on the lookout for the small niche museums that are sprinkled throughout the district.
Food Exploration
Go to Plaka hungry. The district is packed with Greek street food and excellent Mediterranean eateries. And, this is one location where even the touristy restaurants on the main squares are worth the inflated prices with decent food and phenomenal people-watching from sidewalk tables.
You can eat in a traditional taverna, outside under an umbrella, on a rooftop, in a grab-n-go, or on the street at a kiosk or greengrocer. The alleys are full of coffee, gelato, and patisserie shops. Specialty food shops, food tours, and cooking classes are popular in this area.
Try one of these food-based tours:
Mnisikleous Street Stairs
Enjoy an unforgettable meal on the Mnisikleous Street stairs in Plaka. Few dining locales have a setting as memorable. The wide stone stairs ascend upward, linked by a series of platforms. The landings are filled with small tables on which to enjoy a meal or Greek tapas.
Arrive about an hour before mealtime to secure an outside table. Many of the tavernas along the staircase have live music in the evening and dreamy rooftop bars.
Plaka’s Archaeological & Historical Sites:
There are several archaeological and historical sites of note in the Plaka District:
Roman Agora:
The marketplace and gathering space, built between 19 - 11 BC, dates back to the time of Julius Ceasar and Augustus.
Hadrian’s Library:
At the Roman Agora, find the ruins of a grand public library created by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132.
Tower of the Winds:
At the Roman Agora, see what is considered the world’s first meteorological station with a sundial, water clock, and wind vane. (Picture above.)
Doorway of Medrese:
The ruins of an 18th century theology school and prison – where only the doorway remains. (Picture above.)
Monument of Lysikrates:
An ancient monument built by a patron of the theater in memory of a series of plays.
TRY THESE ATHENS NIGHT TOURS
Monastiraki Flea Market
At the edge of the Plaka neighborhood, visit the Monastiraki Flea Market. Six days a week, the market is a traditional bazaar full of clothing, footwear, antiques, souvenirs, and food. On Sundays, flea-market tables pop up with local crafts and food. This hustling neighborhood market is great fun to explore.
Monastiraki Square
Nestled between Plaka’s Adrianou Street and the Monastiraki Flea Market find Monastiraki Square. The large public plaza is a hub of activity. With views of the Acropolis high above on the hill, explore the Neoclassical, Ottoman, and Byzantine buildings that surround (including two churches and the nearby Monastiraki Metro Station).
Plaka’s Churches
If you love visiting churches, the Plaka district has several to check out. These lovely Orthodox chapels are filled with murals, sculptures, and intricate Greek iconography. The Church of Saint Nocholas Rangavas is the oldest church in Athens. The Church of Saint Catherine was erected on the ruins of a sanctuary to the Goddess Artemis. Lastly, the Church of the Virgin Mary Pantanassa is a barrel-vaulted basilica in Monastiraki Square.
DAY TRIPS FROM ATHENS GREECE
Anafiotika
Bordering the Plaka district find the neighborhood of Anafiotika. On a hillside below the Acropolis, construction workers who immigrated from the Greek island of Anafi built a neighborhood reminiscent of their home. Take a stroll through the residential area that features white-washed houses with colorful doors, and bougainvillea filled alleys.
PLAKA DISTRICT WALKING TOUR WITH MAP
In this section we have woven all the wonderful things to do in Plaka into a walking route that loops around the neighborhood.
Distance: Around 1.4 miles (2.3 km)
Duration: 2-3 hours (taking time to shop, eat, and sightsee)
Dress: Sturdy walking shoes. Sun protection. Knees and Shoulders covered if going in churches.
Time of Day: Any time of day. In Plaka, stores generally open 10am to 9pm. Some closed Sundays.
Enjoy the moussaka and ouzo, Laura and Randy
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