Must-see attractions in Syntagma & Plaka

  • Columns at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens.
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    Temple of Olympian Zeus

    Syntagma & Plaka

    A can't-miss on two counts: it's a marvellous temple, once the largest in Greece, and it's smack in the centre of Athens. Of the temple's 104 original…

  • Athens, Attica / Greece - 2018/04/03: Arch of Hadrian known as Hadrian’s Gate as gateway to Temple of Olympian Zeus, Olympieion, in ancient city center old town borough; Shutterstock ID 1730853691; your: Barbara Di Castro; gl: 65050; netsuite: digital; full: poi
1730853691

    Hadrian’s Arch

    Syntagma & Plaka

    The Roman emperor Hadrian had a great affection for Athens. Although he did his fair share of spiriting its Classical artwork to Rome, he also embellished…

  • A verdant archway full of plants at the National Garden in Athens

    National Garden

    Syntagma & Plaka

    The former royal gardens, designed by Queen Amalia in 1838, are a pleasantly unkempt park that makes a welcome shady refuge from summer heat and traffic…

  • 2E6AXR9 Detail of a 19th century laghouto, or lute, inlaid with ivory and tortoise shell, displayed at the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments (MELMOKE) in Athens February 15, 2015. Tucked away in a corner of Athens' historic Plaka district is the small MELMOKE where visitors are treated to rows of wood and bone flutes, pottery drums called toumbeleki, and gaida - bagpipes made of sheep or goat skins. The laghouto is said to have been made by luthier Manolis Venios of Constantinople (present day Istanbul), a master craftsman whose works now sell for many thousands of dollars. Picture taken Februa
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MUSIC, GREECE, MUSEUM

    Museum of Greek Popular Instruments

    Syntagma & Plaka

    A single avid ethnomusicologist collected almost 1200 folk instruments; the best are on display in three floors of this house-turned-museum. Headphones…

  • Jewish Museum

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This small museum traces the history of the Jewish community in Greece – starting with the deeply rooted Romaniote community established in the 3rd…

  • Anafiotika

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Clinging to the north slope of the Acropolis, the tiny Anafiotika district is a beautiful, architecturally distinct subdistrict of Plaka. In the mid-1800s…

  • Presidential Guard

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Get a close-up look at the evzones, the traditionally dressed Greek soldiers, standing in front of their main barracks and, further down Irodou Attikou,…

  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

    Syntagma & Plaka

    In front of Parliament, the traditionally costumed evzones (presidential guards) stand by the tomb and change every hour on the hour. On Sunday at 11am, a…

  • National Historical Museum

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This grand old collection of swords, ship figureheads and portraits of moustachioed generals is a bit short on signage; it's best for people who already…

  • Plateia Syntagmatos

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Generally considered the centre of Athens, this square is a transport hub and general hang-out spot, especially on warm summer evenings when young people…

  • Church of Sotira Lykodimou

    Syntagma & Plaka

    First built in the 11th century and now the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, this is the only Byzantine church with an octagonal plan. It's quite small but…

  • Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This lovely 11th-century church was part of the palace of the Rangavas family, who counted among them Michael I, emperor of Byzantium. The church bell was…

  • OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    Parliament

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Built between 1836 and 1842 by Bavarian architect Friedrich von Gärtner, Greece's Parliament was originally the royal palace. From its balcony, the…

  • Athens, Greece – November 15, 2016. Exterior view of St Catherine Orthodox Byzantine Church (Church of Agia Ekaterini), dating from the 11th century, in Athens.; Shutterstock ID 1605338002; your: Barbara Di Castro; gl: 65050; netsuite: Digital; full: poi
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    Church of Agia Ekaterini

    Syntagma & Plaka

    One of the few very old Byzantine churches that is open regularly, this is definitely worth a peek inside to see how an 11th-century space is still in…

  • The 11th-century Church of Agii Theodori in Syntagma neighbourhood.

    Church of Agii Theodori

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This 11th-century church is worth a detour just to see it still existing amid all the modern office buildings. Inside, you'll see a tiled dome and, under…

  • Kanellopoulos Museum

    Syntagma & Plaka

    A neoclassical mansion contains the collection of Paul and Alexandra Kanellopoulos that was bequeathed to the Greek state in the 1970s. There's lovely…

  • Church of Agioi Anargyroi

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Tucked away in Plaka, this 17th-century church is worth visiting any time for its peaceful courtyard and beautiful interior decoration. On the evening of…

  • Frissiras Museum

    Syntagma & Plaka

    If you like discovering great painters you've never heard of, this could be the museum for you. The Frissiras family's collection, numbering around 4000…

  • Lysikrates Monument

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Chorus leader and musical patron Lysikrates built this tower in 334 BC to commemorate the victory of his sponsored chorus in the dramatic contests of the…

  • Athens, Attica, Greece - Jan 29, 2021: The marble fountain in front of the Zappeion Hall neoclassical building in the National Garden of Athens near Syntagma Square. People relaxing under the sun; Shutterstock ID 1965705790; your: Erin Lenczycki; gl: 65050; netsuite: Digital; full: POI
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    Zappeion

    Syntagma & Plaka

    The southwestern third of the green space at the centre of Athens, adjacent to the National Garden, is a network of wide, tree-shaded walkways around the…

  • A Greek 1,000 drachma coin dating from 1999, sits on display in a secure cabinet at the Bank of Greece museum in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012. European officials ratcheted up the pressure on the Greek government to deliver budget cuts in exchange for a second bailout as they insisted that default is not an option. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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AUSTERITY, BAILOUT, CURRECY; CURRENCIES, CUTS, ECONOMY, EMEA, EUROPE, FINANCE, FINANCIAL

    Museum of the Bank of Greece

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This museum covers the general history of money, from ancient times on. There's a token nod to the euro era, but really this place is about that venerable…

  • Athens, Greece – November 18, 2016. Exterior view of the Bath House of the Winds, a beautifully refurbished 17th-century hammam (Turkish bath). ; Shutterstock ID 1624376455; your: Erin Lenczycki; gl: 65050; netsuite: Digital; full: POI
1624376455

    Bath House of the Winds

    Syntagma & Plaka

    One of the few remnants of Athens' Ottoman period, this 17th-century hammam (Turkish bath) is also the only intact public bath building in the city –…

  • Athens Greece. The inner courtyard of the Zappeio Hall, now used as a conference center. Athens Greece June 2019; Shutterstock ID 1587006739; your: Erin Lenczycki; gl: 65050; netsuite: Digital; full: POI
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    Zappeio Hall

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Inaugurated in 1888, the neoclassical Zappeio Hall is named after Evangelis Zappas, the tycoon who funded the first modern Olympics in 1896. Used to host…

  • Making cookies in the kitchen at the Children's Museum in Plaka.

    Museum of Greek Children’s Art

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Founded to cultivate a love of art and creative development, this space exhibits young artists' work and holds workshops for children.

  • Museum of Greek Folk Art at 22 Panos

    Syntagma & Plaka

    While the main Museum of Greek Folk Art is being rebuilt (it's scheduled to reopen in 2020), this annexe houses the permanent collection Men & Tools,…

  • Oldest House in Athens

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Opened after renovations in 2017, the 17th-century Benizelos home is a typical domestic structure from that period, with dirt-floor downstairs rooms with…

  • Koraï 4

    Syntagma & Plaka

    When the German military occupied Athens in 1941, it requisitioned the Ethniki Insurance offices and for three years used the two-level basement as…

  • Museum of Folk Art & Tradition

    Syntagma & Plaka

    The 1920s mansion of folklorist Angeliki Hatzimichalis (1895–1965), who wrote more than 100 books and articles about Greek traditions, is a window into…

  • EHYBM3 The Archaeological site of the Roman Baths on Amalias Avenue in Athens, Greece.
EHYBM3
Archaeological, site, History, bathhouse, Amalias, Avenue, Archaeological, site, of, Roman, National, Gardens, Athens, Greece, Roman, conserved, excavations, metro, Adobe, High, Angle, View, The, Past, Travel, Destinations, Transportation, Travel, Working

    Roman Baths

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Excavation work to create a ventilation shaft for the metro uncovered the well-preserved ruins of a large Roman bath complex, built in the 3rd century AD…

  • The two interconnected buildings housing the Museum of the City of Athens.

    Museum of the City of Athens

    Syntagma & Plaka

    Housed in two interconnected buildings, including the palace where King Otto lived between 1830 and 1846, this small museum is not so much about the city…