Souvlaki and kebab
Chargrilled skewers of pork or chicken, or spiced minced-meat kebab, wrapped in pitta with tomato, onion and tzatziki. In Monastiraki the grills have been going for generations.
Where to try it
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Free walking tours in Athens
Twenty-five centuries of history in the shadow of the Parthenon.
- 3 themed routes
- 17 stops
- Audio guide
In Athens, a Byzantine church interrupts the main shopping street, an Ottoman mosque presides over the metro square and, above it all, the Acropolis has watched over the city for two and a half thousand years. Theatre, philosophy and democracy were born here, and the people added legends of their own. Three free walking tours to discover it on foot, at your own pace.
Choose your free tour
One city, three walks.
All routes are free and can be combined. If it’s your first visit, start with the mixed route.
History
Before Athens was Athens: theatres, courts and emperors
From the Arch of Hadrian to Socrates' Agora, a walk along the south slope of the Acropolis, where theatre and democracy were born.
Mysteries & legends
Curses, dervishes and a prison without a prisoner
Churches built from pagan stones, a column said to have brought the plague and the cave that tradition gives to Socrates.
Mixed
From Syntagma to the Parthenon: the must-see Athens
The changing of the guard, the cathedral, the bustle of Monastiraki, the gates of the Acropolis and the museum that guards its treasures.
The map
The whole city on foot.
The routes cross in the old town. Tap a point to see which story awaits you there.
History
Mysteries & legends
Mixed
Filled points already have a published article; the rest are in the works.
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Itineraries
How many days do you have in Athens?
We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.
1
Athens in 1 day
All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.
See the itinerary 2Athens in 2 days
A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.
See the itinerary 3Athens in 3 days
The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.
See the itineraryWhat to eat
Flavours of Athens
The dishes you can’t leave without trying, and the classic spots that have been serving them for years.
Loukoumades
Airy fritters fried to order and drenched in honey, with cinnamon or sesame. Krinos has been serving them on Aiolou Street since 1923.
Where to try it
Tiropita and spanakopita
Flaky filo pies filled with feta or spinach, breakfast for half of Athens. Ariston has been baking them since 1910, a stone's throw from Syntagma.
Where to try it
Moussaka
Layers of aubergine, spiced minced meat and a thick béchamel browned in the oven. It is the classic taverna dish, and in Plaka it comes served under the trees.
Where to try it
Home-style stews (magirefta)
Bean soup (fasolada), chickpeas, lentils or fried fish: the home cooking of the market quarter, served with wine from the barrel. Diporto, in a basement by the Central Market, keeps that old-time atmosphere alive.
Where to try it