Athens holidays

On the southern edge of Plaka, the pedestrianised archaeological promenade skirts the foot of the Acropolis, cutting between the pine-covered slopes of Filopappos Hill and Herodes Theatre (built 2 AD), hosting open-air performances through summer. Close by is the New Acropolis Museum, designed by Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi.

Students and artists reside in this bohemian area filled with low-key bars, old-fashioned cafes and down-to-earth tavernas. A hotchpotch of neoclassical buildings and modern concrete apartment blocks line its grid of busy roads and leafy pedestrian side streets. The University lies close by, and the National Archaeological Museum is a 10-minute walk away.

Near Syntagma Square, home to the Greek Parliament, Athens’ most expensive residential quarter is the domain of wealthy Greeks and foreign embassy staff. Glamorous socialites frequent the fashionable bar-restaurants, chic boutiques and designer stores. A funicular serves the pine-clad slopes of Mount Lycabettus, and several of Athens’ top museums are within walking distance.

Below the Acropolis, at the foot of quaint Plaka, Monastiraki centres on a pedestrianised square with a Byzantine church and a metro station. From here, Ifaistou Street hosts a bazaar displaying leather goods, cheap jewellery, antiques and army surplus, while Adrianou is lined with open-air cafés overlooking the Ancient Agora. A flea market is held here on Sunday mornings.

In the city centre, Omonia Square is a busy traffic node, where six major roads meet. There is also a metro station. It is home to several large modern hotels, popular with tour groups, and is close to the National Archaeological Museum and the Central Market. Crowds traditionally gather here to celebrate national sporting victories.

Quaint and touristy, Athens’ oldest residential quarter sits in the shadow of the Acropolis. Plaka’s narrow cobbled streets are lined with bougainvillea-clad neoclassical mansions, souvenir shops and pseudo-traditional tavernas, some with live music. A village atmosphere prevails, despite the crowds. Close to all the top sights, it makes the best base for a short stay.

Once an area of leather tanning workshops, Psirri was transformed a few years back to make it Athens’ prime nightspot. Packed with an ever-growing range of bars, tavernas, and dance clubs, it offers mainstream entertainment. Several Latin and Oriental-themed bars add the spice. Psirri lives after dark, though the nearby Central Market is worth a look in by day.

Functional rather than pretty, Syngrou Avenue is a busy six-kilometre, six-lane thoroughfare linking the city centre to the coast at Palaio Faliro. Lined with some of Athens’ biggest modern hotels, several with convention centres, it is more geared towards business travellers than cultural tourists. Syngrou is also known for its live music venues and adult nightclubs.