Plaka, Monastiraki and Psyrri: a self-guided walk

This is the classic first walk in Athens. Start at the edge of Plaka beneath the Acropolis, wander through its lanes, pause at Monastiraki Square and, if you still have energy, finish at Iroon Square in Psyrri. It moves from architectural detail to market browsing to street life, and it is easy to shorten at any point.

• Start: Monument of Lysicrates, Plaka (near Akropoli metro).
• Finish: Monastiraki Square (Monastiraki metro, Lines 1 and 3) or Iroon Square, Psyrri.
• Cost: Free to walk. Optional museums and sites charge admission.
• Good to know: Hills, steps and uneven marble paving. Distances and times have not been measured yet, so use a map app for the connections.

The route at a glance

1. Monument of Lysicrates and the lanes of Plaka
2. Optional: Anafiotika
3. Monastiraki Square and Avissinia Square
4. Optional: Iroon Square in Psyrri

1. Start at the Monument of Lysicrates and wander Plaka

The Monument of Lysicrates stands in a small excavated square on the edge of Plaka, directly below the Acropolis cliff. It was put up by a wealthy sponsor of the drama festivals held at the nearby Theatre of Dionysus. Locals have long called it the “lantern of Demosthenes”, and its design has been copied in gardens across Britain and the United States. The square’s cafés make it an easy place to meet.

From here, let Plaka’s lanes set the pace. The official Athens guide places the neighbourhood between Filomousson Square, roughly where Kidathinaion and Adrianou streets meet, and Monastiraki. Look up at balconies and pediments on the neoclassical houses and look out for small Byzantine churches between them. One worth finding is Agios Nikolaos Ragavas at the corner of Prytaniou Street. Its bell is said to have been the first to ring when Athens was freed in 1833 and again in October 1944. On Adrianou Street, the Benizelos Mansion is described as the oldest surviving house in Athens.

Tip: pick one thing to notice, such as doorways, balconies or glimpses of the Acropolis between buildings. It gives the walk a thread without turning it into homework.

2. Optional: climb up to Anafiotika

Above Plaka, on the Acropolis slope, the whitewashed houses of Anafiotika feel like a Cycladic village. The quarter was built by workers from the island of Anafi, and its edges are loosely marked by two 17th-century churches, Agios Georgios tou Vrachou and Agios Simeon. The lanes are narrow and stepped, and people live here: the City of Athens asks visitors to be considerate neighbours, so keep entrances clear, keep your voice down and stay out of private courtyards. If you are short on time, skip it and save it for another day.

3. Pause at Monastiraki Square

Follow Adrianou Street west and you arrive at Monastiraki, where the metro station opens onto one of the busiest squares in the city. Look towards the Acropolis and your line of sight crosses both a mosque and a Byzantine church. The neighbourhood takes its name, meaning “little monastery”, from a monastic complex that once stood here. All that remains is the small 10th-century Pantanassa church on the square.

Make this your halfway decision: finish here, stop to eat, or browse. West of the square, Avissinia Square is the heart of the flea market and the old Yusurum second-hand bazaar. Sundays are the busiest, with stalls spreading south towards Thissio. If you are walking as a group, agree a clear meeting point before anyone wanders off.

4. Optional: finish at Iroon Square in Psyrri

Cross Ermou Street into Psyrri and head for Iroon Square (Platia Iroon, “Heroes’ Square”), laid out in 1850. Five narrow streets fan out from it, lined with low buildings, crafts shops, cafés and tavernas. Psyrri is also home to some of the city’s most visible street art, and on Melidoni Street two synagogues remember the area’s Jewish community. Psyrri is liveliest in the evening, so it makes a natural finish for an afternoon walk. If the street art catches your eye, continue with our Athens street art walk.

Plaka or Monastiraki: where should you spend more time?

Give Plaka more time if you enjoy architecture, quiet lanes and views of the Acropolis. Give Monastiraki more time if you like markets and browsing. Keep Psyrri for when you want street life, food and street art. These are preferences, not a ranking.

Shorter and longer versions

• Short: Monument of Lysicrates → Plaka → Monastiraki Square.
• Classic: add Iroon Square in Psyrri.
• Full day: start with the Acropolis or the Acropolis Museum. See One day in Athens on foot.

Questions

Sources and further reading