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Monday 09:00 - 20:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 20:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 20:00 Thursday 09:00 - 20:00 Friday 09:00 - 20:00 Saturday 09:00 - 20:00 Sunday 09:00 - 20:00

Alternative Athens

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Alternative Athens

Experience local life. Travel differently. www.alternativeathens.com You will see Athens as we see it –through the eyes of a local.
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ALTERNATIVE_ATHENS is about a different way of travelling and discovering the secrets of this fascinating, complex and diverse city, Athens. Whether taking a tour or staying with us, our aim is to offer you a genuine Athenian experience:

•discovering non-touristic neighborhoods, streets and locations,
•visiting places where the Athenians eat, shop and have fun in their everyday life,
•explorin

g new, uncharted locations that are just emerging. Everything we do is based on experiences, not just passive sightseeing and tourist stereotypes. We love meeting people, exchanging ideas, and –what travelling’s all about– sharing all we can about our city and our culture.

04/08/2024

How can you tell that summer is on in Athens? Yes, it’s the beach trips, and yes, it’s also the constant al-fresco dining - but it’s also the Athens Epidaurus Festival, an event that has been going on for more than 60 years and covers everything from music to visual arts. Even more magical? Getting to experience it in a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site at Epidaurus, one that is renowned for its acoustics and is dedicated to the Greek god of healing, Asclepius. In fact, then, visitors could even participate in dream incubation, where they would sleep in the sanctuary of Epidaurus to receive divine guidance in their dreams.

01/08/2024

Ah, the Greek kiosk, AKA the periptero. This was once the meeting point for people in villages around the country, where they’d pick up newspapers, ci******es, and all manner of candy and snacks. The first one can be traced back to 1911 on Panepistimiou Street, the place to check out news (and often get in a little gossip session). Although these institutions are facing all kinds of challenges, the ones that remain are integral to local life.

27/07/2024

At one of the city’s most central pedestrian streets visitors find under their feet a monument to some of the more somber moments in Greece’s history. The building was converted during the German occupation into their headquarters, and the bomb shelters in the basement were made into a detention center. Today, messages from those imprisoned still cover the walls, from pleas for water to sketched portraits.

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20/07/2024

It’s Saturday night! And Athens is just starting to wake up. This city has a long history of vibrant nightlife: In the 60s and 70s, live music halls in the city center were popular, graced by many of the most famous singers of the time. And before that, in the 1920s and 30s, rebetika was the outlaw blues, dealing with darker themes including exile, drugs, excessive drinking, unrequited love, and death, just to name a few themes.

Today, Athens continues to offer an amazing array of music styles and entertainment genres - and we cover a little bit of everything on our Athens nightlife tour. Join us to find out more!

11/07/2024

How do you explore Athens with the whole family? Try our Young Heroes tour, the perfect chance to immerse your family in a world of gods and goddesses. It’ll spark your kids’ imagination, and even offer a look at ancient legends!

09/07/2024

When you first arrive to the island of Aigina, you’ll spot the village of Souvala first - but hidden up in the pine trees to the east is the Temple of Aphaia, dedicated to the goddess Athena and one of the greatest architectural wonders of Greece. But what else can you do on this magical island? On our tour, we take in the history through the food, too, visiting traditional cheesemakers, tsipouro producers, and pistachio farmers.

Head to our stories for more information!

05/07/2024

Each year, Tripadvisor recognizes travelers’ favorite businesses around the world, based on reviews and ratings collected over 12 months. And we’ve scored a spot at the top thanks to their reviews, ranking us among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor! So thank you all for joining us, and we look forward to many more great tours to come!

26/06/2024

When you look at Delphi, you might immediately be drawn to the Tholos, and you certainly wouldn’t be the first - photographers, scholars…everyone seems to have focused on this structure at one time or another! It dates all the way back to the early 4th century BCE. But even though we can tell how old this structure is, the original purpose remains a mystery! It’s part of what makes this place so enigmatic and exciting to explore. It also happens to be a great place to explore with us on our day-long tour. Find it linked up in our stories!

21/06/2024

Think you have to travel for days to reach Greece’s best islands? Think again. Hydra sits less than two hours from Athens, and while it may be small, it is packed with surprising places to eat, shop, and explore! So get ready to saddle up for a family-friendly ride through the town’s different neighborhoods (no cars allowed here!) and uncover the mysteries and history of magical Hydra, from its beaches to its mansions.

14/06/2024

Athens is an emotional city, says artist Ilias Papailiakis. And his mural, The Kiss, is meant to highlight this emotion through perhaps the most charged connection between humans. It feels light, optimistic, beautiful and human - a meaning that was particularly charged when the piece was made, in 2019 during the lockdown and at the height of social distancing.

13/06/2024

Where is your favorite place for gelato in Athens? 🍦 these days, we’re doing everything we can to stay cool, and finding good gelato, sorbet, and ice cream is (of course!) at the top of our list. Where do you go when you need a cooling treat (and who recognizes this spot?)? Let us know below!

11/06/2024

What’s the best way to experience the dining culture and food of a place? To eat in someone’s home, of course - and while you might not THINK this is the easiest thing as a visitor, we’ve got good news! You can join us for lunch or dinner in a local house, with food made by a local cook. You’ll learn all about what’s delicious and traditional!

07/06/2024

On , we’re thinking about Greece’s best (and the world’s oldest) donut, known as loukoumades! They’ve got a long history in the country, dating back to 776 BC as a treat for Olympic athletes; in fact, Ancient Greek poet Callimachus mentioned them in his work, calling them “honey tokens.”

Today, you can try them in all kinds of places, from enormous chains that sell them smothered in sweet sauces to little shops tucked off a side street, known only to locals. We even get a taste on our Delicious Athens tour!
 

28/05/2024

Did you know that one of the most famous pies, dating all the way back to the Byzantine era, is the bougatsa? Originating in Konstantinopoli, around 1453 AD, this pie continued to be a crowd favorite through the 16th century - and it continues to be well-loved today. Sometimes filled with cream, sometimes filled with cheese, it’s always delicious, and one of the most classic street food snacks here.

What’s your go-to bougatsa filling favorite? Let us know below!

25/05/2024

If you’ve spent any time wandering the streets of Athens, you’ve likely spotted work by , like this piece entitled “Wake Up”. It’s based on the idea of resurrection, where a man is brought back to life when God grabs his hand. But who is god in this case? This kind of question is what we explore on our street art tour, allowing you to dig deep into local art while also learning about the economic and social context of the city.

18/05/2024

How can you dig into everything Athens has to offer if you’re coming with your family? There are plenty of family-friendly ways to enjoy the city – and we uncover many of them on our tours. For instance, discover the best street art and graffiti of Athens in exciting neighborhoods like Metaxourgio and Psiri, and then uncover what’s hiding behind the art and the images. A street artist will then help you learn how to spray-paint your own Athens-inspired artwork on bags, t-shirts and canvas – the perfect souvenir.

15/05/2024

Evripidou Street, which intersects Athinas, where the Central Market sits, is a heaven for those looking for interesting ingredients from around the world. It’s why this area has become known as the “city’s stomach”, and why Evripidou in particular could be called the city’s most fragrant street (can’t you smell these spices?). It’s the go-to for many local cooks and chefs - so you know it’s the real deal!

10/05/2024

What’s your favorite Greek beer? While wine and drinks like tsipouro have long been the drink of choice here, beer actually goes all the way back to the ancient Greeks, with remnants of a grain used in brewing found in islands like Corfu and Zakynthos. These days, Greek beers are better than ever before, with bottles from all over the country, from Chios to Santorini to Volos and even Athens. And this weekend, Athens is celebrating its best beer. It’s the kickoff of the 2024 World Of Beer, the biggest Beer festival in Greece, where you’ll find more than 1,000 beers from the best breweries in Greece and abroad.

Find out more at .greece!

07/05/2024

Today is May Day, a celebration that has actually been kept alive through centuries with roots in ancient times. Ancient Greeks believed that flowers were the embodiment of power, glory, joy, and happiness, and would use them in celebrations known as Anthesteria, where Greeks would adorn sanctuaries and temples with flowers. Even the month of May is significant: Maios in Greek comes from the goddess Maja, or Maia, the Goddess of Fertility, the rebirth after all plants and flowers had died during the winter.

Spring also has its roots in mythology. Dimitra, the goddess of agriculture, mourned when her daughter Persephone was taken to the underworld by Hades. Everything began to die, but when Zeus intervened and negotiated that Persephone would return to earth for 6 months of the year (spring and summer), plants and flowers sprung into bloom again.

Want to learn even more about Greek myths and mythology? Try our Athens Highlights Mythology tour, and chase your heroes across the city that first told their stories!

03/05/2024

Picture this! In Athens, there’s plenty for kids to do too! This unique activity tour covers all the city’s most significant sites: the Acropolis (including the Parthenon, the Theater of Dionysus, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion) and the Ancient Pnyx (birthplace of democracy and a hangout spot for nymphs and muses), all while learning about Greek gods and heroes in a fun and engaging way. Get ready for fun that the whole family will enjoy!

30/04/2024

Gkizi is one of those Athenian neighborhoods that has managed to retain its hyper-local character, even as the rest of the city undergoes rapid changes. But this isn’t to say that it hasn’t seen its share of alterations. For instance, this neighborhood used to have a small river running through it: Vafeiochori, where modern-day Vafeiochoriou Street is. It’s the perfect place for a little exploring, especially if you’re looking for something that likely isn’t covered in any guide books.

27/04/2024

Did the original Olympic Games include tug of war? Maybe not, but it’s still a great way to get some exercise in a place where so many have flexed their skills before.

24/04/2024

Want to really get to know Athens like a local? Then skip the supermarket, and head to your local laiki, or people’s market. It’s truly the best term for this once-a-week phenomenon, as the entire neighborhood turns out to stock up for the week. It’s also the perfect illustration of what’s growing now — many markets have gone organic, so the stalls are a good indication of what’s in season. Still, there’s a little bit of everything at the laiki.

18/04/2024

Looking for a kid-friendly way to get a closer look at Athens’ street art scene? This activity is a family-friendly look at the city’s amazing street art, with the chance to learn about stencil creation — all taught by a real street artist. Fun for kids and adults alike, we promise.

16/04/2024

So much of ancient Athens sits outside, bathed in sunlight, ready to be photographed and seen by all who pass it. But few know the other side of this city, where many of the important moments and artifacts lie ensconced in modernity. Find out where these monuments to Athens’ ancient history are hidden, and see an entirely new side to this always-evolving city on our Best of Ancient and Modern Athens tour!

13/04/2024

This is one of our favorite pedestrian streets in all of Athens. Dionysiou Areopagitou was actually initially mapped in 1857, but didn’t take its current shape until 1955, and finally became a pedestrian street in 2003. It was also home to notable local figures, including the composer Vangelis Papathanasiou and painter Konstantinos Parthenis.

05/04/2024

Can you imagine a 20-food bronze Poseidon statue inside this temple? Believe it or not, this statue did once exist, and parts of it are preserved in Athens’ Archaeological Museum.

04/04/2024

“You can see the Acropolis from all kinds of rooftops and hotel windows – but you may be surprised to learn that you can also spot it from one of Athens’ best under-the-radar parks. Head to Ardittos Hill, enveloping Kalimarmaro Stadium, to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Acropolis. On your way, don’t miss grabbing a to-go box from Elvis, a lively Pagrati joint that serves up some of the city’s most succulent souvlaki.

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19/12/2023

Our food tour is all about eating where the locals eat, which means digging into some of the city’s best under-the-radar souvlaki. Would you try one of these for lunch?

11/10/2023

Discovering local spots, coffee edition! The warm neon glow that radiates from LOT 51 keeps burning long into the night, as this hidden gem in Ilissia transforms from a lively coffee shop into a bumping night spot. ☕️

Whatever your heart desires, you can find on this corner, from caramel cold brew lattes, delicious cakes or your Cappuccino-classic, just ask one of the experts behind the counter! 😉

You can start your day with coffee and sweet or savoury brunch, then end it with refreshing cocktails and djs on deck, as you quite literally can go from day to night! So, when will you plan your next visit? 🌞

Address

24, Chalkokondili Street
Athens
10432

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 20:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 20:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 20:00
Thursday	09:00 - 20:00
Friday	09:00 - 20:00
Saturday	09:00 - 20:00
Sunday	09:00 - 20:00

Website

https://www.alternativeathens.com/

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Athens Nightlife Tour

Athens: Undoubtedly one of the liveliest European capitals!� Athens is Mediterranean – it saves most of its energy and its excitement until after the sun sets. Come out and play after dark in a city that never sleeps! Book the Athens Nightlife Tour: https://www.alternativeathens.com/tours/athens-night-tour/