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Plaka and Anafiotika

From Ermou Street through the lanes of Plaka to the island-like alleys of Anafiotika, past Byzantine churches and the Tower of the Winds.

Walking
21 min
Visiting
1 h 45 min
Total
2 h 6 min

9 stops1.5 km on footChecked 12 November 2026

Start: walk to stop 1
Photo: Plaka and Anafiotika

Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5, source

Stops

Visit times are our estimates; walking times come from the walking route.

  1. 1. Panagia Kapnikarea

    Place of worship · Visit about 10 min

    Small Byzantine church in the middle of Ermou Street.

    Small 11th-century Byzantine church standing in the middle of Ermou Street.

    Hours
    Information not available
    Entry
    Information not available
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Monastiraki (M1,M3)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Access
    Not step-freeNot wheelchair accessible, according to OpenStreetMap (community data, not checked on site).Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

    3 min walk to the next stop · 230 m

  2. 2. Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens

    Place of worship · Visit about 10 min

    Athens' cathedral; the Little Metropolis stands right next to it.

    The cathedral of Athens, dedicated to the Annunciation, built between 1842 and 1862.

    Hours
    Information not available
    Entry
    Information not available
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Monastiraki (M1,M3)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Access
    Step-free accessWheelchair accessible, according to OpenStreetMap (community data, not checked on site).Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

    2 min walk to the next stop · 130 m

  3. 3. Little Metropolis (Panagia Gorgoepikoos)

    Place of worship · Visit about 10 min

    Look for the reused ancient and Byzantine reliefs set into the outer walls.

    Small medieval church beside the cathedral, built of reused ancient and Byzantine marble blocks.

    Hours
    Information not available
    Entry
    Information not available
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Monastiraki (M1,M3)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Access
    Not step-freeNot wheelchair accessible, according to OpenStreetMap (community data, not checked on site).Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

    5 min walk to the next stop · 350 m

  4. 4. Tower of the Winds

    Attraction · Visit about 30 min

    Inside the Roman Agora (ticket); the tower is also visible from Kyrristou Street.

    Octagonal marble tower of the 1st century BC in the Roman Agora, with sundials, a water clock and reliefs of the eight winds.

    Hours
    Mo-Su 08:00-15:00; Jan 01,Mar 25,May 01,Dec 25,Dec 26 off; easter off
    Winter hours (from 1 November); last entry 14:40. Summer hours (08:00–20:00) apply from a date the Ministry announces each spring.Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Entry
    €10Reduced €5. Valid for the Roman Agora. Free entry on 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September and 28 October.Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Tickets
    Official ticket pageChecked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Monastiraki (M1,M3)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Access
    Partly accessible for people with disabilities and reduced mobility.Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

    3 min walk to the next stop · 220 m

  5. 5. Agioi Anargyroi Kolokynthi

    Place of worship · Visit about 5 min

    In upper Plaka, on the way up to Anafiotika.

    Church in upper Plaka, a listed building.

    Hours
    Information not available
    Entry
    Information not available
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Monastiraki (M1,M3)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

    1 min walk to the next stop · 90 m

  6. 6. Anafiotika

    On the way · Visit about 20 min

    Narrow lanes with steps; these are people's homes, keep noise down.

    Navigate

    1 min walk to the next stop · 90 m

  7. 7. Agios Georgios tou Vrachou

    Place of worship · Visit about 5 min

    Small church at the edge of Anafiotika.

    Small church of St George 'of the Rock' in Anafiotika, below the north side of the Acropolis.

    Hours
    Information not available
    Entry
    Information not available
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Akropoli (M2)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Access
    Not step-freeNot wheelchair accessible, according to OpenStreetMap (community data, not checked on site).Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

    3 min walk to the next stop · 220 m

  8. 8. Agios Nikolaos Rangavas

    Place of worship · Visit about 5 min

    11th-century Byzantine church.

    11th-century Byzantine church in Plaka, below the north side of the Acropolis.

    Hours
    Information not available
    Entry
    Information not available
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Akropoli (M2)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Access
    Not step-freeNot wheelchair accessible, according to OpenStreetMap (community data, not checked on site).Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

    3 min walk to the next stop · 210 m

  9. 9. Choragic Monument of Lysicrates

    Attraction · Visit about 10 min

    End of the walk; Akropoli metro station is nearby.

    Small round monument of 335/334 BC in Plaka, set up by Lysicrates for a theatre prize won by a chorus he sponsored.

    Hours
    Information not available
    Entry
    Information not available
    Nearest stop
    Metro · Akropoli (M2)Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Access
    Not step-freeNot wheelchair accessible, according to OpenStreetMap (community data, not checked on site).Checked 12 November 2026 · Source
    Navigate

Step by step

Keep track of where you are on the walk.

About this walk

The walk starts at Kapnikarea, in the middle of Ermou Street, and passes the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Little Metropolis before entering Plaka. At the Roman Agora you can see the Tower of the Winds — inside the ticketed site or through the railings.

It then climbs to upper Plaka and Anafiotika, a cluster of whitewashed houses below the Acropolis rock, and comes down past Agios Nikolaos Rangavas to the Monument of Lysicrates. The Anafiotika lanes have steps and are not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.