When it comes to Athens, most people are familiar with the iconic silhouette of the Acropolis or the bustling alleys of Plaka, but as with all cities, there’s a less-trodden path in Athens awaiting those with an adventurous spirit. For those eager to dive deeper and see the city through the eyes of a local, this list of non-touristy things to do in Athens will be a great read. From hidden hilltop vistas to tucked-away tavernas, Athens offers a lot of authentic unusual experiences away from the maddening crowds…
Helpful Resources For Exploring Non-Touristy Things To Do In Athens
If you’re looking to discover some of Athens’ less-known places, you may like this Athens off the beaten track tour or this tour that pairs you up with a local guide taking you to some of Athens’ not-so-famous places.
For the cheapest flights to Athens, you can use this Qatar Airways special offer. Personally, I use this offer a lot of the time when I fly and get up to 15% off on all flights to Greece.
If you’re looking to rent a car in Greece, my AutoEurope offer can get you 15% off on all car rentals.
For the best deals on local transportation in Greece, check out Busbud (for more info, check out our Busbud review).
For accommodation deals in Athens, use this Booking offer to get 10% off on all accommodation rentals in the city.
Last but not least, don’t forget about travel insurance. From my own experiences, I’d steer you towards SafetyWing. Unlike some insurers that might tempt with low rates but skimp on coverage, SafetyWing ensures a comprehensive shield. For a deeper dive, check out our SafetyWing review.
Kifisia Suburb
We’re starting this list of non-touristy things to do in Athens with one of its less popular suburbs- Kifisia, a neighbourhood that’s cooler and a bit crisper. The streets are lined with sophisticated boutiques and the neighbourhood has more than a few lush green parks, perfect for a midday retreat. You can also find a handful of historic buildings and catch some of the most underrated sunsets over the neighbourhood’s tranquil streets.
Glyfada
Set along the sun-kissed Athenian Riviera, Gyfada offers a breezy respite from the city’s ancient grandeur. Here, you can find upscale boutiques, vibrant nightclubs, and traditional fish markets and all this makes up for a uniquely Athenian mosaic, far removed from the usual tourist circuits. In Glyfada, you find the authentic rhythm of local life…
Anafiotika
Nestled in the shadow of the Acropolis, Anafiotika is a delightful anomaly in Athens’ urban sprawl. This neighborhood, with its narrow paths and cascading bougainvillea, seems somewhat detached from Athens’ usual chaotic hustle. Crafted by masons from the island of Anafi, Anafiotika feels like a secret island in the heart of Athens. Most tourists in Athens make it to the historic ruins, but surprisingly few manage to find their way to this authentic enclave where cats laze in sunlit corners and locals share tales as old as the city itself.
Original Greek Food Tour
When in Athens, why limit oneself to just the typical gyros stands and moussaka-packed tourist traps? Check out the Original Greek Food Tour for an authentic culinary experience that takes you through age-old markets, savoring olives straight from the barrel and discover quaint eateries where locals gather that you won’t find in most tourist booklets.
Cocktail Hour In Kolonaki
As the sun dips below the horizon, the Kolonaki district puts on its cosmopolitan outfit. Trendsetters and those in the know visit the area’s most stylish bars, because they know that cocktail hour in Kolonaki is the ultimate Athenian nightlife experience. Kolonaki is to the city’s contemporary spirit what the Acropolis is to the city’s ancient grandeur.
The Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Athens is a place where the epochs of history converge and visitors can get an intimate journey through some of the city’s long forgotten but important artefacts. So, for those seeking non-touristy things to do in Athens, a visit here is akin to holding a magnifying glass over the intricate details of Greece’s storied past.
The Benaki Museum
Tucked away from Athens’ bustling streets, The Benaki Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the unique cultural heritage of Greece, from ancient pottery to Byzantine icons and traditional attires from different regions. In other words, the Benaki encapsulates Greece’s multifaceted legacy in a single beautiful monument.
The Cycladic Museum
We all like visiting the Cyclades but how about we learn a bit more about them first? The Cycladic Museum is the perfect place to learn about the island heritage of Greece. The museum tells tales of the ancient Cyclades and the rich history of thousands of years of Cycladic civilization and it’s the largest such museum in the country..
Numismatic Museum
In the heart of Athens, the Numismatic Museum is a unique museum dedicated to coins that appeared in this part of the world in different parts of history. Even for me, numismatic museums are usually boring but this one is really different because of Greece’s long ancient history. Housed in a neoclassical mansion, the museum is a vast chronicle of history, art, and culture.
Wax Museum of Andreas Syggros
Nestled away from the bustle of Athens, the Wax Museum of Andreas Syggros is a hidden gem that offers a vivid journey through its wax figures that seem to breathe life, and transports visitors to epochs and eras long gone. If you’re seeking a detour off the beaten path, let the Wax Museum guide you through tales that time almost forgot.
National Observatory of Athens
Perched atop the Nymphs’ Hill in Thiseio, the National Observatory of Athens is a place where you can get some of the best views of Athens but also views of the cosmic expanse as it unfolds (you see this is also an observatory and not just a gorgeous viewpoint). Established in the 19th century, this institution has charted the heavens for decades. Visitors can also be a part of that celestial voyage and use the telescopes to watch the stars and the planets.
Akadimia Platonos
Akadimia Platonos is a sacred site for philosophy lovers, a place where echoes of ancient dialogues still linger. You see, it’s here that the legendary philosopher Plato founded his academy in the 4th century BC., transforming this part of Athens (but also philosophy) forever. And beyond its rich historical significance, Akadimia Platonos offers a serene escape from the bustling Athenian streets.
Poulopoulos Hat Factory
Established decades ago, the Poulopoulos Hat Factory has long been shaping the heads of Athenians and visitors alike. The factory was built in the shape of a trapezoid was opened in 1890 by Elias Poulopoulos. The building covers an area of 40,000 square fet and origianly had one floor but a second one was added later. New innovative styles of hats were created here for years and in the 1920s this became the largest hat factory in the Balkans. However, everything ended with WW2, a blow from which the factory never recovered. In 1988, the building was restored and serves as one of Athen’s new quirky museums.
The Gennadius Library
Nestled in the vibrant heart of Athens, The Gennadius Library is an ode to the human thought, and a physical embodiment of our insatiable quest for understanding. And for those seeking intellectual non-touristy things to do in Athens, this is the perfect choice. The library was founded in 1926 by Johannes Gennadius and it’s home to over 110,000 volumes on Greek history.
Ghika Gallery
In the heart of Athens, yet away from the well-trodden tourist trails, you’ll find Ghika Gallery, one of Athen’s best-kept secrets. This gallery is dedicated to one of Greece’s most renowned artists, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika. His work is a unique combination of deeply rooted Hellenic traditions and uniquely contemporary elements and it’s probably like nothing you’ve never seen before. His paintings feature many intricate details and vibrant hues while displaying tales of Greek landscapes, mythology, and even everyday life, blended seamlessly with modern abstract sensibilities.
Nitra Gallery
The Nitra Gallery offers a compelling classic setting with a modern pulse famous among locals for its sleek interiors and curated exhibitions, and, of course, for being Athens’ ultimate haven for contemporary art enthusiasts. You can find many historic paintings here but also modern bold and thought provoking artwork. The best part is that there are many temporary exhibitions from renowned and up and coming artists alike and you can always see something new even if you visit more times.
Street Art in Exarchia – Urban Canvases of Revolution
Next on our list of non-touristy things to do in Athens we have the street art of Exarchia that offers a unique insight into Athens’ underbelly, things you won’t read in the tourist brochures and see in the famous museums. Exarchia is the birthplace of Athens’ counterculture with a lot of spray-painted mural and graffiti tag, some of which are gorgeous pieces of street art and some just angry graffiti rumblings. But overall, this street is a story of resistance, revolution, and more than all- freedom to express oneself.
Queen Amalia’s Tower
For those with a penchant for unearthing hidden gems in bustling cities, The Queen’s Tower (Pyrgos Vasilissis) is the perfect place to visit. This historic tower Is a historic former royal estate just outside of Athens stretching across 200 hectares purchased by King Otto, the first king of modern Greece that he bought for his wife, Amelia. In addition to being an important (and flat out gorgeous) historic landmark, it also offers some of the most breathtaking vistas of Athens’ scenic beauty.
The House of the Caryatids
In the heart of Athens, a city celebrated for its illustrious history stands The House of the Caryatids – a symbol of Greek architectural prowess that often gets overshadowed by the Acropolis and Parthenon. However, what you may not know is that this lesser-known hidden gem offers an intimate glimpse into the underrated artistry of ancient Athenian builders. In case you’re not familiar with the term, Caryatids are sculpted female figures poised to the building’s architectural pillars that are both, a support beam but also a symbol of strength, grace, and endurance.
The First Cemetery of Athens
Now, you might think that a cemetery is nothing more than a place of mourning but it’s actually an unexpected haven of art and history. Despite its name, which I understand may be misleading, the First Cemetery of Athens was actually established in the 19th century. Yes, it’s a final resting place for the departed (including some important Athenian historic figures of the 19th and 20th centuries) but it’s also an open-air museum, showcasing some of the finest funerary art and sculpture in Europe, including carved tombstones, grand mausoleums, and statues that could be compared to works in the world’s most famous galleries.
Tower of the Winds
The Tower of the Winds was built in ancient times and for years it served as the city’s most important horologist and meteorologist station but has since been largely forgotten, making it a perfect fit for this list of non-touristy things to do in Athens. The Tower of the Winds, or Horologion of Andronikos Kyrrhestes as it was originally named, is very possibly the world’s first meteorological station- it was built in the 2nd century BC and interestingly, each of its eight sides faces a point of the compass and is adorned with a relief of the wind deity that represents that direction.
Kape Beach Secluded Cove
Speaking of the best non-touristy things to do in Athens, we can’t forget about the secret Kape Beach Cove. If you ever get tired from the hustle and bustle of the capital, this pristine patch of sand is the perfect escape point to relax and unwind. It’s et against a backdrop of rugged cliffs and blanketed by crystal-clear azure waters that are a great diving site with a lot of hidden underwater treasures (it’s teeming with marine life). The beach is only a short drive from the city center, but to get there, you need to do a little bit of walking.
Lake Vouliagmeni
Lying peacefully under the shadow of the Hymettus mountains, surrounded by greenery but still a part of Athen’s Riviera lies Lake Vouliagmeni or how locals often referred to it- “Nature’s Thermal Spa Retreat”. It’s an enchanting lagoon with lukewarm waters (between 22 and 29°C) with supposed therapeutic properties. Because of its warm waters, you can visit this place throughout the year and not be cold (including the winters).
Lycabettus Hill – Ascend to Athens’ Highest Peaks
Last but not least, we wrap up this list of non-touristy things to do in Athens with Lycabettus Hill. When panoramic viewpoints are mentioned, the Acropolis is known as the city’s finest viewpoint, but what if I tell you that you can get the same views (if not better) without the crowds at Lycabettus Hill? Towering over the skyline of the Greek capital, Lycabettus Hill, or “Mount Lycabettus,” as some call it, is the highest geographical point in Athens (207 meters/908 feet).
The journey to the summit might be a bit of a trek, but rest assured, every step is worth the reward that awaits in the shape of gorgeous panoramic views of terracotta rooftops, skyscrapers, and bustling squares from a bird’s eye perspective. And if you don’t feel like a long walk, you can also get to the top via funicular.
How did you like this list of non-touristy things to do in Athens? Did you ever visit any of them? Feel free to share your awesome experiences in the comments below.
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