Must-see entertainment in Athens

  • 500px Photo ID: 109977647 - Red dust of guitar Blues 1970's.

    Half Note Jazz Club

    Athens

    Athens' most serious jazz venue is a stylish place that hosts Greek and international musicians. Check the schedule ahead of your trip, as it's not open…

  • Greek National Opera

    Athens

    Having settled into state-of-the-art digs within the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, the Greek National Opera is going from strength to…

  • Megaron

    Athens

    The city's premier performance hall presents an impressive program of entertainments, including classical concerts, opera, theatre and dance shows,…

  • Onassis Cultural Centre

    Athens

    Housed in an eye-catching piece of architecture that livens up the dull urbanity of Leoforos Syngrou, this visual- and performing-arts centre is well…

  • The decoratively styled  facade of the National Theatre at Omonia, Athens.

    National Theatre

    Athens

    One of the city's finest neoclassical buildings hosts contemporary theatre and ancient plays. The organisation also supports performances in other venues…

  • Thission

    Athens

    Across from the Acropolis, this is a lovely old-style outdoor cinema in a garden setting. Sit towards the back if you want to catch a glimpse of the…

  • Cine Paris

    Syntagma & Plaka

    The Paris was established in the 1920s and it's still a magical place to see a movie. On a rooftop in Plaka, it offers great views of the Acropolis from…

  • Cine Dexameni

    Athens

    This classic open-air cinema is in a lovely spot in the quieter reaches of Kolonaki, adjacent to a very good all-day cafe and the ancient cistern of…

  • Dora Stratou Dance Theatre

    Athens

    Every summer this company of 75 singers and dancers performs Greek folk dances, showing off the rich variety of regional costume and musical traditions…

  • Aegli Cinema

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This historical open-air cinema showed its first film in 1903. Set in the verdant Zappeion, it's a little quieter than others.

  • Zefiros

    Athens

    The cinephile's outdoor cinema, running obscure international films (sometimes a tricky subtitle situation) and black-and-white favourites.

  • Perivoli tou Ouranou

    Syntagma & Plaka

    A favourite Plaka music haunt with dinner (mains €18 to €29).

  • Faust

    Athens

    Loud, raunchy, funny, just plain quirky: eclectic and popular bar Faust hosts it all on its small stage. Some events are free, others ticketed. The place…

  • Theatro Skion Tasou Konsta

    Athens

    Greece's wise fool, Karagiozis, gave his name to the art of shadow puppetry (karagiozi), and they're on beautiful display in this tiny outdoor theatre…

  • Fuzz Club

    Athens

    One of the best midsize music venues in Athens, this place is a little out of the centre, but worth the trip for a band you like (they host plenty of…

  • Vox

    Athens

    Vox open-air cinema on Exarhia's main square has been around since 1938, and fortunately has received historic-building designation. Still, it has the…

  • Feidiou 2 Music Cafe

    Athens

    Cosy little space on the edge of Exarhia. Traditional music, usually rembetika (blues songs) and other heartfelt tunes, starts around 10pm most nights,…

  • Cine Athinaia

    Athens

    This summer-only open-air cinema is set at the end of a short pedestrian street of pleasant bars. On Mondays they offer a two-for-one deal on admission…

  • O Kavouras

    Athens

    In a smartly renovated building at the top corner of Exarhia's central square is this relaxed cafe-bar which hosts live music from around 10.30pm from…

  • Riviera

    Athens

    Screening since 1969, the outdoor cinema Riviera tends toward art-house programming, with new indie films and occasional programs of artists' shorts and…

  • Gagarin 205 Club

    Athens

    One of Athens' better live-music venues, with Friday- and Saturday-night gigs featuring leading rock, punk, rap and other underground sounds.

  • AN Club

    Athens

    A small spot with a long history of live rock, featuring lesser-known international and local bands, especially metal.

  • Stamatopoulos

    Syntagma & Plaka

    This Plaka restaurant, established in 1882, has live music from 7pm to 1am. It is now so legendary that it can feel a bit like a film set. The crowd –…

  • Pallas

    Syntagma & Plaka

    One of Athens' premier theatres, the Pallas is centrally located and stages large productions, almost always in Greek. The Mikro Pallas is a smaller…

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