12 Things to Do in Athens at Night

The capital of Greece is an ideal destination to travel, relax and get to know its culture and history dating back thousands of centuries, but it is also a city that never sleeps, with plenty of nightlife to enjoy until the early hours. And let me tell you, the views of the Acropolis at night are a unique spectacle.

A trip to Athens has it all. And if you are looking for nightlife, you will have all kinds of bars and restaurants, with cocktails and typical food, terraces to enjoy the best night views, Greek music and lots of tours and fun things to do. Below is a guide to the best things to see and do in Athens at night.

A bike tour of Athens is the perfect way to see the city from end to end and what better time to do it than when the sun goes down and the city starts to light up. You'll be pedalling and touring the main sights in a much more fun and original way.

For two and a half hours, you'll get to know, from a different point of view, the city's busiest neighbourhoods such as Plaka, the old town, the Acropolis of Athens, recognised by UNESCO, and the Panathenaic Stadium, which is lit up at night in contrast to the dark night sky in the background.

Without a doubt, it's a great way to do something different, while still visiting the main sights of Athens and getting to know a bit of its nightlife in the city's best neighbourhoods.

The nightlife of this wonderful city will never cease to amaze you. You will have many plans that you can adapt to what you want to do and, without a doubt, this is one of my favourites. It is a gastronomic tour of Athens in which you will make a total of seven stops, where you will be able to taste more than a dozen dishes.

You will get to know the most peculiar and tasty dishes and products of the Greek culture, such as souvlaki, marinated meat skewers, regional cheeses, Greek yoghurt, as well as typical bread, wine and local coffee, in a tour that lasts approximately four hours with a local guide.

You will even visit the Central Market of Athens and get to know all the meat and fish specialities sold there. You will also discover the secrets of Greek gastronomy and its culinary history - don't hesitate, you'll be amazed!

And if you prefer to go outside the local cuisine, you can also book a menu at the Hard Rock Cafe in Athens and enjoy a classic American meal to the rhythm of the most popular rock and roll hits.

You will have the choice between the gold menu, which includes main course, dessert and drink, or the diamond menu, with starter, main course, dessert and drink. Both offer a wide selection of dishes to choose from.

What's more, if you're a rock music lover, you'll dine in rapt attention, as you'll be surrounded by various musical objects full of history, such as a guitar signed by Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay; the bass guitar of Gene Simmons, bassist of Kiss, or Lady Gaga's boots. Are you in?

Are you up for a journey back in time more than 2,000 years to Ancient Greece? If so, don't hesitate to book your ticket for Koilon's theatre show and enjoy this entertaining historical comedy starring Odysseus, Medea, the Cyclops Polyphemus and other characters from Greek mythology.

The show, which takes place in English, is performed on a rooftop terrace at the foot of the Acropolis, while you enjoy a glass of wine- an excellent full-length play that captivates all who see it!

And if you want to immerse yourself in Greek culture, I recommend a Greek dance performance at the Dora Stratou Theatre, located at the top of Philoponus Hill.

This traditional Greek performance, lasting around 1 hour and 30 minutes, features over seventy professional artists including musicians, singers and dancers.

Your ticket also gives you access to a display of over 2,000 traditional Greek dance costumes.

Arguably the best, most diverse and stylish bars in the city are concentrated around Syntagma Square, and the maze of streets around it form the heart of Athens.

In these bars with small outdoor tables, you can have a unique experience. Be particularly aware of those on Kalamiotou, Voulis and Lekka streets, which form a block together with Perikleous, Evripidou and Aiolou, and especially in Agia Irini square, which is one of the most popular and sought-after places in the centre of Athens.

You will know you are in the right place when you see many Athenians and tourists spending the night and living the nightlife. There you will be able to taste typical dishes, Athenian food is amazing, in this post I leave you everything you need to know about the best gastronomic tours in the city.

Many of the historic monuments that you can visit during the day are illuminated at night and their facades look absolutely dazzling. That's why a tour of them in the dark of the city is such a worthwhile plan.

Here are a few places to include in your tour that will take your breath away when you see how radiant they look lit up, in contrast to the dark city sky:

• Cathedral of the Annunciation of St. Mary, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, which is located in the Plaka neighbourhood.
• Hadrian's Arch.
• Agora, which was the centre of political, administrative, commercial and social activity in ancient Athens.
• Temple of Hephaestus.
• Temple ofOlympian Zeus.
• Parthenon: the best view at night is from the Anafiotika area, a neighbourhood just above Plaka.
• ThePropylaea of Athens, which you can also see from Anafiotika.
• The Greek temple Erechtheion, also best viewed from Anafiotika.
• Hadrian's Library, also known as the Library of the Hundred Columns.

Plaka is one of Athens' most historic neighbourhoods and is located on a hill in the shadow of the Acropolis and its ancient temples. Walking along its narrow cobblestone streets at night is a great plan.

Mainly on Lyssiou, Mnisikelous, Kydathineon and Navarhou Nikodimou streets you will find neoclassical houses, picturesque flowered courtyards and many restaurants and bars, some of them with terraces offering the best views of the Parthenon.

The nightlife in this area is very good, you will find tables in cul-de-sacs and if you prefer to do something traditional, you will find typical taverns where you can enjoy live Greek music shows. Here is a guide to the best things to see and do in Plaka.

Enjoying a dinner under the dark night sky of Athens is one of the best experiences you will ever have in your life. That's why I recommend that if you have the chance, you should do it.

More than 16,000 people have already had the experience of dining literally in the sky, in one of the best restaurants in the city, known as Sky of Athens. It is an interesting six-course culinary proposal, which takes place on a platform located more than 40 metres above the ground, with one of the best views of the city.

This excellent plan lasts about an hour and a half and is very exclusive, as it only admits 22 diners. For this reason, I recommend that you book in advance so you don't run out of seats.

Watching the night fall over the city of Athens from a sailboat on a cruise is unparalleled. You will be able to watch the city from the water along the Athens Riviera as the sun sets and the last rays light up the city until it disappears.

Plus, you'll have a relaxed atmosphere with live music and an onboard bar to spend the evening under the stars on the upper deck or in the ship's indoor lounge and sip cocktails while you enjoy the moment. Don't forget to take the best pictures from the boat with unparalleled views of the city at night.

Taking a cruise to experience an Athenian night from the water is a different experience and an ideal plan to do in the city. The adventure starts at 7:45 pm and lasts approximately 3 hours.

This is a different way to get to know Athens by night. You can take a moonlit walking tour of the city and learn about its nocturnal traditions from an expert guide, who will also tell you about the most ancient myths and urban legends of a city with thousands of years of history.

But that's not all, this experience also includes tasting Greek wines and spirits, such as ouzo, raki and tsipouro, and a traditional meze dish. You will visit three themed bars in unique secret gardens and on rooftops with spectacular views - very exclusive!

After approximately 3.5 hours, you will arrive at the last stop and enjoy a free VIP entrance to a bouzouki venue where you can listen to popular urban music. This is a real experience for a night out in the city that never sleeps. If you're someone who likes to party, drink and dance, this is the option for you.

For some years now, the epicentre of Athenian nightlife has been concentrated in the Koukaki district, which is located at the foot of the Acropolis, near Philippi Hill and just after Plaka and Anafiotika.

This is where the city's youth congregates and is a place full of new bars and restaurants, especially on Mouson and Panelotiou streets. I recommend you to walk around it if you want to experience a more local and less touristy night out, while still appreciating the beauties of Athens, as it is usually an area where workers go home from the office and have a drink.

The area is filled with neoclassical buildings that represent ancient Athens, and is worth a walk for a different experience. Note that it's a quieter nightlife scene, so if you're looking for a nightclub, this is not the place for you.

Now that you know all the things to see and do in Athens and how you can enjoy the nightlife, I want to tell you what time of the year is the best time to enjoy the city's nightlife.

While you can visit the city at almost any time of the year, if you're interested in nightlife, I recommend travelling to Athens in the summer. Between June and September, with the high season, the atmosphere is second to none. There's a festive atmosphere in the streets and the heat makes it even hotter. The nights get longer and all the bars and restaurants will be open. The only thing you will have to be aware of is that prices will be higher and the city will be full of tourists.

If you want to avoid this, I recommend the autumn and spring seasons. The weather is usually very pleasant to enjoy the evenings outdoors and the prices are a little lower than in summer. In addition, most bars and restaurants are still open at this time of year.

If you've fallen in love with Athens by night, you can't miss combining it with the best activities to do during the day, such as guided visits or tours that will give a perfect complement to your trip.

Of course, my main recommendation is to visit the Acropolis, which is a must-see in Athens. You definitely can't leave Athens without seeing the Acropolis! And if you ask me, another experience you can't miss on your trip is a guided tour of some of the surrounding sites from the city.

Add these two activities to the Athenian nightlife and your trip will be a real success.

Visit the Acropolis

Among all the things to see and do in the city, the Acropolis of Athens is a must-see. It is the most representative of the Greek Acropolis, as it is the most recognised and important site in all of Greece.

A visit to the Acropolis is a must and in this post on how to visit the Acropolis you will find everything you need to know to make it a success.

Take a guided tour from Athens

There are places you can visit from Athens, such as Delphi and Meteora, which concentrate much of the country's history and are truly amazing, declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

In this post you can learn all about the best excursions to Meteora and Delphi from Athens to get the full experience of your trip to Athens.