Plaka and Anafiotika

Clockwise from top left: A typical taverna in Plaka, colorful table at an outdoor restaurant, our neighborhood bakery, and bread with olives on the table before a meal in a restaurant in Plaka.

Plaka is a neighborhood located to the northeast of the Acropolis in downtown Athens. The oldest neighborhood in Athens, Plaka is home to many of the great sites of Athens. There are tiny pedestrian-only streets (except for the occasional motor scooter) and Greek tavernas alongside tourist shops and artist studios. We have found ourselves wandering the streets of Plaka (or sitting at a taverna) several times during our stay in Athens. It can be touristy, but it definitely has its charms.

Clockwise from top left: One of Anafiotika’s hilly ‘roads’, a Vespa waiting for its owner to return, a taverna built into the hillside, and a potted plant living in an old metal feta cheese container.

Anafiotika is a small neighborhood that sits at the foot of the hill between Plaka and the Acropolis. When you’re walking along Adrianou Street or any street in Plaka, just turn and go up the hill. You will find  yourself in Anafiotika, which gets its name from the Greek Island of Anafi. Stone masons came from Anafi to Athens in the mid 1800’s to work on building projects. They setup their own area of Athens that makes it appear as though you are on a Greek Island. Though hilly, this neighborhood is quiet and worth exploring.

To find Plaka, the closest metro stop is the Acropolis. When you come above ground, locate the Acropolis (the actual hill with the Parthenon standing on top) and Plaka will be the neighborhood just to the right of the Acropolis.