The Best Things To See And Do In Exarcheia Athens

Exarcheia gets a lot of bad press: an anarchist playground, a punk Disneyland, the anti-conformist stronghold of Athens. Exarcheia certainly does wear many faces. But this is your chance to explore it, so let us take you on a tour of this infamous neighborhood and discover the many things to do and see in Exarcheia.

1. Stay at Athens Quinta Hostel

Hostel

If you love all things vintage, then Athens Quinta is right for you. Located in Exarcheia, this charming little hostel is totally furnished with vintage finds. The owners joke that the only thing new are the dust bins, since they didn’t manage to find vintage bins. Athens Quinta has private and shared rooms, shared showers as well as a common lounge area and a quaint courtyard. Convenient and affordable, Athens Quinta is your new home away from home.

2. Visit the National Museum of Archaeology

Museum, Library

People admiring and walking around the statues at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, Greece

Undeniably one of the best museums in Greece, the National Museum of Archaeology houses the largest collection of antiquities from all over Greece, with no less than 11,000 exhibits. Offering a wide panorama of Greek civilization ranging from Prehistory to late Antiquity, the museum is housed in a stellar example of neoclassical architecture designed by Ernst Zeller.

3. Don’t forget the Epigraphic Museum

Museum

Many people are not aware that Greece has an Epigraphic Museum, which is also in Exarcheia (actually in the south wing ground floor of the National Archaeological Museum). One of a kind, the museum hosts a 14,000-artefact-strong collection of inscriptions carved on stone or marble. The artefacts cover a wide range, from early historical times to the late Roman era, mostly in Greece, although there are a small number of Latin and Hebrew inscriptions as well.
The entrance of the Epigraphical Museum, in the right wing of the Archaeological Museum of Athens | © Hoverfish/WikiCommons

Dine like a king

Exarcheia offers countless options for great dining. Of course, you can always opt for souvlaki but if you are looking for something more refined, we recommend heading straight to Rififi. There, you will enjoy Greek dishes remastered and infused with a modern twist. Want to savour a delicious meal in a unique setting? Then pop into Ama Laxei. Housed in a former primary school, this restaurant is ideal for long summer dinners al fresco in the verdant courtyard. But don’t worry, even in the winter, the indoor dining area is equally whimsical. Finally, for a delicious dinner on the cheap without skimping on quality, Rakoumel is the top choice. Serving Cretan fare and delicious ouzo, it is one of the many places where you are sure to eat and drink well but spend little. And who could argue with that?

Rififi, Emmanouil Mpenaki & Valtetsiou 69, Athens, Greece, +30 21 0330 0237

Ama Laxei, Kallidromiou 69, Athens, Greece, +30 21 0384 5978

Rakoumel, Emmanouil Mpenaki 71, Athens, Greece, +30 21 0380 0506

Take a street art tour

You are in one of the alternative neighborhoods of Athens, and there, street art is sovereign. While many may find it overwhelming, it is still definitely an interesting place to check out. Stroll around Exarcheia and take the time to admire its walls. You will see works of well-known street artists and lesser-known too, such as iNO or Wild Drawing (WD).

4. Visit the Navarinou Park

Park

Exarcheia is home to numerous self-managed community centers and grassroots organizations. One is responsible for the creation of the Navarinou Park, a former parking lot that locals reclaimed and repurposed into a park. Populated with plants that the residents take turns in watering and taking care of, the small park is a little oasis in the heart of Exarcheia.

Open your eyes and explore

From small boutiques, publishing houses, ethnic stores and a plethora of bars and cafés, Exarcheia is an interesting area to explore. Have a coffee in Exarcheia Square for some people watching, walk up to Kallidromiou Street to shop for fresh produce at the Saturday market, wander the streets of Neapoli, a small district on the border of Lycabettus Hill or have a morning stroll on Strefi Hill. There are so many things to discover, see and do in Exarcheia so grab your camera and take the time to discover its many faces.