Nightlife · Athens · Greece
Athens nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Athens, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: George E. Koronaios, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Athens stays out late: dinner starts around 9pm, bars fill after 11pm and clubs run until dawn. In summer, much of the nightlife moves outdoors to rooftops and squares or down to the beach bars of the Riviera. The main areas are Psyrri, Gazi, Kolonaki, Monastiraki rooftops and Athens Riviera.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- Monastiraki and Psyrri
- Local drink
- Freddo espresso
Where to go out
Psyrri
Dense streets of bars, mezze places and live-music tavernas just north of Monastiraki, busy every night of the week.
Gazi
Clubs and bars around the old gasworks, now the Technopolis cultural centre, with a younger crowd and late hours.
Kolonaki
Smart cocktail bars and wine bars with a well-dressed local crowd around Haritos and Skoufa streets.
Monastiraki rooftops
Hotel and bar terraces facing the floodlit Acropolis, at their busiest around sunset.
Athens Riviera
Beach bars and summer clubs along the coast from Glyfada to Vouliagmeni, open roughly from June to September.
Nightlife tips
- Rebetiko, the Greek urban blues, is played live in small tavernas, especially in winter; look for evening sessions in Psyrri and Exarchia.
- Metro services run later on Friday and Saturday nights than on weeknights; taxis are an affordable way home.
- Many city-centre clubs close in summer and reopen by the sea, so check before heading out.
What to drink
- Freddo espresso — Espresso shaken with ice until frothy and poured over more ice, the drink Athenians sip slowly for an hour or more; freddo cappuccino adds a layer of cold milk foam.
- Ouzo and meze — Aniseed-flavoured ouzo, or the stronger tsipouro, served with ice and water alongside small plates of grilled octopus, fried anchovies, fava, olives and cheese.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 24°C (75°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:29 | 7°C (45°F) | 8 |
| April | About 20:01 | 12°C (54°F) | 5 |
| July | About 20:47 | 24°C (75°F) | 1 |
| October | About 18:48 | 16°C (61°F) | 5 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Buy a reloadable ATH.ENA card or ticket, validate it at the gates and keep it until you leave the station.
- Tram — The tram runs from central Athens down to the coast at Palaio Faliro and along the shore towards Glyfada and Voula, giving access to the Riviera beaches and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
- Walking — The car-free Dionysiou Areopagitou and Apostolou Pavlou promenades link the Acropolis Museum, the Acropolis entrance, Thiseio and Monastiraki.
- Bus — Buses and trolleybuses fill gaps in the metro network, and the X95 express bus runs between Syntagma and the airport around the clock.
- Taxi — A flat fare applies between the airport and the centre, with a higher night rate; confirm it before setting off.
- Ferry — Ferries and fast catamarans to the Saronic islands and the Cyclades leave from Piraeus, at the end of metro line 1, and from Rafina, east of the airport.
Late-night bites
- Souvlaki and gyros — Souvlaki counters on Mitropoleos Street at Monastiraki and neighbourhood grills (souvlatzidika) across the city.
- Spanakopita and tiropita — Bakeries (fournoi) and pie shops across the city, warm in the morning.
Staying safe at night
Athens is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing is common on metro line 1, around Monastiraki and on crowded buses. Summer heatwaves are a real risk: avoid exposed sites at midday, drink plenty of water and use the shade.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number); Tourist Police 1571
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Monastiraki and Psyrri
Monastiraki Square, with its metro station, Ottoman-era mosque and Acropolis view, opens onto the flea-market lanes of Ifestou Street and the souvlaki grills of Mitropoleos Street. To the north, Psyrri's narrow streets fill at night with tavernas, mezze places and bars, and the rooftop terraces around the square have some of the city's best views of the Parthenon.
- Good
- Metro line 3 straight to the airport; Lively food and bar scene; Inexpensive eats
- Watch out
- Noisy late at night; Crowded, and some streets feel gritty
- Nearby
- Monastiraki flea market, Ancient Agora, Hadrian's Library, Varvakios Central Market
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Athens?
Psyrri, Gazi and Kolonaki. Dense streets of bars, mezze places and live-music tavernas just north of Monastiraki, busy every night of the week.
+Which area of Athens is best for nightlife?
Monastiraki and Psyrri: Flea-market square, souvlaki grills and late-night bars below the Acropolis.