Plaka

Plaka is the oldest and most beautiful neighbourhood in Athens. Clustered around the slopes of the Acropolis, it incorporates labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential part of ancient Athens. It is referred to as the "Neighbourhood of the Gods" because of its proximity to the Acropolis and many other archaeological sites. Part of the charm, however, are the secrets the oldest neighbourhood of Athens hides in each of the paved alleys just waiting to be discovered on your Athens sightseeing tour of Plaka!

The Plaka District is located on the northeast slope of the Acropolis. It was developed mostly around the ruins of Ancient Agora of Athens in an area that has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Adrianou Street, running north and south, is the largest and most central street in Plaka. It divides the district into two areas: the upper level, Ano Plaka which is situated right under the Acropolis and the lower level, Kato Plaka, which is located between Syntagma and Monastiraki.

Plaka is not only the oldest neighbourhood of Athens but also the only one where you can see the streets and buildings as they were a hundred years ago. This is because, after the war, the buildings of the neighbourhood were preserved in their entirety, resulting in the architectural magnificence you can admire even today - on your Athens sightseeing tour of Plaka. In the mid-20th century, with Plaka’s sudden tourist development, the government took drastic measures in order to protect and preserve the neighbourhoods “color” by paving the streets, restricting billboards and, later, banning nightclubs in order to avoid intense noise pollution. Yet, in the oldest neighbourhood of Athens, you can still find the perfect taverna and have a taste of an authentic Greek lunch or a traditional kafeneio to enjoy a true Greek coffee culture experience!