With a vibrant student population and artistic vibes, Exarcheia is a neighbourhood and features eclectic shops, bohemian bars and cafes. It’s home to one of the world’s most outstanding archaeological museums, together with alternative bookshops where you can find rare gems.
Things to do in Exarcheia
Exarcheia clusters around a central square, packed with lively cafes and bars. Spend an afternoon people watching or take in a movie at the Vox, one of oldest summer cinemas in Athens.
The streets here are lined with organic food stores and fair trade shops, as well as a high concentration of computer-oriented retailers in what has been dubbed the “Greek Silicon Valley”.
The National Archaeological Museum is among the neighbourhood’s most visited tourist attractions, taking visitors on a journey through ancient Greek civilisations, from prehistoric times to the late antiquity. It boasts one of the most impressive collections of Greek artefacts in the world, including stone inscriptions, funerary masks and bronze age frescoes.
For great views over Exarcheia, walk up to the top of Strefi Hill which lies on its northeastern edge. If you want to socialise with intellectuals and artists, then head out after dark to the neighbourhood’s bars and clubs that are renowned for their alternative atmosphere.
Getting around Exarcheia
Exarcheia is connected to the metro system in Athens from the Omonia station in the neighbourhood’s south-west. From here it’s just a short walk to the central square and the National Archaeological Museum, and there are buses that run along the major thoroughfares.