A Walk in Controversial Exarcheia District, Athens

A Walk in Controversial Exarcheia District (Self Guided), Athens

Exarcheia is a hip haven of bohemian cool with a controversial past. This neighborhood of artists, students and intellectuals among others hit the headlines in 2008 for riots and troubles after a policeman shot and killed a 15-year-old boy. There is a shrine to the teenage student, set in a wall covered in graffiti. Exarcheia is also the home of the University of Athens, where there was a massive uprising in 1973 against the then ruling military junta. Many of today’s students live in the area, contributing greatly to its cool, laidback vibe. See lots of examples of free expression on the neighborhood’s buildings, their bricks and plaster used as canvasses for wall art and graffiti.

The heart of the neighborhood is Exarcheia Square, a small plaza with cafés and fast food restaurants. On its west side is an old blue building, one of the first apartment buildings in Athens. After relaxing in the square, take to the streets that surround it and explore their shops.

There are also a number of good dining options in Exarcheia with lots of well-priced tavernas and restaurants. For music fans, there are several rock clubs which also feature other musical genres such as live jazz and blues. This is also a great place to hear traditional music, played on such instruments as a bouzouki.
How it works: A discovery walk features a route using which you can explore a popular city neighborhood on your own. This walk, along with other self-guided walks in over 1,500 cities, can be found on the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" which can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app's built-in GPS navigation functions allow following this walk route with ease. The app works both online and offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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A Walk in Controversial Exarcheia District Map

Guide Name: A Walk in Controversial Exarcheia District
Guide Location: Greece » Athens
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Discovery)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Author: emily
32 Panepistimiou Street, National Library

1) 32 Panepistimiou Street, National Library

Navarinou Park

3) Navarinou Park

The Blue Condominium of Exarcheia

5) The Blue Condominium of Exarcheia

Kallidromiou Street

6) Kallidromiou Street

Kallidromiou Street

7) Kallidromiou Street

Kallidromiou Street

8) Kallidromiou Street

Exarcheia Square

9) Exarcheia Square

Patission Street corner with Kapodistriou Street

10) Patission Street corner with Kapodistriou Street

28 Oktovriou 44, National Archaeological Museum

11) 28 Oktovriou 44, National Archaeological Museum

Old Summer Theatre

12) Old Summer Theatre

Athens University of Economics and Business

13) Athens University of Economics and Business

Walking Tours in Athens, Greece

Create Your Own Walk in Athens

Create Your Own Walk in Athens

Creating your own self-guided walk in Athens is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Athens Food Walking Tour

Athens Food Walking Tour

Traditional Greek cuisine is one of the healthiest in the world, and prices in all but the flashiest establishments afford excellent value. The prevalence of vegetable and dairy dishes makes eating out a delight for non-meat eaters. Carefully selected appetizers (tzatzíki, dolmádes, kalamarákia) can constitute a full meal. Greece’s most famous slow-cooked oven dish, however, is probably...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Plaka Attractions Walking Tour

Plaka Attractions Walking Tour

In the shadow of the Acropolis stands Plaka, the most picturesque and oldest district of Athens, with continuous habitation from antiquity until today. The “neighborhood of the Gods”, as it is called, is like a romantic, atmospheric trip to old Athens adorned with antiquities, historic 19th-century buildings, museums and Byzantine churches.

From the vibrant Syntagma Square walking down...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
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Athens Introduction Walking Tour

Athens is one of the oldest European cities, widely regarded as the birthplace of Western Civilization. Its history begins in the Neolithic period between 4th and 3rd millennium BC. The first settlement on the site of Athens was situated on the rock of Acropolis which means “high city” in Greek.

According to the Greek mythology, the name “Athens” emerged from a competition between the...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Walking Around the National Garden

Walking Around the National Garden

The National Garden is an impressive, historic park in the center of Athens, complete with artificial streams and duck ponds. Formerly known as the Royal Garden, it was commissioned by King Otto’s queen, Amalia, in 1838, reason why it is located directly behind the Old Palace (currently the Greek Parliament building). Not only is it a welcome refuge from the swirl of traffic just outside the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Walking Tour Around the Legendary Acropolis

Walking Tour Around the Legendary Acropolis

Also called "the sacred rock", the Acropolis was home to temples and sanctuaries throughout recorded history, and is a symbol of the city of Athens. Its religious importance was paramount to the ancient Greeks, and the buildings on the summit still capture the essence of their classical architecture. You can see the temples from most parts of the city, which adds to the feeling that this...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

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