The hip Psyri district near the Acropolis is one of the most popular areas in Athens. While the district attracts with boutiques and restaurants during the day, it transforms into a hip hotspot for Athens nightlife at night.
Find out what this neighborhood has to offer in this complete Psyri Guide.
What Can I Do in Psyri?
The trendy district of Psyri, with its varied entertainment options, is the perfect address for night owls. The lively district is famous for its diverse nightlife. The alleys around Heroes' Square Plateía Iroon especially attract locals, but also more and more tourists. Live music, like the Greek music style Rebetiko, blares out of the taverns, while the hipster bars and clubs fill up with young visitors.
But the historic district also has plenty to offer during the day. You can stroll through the narrow, meandering streets and admire graffiti-covered walls. Charming boutiques, market stalls, antique dealers and skateboard shops welcome shoppers, offering everything from soaps to jewelry to homemade goods. On Evripidou Street, on the other hand, one encounters a sea of fragrant spices.
You can also take a detour to colorful Pittaki Street, which until recently was considered an eyesore but has now been revived with a slew of lamps and lanterns.
Psyri's many restaurants, on the other hand, lend themselves to culinary exploration, including several that offer al fresco dining and Greek specialties like meze and ouzo .
While the area is quiet and peaceful during the day, it bursts with life in the evenings, so make sure to visit after 6pm.
Is Psyri a Good Area to Stay in Athens for a City Trip?
Even if Psyri is not one of the most touristic areas of Athens, the district is an excellent place to stay in Athens. With the Acropolis and the Monastiraki and Plaka districts in the vicinity, you are at an ideal starting point to start your sightseeing tour. In the evening you can finally return to your hotel in Psyri, where you can end the evening wonderfully. For this reason, there are also a number of hotels between which you can choose.
(@sheknowsgreece)FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Psyri is located below the Acropolis, right next to the historical district of Plaka and the lively district of Monastiraki.
Psyri is primarily known for its diverse nightlife. Whether live music, bar, tavern or club, the entertainment options are many. Apart from that, the area has great cafes and restaurants. Shopping fans will also get their money's worth, as numerous boutiques, market stalls and antique dealers are lined up here. Strolling around is a great way to explore the historic district and admire the street art of Psyri.
Psyri has a number of hotels that offer something for every budget. Although Psyri does not have many sights, it is still an excellent place to stay on a city break in Athens. With the Acropolis and the Monastiraki and Plaka districts in the vicinity, you are at an ideal starting point to start your sightseeing tour. In the evening you can finally return to your hotel in Psyri, where you can end the evening wonderfully.
As the Psyri district is very central and close to the Monastiraki district, it can be reached on foot from places like Monastiraki, Plaka and Syntagma Square. Those arriving by public transport can take metro line 1 or 3 to the "Monastiraki" station and walk the few meters.
(@suzieniazyan)History of Psyri
The origins of the Psyri district stretch far back when it was a seedy artisan district inhabited mostly by immigrants, rebels and outlaws.
Over time, more and more craftsmen settled here and opened their shops here. In this way, the district developed more and more into a residential area for the working class.
Since the gentrification of the neighborhood at the turn of the century, many of the old artisan shops have disappeared. In their place, more and more hip bars and cafes opened up in the area, which helped transform Psyri into a lively trendy district.
Today, Psyri is one of the must-see sights in Athens and, with its numerous hotels and location, is an excellent part of Athens to stay in.