Athens events Archives - Insights Greece

Athens’ March Theatre Guide

We’ve rounded up the best plays, musicals and film festivals taking centre stage in Athens, that everyone will be talking about in March.

Athens hosts over 1,500 theater performances a year and is rightly characterized as the theatre capital of Greece. And the month of March is proving to be the perfect time to head to the theatre, as some powerful productions are promising to delight and entertain.

Fame The Musical

Inspired by the iconic 1980s film that defined the cultural landscape of its time, Fame the Musical chronicles the journeys of aspiring artists at New York’s School of Fine Arts as they strive to succeed in the competitive entertainment world. Created by David De Silva, this renowned production has enjoyed widespread acclaim across over 50 nations and earned three Laurence Olivier Award nominations in the UK. Rooted in the beloved original movie, which garnered two Academy Awards and later spawned a television series and a cinematic remake three decades later, Fame continues to resonate with audiences, capturing the imaginations of newer generations. On the stage of the Christmas Theater in Athens, the famous musical will be performed by a London based cast of talented artists, and it’s directed by Dimitris Malissovas.

Entry: €15-50

When: 1-10 March, 2024

Date & Time: 1 March 8.30 pm, 2 March 5 pm & 9 pm, 3 March 3.5pm & 7.30 pm, 4 March 8 pm, 6 March 8 pm, 9 March 5 pm & 9 pm, 10 March 3.5pm & 9.30 pm

Address: Christmas Theater, 137 Veikou Ave., Galatsi 111 46

Tickets: more.com

Dear England by James Graham

Joseph Fiennes interprets Gareth Southgate in this new play by James Graham, which examines the state of England today through the course of its national football team.

The country that gave the world football has long been on a painful losing streak. Why can’t England’s men beat themselves at their own game? With a team that has the worst penalty shootout record in the world, Gareth Southgate understands that he must open his mind and face the blow of the past few years to lead his team and country back to the promised land.

Rupert Goold directs this spectacular performance, which will be broadcast live from the Royal National Theater on the stage of the Athens Music Hall.

Entry: €8-15

Date & Time: 14 March, 8.00 pm

Address: Athens Music Hall – Vas. Sofias & Kokkali 1, 11521, Athens

Tickets: webtics.megaron.gr

Generation Lost

This is a melancholy requiem, albeit full of humour, for a generation raised in crisis and facing the fragmentation of its dreams. It is a play that presents a plurality of voices and experiences, combining fact and fiction to present Generation Y in all its complexity and diversity. Τhis is a production for all those who belong to Millennials widely known as the lost generation, but also for those who identify with its dreams and disappointments. A theatrical production for all adolescents trapped in adult bodies. The play is based on research and interviews in six European cities and was written as part of the Goethe Institute’s New Stages Southeast project. It was shortlisted as one of the five best works resulting from the project at the New Stages Southeast Festival in Oberhausen, Germany. After its premiere at the National Theatre of Greece, the play will be performed at the National Theater Mannheim.

Entry: €6-€20

Date & Time: 29 Μarch 2024, 9.00 pm

Address: Ziller Building-Nikos Kourkoulos Stage, National Theater of Greece, 6 Mavromichali, Athens

Tickets: n-t.gr

The Matchmaker

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s comedy, which opened on Broadway in December 1955, setting a record for performances, and receiving rave reviews from the critics, will be directed by Thomas Moschopoulos highlighting people’s need for companionship and how they must reconcile themselves with difficult realities of life. A journey to 19th century New York begins with the resourceful matchmaker Dolly Levi as a guide, enthusiastically undertaking to find the ideal wife for the rich but cantankerous widower Horace Vandergelder. Dolly works to ensure everyone finds their ideal mate – or at least someone to relieve their loneliness.

Entry: €6-€20

Date & Time: 29 Μarch 2024, 9.30 pm

Address: Ziller Building-Nikos Kourkoulos Stage, National Theater of Greece, 6 Mavromichali Athens 106 79

Tickets: n-t.gr

Beyond Borders Travels to Athens – Cinema

The Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival is preparing for its 9th edition and this time it’s coming to Athens! Award-winning documentaries of the 8th Beyond Borders will be screened at the Hellas Film Gallery. With film screenings, Q&As, and masterclasses, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy films from around the world that stood out last August at the festival. Special films that deal with the lesser-known aspects of history, for their social sensitivity, originality and artistic value will be screened in the capital.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 29-31 Μarch 2024, 6.30-9.15 pm.

Address: Greek Film Archive Foundation – Greek Film Archive Foundation – Athens. Meg. Alexandrou 136, Athens, 104 35

Tickets: more.com

What’s On In Athens This Week: November 27

This is the last week of November for 2023- but before we turn the page on our calendar there are still lots of special events taking place in Athens.

The cultural scene in the capital is on fire this week and we have rounded up our favourites for you.

Half Note Jazz Nights 2023

Want to add some flare to your Athens nights? Half Note, the most iconic jazz hangout in the city, is returning for the winter season in the Mets neighbourhood. Make sure you reserve a seat and enjoy the moonshine while listening to the music of the excellent jazz performers playing throughout the night. Philipp Weiss and Stathis Anninos will present a contemporary version of Schumann’s romantic vocal music and promise to take us on an unforgettable melodic journey.

Entry: €20- €30

Date & Time: 29 November 2023, 9:30 pm

Address: Half Note Jazz Club, 17 Trivonianou, Mets

Tickets: more.com

Evangelisomos, The Musical

Evangelismos, the musical is a theatrical production by the National Theatre of Greece. Set against the backdrop of one of the most famous hospitals in Athens, the storyline is about time and love. Directed by Angelos Triantafillou, in collaboration with Dimitris Stavropoulos, the libretto is by Yiannis Asteris and a troupe of 21 renowned actors and singers all combine to create a surreal universe. The “residents” of a hospital, doctors, nurses, patients and attendants, sing for those who have already left, but also for those who wish to say goodbye. The play is in Greek language with English subtitles.

Entry: €10- €18

Date & Time: 30 November 2023, 8:30 pm

Address: Rex Theater, Stage “Marika Kotopouli”, Panepistimiou 38 Athens

Website: n-t.gr

Natura Morta (a dance less)

Choreographer Spyros Kouvaras and the Greek-French contemporary dance group, Synthesis 748 Dance Co. are bringing to Athens their new project, NATURA MORTA (a dance less). Synthesis 748 presents a work about loss and “lost natures”, a choreography that functions as a reminder of time for the inescapability of human fate and the vulnerability of the material world. The performance introduces an intermediate space-time in which a dance ritual unfolds and develops as a modern doomsday and sometimes as an archaic rave, following an increasing escalation of kinetic intensity.

Entry: €12

Date & Time: 24-28 November 2023, 7 pm

Address: Korytsas 39, Athens

Website: more.com

Sebastien Rouland Underground Youth Orchestra

The Underground Youth Orchestra of Athens is one of the most important youth symphony orchestras in Greece. With the goal of offering young talented musicians the opportunity to train in orchestral art by participating in high-level concerts in Greece and abroad, the orchestra teams up with famous conductors and soloists. The founder and artistic director of the orchestra is Kostas Iliadis and this time he is collaborating with the talented and well-known maestro Sebastien Rouland, who will conduct the orchestra with a great selection of works by famous composers such as L.B. Beethoven, Sibelius, M.Ravel.

Entry: €8- €24

Date & Time: 29 November 8:30 pm

Address: Athens Music Hall – Vas. Sofias & Kokkali 1, Athens

Τickets: webtics.megaro.gr

Dreamland Art Exhibition

The internationally acclaimed painter and sculptor Kostis Georgiou introduces visitors to his own “Dreamland” at Kapopoulos Fine Arts. An ode to a dreamlike place – the artist presents a series of contemporary paintings from recent years, some of which compose multifaceted creations, each part of which maintains its own autonomous entity. His paintings start from a dynamic individual expression, with colour and shapes that create major cultural and social symbolism.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 27 November- 4 December | Monday-Wednesday-Saturday 10.30am-5.30pm | Tuesday-Thursday-Friday 10.30am-8.30pm

Address: Kapopoulos Fine Arts, Skoufa 5, Athens

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What’s On in Athens: This Weekend

If you are in Athens and looking for some cool events to attend, you are in the right place, as we’ve rounded up the best of what’s on this weekend in the Greek capital.

Jimmy Carr | Terribly Funny 2.0

One of the most successful and distinguished stand-up comedians in the world, Jimmy Carr returns to Athens with his dark humor and outrageous jokes for a unique show. The award-winning comedian will present his latest stand-up comedy tour, “Terribly Funny 2.0,” with jokes about all kinds of “terrible” things that may have happened to you or people you know!

Entry: €35

Date & Time: Saturday 25 November, 7 am

Address: Christmas Theater, Ave Veikou

Tickets: more.com

Le Presbyter | Ballet for Life Bejart Ballet Lausanne

Created in 1997 by the late great Maurice Béjart, this contemporary ballet is one of his most famous pieces that’s been performed. Paying tribute to three people who died too young – Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, composer Mozart and former Béjart Ballet principal dancer Jorge Donn – it’s set to the music of Queen and Mozart and features talented dancers in a ballet designed to express optimism and the hope that, as Mercury sang, the show must go on.

Entry: €25-€95

Date & Time: Saturday 25 November, 9 am, Sunday 26 November 5 am

Address: ATHENS MUSIC HALL – Vas. Sofias & Kokkali 1, Athens

Tickets: webticketsmegaron.gr

Mall Grab Party

Australian producer Mall Grab, one of the modern titans of the electronic music scene and the world’s most sought-after DJs, arrives in Athens and promises to rock the Greek capital, as only he knows how, as part of the EDEN parties at the Athens Conservatory. The party will kick off with high-energy producer I.Jordan, self-proclaimed “rising global nightlife queer icon” Chloe Caillet and Eden favourite Jay Jay.

Entry: €17-25

Date & Time: Sunday 26 November 2023, 4 pm-midnight

Address: The Athens Conservatory, Rigillis & 17-19 Vasileos Georgiou B, Pangrati

Tickets: more.com

Constantinopoliad | Sister Sylvester – Nadah El Shazly

This unique presentation features a handmade book, read collectively by the audience inside a sound installation. A response to the archive of the poet Constantine Cavafy, the work is inspired by the blank and torn-out pages in “Constantinopoliad, an epic”, a journal that the teenage Cavafy began when he and his family fled Alexandria.

Entry: Free with entrance tickets

Date & Time: 25-26 November | Wednesday-Sunday 8.30pm

Address: Onassis Stegi, 107-109 Syggrou Avenue, Neos Kosmos

Website: onassis.org

Retrospective

“The usefulness of the painter lies in the composition and formulation of the generally accepted mythology of his time,” was a key phrase in the life of Spyros Koukoulomatis. The famous painter with his strong vision influenced by expressionism and surrealism infused his creations with symbols from Greek mythology to underline contemporary social issues with a deep interest in human nature. “Retrospective” is the first exhibition organised in Athens, since the painter’s death in 1995, and it presents around a hundred works from his oeuvre. It’s a rare opportunity to admire his creations and to dive into his imaginary world.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 25-26 November 2023, Tuesday-Friday 11 am-7 pm, Weekend 10 am-3 pm

Address: Melina Mercouri Cultural Center, 66 Heraklidon, Athens

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What’s On In Athens: November 13

From opera and baroque to ballet and string quartets- there are so many fabulous performances to catch this week in Athens, and we’ve rounded up a selection of the best ones that are not to be missed.

Les Éclairs – Philippe Hersant

The contemporary opera “Les Éclairs” is the Greek National Opera’s second co-production with the Opéra Comique (Paris), one of Europe’s most important opera houses. At this national premiere, and for three performances only –inside the Stavros Niarchos Hall at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center– Greek audiences will get the chance to discover the third opera to be written by the multi-award winning French composer Philippe Hersant, with a libretto by the internationally acclaimed French author Jean Echenoz. The opera is a musical journey through New York during the Industrial Revolution that traces the turbulent life of the ethnic Serb cosmopolitan dandy and “mad” scientist Nikola Tesla.

Entry: Ticket prices €10- €60

Date & Time: 16,19,21 November, 7.30 pm (Sunday 6.30 pm)

Αddress: Stavros Niarchos Hall of the Greek National Opera

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Syggrou Avenue 364, Kallithea

Website: nationalopera.gr

Tickets ticketservices.gr

Quatuor Ébène

With their fresh approach to tradition and open engagement with new forms, the renowned French string quartet Quatuor Ébène has successfully reached a wide audience of young listeners and conveyed their talent in regular master classes at the Paris Conservatoire. Their global tour is now coming to Athens where guests can enjoy jazz improvisation, Bartók, and Haydn. The foursome is a hit with both young and old audiences because of the energy in their performances and the spirit of tradition renewal that sets them apart.

Entry: €12 – €30

Date & Time: 16 November 2023, 8.30 pm

Address: The Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), 115 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens

Tickets: webtics.megaron.gr

Χ: The Life and Times of Malcolm X

Anthony Davis’ ground-breaking opera “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” will be presented at the Met and broadcast as part of the MET HD LIVE program, live at the Concert Hall Athens. The new staging of Davis’ play, which premiered in 1986, is directed by the famous Tony nominee director Robert O’Hara. In this production, Malcolm ‒ one of the most important figures of the African-American civil rights movement, is presented as an everyday man whose story transcends space and time. In the lead role is baritone Will Liverman.

Entry: €8-€25

Date & Time: 18 November 2023, 7:55 pm

Address: The Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), 115 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens

Buy Tickets: webtics.megaron.gr

6th Baroque Music Festival

The Baroque Music Festival returns to the GNO Alternative Stage and the historical hall of the Parnassos Literary Society – and is set to take audiences on a journey through the enchanting world of Baroque music. This year’s festival, curated by the prolific cellist Dimos Goudaroulis, includes four singular concerts revolving around the year 1723. It will feature concerts by distinguished artists (Lucile Boulanger, Dimos Gourdaroulis) who will enrich the colourful palette of baroque music with sonatas for violin, cello, basso, and gamba choosing sonatas by famous composers such as Tartini, Bach, and Caporale.

Entry: Ticket prices: €10-€15

Date & Time: 13,15,18, November, 8.30 at Parnassos Philological Association & 19 November, 7.30 pm at Alternative Stage of the National Opera – SNFCC

Address: Parnassos Philological Association (8 Agios Georgios Karytsis Square, Athens) & Alternative Stage of the National Opera – SNFCC, Syggrou Avenue 364, Kallithea

Website: megaron.gr

Tickets: ticketservices.gr

Molly Nillson Concert

Swedish singer and producer, Molly Nillson is known for her magical melodies and touchingly clever lyrics that bring nostalgic pop, on a journey through life and death, with love and trouble. And now her stately approach to synth pop is coming to Athens where audiences can enjoy her swooping synth melodies and the grace of her vocals.

Entry: €20

Date & Time: 18 November, 9 pm

Address: 16 Ogigou, Psirri, 10654 Athens

Tickets: tickets.public.gr

Colors

The Greek National Opera Ballet presents the modern dance triptych titled Colors – choreographed by Diego Tortelli, Eva Georgitsopoulou and Konstantinos Rigos. The performance follows the successful presentation of the triptychs Human Behaviour and Human Nature on the GNO Alternative Stage and brings the ensemble’s dancers face to face with modern dance forms, mixed with the musical sensualism of late Romanticism.

Entry: €15- €20

Date 12,16,17,18 November 2023

Tickets: ticketservice.gr

Αddress: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Syggrou Avenue 364, Kallithea

Website: nationalopera.gr

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What’s On In Athens: November 6

November keeps getting better and better thanks to some amazing cultural events taking place around Athens.

From the cool Athens’ Bar Week to the popular Authentic Marathon- there’s such a great variety- and we’ve rounded up some of our favourites right here for you.

Αthens’ Bar Week 2023

Some of the world’s best bars are taking over the city of Athens this week- with unique parties, events, and fine entertainment experiences for everyone over 18. It’s thanks to The Athens Bar Show, an annual educational expo for bar and hospitality professionals, which will take place on November 7 and 8 at the Technopolis of Athens. And from Monday, November 6th to Thursday, November 9th, the world’s best bars are teaming up with the Athenian bar scene to transform the city into a cocktail lovers’ paradise! Bar take-overs, pop-up bars, fine-dining tours, and masterclasses, are some events that will be held as part of Athens Bar Week. Taking place all over the city, this includes The Great Tuesday Club takeover at Avra FS Athens, which promises 16 cocktails that will travel you to 6 cities!

Date: 6 – 9 November, 2023

Address: All over Athens

Website: athensbarweek.gr

Julia Kent & Tilemachos Moussas

Canadian cellist and composer Julia Kent and composer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Telemachos Mousas join forces for a one-off performance at the Athens Conservatory. Kent, a member of Anthony & the Johnsons, creates magical sounds using live looping and real-time sound processing on cello and electronics. Her compositions have also graced films, television, dance and theater performances, and has released six personal albums. At this unforgettable music night, she will be accompanied by Telemachos Mousas, known for his award-winning compositions that are a combination of speech, poetry, classical music, jazz, and electro-acoustic techniques.

Entry: €22

Date & Time: 11 November, 9 pm

Tickets ticketservices.gr

Address: Ioannis Despotopoulos Amphitheater, Athens Conservatory, Rigillis & Vasileos Georgiou II 17-19, Αthens

Spyros Louis Cup Tour

Α truly unique opportunity to admire and learn the story about one of the most important items in the history of world sport. Designed by Michel Bréal for the champion of the first Marathon race – the Greek runner Spyros Louis – the Silver Cup was awarded at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. Give yourself the chance to learn more about the first Marathon race and the Cup’s historical significance in a free tour offered by the SNFCC (with tours offered in English).

Entry: Free by online preregistration

Date & Time: 8-11 November | one-hour tours at 10 am, 11 am, 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm

Αddress: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
Syggrou Avenue 364, 17674 Kallithea

Website: SNFCC.org

Dance Me – Music by Leonard Cohen

The amazing performance tribute to the great Leonard Cohen is finally coming to Athens! Dance Me – Music by Leonard Cohen is an exclusive creation inspired by the rich and profound work of Montréal-based poet, artist and songwriter, Leonard Cohen. Approved by Cohen while still alive, this amazing homage to the famed artist evokes the grand cycles of existence, as described in Cohen’s deeply reflective music and poems. Three internationally renowned choreographers were entrusted with putting movement to Cohen’s legendary songs: Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Ihsan Rustem. Their powerful and profound choreographic world reflective of Cohen’s singular work is brought to life by Ballets Jazz Montréal’s 14 artists and the strong, bold dramaturgy of Eric Jean.

Entry: Ticket prices: €18 – €100

Date & Time: 11-12 November, 8 pm

Tickets: webtics.megaron.gr

Address: The Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), 115 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens

Website: megaron.gr

Athens Authentic Marathon

Athens hosts its 40th Classic Marathon this weekend. A popular event recognised as the world’s original modern marathon, it attracts thousands of participants and spectators from around the globe. According to the organisers, the Athens Marathon allows runners the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Greek soldier Pheidippides who first ran the 42 km route from the battlefield of Marathon Beach to Athens in 490 BC. Tip: for the non-runners, you may still enjoy this popular event by going to the Panathenaic Stadium and catching the atmosphere. Pro tip: bring something soft to sit on.

Entry: €35-€120

Date: 11-12 November 2023

Website: Athensauthenticmarathon.gr

Main Image Courtesy of Avra Bar

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What’s On In Athens This Week: October 23

On the lookout for the best things to do in Athens this week, with the perfect autumn weather behind you? The capital has heaps of amazing events, exhibitions, films, and live music for you to add to this week’s calendar and we’ve rounded up some of our favourites right here for you!

Yilian Cañizares Concert

The impressive Cuban violinist, singer, and composer who has gained worldwide fame over the last decade thanks to her unique talent, will be making her debut performance for the first time in Greece! Cañizares’ music, with its Cuban identity, combines jazz, classical, and Afro-Cuban rhythms always has her audience up and dancing. And over the next few days, she will be performing live at Mets, behind the Panathenaic stadium.

Entry: €20-€35

Date & Time: 20-23 October, 9:30 pm

Tickets: ticketpublic.gr

Αddress: 17 Tribonianou, Mets

Platforms Project

For four days, the Technopolis will become a networking hub for international artistic groups, while also giving Athens’ art-loving public an opportunity to get up close to the freshest contemporary artistic creations from around the world. This year’s independent art fair includes 56 artistic platforms from 24 countries – and more than 900 artists in total! For the first time, the exhibition will also include other artistic forms such as theatre, music, architecture, and design.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 26-28 October 2023, Thursday 6 pm-10 pm, Friday-Sunday 12 pm-9 pm

Address: Peiraios 100, Athens, cultural venue of “Technopolis”

Website: platformsproject.com

Imany Concert

Known for her magical voice, Imany, whose hits include “Don’t Be So Shy” and “You Will Never Know,” will be on stage at the Christmas Theater on October 25. Performing “Voodoo Cello”, which is based on her latest album with the same title- audiences will be able to experience Imany’s earthy vocals, as well as 8 cellos accompanying her, while they perform a series of pop-jazz music hits ranging from Nina Simone to Radiohead, Cat Stevens, and Donna Summer.

Entry: €15-€48

Date & Time: 25 October, 9:00 pm

Tickets: more.com

Αddress: Christmas Theater, 137 Veikou Ave., Galatsi

Save the Water- Taf Gallery

The “Save The Water” photography exhibition taking place at TAF in Monastiraki this week, aims to communicate the danger posed by the effects of climate change. With concerns about the sustainability of the planet multiplying and the threat of dehydration, as well as water pollution, in general, being a vital issue – the organisers underline that “Art has a duty to transmit messages that awaken actions in order to save the planet”.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 23 October 2023, 5 pm-10 pm

Address: Normanou 5, Monastiraki Athens

Website: thefoundation.metamatic.gr

Homer Exhibition at the Gennadius Library

Curated by Irini Solomonidi, the Gennadius Library is bringing to light a selection of rare materials from the 300 editions of Homer. Unique treasures including the first edition of the Iliad and the Odyssey in 1488 Florence by the famous Greek scholar Dimitrios Chalkokondylis, as well as the earliest paraphrase of the Iliad in modern Greek by Nikolaos Loucanis printed in Venice in 1526, will be displayed next to English, French, Italian and Spanish translations – showcasing the wide reinterpretation of the Homeric text.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 23-23 October 2023, Monday-Wednesday 5 pm

Address: 61 Souidias, Athens

Cinema Fest Day

Cinema Fest Day is back for a second consecutive year! On October 26th, all cinemas nationwide will offer a reduced € 2 admittance for both matinees and evening shows. This event is organised by film distributors and is sure to be a day full of movie marathons, popcorn, and soda. Mark your calendars and head to your nearest theatre to catch the latest flicks, while also showing support for the film industry.

Entry: € 2

Location: All indoor cinemas in Athens

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What’s On In Athens This Week: October 16

October may be coming to an end, but the fabulous events taking place this month keep coming. We’ve rounded up the best festivals and concerts taking place in Athens this week that you shouldn’t miss!

Jordi Savall Concert

Jordi Savall and his orchestra are bringing back the magic of viols, the lesser-known relative of the violin family, with their upcoming performance at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), Savall’s orchestra. They will be joined by the women’s section of the National Choir of Catalonia and the program features two important symphonic compositions by Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Opus 90, known as the “Italian,” and Ein Sommernachstraum (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Don’t miss the chance to experience the beauty of viols and enjoy a night of exquisite music.

Entry: €12-65

Date & Time: 16 October 2023, 8.30 pm

Address: The Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), 115 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens

Tickets: megaron.gr

Lubomyr Melnyk at the Athens Concert Hall

Don’t miss the chance to witness a musical genius in action! Lubomyr Melnyk, the Ukrainian pianist and creator of “continuous music,” will showcase his incredible ability to play up to 19 notes per second with each hand, at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron). With over 120 solo and double piano compositions, Melnyk’s music is transcendent and captures his audience with every note.

Entry: €9-45

Date & Time: 18 October 2023, 8.30 pm

Address: The Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), 115 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens, 115 21

Tickets: megaron.gr

Τhe “Butterfly Effect”

For the first time, an exhibition will be held on the premises of the most famous textile industry in Greece, named Petalouda (butterfly). A project curated by Kostas Prapoglou, here forty-one visual artists (such as Eozen Agopian, Klitsa Antoniou, Orit Ben Shitrit, Robert Cahen, Irene Carvajal, Susan Daboll, Lydia Dabassina, Maria Loizidou, Despina Meimaroglou, Nikos Tranos) rise though their work with social issues related to Greek industrial history and the role of women, the meditative dimension of manual labor and the interconnectedness of events- via installations, videos, sculptures, soundscapes, and paintings.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 16-22 October 2023

Address: Petalouda Textile Industry, 41 Kifisou Ave, Athens

Petit Paris d’Athènes Festival

This year marks the 10th anniversary of this popular event that will take place in the area extending from Karaiskaki and Vathi Squares to Larissa Station- where several streets are named after 19th-century French dignitaries. A beloved celebration of Athenian culture, visitors will be able to see more than 500 artists, creatives and intellectuals participate, throughout selected venues (theatres, music stages, galleries, squares, pedestrian streets, conservatories, schools, neoclassical-historical buildings, hotels and other alternative spaces) in events ranging from music concerts to art galleries. This year’s theme “Love in the arts”, will see all works inspired by amour.

Entry: Free admission

Date: 19 October 2023 – 29 October 2023

Venue: Various places around Athens

Website: mikroparisis.eu

Pink Floyd Tribute

Pink Floyd Tribute band, Echoes, is one of the best tribute bands worldwide and continue to carry with it the rich legacy of a band known as one of the greatest of all time. Echoes have collaborated so far with famous musicians such as Michael Sadler, Midge Ure and Geoff Tate and in this live performance they will take their audience on a big emotional journey with classic tracks from the “Best of Pink Floyd” and a setlist that also includes some of their almost unknown works.

Entry: €20-58

Date & Time: 20 October 2023, 9 pm

Address: Christmas Theater, 137 Veikou Ave., Galatsi

Tickets: more.com

Passenger Live

Passenger, the performer, and composer of “Let Her Go”, one of the biggest hit singles of the 21st century, will be in Athens for his first concert in Greece. The memorable British singer/songwriter whose song has made YouTube history, with over 3.3 billion views – continues to enjoy worldwide appeal. In total, Passenger has released 14 albums, with 8 of them entering the top 40 of the UK charts. And in his first appearance in Athens, Passenger promises an unforgettable performance with his folk-rock melodies.

Entry: €26

Date & Time: 22 October 2023, 8 pm

Address: Gagarin, 201 Liosion Avenue, 10445

Tickets: more.com

Wine and Art Festival 2023

The largest wine and art festival in Greece returns this weekend, at the School of Fine Arts in Athens, with an impressive list of wineries and artworks from Athens School of Fine Arts. You will have the opportunity to taste more than 500 wines from 65 Boutique Wineries as well as take part in a range of workshops, and seminars and enjoy performances and music played by local DJs.

Entry: €12

Date: 21 October 2023 – 22 October 2023

Address: Athens School of Fine Arts, 256 Pireos, Agios Ioannis Rentis

Website: wineandartfestival.gr

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What’s on in Athens This Week: October 9

The first tree leaves may be falling and the weather may be getting colder – but Athens’ cultural scene is on fire! The first week of October finds the capital with plenty of great events taking place and we’ve rounded them all up for you.

Book as Art

Exciting news for art lovers in Athens! The Gramma Epsilon Gallery is hosting the Books as Art exhibition, curated by Paolo Cortese and supported by the Italian Institute of Culture. Featuring works by over 30 international artists, this group exhibition challenges our perception of what a “book” can be. Don’t miss the chance to see works dating back to the 1960s alongside contemporary pieces- from conceptual to fibre art, the three-dimensional pieces on display explore the diverse possibilities of books as a means of artistic expression.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 1-20 October, Thursday-Saturday

Αddress: Gramma Epsilon Gallery, 6 Agathonos, Monastiraki

Oedipus in Search of Colonus

This radical VR installation by Loukia Alavanou, who represented Greece at the 59th Venice Art Biennale, will be shown for the first time at Onassis Stegi. A 15-minute film, shot with 360° VR technology and members of the Roma community from Nea Zoi in Aspropyrgos of Western Attica, in the roles of a cast of actors who follow in the traces of Oedipus. As the creator underlines, this installation aims to evoke questions around the themes of aging and death, human dignity and universal freedom, immigration, displacement, minorities, racism, and human rights.

Entry: 8 €

Date & Time: 11-30 October 2023, Wednesday-Sunday 6 pm-11 pm

Address: Onassis Stegi, 107-109 Syggrou Avenue, Neos Kosmos

Website: Onassis.org

Tickets: ticket.onassis.org

Pytheas Travels

“Pytheas Travels” is a staged audiovisual simulation highlighting the experience of being on a passenger ship, travelling from the Mediterranean to the seas of Scandinavia. It is a maritime story, a fictional journey and a critical look at the mass tourism industry and its effects on environmental, cultural and social structures. Accompanied by music from pioneering Norwegian composer and performer Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje, it’s inspired by the historical journey of Pytheas, who in 325 BC sailed north from Marseilles to a place he called Ultima Thule, the mythical island, to reach the “frozen seas.”

Entry: 5-24 €

Date & Time: 13-15 October 2023, Friday-Sunday 8.30 pm

Address: Onassis Stegi, 107-109 Syggrou Avenue, Neos Kosmos

Website: Onassis.org

Tickets: ticket.onassis.org

I Puritani

This year’s 100th anniversary of the birth of the greatest Greek soprano of all time is just one more reason to fill Athens with dedicated events in her honour. At the Olympia Municipal Theater- where Maria Callas started her career back in 1944 – the famous opera “I Puritani”, a performance that marked her rise to stardom will be performed this week. The special event is presented by the City of Athens Choir, the Athens State Orchestra, and the stunning soprano Christina Poulitsi and American tenor John Osborn are found in the leading roles.

Entry: 5-40 €

Date & Time: 14 October, 8 pm

Tickets: ticketservices.gr

Αddress: Olympia Municipal Music Theater Maria Callas, 59 Akadimias Historic Center

Meet Market

If you love searching for special items to decorate your home, or love accessories for yourself or as special gifts – we’ve found a great place for you to visit during your stay in Athens. The Meet Market is a nomadic spot filled with innovation and creativity- featuring locally made clothes, jewelry, accessories, care & wellness products, art & decor, baby items, delicious treats, vintage collectibles, street food – plus a bunch of interactive games, DJ sets & good vibes.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 14-15 October 2023, 12 am to 12 pm

Address: Peiraios 100, Athens, cultural venue of “Technopolis”

Website: themeetmarket.gr

Athens Cocktails Party

If you would like to taste some of the finest cocktails – created by Athens’ leading mixologists from some of the best bars in the Greek capital – head to Kypseli Municipal Market this weekend. The cool event is the brainchild of George Apergis, founder of local electronic music collective Modular Expansion, so you can rest assured there will be plenty of great tunes to listen to as you sip on your favourite drink.

Tickets: Free admission

Date: 14 October 2023

Time: 3 pm – 11.30 pm

Address: Kypseli Municipal Market, 42 Fokionos Negri, Kypseli

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Ultimate Events Guide to Athens in October

Discover the best events taking place in Athens during the month of October.

As autumn sets in, Athens comes alive with a variety of cultural events to relish. From open-air music concerts under the starry sky to marvelous art exhibitions and festivals, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Embrace the season and immerse yourself in the cultural richness with our top picks for this month.

Vegan Life Festival Athens 2023

Europe’s most popular vegan festival is back! Since 2016, Vegan Life Festival has been drawing crowds from all over the continent. With two days packed with exciting stuff- you’ll have the opportunity to attend hands-on cooking workshops, insightful panels, a vegan products bazaar, live music, and even a speed dating event for a chance to make some new pals who share your passion for cruelty-free eats. But Vegan Life Festival isn’t just about having a good time – the organisation also has a strong focus on animal rights and initiatives that collect food for those in need.

Entry: Free

Date & Time: 1 October, 11 am- 11pm

Αddress: Peiraios 100, Athens, cultural venue of “Technopolis”

“Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead”

This theatrical play is part crime, part thriller and part comedy. The new production of the iconic Complicité theatre group is based on the multi-translated novel by Nobel Prize for Literature laureate Olga Tokarczuk. Created and directed by Simon McBurney, it questions why is the killing of animals a sport and a hobby and that of humans a murder. A thought-provoking, wry, and otherworldly murder mystery tale about the cosmos, poetry, and the limitations and possibilities of activism has audiences captivated. The performance is in English with Greek surtitles.

Entry: €10-€60

Date 4-7 October, Wednesday-Friday 8.30 pm, Saturday 2.30 pm & 8.30 pm

Tickets: tickets.onassis.org

Αddress: Onassis Stegi 107-109 Syggrou Avenue 1745 Athens, Greece

Website: onassis.org

Seong-Jin Cho at the Athens Concert Hall

For the talented Seong-Jin Cho, winning the XVII International Chopin Piano Competition most important piano competition in the world – was just the springboard to begin his brilliant career, gaining global fame and becoming the first pianist from his country to do so. The South Korean classical pianist begins another new season at the Athens Concert Hall for a highly acclaimed solo recital that is dominated by two benchmark works of the piano repertoire: Ravel’s imposing Miroirs and Liszt’s explosive Dante Fantasia.

Entry: Ticket prices: €11 – €60

Date & Time: 25 October, 8.30 pm

Address: The Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), 115 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens, 115 21

Website: megaron.gr

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Dmitri Shostakovich

The Greek National Opera is bringing back one of the most outstanding productions to have graced its stage in recent years. Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, an iconic opera of the 20th century and a breathtaking Dmitri Shostakovich masterpiece– is returning to the Stavros Niarchos Hall this month. Conducting is Fabrizio Ventura, while the production’s staging is by Fanny Ardant, working with an all-star international creative team. This timeless masterpiece distinctly sets itself apart as it tackles the place of women within pre-revolutionary rural Russia and captures the audience from start to finish.

Entry: €10-€90

Date 21, 24, 27, 31 October, Performance times: 7.30 pm, Sunday 6.30 pm

Tickets: ticketservice.gr

Αddress: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Syggrou Avenue 364, 17674 Kallithea

Website: nationalopera.gr

Homecoming | Cycladic treasures on their return journey

The highly anticipated exhibition “Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey” will include a display of 15 antiquities for the first time worldwide. Presented by the Museum of Cycladic Art in collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports and this is the first step of the historic agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Museum of Cycladic Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (The Met), that foresees the gradual return to Greece of 161 Early Cycladic antiquities of the unique archaeological value of the American collector Leonard Stern. Following this, the entire collection will be exhibited at The Met, before the final return of the entirety of these antiquities to Greece.

Entry: €6

Date & Time: 1-31 October, daily except Tuesdays

Tickets: cycladic.gr

Αddress: Stathatos Mansion Vasilissis Sofias ave. & 1, Irodotou str., Athens

Website: cycladic.gr

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Pool Your Cinema Returns at the Hotel Grande Bretagne

Athens’ Hotel Grande Bretagne is welcoming guests to experience a unique outdoor summer cinema event in the heart of the city, with their Pool Your Cinema 2022 nights.

Located at the GB Pool Bar area on the 7th floor of the landmark hotel, with amazing and uninterrupted views of Lycabettus Hill, guests are able to catch all-time classic favourites, Hollywood blockbusters, and romantic comedies on the big screen, while savoring the delightful finger food menu, prepared by the hotel’s Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis.

From mini cheeseburgers and handmade pizza to caramelized popcorn and ice cream, guests can also grab a wine, beer, or cocktail as they watch a film under the stars!

Screenings are taking place over the next few weeks, with films including Dial M for Murder, as well as Take The Money and Run, French Dispatch, and The Full Monty.

Bookings are allowed until one day prior to the film screening and details can be found below.

Price: €50 (includes menu and a glass of wine or beer)

Until: 10 July 2022

Address: Hotel Grande Bretagne, 1 Vasileos Georgiou A, Syntagma

Pool Your Cinema

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Athens Open Air Cinema Week 2022

There’s nothing like sitting back and taking in a film under the stars at one of Athens’ open-air cinemas; and to celebrate this memorable experience, the Greek Capital’s Open Air Cinema Week begins on Thursday, May 26, 2022.

Located in the city’s urban alleyways, lush gardens, green parks, charming courtyards, and cool terraces (with the Acropolis as a backdrop) the open-air cinema is a summer tradition in Athens; one that both locals and visitors look forward to for many reasons.

Balmy evenings, soda and popcorn in hand, amazing atmosphere, and some of the best films on the big screen- a perfect way to escape the buzzing streets of Athens for a few hours.

And the Open Air Cinema Week, which is part of the brand new Athens City Festival, is set to bring all these things to life on Thursday at Eleftherias Park, right next to the Athens Concert Hall, as well as at the American Embassy, which boasts a gorgeous view of Mount Ymittos.

Both these spots will be the hosting grounds for this much-anticipated event, which will have contemporary Greek cinema as the theme- so visitors can really get a feel of Greece’s current arts and culture scene- right under the stars!

Click here for more info on tickets and dates, as well as the full program of This is Athens City Festival.

Info

Tickets: Free admission

Date: 26 May 2022 – 29 May 2022

Time: TBA

A: Eleftherias Park, Eleftherias Park, Ambelokipi

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1st Athens Cocktail Festival & Cocktail Week Ready to Kick Off

The Greek capital is ready to toast the summer season with the 1st Athens Cocktail Festival & Athens Cocktail Week.

By Gina Lionatos

With what is fast becoming the hottest bar scene in Europe, it was only a matter of time before Athens stepped up with its own cocktail festival to open the summer tourist season. With the support of the Municipality of Athens, and as a part of the ‘This is Athens Festival’, the city will move to the rhythm of the largest cocktail festival in Greece.

Insights Greece - 1st Athens Cocktail Festival & Cocktail Week Ready to Kick Off — Athens 1st Cocktail Festival

The first Athens Cocktail Festival kicks off over a cocktail-filled two days at the “Lighthouse” of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre on 20 & 21 May 2022.

After that, the action extends to the city’s bars for all to enjoy. Athens Cocktail Week will run from 22 to 28 May 2022 and will see the best bars in Athens hosting a series of guest nights and special events. All the excitement will culminate on the closing night on May 28, 2022, with a large closing party in the city center.

Information on events is still unfolding, so to stay updated, tune into @athenscocktailfestivalofficial’s social media on Instagram for details.

Pre-sale tickets to Athens Cocktail Festival include two cocktails and are available through viva.gr at https://www.viva.gr/tickets/festival/athens-cocktail-festival/

* All the activities of Athens Cocktail Festival & Athens Cocktail Week, are supported by the Municipality of Athens as well as by AMKE Metron Ariston – Making Responsibility a Trend and operating in light of the Responsible Consumption and green practices.

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We’ve rounded up the best plays, musicals and film festivals taking centre stage in Athens, that everyone will be talking about in March.

Fame The Musical

Dear England by James Graham

Generation Lost

The Matchmaker

Beyond Borders Travels to Athens – Cinema

This is the last week of November for 2023- but before we turn the page on our calendar there are still lots of special events taking place in Athens.

If you are in Athens and looking for some cool events to attend, you are in the right place, as we’ve rounded up the best of what’s on this weekend in the Greek capital.

Jimmy Carr | Terribly Funny 2.0

Le Presbyter | Ballet for Life Bejart Ballet Lausanne

Mall Grab Party

Constantinopoliad | Sister Sylvester – Nadah El Shazly

Retrospective

From opera and baroque to ballet and string quartets- there are so many fabulous performances to catch this week in Athens, and we’ve rounded up a selection of the best ones that are not to be missed.

Les Éclairs – Philippe Hersant

Quatuor Ébène

Χ: The Life and Times of Malcolm X

6th Baroque Music Festival

Molly Nillson Concert

Colors

November keeps getting better and better thanks to some amazing cultural events taking place around Athens.

Αthens’ Bar Week 2023

Julia Kent & Tilemachos Moussas

Spyros Louis Cup Tour

Dance Me – Music by Leonard Cohen

On the lookout for the best things to do in Athens this week, with the perfect autumn weather behind you? The capital has heaps of amazing events, exhibitions, films, and live music for you to add to this week’s calendar and we’ve rounded up some of our favourites right here for you!

Yilian Cañizares Concert

Platforms Project

Imany Concert

Save the Water- Taf Gallery

Homer Exhibition at the Gennadius Library

Cinema Fest Day

October may be coming to an end, but the fabulous events taking place this month keep coming. We’ve rounded up the best festivals and concerts taking place in Athens this week that you shouldn’t miss!

Jordi Savall Concert

Lubomyr Melnyk at the Athens Concert Hall

Τhe “Butterfly Effect”

Petit Paris d’Athènes Festival

Pink Floyd Tribute

Passenger Live

Wine and Art Festival 2023

The first tree leaves may be falling and the weather may be getting colder – but Athens’ cultural scene is on fire! The first week of October finds the capital with plenty of great events taking place and we’ve rounded them all up for you.

Book as Art

Oedipus in Search of Colonus

Pytheas Travels

I Puritani

Meet Market

Athens Cocktails Party

Discover the best events taking place in Athens during the month of October.

Vegan Life Festival Athens 2023

“Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead”

Seong-Jin Cho at the Athens Concert Hall

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Dmitri Shostakovich

Homecoming | Cycladic treasures on their return journey

Athens’ Hotel Grande Bretagne is welcoming guests to experience a unique outdoor summer cinema event in the heart of the city, with their Pool Your Cinema 2022 nights.

There’s nothing like sitting back and taking in a film under the stars at one of Athens’ open-air cinemas; and to celebrate this memorable experience, the Greek Capital’s Open Air Cinema Week begins on Thursday, May 26, 2022.

Info

The Greek capital is ready to toast the summer season with the 1st Athens Cocktail Festival & Athens Cocktail Week.

The Athens Guide