Neighbourhood

Monastiraki

Name: Monastiraki
Address: Athina, GR

841 locals recommend,

Tips from locals

Laila

September 27, 2022

MUST VISIT - Monastiraki Square is at the end of the busiest shopping street in Athens, Ermou str. It has a large number of restaurants and rooftop bars with views of the Acropolis. ‘Anglais’, ‘A for Athens’ and ‘Ermou 18’ are only a few rooftop bars from a wide selection! Areas around Monastiraki Square like ‘Psiri’, ‘Aiolou Str’ and ‘Kolokotroni Str’ are packed with restaurants, bars, and cafes!

Niko And Andrea

July 31, 2022

There it's a good place to start discovery the old Athens city and just a step away from Acropolis with the old Bazar and many traditional restaurants with Acropolis view.

Angela And Akis

July 2, 2022

Beautiful walk in the marketplace of Athens

Faye

March 21, 2022

Standing in the middle of the square and looking around, you immediately perceive the diversity of the buildings which are visible. On one side you have the Ottoman-era mosque of Tzistarakis and on the other, the orthodox church of the “Dormition of the Virgin Mary of Athens”. The pillars of Hadrian’s Library, built in the 2nd century A.D., can be seen through and next to the arches of the Mosque, while – directly above them – the imposing Acropolis dominates the backdrop. Several neoclassical buildings which surround the square or line Athinas street, including the Metro Station, add yet another era to the list of the ones already represented in this limited space. In other words, you are standing in the middle of a miniature architectural representation of the melting pot of cultures that have passed from this land, which stands on the crossroads of three continents. The name ‘Monastiraki’, which means ‘small monastery’, refers to the orthodox monastery that occupied the square during the Ottoman times. The only remnant today is the church mentioned above and, of course, the tell-tale name of the neighborhood. The addition of the Mosque in the 18th century fueled the economic growth of the surrounding area, making the Monastiraki market a stable feature of the area up until today. Monastirakis' shops Despite the imposing historic buildings, the modern city still manages to shout its presence through the noise that comes from the busy shops and the people who crowd the square on a daily basis. Here you can find souvlaki places and Greek taverns, traditional “kafeneio” and modern cafés, Chinese-made souvenirs next to genuine Greek art pieces and shops that sell both real antiques of all kinds, as well as cheap imitations or even cheesy, fake ancient Greek hoplite helmets. Peddlers of various foods and snacks compete for premium spots and fill the air with smells of roasted chestnuts or fresh, pungent fruit, depending on the season. On one corner you might find youngsters beat-boxing and break-dancing, while on another, the sound of bouzouki from a tavern’s resident band tempts passers-by to start dancing the Zorba. Every other day a different street-performance act takes place and countless roaming buskers pass from here, covering all styles of music, from folk to jazz. Another characteristic feature of Monastiraki is the antiques- and flea- market which operates in the streets around and including Ermou and Ifestou and on Abyssinia square. Ages-old army surplus stores filled with all kinds of second-hand equipment, along with relics like old swords and broken guns, Nazi helmets and old war-medals of various kinds have been waiting here for as long I can remember.