The Best Things To Do In Metaxourgeio Athens

Metaxourgeio, an area in Athens that doesn’t look inviting at first glance, is a district of extremes. Step too close to Omonoia, and you will feel like you’ve just landed in a 1980s New York street. If you venture farther down, you will stumble upon beautiful restored neoclassical mansions and modern loft apartment complexes where a higher-income crowd lives.

However, in the middle, longtime residents and newcomers collide, successfully creating an inviting neighborhood known for its many social initiatives, events, and activities, including the Carnival of Metaxourgeio. Underneath its rough exterior, this district has a lot to offer to visitors and locals alike. Here are the best things to do in Metaxourgeio.

Have some raki

Frequently visited by Athenian youth, Metaxourgeio is not home to mega nightclubs or posh bars. Rather, you will stumble upon countless raki restaurants, where people gather around and order meze and drink liters of the strong drink until they head home. There is no need to dress up; all you have to do is find a table, sit down and drink as much as you can handle. However, don’t be surprised if your bill doesn’t reflect the number of drinks you have had. Metaxourgeio is one of the cheapest areas in Athens, especially when it comes to food and drinks. It’s a win-win!

Home to a few small theaters and music venues, Metaxourgeio is the place to discover the local indie scene or catch a play (most likely in Greek). The area boasts a few live music stages and bars (check out Kerameio where you can score an impromptu performance or visit Passport Kerameikos to see a concert, for example). The Rabbit Hole on Germanikou is an art and performance space where you can catch a theatrical or music performance as well as art exhibitions.

Dine like royals

Emerging as a cool, alternative hub, Metaxourgeio is also home to many eateries and restaurants where you can enjoy local and exotic flavors and dine like a king or queen. For a fine-dining experience, Funky Gourmet will impress you with its elegant and well-thought-out menu. For Greek flavors with a twist, the ever-crowded Seychelles, where bookings are recommended, puts a creative spin on Greek fare with the freshest ingredients. Elvis is the place to go for juicy souvlaki, and Fill The Bracket is a great spot to have a tasty brunch.

Explore the local street art scene

Just like Exarcheia and Psyrri, Metaxourgeio is home to a vibrant street art scene and is a perfect stop to admire some fantastic designs. While not all of them are painted on derelict buildings, a walk across the streets will not only give you a glimpse into the talent of several street artists but also allow you to admire the beauty of this district, which still features a few beautiful neoclassical mansions and buildings.

Party the night away

On the border of Iera Odos stands Lohan nightclub, Lindsay Lohan’s nightlife venue in the Greek capital. Considered one of the top clubs in Athens, Lohan is definitely an excellent place to dance the night away to the sounds of DJ sets. If clubs are not your thing, Metaxourgeio is home to many bars where you can still enjoy an entertaining night, drink delicious cocktails and listen to great music (sometimes even live).

Show off your skating skills at Latraac Cafe & Skate Bowl

Skate Park

Relaxing evenings at LATRAAC, Kerameikos

On Leonidou Street, you will find LATRAAC Cafe and Skate Bowl, which features a skating bowl where anyone can come and practice their eights or even show off their skills. The venue also organizes skating lessons for immigrant children as part of an integration program. So, if you are a sk8terboi (or sk8tergurl), you know where to go.

Visit the Athens Municipal Gallery

Art Gallery

Metaxourgeio is also home to the Athens Municipal Gallery, one of the main art museums in the country; it holds a collection of over 3,500 works by contemporary Greek and foreign artists. The artworks on display consist mainly of paintings and prints, and the gallery showcases group and solo exhibitions regularly. Entrance to the gallery is completely free of charge, so you really have no excuse not to check it out.

Discover urban culture at BIOS

Bar, Restaurant, Nightclub, Contemporary, Greek

For any self-respecting Athenian, BIOS hardly needs an introduction. This hybrid space, housed in a Bauhaus building on Pireos Street, serves as a café/pop-up restaurant, theater and concert venue and boasts a cool rooftop from where to enjoy fantastic views over the Acropolis and the city. Whether there is a show, a musical performance or a play, BIOS is an excellent place to spend some time; you may even find yourself returning here again and again.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.