Anafiotika neighborhood

Anafiotika, a touch of the Cyclades at the foot of the Acropolis

Anafiotika is a picturesque district of Athens, nestled at the foot of the Acropolis, which seems to come straight from the Cyclades. The Athens audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this maze of white houses, an unusual haven of calm in the heart of the capital.

The village of the builders from Anafi

Nestled on the north-east slope of the Acropolis, Anafiotika was built in the nineteenth century by workers from the island of Anafi, in the Cyclades, to build the new capital. Nostalgic for their island, they erected small white houses with colourful shutters, in the Cycladic style. This tiny district, made of lanes, staircases and flowered courtyards, offers an unusual change of scenery, away from the bustle of Athens.

What to see

Here you wander in the lanes and staircases between the white houses with colourful shutters, in an atmosphere worthy of the Cyclades, at the foot of the Acropolis. Anafiotika is a haven of calm and charm, away from the crowds. It is an unusual and photogenic stop, for lovers of the secret corners of Athens.

Practical information

The Anafiotika district lies on the north-east slope of the Acropolis, above Plaka, reachable on foot by lanes and staircases. It is a freely accessible public residential district; you stroll there on foot, with respect for the calm and the daily life of the inhabitants. It is best to avoid noise in this peaceful and inhabited place.

Why does Anafiotika resemble the Cyclades?

Because it was built in the nineteenth century by workers from the island of Anafi, who erected white houses in the Cycladic style of their island.

Where is the Anafiotika district?

On the north-east slope of the Acropolis, above Plaka, in the heart of Athens.