The Brooklyn
of Athens is
Kerameikos.

The case for Kerameikos

Kerameikos is where Athens stops performing for tourists. Old gasworks turned cultural spaces, street art crawling up neoclassical facades, and cocktail bars with names that sound like bad poetry. The ancient cemetery is right there, crumbling alongside new restaurants on Plateon Street. Dinner at 10pm, drinks at midnight, nobody in a rush.

The 11-acre Kerameikos Archaeological Site - one of the ancient world's most important cemeteries - sits less than 500 meters from the 20+ bars and restaurants that have colonized Plateon Street and Avdi Square in the last decade.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Athens.

Exarcheia

Exarcheia is Athens's permanently angry older sibling. Anarchist graffiti, cheap vinyl shops, and the best late-night souvlaki you'll eat sitting on a curb in Exarcheia Square.

Metaxourgeio

Metaxourgeio is quieter, grittier, still figuring itself out. Small galleries in former workshops, African restaurants next to old tavernas. Real neighborhood energy without the tourist gaze.

Psyrri

Psyrri was doing this whole thing before Kerameikos. It's louder now, more packed on weekends. Still has great meze spots if you dodge the Instagram-bait rooftop bars.

Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Kerameikos.

All 24 spots mapped out

Kerameikos, corner to corner.

Open in Maps →
Our 24 top picks

The Kerameikos guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyEUR
LanguageGreek
Cost level $$Moderate
Best monthsMay and October
Local time UTC+3
Plug type EU plug · 230V/50Hz
Emergency112
Local tip
Walk Plateon Street end to end around 9pm on a weekday. That's when the neighborhood actually wakes up and tables spill onto sidewalks.
Europe · Greece

If you like Athens, try one of these.

Head to head

How does Athens stack up?

All comparisons →
Common questions

Things to know about Kerameikos.

What is the Brooklyn of Athens?
The Brooklyn of Athens is Kerameikos. Kerameikos is where Athens stops performing for tourists. The 11-acre Kerameikos Archaeological Site - one of the ancient world's most important cemeteries - sits less than 500 meters from the 20+ bars and restaurants that have colonized Plateon Street and Avdi Square in the last decade.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Athens?
Kerameikos is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Athens. Kerameikos is where Athens stops performing for tourists. Old gasworks turned cultural spaces, street art crawling up neoclassical facades, and cocktail bars with names that sound like bad poetry. The ancient cemetery is right there, crumbling alongside new restaurants on Plateon Street. Dinner at 10pm, drinks at midnight, nobody in a rush.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Athens?
Kerameikos is the hippest neighborhood in Athens. Street art climbs neoclassical facades while cocktail bars fill up at midnight, and nobody here is performing for tourists or checking the time.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Athens?
Kerameikos is Athens's trendiest neighborhood right now. Old gasworks have become galleries and cultural spaces, new restaurants keep opening on Plateon Street beside the ancient cemetery, and the whole area feels like it is still figuring itself out.
Where should I stay in Kerameikos, Athens?
The best boutique hotels in Kerameikos include Loom Athens, NLH Kerameikos, and Athenaeum Eridanus Luxury Hotel. An 11-room boutique on the Kerameikos-Metaxourgeio border, designed by ATN Constructions with a bespoke ceramic brick facade nodding to 1960s Athenian architecture.
Is Kerameikos in Athens safe at night?
Kerameikos is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Athens expensive?
Athens rates $$ on a global travel scale. Affordable, with good value for food and drink.
When is the best time to visit Athens?
May and October are the sweet spots in Athens, with 22-27C, low humidity, long daylight, and the rooftop bars, outdoor cinemas, and archaeological sites all open. April and early June work nearly as well. July and August climb to 35-40C with heat warnings, so see the sites before 11:00 or after 18:00. November through March stays mild but rainy in stretches.

Last updated

The dispatch

Want more cities like Athens?

New cities and updated guides. Nothing else.