Athens: Evening Walking Tour - Syntagma, Ermou St, Monastiraki

Join me on an evening walk through Athens. I'll show you the famous Syntagma, Monastiraki, Ermou Street, the best places to eat and drink, Ancient Sites, four and five-star hotels, and lots more.

Videos Mentioned
Carnival on Ermou St - https://bit.ly/3vQV09Z
Varvakios (SMELLY) Market - https://bit.ly/3PZR0e1
Monastiraki Flea Market - https://bit.ly/3Tyymfq
Monastiraki to Plaka - https://bit.ly/3VZyiHv
Best Spots for Photos Acropolis - https://bit.ly/3VWN15M
EVZONES Changing of the Guard - https://bit.ly/3VUdZel

*Timecodes"
00:00 - Start and five-star hotels
01:25 - Syntagma Square
04:00 - Where to catch the Happy Train
04:45 - Ermou St
10:30 - Kapnikarea Church
11:18 - Attica Bakery
13:58 - Two best places for Gyro & Souvlaki
14:48 - Monastiraki Square
17:35 - Hadrian's Library
18:20 - Best places to eat & drink on Adrianou St
20:45 - Stoa of Attalos
22:30 - Temple of Hepaestus

ALL ABOUT THE WALK
Syntagma Square
Locally known as Constitution Square, "Syntagma" commemorates the constitution King Otto was compelled to give the people. It's a hub for celebrations with music and dance during significant festivals, and a key location for protests and demonstrations against the government.

Ermou Street
Named after the Greek god Hermes, it was built around 1833, is about 1.5 kilometres long and is the 14th most expensive street in the world. It also has one of the oldest churches in Athens smack bang in the middle of it, and we'll take a quick look at that late

Church of Kapnikarea
Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it dates back to the 11th century, which makes it one of the oldest churches in Athens. It's built on the ruins of an ancient Greek temple dedicated to a goddess. Inside, it's decorated with beautiful frescoes, some of which date back to the 17th century.

O Thanasis and Bairaktaris Central
O Thanasis. It's perhaps the most popular place to eat gyro and souvlaki for locals. It's become, I guess, the go-to destination for those searching for the classic experience. Then, there's Bairaktaris Central on the right. Opened in 1879 and is still famous for practically using the same recipe for its souvlaki.

So, when you're in Athens, here at Monastiraki Square, get yourself down to either of these places.

Monastiraki Square
It's like the beating heart of Athens, buzzing with energy, music, tourists and locals. The name "Monastiraki" means "little monastery," and it's named after the small 10th-century church on the right.

Church of Panatnassa
Its name, "Pantanassa," translates to "Queen of All," referring to the Virgin Mary, who is venerated here in Greece. It dates back to the 10th century, and what's cool about it is that it's actually a step down from the rest of the square. It's not on the same level as everything else; it's lower.

This happened because, over many, many years, the ground around the church went up as people built more things, and the area changed.

Monastiraki Metro Station
Opened in 2003, it's part of the Athens Metro system, and it's a great place to get to and from the airport. They uncovered a treasure trove of archaeological finds during its construction, from ancient roads and graves to artefacts dating back thousands of years.

Instead of hiding these discoveries, the station was designed to showcase them. Imagine stepping off a train and being greeted by ancient pottery, remnants of old Athenian streets, all on display for travellers and history enthusiasts.

Hadrian's Library
Imagine if you will, if Amazon Kindle had an ancient Greek ancestor. That's what this library was like. It was built in 132 AD by Emperor Hadrian and was a gathering place for those who wished to learn. It was full of hundreds and hundreds of scrolls. There was also a massive courtyard, galleries, and a reading room. Over the centuries, it's also been used as a fortress, a shelter, and even a venue for theatrical performances.

Adriannou Street
Adrianou Street is one the oldest streets in Athens at around 2500 years. Named after the Roman it crosses four famous neighbourhoods: Thissio, Monastiraki, Syntagma, and Plaka, and ends at Hadrian's Arch. It's got some great places to eat and drink.

Stoa of Attalos
That's the Stoa of Attalos, in the Ancient Agora of Athens. Think of it as a giant shopping mall. Built 150 BC, it was a gift to Athens from King Attalos II of Pergamon, who wanted to create a special place for the people of Athens to gather and do their business in style.

What you see today was actually brought back to life in the 1950s using the same materials and techniques the ancient Greeks would have used.

Temple of Hephaestus
Now, let's talk about the Temple of Hephaestus, the best-preserved temple in the world. It's like it's been frozen in time, giving us a sneak peek into what a real ancient Greek temple looked like.

Dedicated to Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire, metalworking, and craftsmanship. Imagine a god who could make anything out of metal – that's Hephaestus for you.