This is Athens City Festival

The History of the Katakouzenos House Through Time and the Role of a House-Museum in Our Era
2025-05-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-05-16 18:30 - 20:00 (Europe/Athens) | The Katakouzenos House, Vasilisis Amalias 4, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
This event will only be available in Greek. A lecture on the literary salon of the Katakouzenos family in the 1960s, focusing on the history, work, and contributions of the Katakouzenos couple, and how it transformed into a house-museum from 2008 to the present. The lecture will also explore what a house-museum can offer in an era of constant change. Speaker: Sophia E. Peloponisiou-Vassilakou, Museologist, Curator of the Katakouzenos House

From Earth to Sky
2025-05-15 19:00 - 22:00 | Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, Philopappos Hill, Athens, Athens, 117 41, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek. A special walking tour exploring the archaeological and astronomical landmarks around the hills surrounding the National Observatory, timed with the magical Athenian sunset. The journey begins on the western hills of the Acropolis: Pnyx, the Hill of the Nymphs, and Philopappos (the Hill of the Muses), where the layers of ancient Athens’ daily life and history unfold. Highlights include the Sanctuary of the Muses, the impressive tomb of Prince Philopappos, the Kimonian Graves, the church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, the ancient districts of Melite and Koile with their carved rock remains, the historic Pnyx assembly site, Meton’s Heliotropion – an ancient observatory – and the so-called “Prison of Socrates.” All these points are beautifully linked by the stone-paved paths of Dimitris Pikionis, a unique project blending the old and the new, the past and the present. From here, sweeping views over the city open up, leading to the Sina building on the Hill of the Nymphs, home to Greece’s first research institution: the National Observatory of Athens, founded in 1842. At the Geoastrophysics Museum, visitors will learn about the modern history of astronomy in Greece. The walk concludes with a sky observation session through one of the Observatory’s telescopes.

Midnight Express: Star Trek
2025-05-15 19:30 - 23:00 | National Observatory of Athens, Lofos Nymphon, Athens, Athens, 118 10, Greece
Midnight Express is the brainchild of film critic Akis Kapranos, inspired by a longing for the magical midnight screenings once held at legendary Athens cinemas like Alphaville and Cine Dexameni—a personal mission to bring them back to life.

Now, Midnight Express steps out of the dark and into the light. In the beautiful garden of the Athens Observatory, the original Star Trek film returns to the screen—a reminder of bold, visionary cinema. A chance for older generations to revisit it, for younger ones to discover it, and for everyone to share in a truly iconic viewing experience.

Booking required.

Food and Wine Experience - Restaurant of Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
2025-05-15 20:30 - 23:00 | Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, Koubari 1, Athens, Athens, 106 74, Greece
The Greek vineyard meets leading figures of the Athenian culinary scene in some of the city’s most iconic museums. Top labels from beloved Greek estates, distinguished wines, and hidden treasures accompany creations that celebrate and showcase the products of the Greek land in surprising pairings.

Once again this year, the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture joins the Athens Municipality Festival, presenting a premier fine dining experience curated by Wine Style. This exclusive event will be hosted at the Museum’s exquisite restaurant, situated on the magnificent rooftop of its neoclassical building. Guests will enjoy unparalleled panoramic views encompassing the National Garden, the Hellenic Parliament, and Lycabettus Hill.

Featuring a meal catered by “Deipnosofistirion”, each dish is harmoniously paired with wines from the iconic Tselepos and Driopi Estates, located on the Mantineia plateau and in Nemea, respectively. The wines will be presented by Aris Tselepos.

MENU

First Course Colorful cherry tomatoes, rock samphire (kritamos), feta cream, carob powder & Greek salad gazpacho dressing
Wine Pairing: Kydonitsa 2024, Driopi Estate

Second Course Assortment of mushrooms with blue cheese crumbles, smoked Tsakonian eggplant cream & sourdough bread
Wine Pairing: Rosé 2024, Driopi Estate

Main Course Flank steak tagliata with glazed Florina peppers, caper chutney, and crispy pita
Wine Pairing: Nemea Reserve, Driopi Estate

Dessert Pistachio – Raspberry On a crispy biscuit base, pistachio cremeux & mousse with red raspberry sauce, accompanied by raspberry sorbet
Wine Pairing: Amalia Rosé NV, Tselepos Estate

Espresso coffee & chocolate truffles

For Bookings: 210 3671030

CONQUISTADORS
2025-05-16 10:00 - 18:00, 2025-05-17 11:00 - 15:00 | Macart’s Cultural Space, Lenorman 244, Athens, Athens, 104 43, Greece
Nikos Kyriakopoulos and his conquistadors disembark on Lenorman Street.

Dragons and wild beasts, locals and conquistadors—and even Death himself—battle deep in untrodden jungles.

The thirty-six works in this exhibition are not intended to serve History or the historical genre of painting. Instead, the artist draws his material from the mythos surrounding the Age of Discovery, crafting images that move beyond naturalism, both in form and content. Created using monotype, a technique dating back to the 16th century, the works gain added resonance when paired with the fantastical stories they depict. The adventures of the characters serve as a point of departure—not only for the adventures of line and colour, but also for reflection on themes such as desire, fear, conflict and illusion.

Opening: Thursday 8 May 2025, 19:30–23:00

Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00–18:00 Saturday: 11:00–15:00 Closed on Sunday

Giorgos Gyzis: Clippings: Athens
2025-05-16 11:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-17 11:00 - 16:00 | Ikastikos Kyklos, Akadimias 6, Athens, Athens, 106 71, Greece
Clippings: Athens presents the third series of paintings inspired by clippings sourced from old newspapers. Photographs, drawings, and articles about Athens emerge from the archives, transformed into visual artworks that evoke emotion. The works on display offer a brief journey through the evolving form of Athens, beginning with the distinctive sketches by 19th-century British travellers in Attica and culminating in the height of modernism during the 1950s and 60s.

Exhibition Opening: Saturday 10 May 2025, 12:00–17:00 Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11:00–14:30 / 17:30–20:30

Wednesday, Saturday: 11:00–16:00

Closed Sunday and Monday

Welcome to Our Community - Guided Tour at the Jewish Museum of Greece
2025-05-16 11:30 - 12:30 | The Jewish Museum of Greece, Nikis 39, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek. Themed Tour: Welcome to Our Community This guided tour offers an exploration of the cultural heritage of the Greek-Jewish communities, through their religious art, music, customs, and traditions. Visitors will discover sacred objects, Torah scrolls, and other traditional artefacts, uncover musical traditions and songs that accompany religious ceremonies, and learn about the distinctive recipes and flavours connected to Jewish festivals and customs. The tour provides a vivid glimpse into Jewish life in Greece, expressed through art, music, and everyday practices.

Vassilis Papageorgiou - Painting and Sculpture: Lignea Creatura Stans
2025-05-16 11:30 - 20:30, 2025-05-17 11:30 - 15:00 | Gallery Ersi, Kleomenous 4, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
The worlds of plants, animals and humans—along with legend, myth, imagination and dream—form the basis of Vassilis Papageorgiou’s new artistic exploration. His paradoxical heroes and hand-crafted wooden creatures inhabit both two- and three-dimensional space in a state of perpetual whirling. Through an aesthetic lens, Papageorgiou reflects on the consequences of humanity’s destructive impact on the natural world. From this meditation, he generates new values—drawn from the cultural references of nature and tradition—that define the conditions for coexistence.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 11:30–14:30 & 17:30–20:30 Saturday: 11:30–15:00

How to Fit Inside the City
2025-05-16 12:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-17 12:00 - 16:00 | Athens Gallery7, Solonos 20, Athens, Athens, 106 73, Greece
The work of Haris Baskozos is compelling not only for its final forms but also for the sources of inspiration behind them. The artist studied architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and fine arts at the Athens School of Fine Arts. When drawing from his background in architecture, his work leans toward a rectilinear style that echoes urban planning and evokes a kind of “emotional Mondrian.” In these compositions, consciousness seems to take the lead. In contrast, when his fine arts training prevails, his work shifts towards a freer, more instinctive expression, dominated by human-like forms and influenced by art brut, where the unconscious plays the central role. In both cases, the final result is not a strict monologue of either approach, but rather a dialogue—one side mostly leading, the other echoing through. In this way, Baskozos offers a fascinating visual argument: the idea of collectivity (the city) tends to be shaped through a more conscious process, while reflections on individuality (the human being) emerge through the unconscious.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:00–20:00 Wednesday & Saturday: 12:00–16:00

Vassilis Karakatsanis: Urban Tools
2025-05-16 12:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-17 12:00 - 15:00 | Genesis Gallery, Ippokratous 121, Athens, Athens, 114 72, Greece
Vassilis Karakatsanis invites us on a journey through the spectrum of contemporary existence—a complex, ever-evolving interplay of memories, collective narratives and social dynamics. His exhibition Urban Tools unfolds as a compelling dialogue between past and present, the personal and the monumental. Seven large-scale paintings, accompanied by numerous smaller works—created using acrylic, oil and gouache on canvas—invite a deep exploration of life in all its textures and tones. At the heart of Karakatsanis’ practice lies a transcendent inner process shaped by memory and materiality. The exhibition title hints at the hidden mechanisms that define a place’s essence: the subtle, often invisible tools that help us navigate, define and interpret the environments we inhabit—as well as those that shape and compose our very being. The urban landscape is not only his subject matter; it becomes his medium. Each brushstroke reveals the layered relationship between its singularity and the stories it holds. Symbols of personal and collective identity, ideology and emotion are interwoven into the fabric of daily life.

Opening night: Thursday 8 May 2025, 20:00

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 12:00–21:00 Saturday: 12:00–15:00 Closed on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday

Friday at the Square with the Embassies of Georgia Hungary and Serbia
2025-05-16 17:00 - 21:00 | Klafthmonos Square, Klaftmonos Square, Athens, Athens, 105 61, Greece
The Hungarian Embassy in Athens joins forces with the Embassies of Serbia and Georgia for a lively celebration in the heart of the city. Historic Klafthmonos Square will host a shared cultural and culinary event featuring tastings of traditional dishes and drinks—think gulyás, pogácsa, and the beloved chimney cake. 19:30 Traditional Hungarian dances by the EL.K.E.LA.M. folk group

6th Agatha Crime Fiction Festival
2025-05-16 17:30 - 22:30 | War Museum, Rizari 2-4, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
The 6th Agatha Crime Fiction Festival is a fact!

The landmark event for Greek crime fiction returns for the sixth consecutive year to bring together readers, writers, and publishers in the great celebration of books.

The festival’s activities culminate over the three-day period of May 16, 17, and 18, 2025, at the War Museum (Vasilissis Sofias & Rizari 2, Athens).

Friday, May 16th – Rigas Feraios Hall

17:30: Petros Markaris vs Kostas Charitos.

A discussion covering all aspects of the author and the man Petros Markaris, and his famous hero Kostas Charitos.

Speakers: Grigoris Azariadis (author, crime fiction critic), Vaso Kyriazakou (translator, editor).

19:00: Tribute: Romy Hausmann

Presentation and speech by the author, in collaboration with the ÖSD Institute Greece and Metaichmio Publications.

Speakers: Vangelis Giannisis (author and translator), Klairi Theodorou (author).

There will be consecutive interpretation at the event by Klairi Theodorou.

20:30: Debate: Classic VS contemporary crime novel

The Hellenic Association of Crime Fiction Writers (ELSAL) organizes an event that has now become a tradition. On one side of the “ring,” supporting the “dinosaurs” of crime fiction, are authors Aliki Aliferi, Georgia Papalymperi, and Kostas Stoforos, while opposite them, on the side of the “fresher” perspective, are Tefkros Michaelides, Tessi Papathanasiou, and Elena Chousni.

Moderated by Erika Athanasiou (author).W

Fairy Tales in the Garden: Sassa Voulgari
2025-05-16 18:00 - 19:30 | National Garden, Vas. Amalias 1, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

The Tears of the Earth: The Animals that Speak, the Trees that Ache…

Trees that hide fairies, magical fruits, humble ants, ducks, lions, wolves, storks, and proud eagles that gratefully return the good deeds done to them, people who transform into birds, trees, and stars… So much and more is hidden in the magic of old fairy tales! From the ends of the earth and from the depths of time, old legends and cosmogonic myths reveal to us that all creatures of this earth were once siblings. Animals, Plants, and Humans, we are inseparable parts of our vast world, with our common destiny being the great Journey of Life with all its adventures and all its beauty. Besides, “Kosmos” (World) in our beautiful language means ornament!

Sasa Voulgari, a pioneer of neo-narration in Greece, unravels her fairy tales “as if singing them,” with vocal improvisations and melismas, and accompanies them with her strange musical instruments from all over the world.

The narration lasts approximately 60 to 70 minutes. It is suitable for children from 5 to 115 years old!

A Tour of Rizokastro and the Anafiotika Area
2025-05-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Acropolis Metro Station, Makrygianni 9, Athens, Athens, 117 42, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

Archaeologist Michalis Giohalas, in collaboration with the This is Athens City Festival, leads a walking tour through Anafiotika and its layered history. Rizokastro—the area nestled at the root of the Sacred Rock—and Anafiotika are among the most historic quarters of Athens. Using surviving monuments and buildings, remnants of lost structures, and even the street names as our guide, we’ll attempt to piece together the memory and image of a city that feels both different and not entirely lost. This journey will tune in to the lingering echoes of beliefs, myths and legends tied to ancient places that still endure in the present day.

A reservation is required.

Gyzi Street Party
2025-05-16 18:00 - 23:00 | Gyzi Square, Gyzi Square, Athens, Athens, 114 74, Greece
One of the most respected Greek DJs returns to his neighborhood for a special tribute, as part of the Gyzi Street Party.

The participation of Reverb Sessions in the This is Athens City Festival highlights the city’s authentic alternative culture, showcasing diverse forms of art, the variety of its creators, and its multicultural, multifaceted identity. With unity as its emblem and art—especially dance electronic music—as its connective thread, the Reverb Sessions team transforms one of the city’s central squares into an open-air club for the afternoon, where past, present, and future seamlessly connect.

Best 92 6 Party
2025-05-16 18:30 - 23:00 | Aigli Zappeiou, Aigli Zappeiou, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
For over two decades, Best 92.6 has been a mainstay of the Athenian airwaves, building a loyal following that lives and breathes music. Now it returns to the This is Athens City Festival with the Best 92.6 Party, bringing fresh sounds from the electronic scene to the beloved Cine Aigli at Zappeion.

With a Handful of Clay
2025-05-17 11:00 - 13:00 | Theocharakis Foundation, Vas. Sofias 9 & Merlin 1, Athens, Athens, 106 71, Greece
This activity is only be available in Greek.

Have you ever thought that a little clay is enough to create something unique?

In this improvised ceramics workshop, held in the National Garden, we explore clay and its endless possibilities. Using different ceramic techniques, such as the leaf and macaroni method, we will create our own unique item. Afterward, we decorate our piece, drawing inspiration from the floral patterns in William Morris’ works and the flowers in Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings.

This activity is aimed at children aged 8-12.

Meeting point: Vassilis & Eliza Theoharakis Foundation for the Arts and Music

December Events – The EAM Rally at Syntagma Square
2025-05-17 11:00 - 13:30 | Athens Conservatoire, Vas. Georgiou Β΄ 17-19, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

In this walk, led by historian Menelaos Charalampidis, we will examine the events of the critical day of 3 December 1944 in Syntagma Square and the surrounding streets. We aim to answer the central question of who fired during the rally, triggering the start of the December Events. Using testimonies from Americans, Britons, Greeks, journalists, military personnel, and resistance fighters who were present in the square, we will closely analyze the developments of that Sunday morning in the heart of Athens.

Meeting point: Entrance of the Athens Conservatoire

Educational Program - Refugees of Past Centuries
2025-05-17 11:30 - 13:00 | National Historical Museum, Stadiou 13, Athens, Athens, 105 61, Greece
This activity is only available in Greek.

The educational program includes a brief tour of the exhibition “From Great Greece to Modern Greece (Part II): The Refugees”, which focuses on specific events related to the refugee experience during the period of the population formation of the Greek state in the 19th and 20th centuries. As part of the program, under the guidance of the exhibition curators, children will create their own fabric tote bag decorated using the technique of fabric printing, inspired by a fabric stamp featured in the EIM Collections and displayed in the exhibition.

This activity is aimed at children aged 6-12.

6th Crime Fiction Festival
2025-05-17 16:00 - 22:30 | War Museum, Rizari 2-4, Athens, Athens, 106 75, Greece
The 6th Agatha Crime Fiction Festival is a fact!

The landmark event for Greek crime fiction returns for the sixth consecutive year to bring together readers, writers, and publishers in the great celebration of books.

The festival’s activities culminate over the three-day period of May 16, 17, and 18, 2025, at the War Museum (Vasilissis Sofias & Rizari 2, Athens).

Tickets:

Daily: 6€
3day: 14€

Saturday, May 17th – Great Hall

16:00: Short film screenings
The following films will be screened:

CLEANER Writer / director: Kostas Gerbanis.

Lou Script / direction: Antonina Frokou.

InBetween Script / direction: Eva Kazantzi.

That Night Script / direction: Konstantinos Gourgitis.

The Blue Whale (Η Μπλε Φάλαινα) Script / direction: Panagiotis Glynos.

The Gardener’s Death (Ο θάνατος του Κηπουρού) Script / direction: Christina Spiliopoulou.
The films and directors will be presented by author Vangelis Bekas.
The event is supported by New York College.

18:00: Music in crime fiction
An original radio show that will be recorded, featuring a variety of songs from crime fiction novels.
Speakers: Nikos Georgiadis (author), Thanasis Lazaridis (radio producer), Hilda Papadimitriou (author, translator).

19:30: Tribute: Jean-Christophe Grangé
The master of French crime novels, suspense, and plot twists in Athens. Presentation and speech by the French author and journalist Jean-Christophe Grangé for the first time in Greece, in collaboration with the French Institute and Kalentis Publications.
Speakers: Grigoris Azariadis (author, crime fiction critic), Eleonora Orfanidou (journalist, radio producer), Makis Provatas (journalist, author).
There will be consecutive interpretation at the event by Nevi Groullero.

21:00: Theatre: “Resorts and Coffins”
An original theatrical performance with the collaboration of all participants, directed by Efrosyni Giannakena.
Dialogues: Grigoris Azariadis, Andy Vrosgos, Christos Giannakenas, Georgia Papalymperi.
Choreography: Alexandros Georgiou.
Cast: Grigoris Azariadis, Erika Athanasiou, Andy Vrosgos, Christos Giannakenas, Minos Efstathiadis, Spyros Kakatsakis, Giannis Moschos, Elena Bolonasi, Vaso Papadopoulou, Tessi Papathanasiou, Georgia Papalymperi, Ioanna Petridou, Angelos Chariatis, Elena Chousni, Giannis Choutopoulos.
Special appearance: Giannis Panousis.

Saturday, May 17th – Rigas Feraios Hall

18:00 – 19:30: Romanian crime fiction: The Teodorescu case
Speakers: Bogdan Hrib (author and publisher), Angela Bratsou (translator), Nestoras Poulakos (publisher).
There will be consecutive interpretation at the event by Angela Bratsou.

19:30 – 22:00: Studio Phonetics: “Criminal” songs
Performing: Manos Agaoglou, Aleka Arvaniti, Youli Arvaniti, Margarita Georga, Ansy Georgoula, Alexandros Dioskouridis, Iasonas Drakakakis, Katerina Zacharopoulou, Andreas Koulouris, Noni Liska, Giorgos Miminis, Dionysis Bafes, Konstantinos Bertsias, Lila Pitta, Eleana Polychronidi, Sotiris Smeros, Giannis Tsitsinis, Dimitra Fevga.
Guided by: Marita Kapsanaki, Dimitris Katakouzinos, Michalis Smeros.

Saturday, May 17th – Adamantios Korais Hall

18:30 – 19:30: Escape Book: ASYLUM 616
The author of the book “ASYLUM 616,” Kostas Chamalakis, discusses escape books with translator Nikos Stratigakis. An interactive game for the audience based on the book’s riddles will be presented.

Yucatan
2025-05-17 17:30 - 23:00 | Zappeion Megaron, Zappeion Hall, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
The name Yucatan has become synonymous with some of the most impressive parties in recent years. This trend-setting team, which has managed to turn its lifestyle into a movement, joins forces with Sensory Production to bring their magic to the This is Athens City Festival.

Known for their attention to detail, collaborations with acclaimed artists, and seamless blend of music, fashion, and art, the two teams unite their creative forces to transform the path lined with jacarandas at Zappeion into a unique open-air club—featuring incredible music and an unforgettable atmosphere.

Lykeion ton Ellinidon
2025-05-17 18:00 - 19:00 | National Garden, Vas. Amalias 1, Athens, Athens, 105 57, Greece
The Lykeion of Greek Women (L.G.W.), a non-profit organization, was founded in 1911 by Kallirroi Sigano-Parren, a pioneer of the feminist movement and volunteering in Greece.

The organization is structured into various sections, established to fully achieve its multiple objectives. The 1911 charter included only 4 sections, each divided into smaller committees. Today, the Lykeion consists of 17 sections, one of which is the National Dances Section.

The Lykeion’s Dance Group will present a program of representative traditional Greek dances, accompanied by live traditional music, providing the audience with the opportunity to admire the diversity of Greek regional costumes.

Pratinou Street Party
2025-05-17 18:00 - 23:00 | Pratinou Street, Pratinou and Amasias, Athens, Athens, 116 34, Greece
A real and vibrant neighborhood in the city center is celebrating! Pepper 96.6 and the shops on Pratinou Street in Pagrati invite you to a unique Street Party for everyone. Get ready for a Saturday afternoon full of music, food, drinks, window shopping, and endless fun! From 6 in the afternoon, the beloved Pepper 96.6 radio producers Lefteris Kefalas and Dj Spector, take over the decks to get everyone, young and old, excited with their top music choices. A celebration for all ages, a celebration that brings to life the image of the neighborhood we all love and dream of!

Fairy Tales in the Square: Georgia Haikali - Ioanna Riga - Marina Dakanali
2025-05-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Mesologgiou Square, Mesologgiou Square, Athens, Athens, 116 34, Greece
This event will only be available in Greek.

Once upon a time, and three times more…
Fairy tales for children aged 6 to 106. G.Haikali, M.Dakanali, and I.Riga travel with words and music through time, continents, and hearts. Is it dark? Is it far away? Is it suffocating? Spring will reveal its secrets through our melodic fairy tales.

Storytelling by: Georgia Haikali
Vocals/Percussion: Marina Dakanali
Santouri: Ioanna Riga
