Picnic in Athens
Even in a big city such as Athens you will find beautiful green corners where you can lay a tablecloth or blanket for an unofficial and very pleasant meal. Parks in the city, forests around it, as well as the Riviera, lend us their space as a quick-to-make escape from it all in a matter of minutes from your hotel or house. And what is really great is that you only need the public transport from the city centre to get to any of those places.
In the city…
Park at the Skopeftirio of Kaisariani
Paved ways into the grass, benches and fences, bicycle lanes and a playground for the kids alternate with a beautiful café should you lack or have forgotten something behind. The park is open on a 24-hour basis and you will easily get to it with the public bus line 250.
Environmental park “Antonis Tritsis”
A huge park (1.200.000m²) encompassing ponds, canals, a rich flora and a refuge of hundreds of species of birds and mammals will surely provide for your relaxing time, your trekking, jogging, biking and even horseback riding. Cafés and bars are there to give you an alternative should you improvise your visit with one of the following buses: A10, A12, B10, B12.
Lycabettus hill
Walk to the top of the beautiful hill of downtown Athens, or take the funicular from Ploutarchou Street in the area of Kolonaki. Ideal to visit at sunset, as it offers you the chance to see the city from above at a very romantic time, the hill is endowed with wooden tables under the trees.
Philopappou hill
It is the common name of the Hill of the Muses. Paved walks through the pine trees lead you all the way to the top of the hill where you will admire the monument to Gaius Julius (2nd century BC) and the breathtaking view to the city, as well as the Acropolis, almost at eye-level with the monument. Remember that the main entrance to the hill’s area starts right across the main entrance to the Acropolis, so by no means will you miss it.
Attica Park (Galatsi area)
Sports facilities, playgrounds, an outdoors cinema, many trees of all kinds, gazebos with tables in them, and even a cave make up an enjoyable scenery for you to have a picnic in; take the bus 608 to easily and economically get to the park.
Syngrou Estate
Being the favourite oasis of the residents of the northern suburbs of the city, the green-clad and flower-scented estate “hides” treasures to be discovered: the unique in Greece neo-gothic Orthodox Church of St Andrew and the mansion of the Syngrou family, designed by Ernst Moritz Theodor Ziller. Apart from the A7 and 550 buses, you can also get there by metro (line 1) as long as you don’t mind a 10min walk.
…and around
The mountains around the city endow Athens with green slopes and beautiful glades where you can take walks and have some great time in nature. Mt Ymittos, Mt Parnitha and Mt Penteli welcome friends and families, photography aficionados, and relaxation seekers alike for picnics and other nature activities.
For those preferring the seaside, try the gorgeous Athens Riviera. Walk barefoot on the sand and then lay your tablecloth or blanket on it: the sea breeze will surely blow all your worries away.
