Plaka is Athens’ oldest neighbourhood, a tangle of narrow streets on the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis. Continuously inhabited since antiquity, it carries traces of the city’s many eras in Byzantine churches, Ottoman-era buildings and the neoclassical houses that took shape after Greek independence.
The pleasure of visiting Plaka is in moving between ancient sites and everyday streets. The Roman Agora and Tower of the Winds sit at its edge, while Hadrian’s Library is a short walk away. Climb towards Anafiotika, a quiet pocket of whitewashed houses built by islanders in the 19th century, for a glimpse of Cycladic architecture beneath the Acropolis. Away from busy Adrianou Street, small churches and residential lanes offer a gentler pace.
Visit in the morning for quieter streets, especially if you want photographs before the tour groups arrive. Wear comfortable flat shoes: the lanes can be steep, uneven and slippery. For a meal, look beyond the busiest pedestrian stretches and compare menus before choosing a taverna; archaeological sites may require separate tickets.