Climb Mount Lycabettus and experience panoramic views of Athens. Gaze upon ancient temples, endless suburban sprawls and the Aegean Sea from its summit.
Mount Lycabettus forms a mighty silhouette of limestone peaks above a relatively flat cityscape. Its 277-metre (908-foot) summit, the highest summit in the city, rises out of a pine tree forest.
Begin climbing on Aristippou Street, where the steep streets of Kolonaki provide access to the mountain. The zigzagging paths are manageable for most fitness levels and it takes around 20 minutes to reach the top. For a relaxing trip, take the cable railway. Leaving from the corner of Ploutarchou and Aristippou streets, this ride offers you spectacular views.
From the summit, you can look across to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. In the afternoons, the setting sun splashes these ancient constructs with golden light. Get a closer look using coin-operated binoculars at the summit lookout.
Explore nearby and find the Chapel of St. George. This white-stuccoed building houses a 19th-century Greek Orthodox church. Admire its quaint bell tower or enjoy the view from its front terrace.
Head to the open-air theatre and watch one of many performances hosted throughout summer. Locals and tourists alike flock here in the evenings for a show, followed by a seafood dinner at the hilltop restaurant. Enjoy spectacular views while savouring a meal or getting a drink at the kiosk. In summer, the summit is best climbed out of the day's heat, in the mornings or evenings.
Mount Lycabettus is a useful reference point when exploring Athens, being so visible from anywhere in the city. The summit cable car charges a small fee and provides frequent services until late. Get to the mountain base by bus or hop in a taxi and get a ride all the way to the summit.
