Vacation in Athens | Metis Urbane Living Spaces

Location

Athens is a city of memorable contrasts.

Metis Urbane Living Spaces is located in the heart of the historic center of Athens, in Syntagma. So much of modern day Athens either begins or ends here or is located here.

Busy and full of life, this neighborhood extends towards Plaka and Monastiraki, including many ancient landmarks, a heartbeat away!

Metis ULS is just 15min away on foot from the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum and the Odeon of Herodes Theatre.

Located just beside the Syntagma Metro Station you can extend your Athenian exploration to beyond the metropolitan center to the more relaxed suburbs to savor a coffer or drink with sea view.

Syntagma Square is the central and the most well-known square in Athens. Named after the first Constitution, voted in the days of the King Otto, Syntagma Square can be found just opposite the Hellenic Parliament, once the Old Royal Palace.

History revealed, one step at a time.

Syntagma Square is directly related with the past and present of the Greek and Athenian history. The Square used to be the front lawn of the Old Palace (the Greek Parliament now). Nowadays, it is the melting pot of the city, the hot spot, the place where all Athenians (native or not) meet.
The Parliament is not open to the public, but you can always stop a minute to admire the changing of the “Evzones”, the Presidential Guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Two Evzones guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in one-hour shifts around the clock. Guards on duty perform their movements in a very slow and highly stylized manner. They switch positions with each other every fifteen minutes and remain completely motionless and at attention in the meantime. The Grand Change is a popular Sunday morning spectacle for Athenians and tourists alike. It takes place at 11 am and involves the whole Guard with its officers and a military band, all marching from the Guard Barracks to the Tomb for the Change, and back.

Heading towards the North West side of the square, you find your way towards the posh Kolonaki area, one of the fashionable Athenian areas to shop and dine-drink in style! At the South end of the square, you can find the beginning of the most commercial street in the capital, Ermou str. packed with busy shops, restaurants and plenty of coffee houses.

Distances

Ermou Street-Shopping Area 0.1 km
Ministry of Finance 0.1 km
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens 0.2 km
Museum of National History 0.2 km
Mikro Pallas Theater 0.2 km
Museum of the City of Athens 0.3 km
Syntagma Square 0.3 km
Pallas Theater 0.3 km
Athens Gallery 0.3 km
Metro Syntagma Metro Station 0.4 km

Monastiraki Square 0.5 km
Anafiotika 0.5 km
Monastiraki Metro Station 0.5 km
Acropolis 0.6 km
Erechtheion 0.7 km
Parthenon 0.5 km
Omonia Square 0.9 km
Odeum of Herodes Atticus 0.9 km
Temple of Hephaestus 0.9 km
Museum of Cycladic Art 0.9 km

Urban resurgence & a culinary revolution

Beyond the antiquities, you’ll find a city that has lived a decade of unprecedented creativity. New shops and entertainment options have flourished and the food scene has undergone an uprising, with talented chefs reinterpreting Greek and Mediterranean classics. This is where Michelin-starred gourmet cuisine can be found right next door to street food delicacies– each memorable in its own way.

From traditional taverns and rooftop dining with views of the mesmerizing lit-up Acropolis, to bistros and dine-in delis (where the owner has hand-picked products from around the country), the choices seem infinite. As do the wine & cocktail bars and cafes, bringing color to previously hidden neighborhoods. New life has been breathed into the likes of Psyrri, Thissio and Kypseli, and neighborhoods like Koukaki, Pangrati and Petralona call for your attention every bit as much as well-established districts of Plaka and Monastiraki.

The Athenian center will reward the indefatigable wanderer for seeking out the smaller boutiques selling clothes by local designers and handmade souvenirs. Hidden gems can be found both in the reputable areas like Kolonaki as well as by venturing down the shopping thoroughfares of Psyrri, Ermou Str. and Voukourestiou Str.

Feeling free under the stars

Athens is a mainly outdoors city, whatever the season of your visit. How could you top watching an opera, concert or play under the starlit start lighted Athenian sky? You can do so by attending a venue like at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, just below the Acropolis. Or by settling back to a classic in one of the historic outdoor summer cinemas, some operating for more than a century.

Rural easily accessible spaces are all around the metropolitan area to enjoy in a city made to be walked (or run, if you’re here for the Athens Marathon in November), you’ll find unexpected pockets of greenery. The National Garden (old Royal Garden) and Zappeion Hall deservedly stand out perfect for a morning or afternoon run or stroll.

But there is still plenty greenery to explore. For an amazing view of the city, Lycabettus and Philopappou hills offer an easy climb and incredible vantage points.