Menus are greening up all over Athens with an ever-increasing number of terrific vegan and vegetarian options, for all budgets (click on the links to read our drilled-down guides). Worth an extra shout out for their excellent mushroom souvlaki wraps and sustainable ethos (i.e. ecological suppliers and biodegradable/recyclable packaging) is Cookoomela Grill in Gizi, Athens’ first vegan steakhouse. For a light and healthy feed, Peas Vegan cafe in Koukaki has a tasty range of pretty vegan dishes, accompanied by locally-sourced ingredients and a zero-waste policy. 

Naturally, cycling is another top eco-friendly way to experience Athens—especially if you’re not afraid of a few hills. Cycling infrastructure still lags behind other major European cities but new bikeways are popping up everywhere and there some great traffic-free cycling routes where you can sightsee on the fly. To stay on message, start from the historic neighbourhood of Thissio and glide down the coastline to check out Renzo Piano’s cutting-edge beacon to sustainability, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, in Faliro. Check out our in-depth guide to cycling in Athens for more suggested scenic routes and tips on your best bike rental options in Athens.

Want to amp up the challenge? Embark on a thrilling two-wheel conquest of the spectacular Mount Parnitha National Park—the closest national park to a capital city anywhere in Europe—with GR Cycling, who offer kick-ass road, mountain and e-bike rentals and experiences.

Up-cycling has caught a strong tailwind in Athens as environmentally-aware designers find ways to turn all types of discarded items into chic clothing and household objects. Those sun-bleached coloured awnings you see everywhere on city apartment blocks? To stop them all ending up in landfill, brother and sister duo, John and Garyfalia Pitsaki, founded 3Quarters and are transforming them as stylish backpacks and bags.

Take home some Posidonia Oceanica seagrass harvested in the Peloponnese in the form of a funky phone cover or beach racquet, thanks to PHEE, who transform the expired seagrass into a versatile bio-material. Or snap up some of their seaweed sunglasses (designed with the help of Greek eyewear brand Zylo).

At Shedia Home, in cool Kolokotroni Street, you can throw love at the homeless and marginalised of Athens, as well as the planet. This innovative social business comprises a cheery restaurant and café, where you can shop art made from recycled copies of Shedia’s magazine (sold by homeless vendors on the streets of Athens), as well as homewares and jewellery made from recycled materials by elderly people who were previously unemployed.

At Coco-Mat Hotel Nafsika, in a leafy pocket of Kifissia in northern Athens, you will slumber soundly on the eco-focussed company’s famous mattresses made from all-natural materials, such as seaweed and coconut fibres. Refuel from their healthy locavore menus (for breakfast, feast on honeycomb, fresh farm eggs and home-made lemonade with lavender from their garden). Wherever you go in the hotel, you’ll be surrounded by wood, beautiful wood. Even the bikes parked outside are wooden (built by Coco Mat at their Athens’ factory). Borrow one to whizz around the neighbourhood. Smoking or vaping is banned in both the hotel’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

Green Suites Hotel in Ano Patisia is another sustainable option just outside the city centre  (about 5km from the Acropolis). Inside, you’ll experience soothing contemporary design with none of the wasteful practices that can come with high-end hotels. The property’s striking facade looks almost as if it’s built from bamboo poles but this all conceals high-tech features like solar mirrors, rainwater recovery and photovoltaic systems, which work together to make the building energy-neutral.