Newsletter January 2023
January Looks Bright in Athens
Happy New Year from Athens! In these treasured moments of pause and retrospect that come with the first few days of every new year, the scales are reset, plans are laid out and promises are made, mainly to ourselves. Will you be seeking out more serenity or vigour this year? What if you could find both on a small street, every day? Perhaps you need someone (or some place) with an ancient potency powerful enough to inspire you to take on whatever lies ahead.
Athens in January provides for the quiet and the spirited. Sunbathe over a low-key outdoor midday lunch, fresh after a revitalising winter swim in the Athens riviera; or explore the city with a savvy local volunteer before deciding which red-hot exhibition to catch and at which techno party you’ll be calling it a night (or morning.) In Athens, your future looks bright. And this time we're not talking about the weather.
Thomas Gravanis
The Still and the Spirited of Anapafseos Street
Dotted with marble stone workshops, storied tavernas and chilled street food diners, the "street of rest" that leads to the First Cemetery of Athens trades tranquil vibes for vibrant nightlife day after day.
A Date with Destiny: The Oracle of Delphi
Looking for the first trip of the new year? Something within easy reach of Athens? We see the Oracle of Delphi in your future. Read on for all the information you’ll need on how to visit the spiritual centre of the ancient world, where kings and peasants alike flocked to have their futures foretold.
Thomas Gravanis
A Layover Guide to Athens International Airport
If you're only dropping in on Athens for a few hours or feel that you didn't get enough of the local goods during your visit, worry not. The Athens International Airport is home to a marvellous lineup of some of the best Greek brands in fashion, design and gastronomy.
3 Great Things to Do in Athens in January
• Take the plunge and experience the endorphin rush and health benefits of winter swimming at the Athens Riviera;
• Keep it urban and intimate by booking a themed walk through our Athens With a Local initiative. Εxperience the real Athenian lifestyle and explore places you won’t find in any other tourist guide;
• Catch some sun rays and dine alfresco. Be it in picturesque Plaka or at one of the city's traditional ouzeris, tables are always set up outdoors, especially during the second half of January, when Halcyon Days (our version of Indian Summer) usually grace our part of the world.
Artwork by Georges Ioannou
What's On in Athens
Georges Ioannou: Inner Journey | 30 November - 29 January
One of the season’s highlights, this retrospective career - spanning exhibition presents the works of one of the most important representatives of pop art in Greece. At the Municipal Art Gallery of Athens with free entrance.
Modern Love (or Love in the Age of Cold Intimacies) | 15 December - 28 May
If love in the age of the Internet is not fitting exhibition material, then we don’t know what is. Catch it at the National Museum of Contemporary Art.
Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff | 26 January - 10 February
Presented by the Greek National Opera at the SNFCC grounds, Verdi’s brilliant final work is the perfect reminder not to take ourselves too seriously in today’s unpredictable world.
Raiment of the Soul | 20 December - 26 March
A fascinating free exhibition at the ground level of the Acropolis Museum, where after centuries, historical costumes were once again worn, then photographed, printed and embroidered.
Blend Presents Pan-Pot | 14 January
Take on the German techno mega stars at a party set up by Athens’ oldest and most respected rave crews-turned-organisers in the area of Petralona.