Newsletter September 2023

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. Summer may be our city's main act, but autumn is when the magic happens. September openly carries the scents of summer well into its last days as Athens begins to stir from its late August lull and greets its visitors with equal parts of leisure and eagerness.

This September, we invite you to discover a whole New World in Athens in the company of a local creator, help you attend to your physical and mental wellbeing, and serve you authentic Cretan delicacies (trust us when we say that this is part of your mental wellbeing). As always, we welcome you to our city's biggest cultural occasions, amongst which a 30-year anniversary celebration of all things art, and a historical return of an Athenian landmark. 

Neos Kosmos (meaning New World) put itself on the map while Athens was sleeping. This low-key, blue-collar neighbourhood is experiencing a renaissance, as hip art spaces, eateries, theatres and bars sprout amongst car repair shops and apartment buildings.
Follow Demitri

From Mediterranean superfood to spa treatments based on ancient Greek remedies, and mindful workouts al fresco, here's how you can keep a healthy mind in a healthy body in the land that set the ideal.
Go locavore

Cretan cooking is about freshness and provenance—dishes are prepared as simply as possible so the ingredients take centre stage. Here are our picks for some of the best Cretan restaurants in Athens to satisfy your cravings.
Eat Crete

• Hobnob with the Athenian art crowd at Art Athina, the country's biggest art fair and one of the oldest ones in Europe, that takes place at the gorgeous Zappeion Megaron for a very special 30th anniversary celebration featuring the biggest art galleries in town;
• Savour the season's excellent weather and take the city for a run. Will it be a seaside break, an urban sprint, or a sightseeing jog?;
• Track down your new office away from home at the city's coolest laptop-friendly cafés and co-working spaces and learn first hand how Greek hospitality can boost your productivity.

Woody Allen and his New Orleans Jazz Band Live at the Acropolis | 9 September
Catch the great creator and his jazz cats in their last ever tour in Europe, which of course includes a stop at the ancient open-air theatre beneath the Acropolis.
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Lycabettus Theatre Reopening | 15 September
Athens has been patiently waiting for this for 15 years. The historic open-air theatre of Lycabettus, previously home to a long series of unforgettable concerts by local and international artists, reopens this September after a thorough revamp. Acclaimed Greek composer Stavros Xarchakos takes on the debut event.
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Stegi Block Party 2023 | 26 September
Usher in the autumn season in the company of Athens’ hippest crowd at the annual street fiesta of Neos Kosmos' landmark cultural institution.
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Plisskën Presents IDLES | 29 - 30 September
Bristol punk shamans IDLES land in Athens for two live performances, joined by different special guests on each of the two days, courtesy of genre-bending Plisskën Festival.
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Urbanography: The Life of the City in the Decades 1950-1970 | Until March 2024
Visit the National Gallery for a comprehensive look at the formative years of the modern Greek city through more than 200 works of art, curated by the gallery's new director.
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