The Plaka

Översikt

Plaka is situated in the shadows of the Acropolis and is packed with great shops, restaurants & cafes to fill your time. The name “Plaka” is derived from the word “pliaka,” which means "old". As a matter of fact, Adrianou Street, the oldest street in Athens is still a functional street today.

The Plaka is the oldest section of Athens. Most of the streets have been closed to automobile traffic, though you should still keep a watchful eye for a speeding motorcycle or delivery truck. At one time it was the nightclub district, but most of these closed down when the government out-lawed amplified music in the area in the seventies in an effort to get rid of undesirables. The strategy was very successful and it is now an area of restaurants, jewelry stores, tourist shops, and cafes. Though it is quite commercialized it is still a neighborhood and arguably the nicest neighborhood in central Athens.

This historic part of Athens is like a giant maze of low level buildings and the walk around the area is quite interesting. The streets have since been closed to traffic and converted into a pedestrian only area. There also several places of interest here e.g. Jewish museum, the Greek Folk Art Museum.

Morgan Bonura

Athens Green Map
updated 03/2010 by NYU Mapmakers