Want to check out the best Athens street art? This guide will show you where you can find the best street art in Athens Greece.
Athens Street Art
When you hear the words “street art”, you might think of Berlin, London, Melbourne, Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires. Street art in Athens might not be the first thing that comes to your mind.
However, Athens has emerged as a street art destination over the past few years. Several local and international artists like WD, iNO, STMTS and Sonke have chosen to decorate our capital city with their beautiful art.
As a result, the areas of Anafiotika, Psiri, Kerameikos, Metaxourgio and Exarhia are full of street art.
Street art in Athens
If you go for a walk around downtown Athens, you will probably come across one or more of the following works.
Some of them are small, others are large, and there are also a few commissioned murals. The streets of Athens are an ever-changing canvas. Perhaps when you visit, some of these will be replaced by even more stunning works!
Here are a few photos of street art in Athens and where to find them.
Exarhia
Some of the oldest street art in Athens can be found in Exarhia.
If you visit this vibrant neighbourhood, you are likely to come across this big graffiti, that has been there for a very long time.
In fact, one could argue that this particular piece sums up the attitude of this neighbourhood!
The amazing work below was unfortunately covered by other art a few years ago. To this day, we consider it one of the best examples of street art in Athens.
So, we’ve included it here as an example that art comes and goes in Athens!
One of the most prominent buildings in the Exarhia area, is the Polytechnic University. Once inside, you can see some stunning art, such as this very elaborate mural.
We are also fans of this particular graffiti inside the Polytechnic University. The motto next to it translates into “Hate fear”.
Speaking of the Polytechnic University, did you know that it was mysteriously covered in a huge graffiti in March 2015? The graffiti was cleaned very soon, but some tagging has taken place since then.
Anafiotika – Plaka
Plaka and Anafiotika are among the most visited areas of Athens. Tourists and locals can easily spot a few lovely artworks.
This small mural in Plaka was made by Sonke, possibly the most instantly recognisable street artist in Athens and beyond.
Nearby, you can see this smaller image, followed by a text in Greek:
“And they came again, on new horse-carriages, to collect more taxes. Going down, however, they felt that they were stepping on cotton, and not on firm ground. They saw countless tortured eyes, with stones in their hands. Many horse-carriages stayed there. They left, and never came back. Never…”
We leave the interpretation to you!
The art work below is a little tricky to find, but its vibrant colours are stunning. You can find it if you walk down from Anafiotika into Plaka.
Finally, this graffiti on a temporary construction, is trying to pass a message… or two!
Metaxourgio – Kerameikos
Those upcoming neighbourhoods are home to some of the best street art in Athens. If you walk around, you are likely to come across street artists on-the-job!
You will find street art everywhere, even in abandoned backyards.
Monastiraki – Psiri Street Art
Walk no more than 5 minutes from Monastiraki metro, and you will come across one of the biggest and most famous graffiti in Athens. You can’t miss this large commissioned mural – just get to Psiri square and look up.
In Psirri, there is also the Loukanikos mural, the famous stray dog who ran alongside protesters in Athens and was one of Time magazine’s people of the year for 2011.
Loukanikos died in 2014, and this work was created in his memory.
If you like bright colours, this might be the most suitable piece of street art in Monastiraki!
Polytechnic University in Zografou
If you are a serious street art lover, you will definitely want to take a trip to the premises of the Polytechnic University in Zografou area. The closest metro is Katehaki.
Don’t be discouraged by the fact that it’s a university! The guards at the gates are very helpful and they will even give you directions to see the best known art works.
If you are lucky, you might see some of the world-famous artists, like WD, on the job. This is one of his finished works – just stunning!
Allow yourself a couple of hours to fully explore the area – it’s a really nice campus. You may want to pack a picnic as well!
More street art in Athens
You can find this amazing mural in Ampelokipi area, a 20 minute walk off the centre.
You can occasionally find street art on garbage bins. We honestly can’t remember where we saw this one!
I hope that you have enjoyed these photos! As you see, they are very different from the pictures of Ancient Athens, and they present another face of our wonderfully diverse city.
These are some of my favourite street art works in Athens. I have left out several for you to discover yourself! Or you can take an Athens street art tour, where you will also find out a lot about the background of these wonderful murals.
More guides about Athens
Interested in more urban adventures and experiences in Athens? Check out these articles:
- Ten things you should know before visiting Greece
- Food in Greece – Everything you need to know
- Tips for visiting Greece in summer
- Best Athens Museums
- Athens metro guide
- The best Greek SIM card
- The evil eye in Greece
Hi! My name is Vanessa, and I am a blogger / travel writer from Athens in Greece. I love my vibrant city, and am always looking for new street art. When you visit Athens, check it out! Follow me on FB and Instagram for more photos and news of Greece.
The street art scene in Athens is incredible. I took a street art tour and it was for sure the best part of my trip.
So glad to hear that!