Mount Lycabettus — Attraction in Athens

Incredible view of the city, especially at sunset! Lykavittos or Lycabettus is the highest point of Athens and the second highest point of the Attica basin and rises to 277 meters above sea level and 227 meters above the city.

According to Greek mythology, Lycabettus, which looks like suddenly sprung up in the center of Athens, was a rock that the goddess Athena carried in her hands in order to place it as a fortress in front of the Acropolis. But when a raven brought her bad news, the rock fell from Athena's hands at that particular spot. Since then the ravens have turned black, and the hill of Lycabettus stands tall in the center of the city.

Αccording to the etymology, Lycabettus is the rock on which "rises" and "falls" , i.e, rushes the light at the moment the sun rises.

Access to the hill of Lycabettus can be done in several ways. For lovers of nature and walking, it offers a wonderful climb to the top with a route between pine trees and beautiful dense vegetation. A pine forest covers the foothills of Lycabettus.There are olive trees, cypresses, eucalyptus and many types of shrubs.The forest and rocky slopes are an important habitat for many birds.There are steps from Plutarchou Street, in Kolonaki.The climb is not too difficult. Alternatively, there is the cable car. The entrance is on the corner of Aristippou and Ploutarchou Street.

Climbing up to the top is definitely worth the magnificent panoramic view of the city, the Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus,the Ancient Agora the Panathenaic Olympic Stadium, the Piraeus port and the Saronic Gulf.

Other points of interest are the 19th-century pretty Church of St. George, which dates back to 1870 and contains some interesting frescoes, a wide viewing platform and a large open-air theater.

There is an all-day cafe that serves coffee, drinks light meals and snacks. It’s amazing to rise above the noise of the city and be in a...

Amazing views of Athens city and the Acropolis from the top. It also has a beautiful Greek whitewashed church the Agios Georgios on the top. You can either hike up the mountain which is not too challenging or take the funicular or the cable car to the top. The funicular runs inside the tunnel so you cannot see any views but could be exciting for the kids. I would recommend going just before sunrise or sunset to see the Acropolis lit up. The view is spectacular. There is also an outdoor restaurant on the top with fantastic views although it is a bit on the expensive side,the worth having a coffee on the terrace and enjoying the views of the city below. It is about a 40 min walk from Athens Parliament and the streets are lined by orange laden trees. It was a refreshing walk. We were tempted to pluck an orange but turned out to be bitter. Later on we got to know that they are not edible and only used in making aromatic oils and perfumes. You can see this hill from the Acropolis too. Be prepared for half a day of sight seeing if you plan to...

Lycabettus Hill Viewing Area - Crowded but Spectacular Nighttime Views

For many visitors, taking in the nighttime views from the Lycabettus Hill Viewing Area is a must-do activity in Athens. The location does indeed provide excellent vantage points to admire the city's twinkling lights and panoramic scenery. However, this very popularity also means the area is often quite crowded with tourists.

The tram ride to the top of the hill is quite short, around 1-2 minutes, and offers little in the way of views along the way. Given the steep incline and winding nature of the paths, I would not recommend attempting to walk up to the viewing area.

One thing to note is that many of the restaurants and establishments located on Lycabettus Hill have claimed the prime viewing spots for their own use. This means that even if you make it to the top of the hill via the tram, your access to open public areas with the best vistas may be...