As Athens continues to improve mobility for people with disabilities, our accessible guides are frequently updated. Therefore, some instructions and tips in this itinerary may change, so please proceed with care.
Itinerary Overview
This itinerary traverses the historic centre of Athens, setting out from the capital’s most emblematic central square: Syntagma Square.
With its key location facing Parliament, Syntagma (Greek for “constitution”) is the beating heart of Athens. Many landmark events, both political and cultural, take place here throughout the year: from the patriotic national parade in March to celebrate Greek Independence, to Athens Pride in June, and the annual lighting of the city’s Christmas tree in December. Fringed with luxury hotels and bustling pavement cafes, Syntagma Square is also your gateway to the most famous shopping street of Athens, Ermou. Ermou dissects the historic centre, and will take you all the way to the hub of Athenian urban culture, Technopolis.
Ermou Street is mostly pedestrianized with flat and easy to navigate paving. The first stretch is packed with global chains and cafeterias. On Ermou, you’ll find the quaint little church of Kapnikarea, one of the oldest in Athens (it was built around 1052). You’re also close to pretty Agia Irini Square, with its flower market and hip hangouts. Ermou Street takes you on to Monastiraki, the centre’s buzziest square, which teems day and night. From this point, the Acropolis comes into glorious view, and you’re positioned near a plethora of world-famous archaeological sites (such as the Ancient Agora and the archaeological site of Keramikos—the cemetery of ancient Athens).
Street stalls, antique shops, tavernas and ethnic food vendors will accompany you until Thissio, where we come across Apostolou Pavlou Street, a lovely walkway that leads to the Acropolis. If we continue on Ermou Street, though, we shall reach the thriving urban neighbourhood of Gazi. Ermou changes character, becoming a more mellow and pedestrian-friendly route. We will encounter the Holocaust Memorial, as well as the archaeological site of Keramikos. At Ermou’s end, the Old Depot hosts some of summer’s most fun-filled festivals. We now find ourselves on Peiraios Street, one of the busiest streets of Athens, linking the city with Piraeus and the port.
By crossing this street, we will arrive in Gazi, an LGBTQI+ friendly area pulsing with nightlife, clubs, bars, and many eclectic eating options. Gazi is also home to the Technopolis of Athens, the city’s former gasworks and these days, a nucleus of contemporary culture. Technopolis is an accessible place to visit, relax and enjoy live concerts, museums and annual festivals (such as the free Technopolis Jazz Festival in May). Our itinerary concludes at Keramikos Square and the Keramikos metro station of Line 3 (the blue line).
General Accessibility
- The itinerary is slightly downhill. According to Google Maps, you will descend 58 metres of altitude overa total distance of 2,5 kilometres. We suggest that you do not attempt the itinerary from the opposite direction, since it is an ascent.
- The itinerary mostly consists of pedestrian areas with two different pavings: one of medium variation, which was noted as annoying, but not dangerous by wheelchair users (Syntagma - Thissio) and one with flat paving that is totally accessible and safe (Thissio-Gazi).
- There are no steps in this itinerary.
- The lighting at night is quite limited, with dark spots here and there.
- At each point of interest, the accessibility is indicated according to the information available on their website (we have not verified this personally).
- Most of the shops/cafeterias/bars etc. that we meet along the way are not designed in accordance with accessibility standards and do not provide wheelchair adapted toilets.
- The itinerary starts from Syntagma metro station (line 3, Airport - Nikaia). Along the road, we will meet Monastiraki station that belongs to both line 3 (the blue one) and line 1 (the green one), as well as Thissio station (also line 1). The itinerary ends up at Keramikos station of the blue line 3. All of the above stations provide adapted WC, elevators and full access to a wheelchair user. In the blue line, boarding for wheelchair users is done by the first and the last car, where there is no gap. In the green line, boarding is done exclusively using the first door of the first car. Specifically, in Monastiraki station, you can ask the station staff for a mobile ramp and assistance, since the gap is quite big.
- You can begin the itinerary from whichever station you prefer and proceed with the suggested route from there.
Points of Interest
Syntagma Metro Station
Lines 2 & 3
- The Syntagma metro station has many exits, but the only one you can access via an elevator is the Syntagma Square exit.
- Boarding for wheelchair users is possible from the first or last car of the train.
- It is fully accessible.
- A permanent archaeological exhibition is on display in the first basement.
- The station provides an adapted WC, which you can ask to be opened for you.
From the Syntagma Square exit of the metro and the elevator, we cross the Syntagma Square downwards.
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square is the central landmark square of Athens fronting the Greek Parliament. It hosts everything from election rallies and demonstrations to live concerts and Christmas festivities and is also the gateway to the city’s main shopping precinct.
- It is flat and accessible.
- It has quite a few benches and shade, but no spot protected from rain.
At the lower part of the square, we will find the Info Point of the Municipality of Athens.
Tourist Info Point
From transportation tips and directions to the beach, to details of the newest gallery that’s not in your guidebook, the seasoned experts at the This is Athens Info Point in Syntagma Square are ready to answer all your questions.
- Spot with maps and an assistant who provides tourist information.
- Easily accessible service counter.
At the lowest part of the square we find a pedestrian crossing with a ramp. The traffic light offers very little time (15’’) to cross the main street, but it remains red for vehicles for some more time. You don’t have to go up the ramp across the road. It’s preferable to pass directly to the paving of Ermou Street, which is a pedestrianised area. At the beginning of the street, you can source free, potable water from the public fountain.
Ermou Pedestrian Area - Commercial Part
Pedestrianised Ermou Street is the crown jewel of Athens’ retail activity; lined with global brands, local emporia and some great places to eat.
- It is a pedestrian area and full of clothing stores, shoe stores etc.
- Most of the shops are at ground level with a step at the entrance. Some of them happen to be accessible, but they hardly meet the standards of total accessibility.
- Up until Monastiraki, the paving is “safe although annoying”, as wheelchair users have labeled it.
- On the right and the left of the pavement area, there are flatter paving stones, but they lean towards the centre of the street, but they are also more crowded due to the shops.
- During working days and hours it is very congested.
- At the corner of 30 Ermou Street and Kornarou Street, there is a payphone, located at a convenient height for wheelchair users also.
We descend Ermou Street for 450 metres until the Kapnikarea church.
Church of Panagia Kapnikarea
Panagia Kapnikarea is one of the oldest Greek Orthodox churches in town (thought to date from 1052) and survived being firebombed by the Ottoman Empire in 1689. Its pole position in the middle of the city’s busiest commercial street makes it a popular meet-up spot for locals and visitors.
- This old church lies lower than the level of the pedestrian area. To approach it, you will have to go down the ramp on the right.
- The ramp has a very good incline, it has no railing but a small wall instead and it isn’t slippery. It takes you to the small churchyard.
- The church itself is not accessible. The most approachable entrance for wheelchairs is the one diametrically opposite the ramp.
- This entrance has a step of 15 cm to access the landing. Then you step down a step of 9 cm to navigate the landing. Finally, there is a step of 15 cm to descend to the interior of the temple.
We continue our descent of Ermou Street and arrive at the end of the pedestrian area, which makes a corner with Aiolou Street.
Agia Irini Square
Framing graceful Agia Irini church, Agia Irini Square is one of Athens’ most LGBTQI+ friendly hotspots and a fashionable haunt for pavement dining, drinking cocktails and people-watching.
- On the corner of Ermou and Aiolou Street is where the Ermou pedestrian area ends.
- To visit the district of Agia Irini, we take a right onto Aiolou Street and after a 140-metre distance (slightly upward), we will find the square. Until this point, Aiolou Street was a pedestrianised area.
- Most of the eating and drinking venues are at ground level or they have a step. During summer, they also serve at tables outside. Usually, they do not meet the accessibility standards in their interior.
- To reach there, you have to cross Athinaidos Street, which does not have bounded ramps but the pavement is very low.
Returning to our initial itinerary, on Ermou Street, you will find that the pedestrian area ends at the junction with Aiolou Street. This is where we will choose the right pavement to continue our descent.
As soon as we get to the junction with the main street, Athinas, we will turn left and cross the traffic light with the pedestrian crossing to reach Monastiraki Square.
We do not proceed in parallel with the street. Instead, we will go straight ahead from the pedestrian crossing to reach the heart of the public square.
Monastiraki Square
One of the liveliest squares in Athens, historic Monastiraki Square rarely sleeps. Day or night, people flock to its flea markets, fruit stalls, souvlaki joints and rooftop cocktail bars (to drink in giddy Acropolis views). All of Athenian history is at your feet—from Classical Athens and Roman; to Ottoman and modern day.
- It is mostly paved with tiles.
- The food outlets here have tables outside. Usually, they do not meet accessibility standards in their interior.
- There are 2 free public parking lots for disabled people at 86 Ermou Street. and 133 Ermou Street.
At the end of the square, with the Acropolis looming in the background, you’ll find Monastiraki metro station (lines 1 & 2.)
Monastiraki Metro Station
Lines 1 & 3
- The Monastiraki metro station of the lines 3 “Airport - Nikaia” (blue line) and 1 “Piraeus - Kifisia” (green line) has two exits, both of which are equipped with an elevator. The one that serves us is the Monastiraki Square exit.
- The station is fully accessible and permanently exhibits archaeological findings in its interior.
- The accessible entrance is located at the left of the station.
- It is equipped with an adapted toilet, to which you can ask for access.
Monastiraki Flea Market
Turn right at Monastiraki station, to explore the whirlwind of Ifaistou Street: the oldest flea market district of Athens. You’ll find everything from vintage records and second-hand clothes to leather goods, bead shops and souvenirs.
- Flat paving 200 metres long, slightly downward.
- Full of people as long as the shops are open.
- At night it empties and becomes quite dark.
- At the end of the market, we can turn left and return to our main route, Adrianou Street.
Our tour continues from Monastiraki station. Taking the street at the left of the station, Areos Street (a slightly upward street 50-metres long), we come to Hadrian’s Library.
Hadrian’s Library
Built in AD 132, Hadrian’s Library was part of the Roman emperor Hadrian’s grand plan to elevate Athens as the cultural capital of his empire. It was once the city’s largest library and formerly a philosophy school.
Accessibility of the site according to the website.
- Disabled people upon presentation of their ID card or passport and Disability Certificate are admitted free of charge. In case of 67% disability or more, one escort is also entitled to free entrance.
- This site is included in the combined 5-day ticket of Acropolis & Slopes, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Olympieion, Keramikos, Aristotle's School with a cost of €30.
- The accessible entrance is located at the right side, at Dexippou Street, which is slightly upward, 100 metres from the main entrance.
- This is where a dirt road begins for people with limited mobility (it continues on the east side of the monument).
- Visit with an escort for assistance is recommended.
- There is no accessible route on the west side, at the facade of the building.
- There are adapted toilets.
From Hadrian’s Library, Adrianou Street begins. This is a very well-known pedestrian area with fordable paving that stretches for 500 metres, leading to Thissio. To the left, we’ll see the archaeological site of the Ancient Agora and the tracks of line 1 of the metro; while to the right, there are numerous restaurants, cafes and bars with outdoor pavement tables. Their interiors do not usually meet accessibility prerequisites.
Stoa of Attalos - Ancient Agora
Established in the sixth century BC, the Agora was the bustling heart of ancient Athens, where political, commercial, social and religious life unfolded. It housed shops, temples, a banquet hall for the senate (also used for sacrifices), and a city chambers where the 500-member Athenian council sat.
Accessibility of the site according to the website.
- Disabled people upon presentation of their ID card or passport and Disability Certificate are admitted free of charge. In case of 67% disability or more, one escort is also entitled to free entrance.
- This site is included in the combined 5-day ticket of Acropolis & Slopes, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Olympieion, Keramikos, Aristotle's School with a cost of €30.
- The archaeological site of Ancient Agora is accessible for wheelchair visits (an escort’s assistance is recommended) via the main entrance.
- The Museum of the Ancient Agora inside the Stoa of Attalos is accessible for visitors on wheelchairs. To access the floor using the elevator, the wheelchair users can call upon the site guards.
- There is a modified toilet in the same building.
- You can see the route for the disabled visitors here.
Note: To visit the Temple of Hephaestus that belongs to the same archaeological site but has a different accessible entrance, click here.
Adrianou Street ends and we have arrived in Thissio. The Agiou Pavlou pavement area begins to our left. If we ascend it, we will find ourselves at the foothills of Acropolis (you can explore this legendary part of Athens with one of our other itineraries. Straight ahead lies the Thissio metro station.
Thissio Metro Station
Line 1
- The Thissio metro station of line 1 “Piraeus - Kifisia” (green line) has only one elevator. In order to access it, you have to cross a steep incline (over 140 metres of distance you “rise” 3 metres of altitude). This uphill slope is located to the left of the main entrance.
- The ramp for the accessible entrance is slightly downward, without a railing.
- The station is fully accessible. Remember to embark from the first door of the first train car, where there is also the relevant signage.
- Thissio metro is equipped with an adapted toilet, which can be opened upon request.
To the right of the station our itinerary continues and we are reunited with Ermou Street, which has now turned into a pedestrian area anew. The paving is no longer annoying for wheelchairs, while the slight downward incline makes this part of Ermou perfect for strolling (it’s 550 metres long). At 150 metres from the beginning of the pedestrian area, we find the Holocaust Memorial to our right.
The Holocaust Memorial in Athens
Athens’ memorial to the victims of the Holocaust takes the shape of a broken Star of David, hewn from Egyptian marble. The creation of Greek-American sculptor Deanna Maganias, it points to the villages and cities across Greece where hundreds of thousands of Jews were gathered and deported under Nazi German occupation.
- The monument is open air among grass and dirt, next to the pedestrian area.
After a 200-metre distance from the Memorial, we encounter the archaeological site of Keramikos. It is situated lower than the level of Ermou Street. and is surrounded by railings that permit a full view of the ancient site.
Archaeological Site of Keramikos
With its monumental tombstones and astonishing statues, the ancient necropolis of Keramikos is an extraordinary (and surprisingly below-radar) sight. There’s also a small museum housing ancient jugs, perfume bottles and plates excavated from the 4th to 5th century BC graves.
Accessibility of the site according to the website.
- Disabled people upon presentation of their ID card or passport and Disability Certificate are admitted free of charge. In case of 67% disability or more, one escort is also entitled to free entrance.
- This site is included in the combined 5-day ticket of Acropolis & Slopes, Ancient Agora, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Olympieion, Keramikos, Aristotle's School with a cost of €30.
- The archaeological site of Keramikos is accessible for the most part, for visitors with mobility difficulties (with an escort’s assistance), through the main entrance.
- The Museum of Keramikos is fully accessible for visitors on wheelchairs.
- A WC for disabled people is provided.
- An accessibility map of the archaeological site that indicates the wheelchair route (in red colour) and the rugged or inaccessible route (in blue color).
After 200 metres, Ermou Street ends. This is where we find the old depot of the O.S.Y. (Road Transportation)
The Old Depot
This retired bus depot is now a vibrant stage for a range of cool cultural events—from food and dance festivals to live gigs and temporary exhibitions.
- Accessibility: Flat space, with no wheelchair toilets.
Once Ermou becomes a street again, the Technopolis appears opposite us—our next landmark to visit. Unfortunately, there are no ramps to execute the itinerary in a conventional and safe way. For that reason, we turn left (in the opposite direction of Technopolis) and we ascend towards the metro tracks and the stonewall. This pedestrian area is called Dimofondos, it is 50 metres long with an upsweep of 2 metres, so it is slightly upward. At its end, we find the Thessalonikis pedestrian area and we turn right. A shallow paving is set here.
For 130 metres, we proceed slightly downwards. We find Persefonis Street in front of us and we cross it via the pedestrian crossing. When we reach the opposite pavement, we do not get onto it, but we carefully continue in parallel with the pedestrian area, in the red cycle lane, following the direction of the cars, until we arrive at the junction of Persefonis and Piraeus Street. We cross Piraeus Street and proceed to the opposite side, while staying on Persefonis Street. Again, we do not get onto the pavement, but instead we head to the right pavement of the street to access the entrance of Technopolis.
Technopolis
A former gas factory that powered Athens for over a century, Technopolis is now one of the city’s most jumping cultural venues—as well as a museum. From free live jazz to street markets, cafe society and international art exhibitions, there’s always something brewing at Technopolis.
- Flat space with bulky paving for some metres, after which there are flat spots where you can easily move around.
- Adapted toilets open to the public.
- Access for wheelchairs to most interior spaces with few exceptions.
- Accessible website.
We continue our itinerary outside Technopolis and we keep heading down until the metro station. We can do that either by travelling alongthe street of light traffic, which is only a 180-metre distance until the station, or taking the pavement.
- The pavement has ramps. The first that we meet is slippery, steep and 8 cm high.
- In 2 spots there is a narrow passage between the tree trunks and the wall. The first one is 80 cm wide, the second is 75 cm from the pavement, but technically it has a 1-metre width.
Keramikos Metro Station
Line 3
- The “Keramikos” metro station of line 3 “Airport - Nikaia” (blue line) has one exit “Technopolis” with an elevator (the grey construction on the right), which leads to Keramikos Square.
- It is fully accessible.
- It is equipped with an adapted toilet, which can be opened upon request.
Gazi
Head to Gazi to taste Athens’ post-industrial urban culture and some of the city’s best nights out. Gritty Gazi is known for its LGBTQΙ+ friendly scene (although most venues have no accessibility standards), hip bars, edgy galleries and outdoor dining, especially on and around the Keramikos metro and main square.