Photo: Georgios Makkas

Athens’ underground metro and overland railway are a vibrant, everyday gallery of the city’s artistic impulses—both ancient and new. We’re covered in art in stations across the city, from the Acropolis and Monastiraki to Omonia and Larissa.

By Alex King

Museum in the Making

Ancient artefacts at Syntagma metro station.

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Blink and you'll miss it: art on the Thissio-Petralona line.

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Above the Line Art

Syntagma

Look up to see George Zongolopoulos’ striking "Atrium" at Syntagma.

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Monastiraki

This recent addition to the atrium of Monastiraki station by artist Lida Papakonstantinou is called Chronos Sta Heria Mou (Time in my Hands). It gives the impression of a giant stained glass window, but is actually made from 324 pieces of plexiglass.

Below ground, check out the excavated ruins of a Roman-era channel and vaulted cover over the Eridanos River, which once ran through the heart of Athens.

A dash of Chinatown at Evangelismos with Chryssa's "Mott Street".

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Evangelismos

Acropolis

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Larissa

Keramikos

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Egaleo

Omonia

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Photo: Georgios Makkas

Syngrou-Fix

Ethniki Amyna

Dimitris Kalamaras' The Dead Fighter.

Photo: Georgios Makkas