Ermou Street

Ermou Street

Ermou Street is unquestionably the most chic commercial shopping street in Athens. Without doubt, hearing the word "shopping" is one of the first associations that the Athenian women have with this street.

Starting as a pedestrian precinct at Syntagma Square, it continues as a roadway to the corner of Aiolou Street until Agion Asomaton Square – where it once again becomes a walkway until it reaches Pireos Street (across from the Technopolis complex in the area of Gazi).

We could say that walking this street, one passes in front of the most important places of the center of Athens, going through Monastiraki and Psiri and continuing to view Thissio on the left and Kerameikos (Ancient Cemetery) on the right.

Full of music from street musicians, few hand organs (laternas), many lights and almost always a festive atmosphere crossed daily by thousands of people. It is a daily image, to see tourists with maps on hand and many Greeks who like the downtown area.

Ermou Street was among the first streets to be included in the modern city of Athens and one of the main pillars of the first urban plan of Athens that was created by the architects Kleanthis and Schaubert in 1833. It takes its name from the ancient god Hermes, the patron of commerce.

Towards the middle of Ermou Street, at Kapnikareas Square you will find the historical little church of Kapnikarea (11th Century) with wonderful murals by Fotis Kontoglou. Worth a visit. It has a museum-like character and you will feel the thrill of orthodoxy.