THE NATIONAL GARDEN

What we probably do not know about the formerly "Royal" Garden of Athens is that it has existed since the ancient times as part of the greenery near the river bed of Ilissos. Of course, it took thousands of years and the initiative taken by King Otto to remodel the city of Athens in 1834 to enable the garden to reach its present shape.

The National Garden is today the largest green area in Athens (excluding the outskirts of the mountains around it) with a total of 158 acres. It is surrounded by the avenues of Vasilissis Olgas, Vasilissis Amalias and Vasilissis Sofias and the street Irodou tou Attikou. Zappeion Mansion is located on its grounds and, on its northwest corner are the Parliament and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.

The garden was planned by the German architect Gärtner who was invited to build the King’s palace (the current Parliament), in 1836. Its 120 tree-planted acres were developed gradually under the supervision of the German and the French agriculturalists from 1839 until 1886. During this same period, the Royal Guards were installed in the Garden. In 1923, the Garden was declared public. In 1927, by legislative decree, was named "National Garden", as it is known now. Until 1997, it used to belong administratively to the Commission of Public Gardens and Tree-lines, since then it belongs to the District of Attica.

Many people blame the Ministry of Agriculture - that was previously responsible for the Garden’s maintenance - for the deserted picture that it presents today: dirty and distinctively uncared for. The National Garden surely deserves better treatment, if for no other reason but its rich flora and fauna - which has decreased considerably but definitely has worked on refining itself. One will find there, lakes, a sundial, the Botanical Museum, the first hothouse in Greece, the Children’s Library and a quaint café.

The garden remains open daily from sunrise to sunset. It is estimated that 2 to 3 thousand people cross it every day, a number that increases during the summer months.

HOW TO GET THERE

BY BUS: 103, 108, 111, 206, 208, 209, 237, A4, B4

TROLLEY: 1, 5, 15

Shopping

TO KOMBOLOI TOU PSIRI
Worry beads of every kind and size with value of 5 Euro to 5,000 Euros in an exceptional store.... more
ZOLOTAS
Boasting two fine boutiques in Athens and one on the Place Saint-Germain dès Prés in Paris, Zolotas has won the... more
SHOPPING CENTER PLAKA
A terrific one-stop shop for all your souvenir needs.... more
ARGALIOS
Take home folk art like Byzantine icons as lovely and spiritual keepsakes of Greece.... more
COMPENDIUM BOOKSHOP
The shop sells anything from new and used, fiction and nonfiction books in English, mainly to ex-patriots – who seem... more
APOSTOLART
Apostol’s bronze and glass sculptures have gained popularity for their extraordinary design and craftsmanship. He has had exhibits in many... more

Nightlife

JAMES JOYCE
James Joyce is considered, “a different type of Irish pub.” There, they blend the best of the old with the... more
EL PECADO BAR RESTAURANT
This, 19th Century inspired, designer club has been a favorite to many celebrities of the city. The name mean “sin”... more
USE BAR
Small bar playing mainly black music. Absolute hip hangout, open from nine in the morning for coffee and cold sandwiches,... more
BACARO
Located in an arcade across from the Athens\' Stock Exchange in historical downtown, this bar restaurant combines Italo-Mediterranean cuisine with... more
GOYA PLUS
Mega psy-trance & techno events with state-of-the-art sound system in a 700 person capacity venue, equals the best choice for... more
BLACK DUCK MULTIPLARTE
This multi-space located in the heart of Athens has provided the stage for numerous mature Greek acts over the years.... more