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ASTRONOMY TOURS at the National Observatory of Athens
Where: National Observatory of AthensWhen: Throughout May 2018Why Go: Take in the wonders of the Athenian sky by night with the Doridis telescopeThe visitors centre of the National Observatory of Athens will be conducting evening tours in English on dates throughout May offering the public the opportunity to peer through the 8 metre dome of the Doridis telescope, to enjoy the Athenian sky from the Hill of the Nymphs, opposite the Acropolis. The Doridis refracting telescope was…
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ANCIENT EPIDAURUS THEATRE PROGRAMME & TICKETS
Where: Palea Epidaurus in ArgolisWhen: 29 June - 18 August 2018Why Go: To experience a live performance & perfect acoustics at this ancient theatreAs part of the annual Athens and Epidaurus festival, the Epidaurus theatre comes alive with the works of great Greek playwrights such as Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes and more. It is a highlight of the festival to experience a midsummer production at this iconic venue. The famous ancient theatre of Epidaurus was constructed in the late…
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GREEK SINGERS PERFORMING IN ATHENS
Where: Various locations around AthensWhen: May to July 2018Why Go: Experience the latest in modern Greek music LIVEGreek singers perform all around Greece throughout the year. For those wanting to experience the latest in the Greek music scene, there’s a legendary line up in store this month in Athens.
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EVENTS AT THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
Where: Acropolis MuseumWhen: On now - 31 May 2018Why Go: To get more out of your visit to the museumThe Acropolis Museum hold events to enhance visitors experiences of the museum including complimentary* guided tours every Friday evening at 6:00pm (in English) led by an archaeologist who shares fascinating insights about the exhibits. Duration: 60 minutes *Free with the price of normal admission Why Athens Tips: Limited to 40 visitors per session (first in best…
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EVENTS at the Stavros Niarchos Center
Where: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)When: Throughout May 2018Why Go: Great for architecture buffs & outdoor activities suitable for solos, couples & familiesThe Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is one of the largest and newest developments that Athens has seen in the last ten years. It is a remarkable architectural feat pioneered by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and brought to life by the extraordinary vision of Italian architect Renzo Piano. It now houses two of Greece’s most…
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NABUCCO by the Greek National Opera
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 1, 3, 6, 8 June 2018Why Go: see Verdi's classic opera beneath the AcropolisOne of Verdi’s most popular operas, Nabucco will be presented at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. A watershed moment in Verdi’s career, Nabucco put an end to a string of failures for the composer and marked the end of a period of great sadness in his life….
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ATHENS TECHNOPOLIS JAZZ FESTIVAL
Where: Technopolis in GaziWhen: 4-10 June 2018Why Go: For the best line up in the int’l jazz sceneOne of the oldest and most loved Jazz events of the city returns in June. Celebrating its 18th year, the Athens Technopolis Jazz Festival will once again present the best line up of jazz music and trends from around the world over seven days. Athens Technopolis Jazz Festival Programme Highlights DAY 1 | Monday June…
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ELEFTHERIA ARVANITAKI live at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 14 June 2018Why Go: See world-renowned singer Eleftheria Arvanitaki LIVEWorld-renowned singer Eleftheria Arvanitaki joins forces with TAKIM, one of the most popular bands in Greece, to perform Greek folk music with a twist at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. The band will cover several of Arvanitaki’s songs, drawing on her rich, 30-year-long body of work. Megaro…
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PEROUZÉ an opera by Sakellaridis with the Athens Philharmonia Orchestra
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 16 - 17 June 2018Why Go: Greek opera under the starsTheophrastos Sakellaridis’ masterwork Perouzé will be presented at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. It originally premiered on 9 August 1911 at the Olympia Theatre. A smashing success, it ran for two seasons and was performed throughout Greece. Perouzé was last presented in 1950 at the Greek National Opera. The opera’s…
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NEW WORLDS with Bill Murray & Jan Vogler at the Odeon
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhere: 19 June 2018Where: Bill Murray like you’ve never seen him beforeActor Bill Murray met German cellist Jan Vogler on a trans-Atlantic flight. The two immediately struck a friendship. Being interested in each other’s artistic work, they came up with a joint project. New Worlds is a performance bridging the artistic legacy of America and Europe, highlighting the fundamental values of American literature and music. A fascinating…
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STING LIVE AT THE ACROPOLIS
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 22 & 23 June 2018 (ALL DATES SOLD OUT)Why Go: Don’t miss the concert of the year in AthensSting will perform two concerts as part the annual Athens and Epidaurus Festival in what will be one of the most memorable concerts held at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an iconic venue more than 1800 years old, that lies beneath the slopes of the Acropolis. THIS CONCERT HAS NOW SOLD OUT – Find Out…
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SUMMER NOSTOS FESTIVAL at the Stavros Niarchos Center
Where: Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural CentreWhen: 17 - 24 June 2018Why Go: For a packed program ideal for the whole familyThe Summer Nostos Festival at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC), is an arts, sports and education festival that is open to the public free of charge. Music, dance, sports, arts and architecture discussions, screenings and programs for children and families are combined for an entire week in June as part of a multi-faceted…
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TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA live at the Odeon Herodes Atticus
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 27 June 2018Why Go: Hear one of the leading orchestras in the world performs at an iconic venueThe Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will be conducted by the award-winning conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev as they play the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens. Having collaborated with some of the greatest musicians and companies in the world (chief conductor of Vienna Philarmonic Orchestra between 1997-2006, La Scala, Opernhaus Zürich), Fedoseyev is the heart and soul…
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GUIDED TOURS INSIDE HELLENIC PARLIAMENT
Where: Hellenic Parliament, SyntagmaWhen: Throughout June 2018Why Go: A look behind the walls of the Greek Parliament buildingComplimentary guided tours of Hellenic Parliament take place in June, providing fascinating insights into the history of the building. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the grand rooms such as the Assembly Hall and the debating chamber and learn more about Greece’s modern history. Take a sneak peak here of what’s inside the Hellenic…
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LONDON PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA perform Beethoven’s Symphony no.3 at the Odeon
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 2 July 2018Why Go: Hear one of the world’s greatest orchestras performLondon based Philharmonia Orchestra returns to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus to perform Beethoven’s Symphony no.3, along with excerpts from Wagner’s Götterdämmerung led by award winning Finnish conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen and joined by American soprano Michelle DeYoung. ABOUT Founded in 1945, the London-based Philharmonia Orchestra is considered one of the world’s greatest orchestras, thanks to its…
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CALEXICO live at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 3 & 4 July 2018Why Go: See this Tex-Mex, indie rock band perform LIVECalexico have gathered fans from all over the world. This hugely popular band will perform at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for the very first time, presenting some of their biggest hits (“Stray,” “Falling from the sky,” “Crystal Frontier,” “Missing,” “Splitter”), along with songs from their newest, album, “The Threat that Keeps Us”, that was released…
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THE MUSIC OF VASSILIS TSITSANIS – Panathenaic Stadium
Where: Panathenaic StadiumWhen: 4 July 2018Why Go: A night of Greek folk music at an iconic venueThe Panathenaic Stadium will be filled with Greek music including songs from Greek composer Vassilis Tsitsanis, renowned for changing Greek folk music forever. Prominent singer George Dalaras will perform along with other big voices in Greek song including, Glykeria, Yiannis Kotsiras, Christos Nikolopoulos among others. This is one of the few concerts held at the Panathenaic Stadium and…
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NANA MOUSKOURI live at the Odeon Herodes Atticus
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 5 July 2018Why Go: See this legendary artist LIVE beneath the AcropolisNana Mouskouri began her singing career in Greece over 60 years ago and went on to become a world-famous star. The artist has given over 10,000 performances at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including the Royal Albert Hall, Berlin Philharmonic, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House and Teatro Monumental in Chile. This…
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COMPANY by Stephen Sondheim | Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 8 & 9 July 2018Why Go: See this Broadway smash hit at the iconic OdeonAfter a string of hit musicals, (Kiss me Kate, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd), Armonia Atenea – The Friends of Music Orchestra returns to the Athens and Epidaurus Festival with Stephen Sondheim’s musical Company, presented in Greece for the very first time. Company made its Broadway debut in 1970 and received six Tony Awards, including those for Best Musical,…
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ANTIGONE at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhere: 11 July 2018Where: See an ancient Greek tragedy on an ancient Greek stageCo-directors Emilios Chilakis and Manolis Dounias delve into Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, Antigone on stage at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. A play that has become emblematic of resistance to power, Antigone examines young Antigone’s fatal decision to bury her dead brother, Polynices, in violation of the king’s rules. The ten roles of…
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DAPHNIS & CHLOE by Orestis Laskos | Screening at the Odeon Herodes
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 14 July 2018Why Go: A rare opportunity to see this classic Greek film beneath the AcropolisA screening of the early Greek film Daphnis and Chloe (1931), restored by the Greek Film Archive, with original music by Filippos Tsalahouris, will appear at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. The plot revolves around a pastoral romance between Daphnis and Chloe. The original, silent version of the…
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SCORPIONS live at the Panathenaic Stadium
Where: Panathenaic StadiumWhen: 16 July 2018Why Go: For a night of rock at an iconic venueLegendary German rock band, Scorpions will perform at the Panathenaic Stadium, the iconic birthplace of the modern Olympic games. Their concert, “Once in a Lifetime” will be opened by the Athens State Orchestra, adding a symphonic dimension to the band’s sound. Scorpions are one of the longest lasting and commercially successful ensembles of rock music….
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NIGEL KENNEDY – ‘Bach Meets Kennedy meets Gershwin’
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 17 July 2018Why Go: See this legendary violinist LIVE at the AcropolisNigel Kennedy, one of the top violinists in the world and the best-selling violinist in the history of music presents his concert, ‘Bach meets Kennedy meets Gershwin’ live at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. Discovered by the great American-born violinist and conductor, Yehudi Menuhin, his recording of Vivaldi’s…
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CARMEN at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Where: Odeon of Herodes AtticusWhen: 27, 28, 29, 31 July 2018Why Go: See a modernised version of this classic operaSymbolizing love and liberty, the most popular opera in the French repertoire, Carmen, is brought back to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for this years Athens and Epidaurus Festival. Presented by the Greek National Opera, the four night season in July 2018 is directed by acclaimed British director, Steven Langridge who is currently artistic director of the…
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ATHENS AND EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL 2018
Where: Various venues around Athens & EpidaurusWhen: 1st June – 18 August 2018Why Go: For an extensive line up of music, theatre & danceThe Athens and Epidaurus Festival is the city’s annual arts festival and a highlight of the Greek summer calendar. With a legacy that spans more than sixty years, today it incorporates a full programme of music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Performances at the two ancient theatres of Odeon Herodes Atticus and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus…
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ATHENS EVENTS – SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
Where: Various locations in AthensWhen: Throughout Sept & Oct 2018Why Go: For live music & theatreAs the summer season comes to an end, the cultural agenda runs high as Athenians return from their summer vacations. From touring musicians, to home-grown talent, Athens presents a full and exciting calendar of live music and theatre, at some of the best venues in the city during September and October. Shows for this period…
Athens Events
With a vibrant cultural scene all year round, Athens events include an impressive mix of both local and international musicians, artists and dance groups. The city comes alive in the summer months where cinema screens move outdoors and plateias or neighbourhood squares are buzzing with music and festivities. From June-August every year, the Athens & Epidaurus Festival is in full swing with an abundance of events held at various iconic Athenian venues including Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre, located at the base of the southern slopes of the Acropolis.
The Athens events we list have been chosen to appeal to an international audience passing through Athens and we select events accordingly.
Events in Athens
The Megaron Athens Concert Hall and Greek National Theatre are two of the major modern day venues in Athens. In peak season and where possible, we recommend you pre-purchase your tickets or ask your hotel to assist you with this. We provide you with the venue address in English and Greek to overcome any language barriers with taxi drivers. We also provide the nearest metro station to an event, along with a map to assist with your travel arrangements.
Athens & Epidaurus Festival
This is by far the crown jewel in the annual events calendar in Athens. Running now for more than 60 years, it presents local and international productions of Ancient Greek drama that celebrates the city’s cultural heritage. Athens is blessed with a network of ancient amphitheatres including Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Aristotle’s Lyceum and Lycabettus Theatre. Extending beyond Athens to the Attica region, performances can also be found at the Ancient Theatre of Delphi and the infamous Epidaurus Theatre. Check out our travel tips of getting to Epidaurus.
August Full Moon Festival
Every August on the night of the full moon, musical performances are held at key historic venues, including the Acropolis, the Roman Agora and other sites around Greece. Be sure to watch this space for updates.
