Madama Butterfly Athens Festival Odeon Herodes
The Greek National Opera presents Madama Butterfly in Athens. Photograph: Stefanos

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.

  • Madama Butterfly Athens Festival Odeon Herodes

    MADAMA BUTTERFLY

    Where: Odeon of Herodes Atticus
    When: 1, 4, 7, 10 June 2023
    Why Go: To see Puccini’s famous aria LIVE beneath the glow of the Acropolis

    The Greek National Opera presents Madama Butterfly at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival.  An opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly is set in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century. A young geisha girl falls in love with an American Lieutenant who ultimately leads to her…

  • Nabucco Athens Epidaurus Festival Greek National Opera

    NABUCCO by the Greek National Opera

    Where: Odeon of Herodes Atticus
    When: 26, 27, 29, 30 July 2023
    Why Go: See Verdi's classic opera beneath the Acropolis

    One 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….

  • Women of Passion Why Athens

    WOMEN OF PASSION, WOMEN OF GREECE

    Where: Railway Carriage Theatre
    When: Saturday evenings, throughout June & July 2023
    Why Go: A symbolic journey by train from ancient to modern Greece

    Following successful tours in Australia, Brussels, New Delhi and Bangalore, the powerful one woman show, Women of Passion, Women of Greece returns to Athens this summer. An old wagon is transformed into a theatrical stage, where the mythological figure of ancient Greek tragedy Medea, meets the contemporary “priestesses” of modern Greece, Maria Callas and Melina…

  • Ancient Epidaurus Theatre Tickets Athens Festival

    ANCIENT EPIDAURUS THEATRE PROGRAMME & TICKETS

    Where: Palea Epidaurus in Argolis
    When: 7 July – 26 August 2023
    Why Go: To experience a live performance & perfect acoustics at this ancient theatre

    As part of the annual Athens and Epidaurus Festival, the ancient stage of Epidaurus comes alive with the works from 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…

  • Odeon Herodes Atticus Athens Epidaurus Festival Crowds

    ATHENS AND EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL 2023

    Where: Various venues around Athens & Epidaurus
    When: 1 June to 26 August 2023
    Why Go: The ultimate line up of music, theatre & dance

    The 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 the Odeon Herodes Atticus and the Ancient Theatre of…