Neighbourhood guide
Psyrri: craft shops by day, tavernas and bars by night, next to Monastiraki
Psyrri is the grid of narrow streets north of Monastiraki around Iroon Square, with old tavernas, meze places and bars, and second-hand and craft shops by day. Come for long lunches and evenings out; it is at its liveliest late at night, when bars set their stools out on the street, so light sleepers should look elsewhere.
How far it is
- Syntagmaabout 13′On foot
- Acropolis Museumabout 19′On foot
- The airportabout 45′On foot to Monastiraki, then Metro Line 3
In this guide
Where to stay in Psyrri
Stay in Psyrri at City Circus hostel on Sarri Street, about 200 m from Iroon Square, or at Arion Athens Hotel on Agiou Dimitriou.
City Circus Athens · Arion Athens Hotel · O&B Athens Boutique Hotel
Where to eat in Psyrri
Eat in Psyrri at its old tavernas: Nikitas on Agion Anargyron has served the same seasonal dishes for over 50 years.
Karamanlidika tou Fani · The Clumsies · Nikitas · Avli · Diporto
Things to do in Psyrri
Psyrri's sights are a short walk apart, from Iroon Square, laid out in 1850 with a marble fountain, to Kerameikos, 7 minutes from Thissio station.
Iroon Square · Athens Archdiocese Library · Melidoni Street synagogues · Holocaust Memorial · Agion Asomaton church · Kerameikos
Parking in Psyrri
Parking in Psyrri means a municipal garage: the streets are in City of Athens controlled-parking zone 6, Psyrri and Gerani, where white visitor bays allow three hours at most.
Varvakios Market municipal garage · Kotzia Square municipal garage · Klafthmonos Square municipal garage · Controlled parking zone 6, Psyrri and Gerani (City of Athens)
Getting to Psyrri
Psyrri lies between two Line 1 stations: Monastiraki, about 300 m from Iroon Square and also on Line 3, and Thissio, about 450 m away.
Monastiraki station, Metro Lines 1 and 3 · Thissio station, Metro Line 1 · Line 3 airport works, Sunday to Thursday evenings · X95 airport bus · Taxi from the airport · On foot
Map of Psyrri
Loading the map…Every place on the map is also listed with its address on this page.
Your line: Metro Line 1
Psyrri sits between Thissio and Monastiraki on Line 1, 17 minutes from the port of Piraeus. Monastiraki is also on Line 3 to Syntagma and the airport.
One walk, about 45 minutes
About 1.2 km, around 15 minutes on foot, from Monastiraki metro station through Iroon Square to the synagogues on Melidoni Street, ending by Thissio station on Line 1.
- Archdiocese Library Behind a plain neoclassical front on Agias Eleousis Street, a lit dome shows the remains of the Byzantine church of Agia Eleousa.
- Iroon Square Laid out in 1850, with a marble fountain and five narrow streets of bars, cafés and craft shops around it.
- Agion Anargyron Street Nikitas, at No. 19, has served the same seasonal Greek dishes in the same spot for over 50 years.
- Melidoni Street synagogues The Romaniote Etz Hayyim at No. 8 and Beth Shalom at No. 5 face each other; both are rarely open to the public.
- Holocaust Memorial A sculpture shaped like the Star of David, where Ermou, Evoulou and Melidoni streets meet.
When it comes alive
- MorningQuietSecond-hand and craft shops open; the streets are at their calmest.
- MiddaySome lifeOld tavernas such as Nikitas serve lunch to office workers and regulars.
- EveningBusyTables fill the streets around Iroon Square.
- LateBusyThe liveliest time: bars set stools out in the narrow streets and the noise carries late.
Three to see
- Iroon Square The square of 1850, with its marble fountain and old-style metal canopies, still keeps a feel of old Athens.
- Athens Archdiocese Library A 15,000-volume library in a neoclassical former courthouse by the Danish architect Christian Hansen. The city guide lists no opening hours; phone +30 210 324 5098 before you go.
- Kerameikos The archaeological site and museum of the cemetery of ancient Athens, 7 minutes from Thissio station. €10.
Food and markets
- Nikitas A family-run taverna on Agion Anargyron Street for home-style dishes such as soutzoukakia and gemista.
- Karamanlidika tou Fani A delicatessen of Greek charcuterie that doubles as an ouzeri, at Sokratous and Evripidou streets.
- Avli A humble taverna with a short menu, in a hidden yard behind a graffiti-lined door on Agiou Dimitriou Square.
Is it for you?
Good for
Long lunches, meze and evenings out, with Monastiraki metro station a few minutes' walk away.
Not for
Light sleepers and early nights: the area is busiest late, when bars set stools out in the narrow streets.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Monastiraki: flea market, ancient Agora and the airport metro on one square
- Syntagma: where the airport metro, the tram and the city walks meet
- Monastiraki + Psyrri
- Getting around Athens
- Staying safe and avoiding scams
- Athens costs: transport, meals and hotel fees
- Athens After Dark: Bars And Rooftops
- Where To Eat In Athens
- Athens On A Budget
Sources
- This is Athens — Monastiraki & Psirri neighbourhood guide - checked 2026-10-21
- This is Athens — Iroon Square - checked 2026-10-21
- This is Athens — The Athens Archdiocese Library - checked 2026-10-21
- This is Athens — traditional lunch spots (Nikitas) - checked 2026-10-21
- This is Athens — Karamanlidika tou Fani - checked 2026-10-21
- Karamanlidika tou Fani — locations - checked 2026-10-21
- This is Athens — Avli - checked 2026-10-21
- This is Athens — accessible route, Historic Heart to Urban Soul - checked 2026-10-21
- Hellenic Heritage — Kerameikos - checked 2026-10-21
- Hellenic Heritage — Κεραμεικός - checked 2026-10-21
- Benaki Museum — visiting hours (Museum of Islamic Art closure) - checked 2026-10-21
- STASY — Metro Line 1 trip times and first and last trains - checked 2026-10-21
- ΣΤΑΣΥ — Γραμμή 1 - checked 2026-10-21
- ΣΤΑΣΥ — Γραμμή 3 - checked 2026-10-21
- City of Athens — controlled parking (PARKinATHENS) - checked 2026-10-21
- City of Athens — Kotzia Square municipal car park - checked 2026-10-21
- Wikidata — Psyri (coordinates) - checked 2026-10-21
- Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) - checked 2026-10-21
Last reviewed October 21, 2026