With a strong guarantee of a daily golden hour throughout the summer months, Athens is the perfect city for seeking out sunset views. From ancient temples to rooftop bars along with all of the best angles of the Acropolis, read on to discover the best sunset viewpoints in Athens.
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Best sunset viewpoints in Athens:
Temple of Olympian Zeus
With beams of golden light shining between its towering Corinthian columns, the Temple of Olympian Zeus is undoubtedly one of the prettiest sunset viewpoints in Athens. The temple itself looks beautiful when lit by the evening sun while the Acropolis can also be seen in the background, providing a unique perspective of two temples from the same angle. The Temple of Olympian Zeus stays open until 8pm in the summer, perfectly coinciding with the sunset and golden hour.
Mount Lycabettus
Soaring 300 metres above sea level, Mount Lycabettus is the highest point in Athens and the landmark can be seen from almost every part of the city. As a result, it’s one of the best-known spots for sunset with fantastic, far-reaching views over the Acropolis and beyond to the Saronic Gulf. At the top of the mountain there’s a small man-made viewing platform from where you can see the sunset. It does, however, get very crowded so a better alternative is to stop at one of the lookout points located on the walk up instead. While these don’t provide a view of the sunset itself, they’re much quieter and bring the opportunity to marvel at a pretty colour palette of pink and orange decorating the sky.
Strefi Hill
A lesser-known hilltop viewpoint, Strefi Hill is hidden in the suburbs of Athens, in the Exarcheia neighbourhood, and provides the chance to enjoy a more peaceful sunset view of the city. The large clearing at the top of the hill makes it easy to find your own quiet spot and you can see the Acropolis on one side of the hill and the sun setting behind the mountains on the other. Do like the locals, and bring a bottle of wine for a romantic sunset drink.
Filopappou Hill
Located right in the heart of the city, Filopappou Hill boasts some of the city’s best views of the Acropolis and it is a popular meeting place among locals for evening picnics and al fresco drinks. The pine-covered hill has several viewpoints so it’s ideal for a sunset stroll, stopping to take in unrivalled views of the ancient site along the way. When visiting Filopappu Hill you can also walk to the Pynx – a large clearing that once acted as the official meeting place of the Athenian democratic assembly. Dating back to 507BC, this historic site predates the Acropolis and was the very birthplace of a democratic assembly.
A for Athens
An upmarket rooftop bar overlooking the bustling Monastiraki Square, A for Athens offers striking views of the Acropolis as well as the square’s historic Ottoman architecture. There’s an indoor bar with floor-to-ceiling windows as well as an outdoor terrace on the floor above, where the best panoramic views can be found. Pay a visit during golden hour to see the Acropolis, Church of the Pantanassa and Tzistarakis Mosque illuminated in a warm yellow and orange hue.
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