Kick the night off with a leisurely meal, as Athens nightlife only warms up after midnight. Then head to Athens' Psirri or Gazi, two renovated areas that are now the centre of Athens nightlife. Or hang out with Athens' beautiful crowd in the upmarket Kolonaki district. Wherever you decide on, once you're there, Athens nightlife will have you partying until sunrise.
Stay up late for Athens nightlife - some bars stay open until 5am. In Athens city centre, try the popular bars in Psirri, but be prepared to wait for a drink at the weekends. For a more select nightlife scene, visit Athens' chichi lounge-bars with 1970s-style decor in the upmarket Kolonaki district. Or head for Athens' alternative bars with art exhibitions in hip Gazi, and Athens students listening to rock in the grungy Exarhia district.
You'll find that Athens clubbing nightlife centres on the popular dance clubs of Psirri and gay-friendly clubs in Gazi. Rub shoulders with Athens' elite at the small exclusive clubs in Kolonaki, but be prepared for strict door controls. In summer, Athens nightlife moves out to the large, open-air, beachside clubs on the Athens coast at Glyfada, Voula and Varkiza.
Come to Athens in the summer, when the Hellenic Festival adds open-air music, theatre and dance to Athens nightlife, mainly at the second-century AD Odeon of Herodes Atticus. At other times, book tickets to rock concerts at the hilltop Lycabettus Theatre and go to one of Athens' countless open-air cinemas. Or join Athens locals for Greek music nightlife from glitzy bouzoukia (singing accompanied by a mandolin-style instrument) to mournful rembetika (a sort of Balkan blues).
