By Katerina Kabosou
Depending on the season and the mood, Athens offers wonderful places for relaxation and exercise. Summertime is ideal for bike rides because the city is emptying. What's better than a bike ride when the sun goes down and then get yourself an ice cream or iced tea afterwards? Here’s 9 routes within Athens.
1. Acropolis Starting from the National Garden one can easily cross across to Plaka and then, following a path to the left, easily reaches Dionysiou Areopagitou and descends towards Theseio. The most romantic and historical bike ride in Athens could not be other than the one that starts from Dionysiou Areopagitou, crosses Plaka and ends in Anafiotika. However, it’s not recommended for weekends because of the crowd.
2. The “Aesthetic” Route This 7-km route goes along Athens’ longest bicycle lane — starting from the Thissio Metro station, it passes along Ermou, following the charming neighborhoods of Petralona, Kallithea, Tavros and Moschato. After crossing the buried Ilissos River, you will reach the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, whose olive trees and lavender gardens are as refreshing to cycle past as the breeze that inevitably follows. From there, you can wrap up your tour — or continue along the seafront promenade of the Athens Riviera, passing through Palio Faliro and Alimos to the coastal suburb of Glyfada.
3. Street Art Tour If you’re fascinated by the growing alternative culture in Athens, consider a tour of the city’s charged and evolving street art. Turn into alleyways with floor-to-ceiling murals, unique cafés and offbeat shopping districts. While we’d recommend going with a local tour guide, you can do it by yourself by wandering through famous street art districts including Psiri and Metaxourgeio. This route is better oriented towards experienced cyclists as streets in these areas can be relatively busy.
4. Psychico Follow the inter-municipal cycle path starting from Faro and you will cross many neat urban neighborhoods. At the same time, you will get your fill of views of nature, as Nea Erythrea, Chalandri and Psychiko, which are surrounded by the bike path, are among the greenest areas of Athens.
5. OAKA It is the safest route to cycle in an area that many choose for running, cycling and walking with their children and dog. All routes there are circular and there is no stress due to cars or uneven terrain.
6. Coastal road Many people don't know is that along the Coastal road, next to the main street and the tram lines, there are wide sidewalks ideal for cyclists. The coastal road that runs parallel to Poseidon Avenue is even more charming at sunset.
7. Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center The Niarchos Foundation is suitable for those who love cycling and art, as they can pedal during cinema time in the outdoor area. In this particular park, it is even possible to rent a bike there in case you don't have one.
8. “Antonis Tritsis” Park Antonis Tritsis Park (1,200 acres) is only 8 kilometers far away from Omonia. Cyclists will get a workout on the endless dirt tracks, and if they get tired, they can enjoy ice cream at the duck pond.
9. Athens by Night Ditch the crowds and the daytime heat for lamplit Athenian streets at night, and see the city many miss – one that comes alive by street performers and illuminated monuments gleaming against the night sky. Revisit tourist hotspots like the Parthenon and the Temple of Zeus with fresh eyes and explore the intriguing nightlife in Syntagma Square, Plaka and Psiri. For safety reasons, it’s best to choose this option only if you’re an experienced cyclist or if you have a guide so as not to get lost at night.
