Overview

The leafy northern suburbs of Athens almost quadrupled in size in the last 20 years, as more and more Athenians moved here to escape the pollution, the noise, and the congestion of more traditional high end residential neighborhoods like Kolonaki, the area around the Hilton hotel, and the district behind the Panathinaikon stadium.

The Kifissia shopping district, beginning just off Kifissias Avenue and extending for about one kilometer all the way to Kefalari Square, is as upscale as they come. A series of shopping malls all around this area host all the trendy boutiques that you will find in Kolonaki, and more. A number of small but elegant restaurants, with fine food and good wine lists, offer a variety of dining options. Finally, the swimming pools, the tennis clubs, the spas, and the gyms in this area make it the fitness hub of Athens.

The Kifissia-Piraeus subway line, whose last stop is at the bottom of Kifissia Square, link the suburb with downtown Athens and the Metro network, with transfer stops at Omonoia Square and Monastiraki. A number of buses lines, featuring new and air conditioned vehicles, run the Kifissias Avenue axis to downtown but, during most of the day, the service is slow due to traffic.

The Highlights:

• The shopping district of Kifissia.
• The sports clubs, including tennis, horseback riding, spas, and fitness gyms.
• The elegant hotels.
• The restaurant and bar scene of Kifissia. 

We Recommend:

• Stroll along the shopping district of Kifissia for a feel of elegant suburban life.
• Have lunch at the Salumaio di Montenapoleone Italian deli, and dinner at one of the Michelin guide-quality gourmet restaurants like Vardis and Beau Brummel.