Mount Lycabettus
Λυκαβηττός
The highest point in central Athens (277 m), with a 360° view from the white Chapel of St George at the summit over the Acropolis, the whole city and the Saronic Gulf. Reach it by cable car or on foot to watch the sunset.
Mount Lycabettus is a limestone hill rising abruptly in the northeast of central Athens, 277 m above sea level and about 130 m higher than the Acropolis. Legend says it formed when Athena dropped a huge boulder she was carrying to build the Acropolis; its name means 'Wolf Mountain'. At the summit are a 19th-century white Chapel of St George, a restaurant with a view (Orizontes) and an open terrace offering a 360° view over Athens. To the southwest, the Acropolis and Parthenon stand in silhouette at sunset; in the distance are Piraeus port, the Saronic Gulf and Aegina; to the east is Mount Hymettus. At night the city's lights spread out below. It is Athens' most famous spot for sunset and night views. There are two ways up. The first is the cable railway (Teleferik, opened in 1965), which departs from Aristippou Street in the Kolonaki district. The whole trip runs through a tunnel and takes about 3 minutes; a round trip costs about €10 and a one-way ticket €7, with a car every 30 minutes and the last car around 02:30 in peak season. The second is to walk from Kolonaki or Dexameni Square up the zigzag stone steps, about 20–30 minutes through pine woods with benches to rest on. After sunset, it is advisable to descend by cable car or on the lit main road. The Lycabettus open-air theatre on the hillside hosts concerts in summer. The restaurant at the top is pricey but has an unbeatable location, so you can just order a drink on the terrace. The platform in front of the chapel is free and gets busier half an hour before sunset. At the foot of the hill, Kolonaki is Athens' most upscale neighbourhood, with boutiques, galleries, the Benaki Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art. After descending, you can rest in a café on Skoufa Street. Getting there: walk 15 minutes from Evangelismos station on Metro line 3 to the cable car station, or walk 20 minutes from Syntagma station on lines 2 or 3. It is windy at the top, so bring a jacket.
Opening hours
Mountain open all day; cable car approx. 09:00–02:30 (until 00:30 in winter)
Nearby sights
- Museum of Cycladic Art
- Benaki Museum
- National Garden & Zappeion
- Syntagma Square & Changing of the Guard
- Panathenaic Stadium
- National Archaeological Museum
- Temple of Olympian Zeus & Hadrian's Arch
- Plaka