Athens is a city of layers—where history, culture, and architecture blend into a unique urban experience. For foreigners living in Athens, exploring the Athenian architecture Open House 2025 presents a fantastic opportunity to discover the city’s architectural heritage through free guided tours of significant buildings and neighborhoods.
Taking place on April 5-6, with additional events starting from March 29, this international initiative allows the public to explore both historic and modern buildings, many of which are not usually accessible. If you can’t attend in person, you can still watch the tours via live streaming for free.
Among the highlights of this year’s event are two architectural walking tours that offer a deep dive into the evolving urban landscape of Athens:
Kypseli Through Fokionos Negri Street
Once a suburban retreat, Kypseli transformed into a bustling urban hub in the early 20th century, characterized by grand villas that later gave way to modernist apartment buildings. This transition was driven by the introduction of horizontal ownership (kat’ orofon idioktisia), which sparked intense construction activity.
A key moment in Kypseli’s development was the creation of the Fokionos Negri pedestrian zone, a green corridor built over the Levitis stream in the 1930s. This reshaped the area’s character, attracting landmark buildings such as the Kypseli Market and the Kanakis and Lanaras apartment buildings, which set the tone for subsequent urban development.
📍 Tour Details:
• Dates: March 29 & 30
• Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (departures every 30 minutes)
• Starting Point: Fokionos Negri 84 & Kanari Square
• Ending Point: Fokionos Negri & Drosopoulou
Strofili, Kifisia: A Journey Through Time
If you’re fascinated by historical mansions and European influences, this tour through Strofili, Kifisia is a must. Once a getaway for the Athenian elite, Kifisia is home to stunning neobyzantine, fortress-like, Renaissance, romantic, and Central European-style villas. These architectural gems reflect the international exposure of their original owners and architects.
Walking through this neighborhood feels like stepping back in time, where you can admire the lush gardens and aristocratic elegance that once made this area the epicenter of high society.
📍 Tour Details:
• Dates: March 29 & 30
• Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (departures every 30 minutes)
• Starting Point: Alsos Kifisias (Grigoriou Lambraki entrance)
• Ending Point: Pavlos Melas Residence, 50 Tatoiou Street
Why You Should Join
Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a new resident eager to learn more about the city, or simply someone who enjoys a good walking tour, Open House Athens 2025 is an exciting way to connect with Athens’ past, present, and future through its built environment.
Best of all, it’s completely free! So put on your walking shoes, bring your curiosity, and explore the city like never before.
