Athens, Greece: Enjoy Summertime Outdoor Movies in Athens' Many Open Air Cinemas
Athens has at least 15 open-air cinemas that operate June through September — a tradition dating to the early 1900s, with a golden era between 1958 and 1974. Typically set on rooftop terraces or garden courtyards and decorated with flowering plants, they show reruns of first-run winter films alongside classics. Comedy, drama, and crime films dominate; effects-heavy blockbusters are avoided because the sound level would disturb nearby residents. Hitchcock is a perennial favourite. Bars at most venues offer beer, coffee, soft drinks, ice cream, popcorn, and nachos. Tickets are low-cost.
A selection of well-known venues:
- Zefyros — Thiseio; one of Athens’ oldest, with a cinephile focus. Nearby: cinema Thisseio. Metro: Thisseio.
- Cinema Psirri — Psirri square, small bar, surrounded by cafes and taverns.
- VOX — Exarheia square rooftop. Riviera — Valtetsiou St., backyard garden. Both in lively Exarheia, rich in nearby restaurants.
- ALFAVIL & Panathinaia — Mavromichali St. toward Alexandra Ave. Ecran — Zoodochou Pigis St. All reachable on foot from Panepistimio metro or by bus on Ch. Trikoupi St.
- Dexameni — Kolonaki; Dexameni square, one of Athens’ oldest cinemas. Uphill walk.
- Aigli — Zappeio gardens, at the end of the tree-lined avenue. Metro: Syntagma.
- Trianon — Kodringtonos St., Patision side-road; a classic cinephile meeting place, open year-round.