8 Best Performing Arts Venues in Athens, Greece

Films at this open-air theater, among the oldest in Athens (dating from 1935), come complete with a view of the Acropolis. It's on the Unification of Archaeological Sites walkway and conveniently offers tables among the seating, for your film-munchies spread. In fact, the bar sells homemade cheese pie, sour cherry juice, and tsipouro (traditional grape-distilled spirit) accompanied with bottarga fish roe from Messolonghi. They show old-time classics as well as new screenings and most of the films are in English. This experience is a must do for any visitor to Athens.

The country's leading folk dance company performs exhilarating and sublime Greek folk dances in eye-catching, authentic costumes in programs that change every two weeks. Performances are held in an 800-seat amphitheater on Filopappou Hill on Friday through Sunday from the beginning of June to September.

World-class Greek and international artists take the stage at the Megaron Mousikis to perform in concerts and opera from September through June. Information and tickets are available weekdays 10–6 and Saturday 10–2. Prices range from €15 to €100; there's a substantial discount for students and those 8 to 18 years old. Tickets go on sale a few weeks in advance, and many events sell out within hours. Also worth exploring are the gardens that surround it, with performances taking place there too, and dining at Fuga restaurant.

Big acts fill what was originally the main Athens 2004 Games arena with music. Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones, and Madonna have performed here—the latter actually holds the arena record, with 75,637 people attending her 2008 show.

Performances by well-known Greek performers and ancient Greek theater classics are staged in an attractively remodeled old quarry, now known as the Theatro Vrahon Melina Merkouri (and its sister stage nearby, the Anna Synodinou). The festival begins in early June and lasts until the end of September every year; most performances start at 9 pm. Buy tickets (€20–€100) at the theater before the show.

Like Ticketmaster in the United States, Hunter Agency sells all sorts of performing arts and popular music concert tickets.

You can buy tickets for popular concerts and performing arts events at this electronics store chain with convenient locations in Central Athens.

Release Athens takes place annually for around two weeks at the Platea Nerou seaside venue and brings together a lineup of global pop, rock, and electronica bands, usually in June.