Athens · Cinema
3 open-air cinemas are screening films in Athens this season - catch one under the stars. Tap any cinema for its showtimes by day on Mood.
Open airPlatia Amerikis
3 films now showing
Open airVarkiza
1 film now showing
Open airNea Makri
2 films now showing
From May until late September or early October, Athens watches films outdoors, among jasmine, rooftops and apartment-block courtyards. Here are the city's open-air cinemas by neighbourhood, with what they're showing and when.
The best-known open-air screens sit right under the Acropolis. Thiseion, on the pedestrian Apostolou Pavlou walkway, has been running since the interwar years and has the floodlit Parthenon rising just above the screen. In Plaka, Cine Paris is a rooftop on a neoclassical building on Kydathineon with an Acropolis view and unreserved seating, so come early to pick your spot. Aigli, inside the Zappeion gardens next to the National Garden, is the oldest open-air cinema in the city and was recently renovated with new projection and sound. Across the hill in Ano Petralona, Zefyros on Troon is a quiet neighbourhood courtyard.
Further up, Dexameni fills its square in Kolonaki under the trees, and Athinaia on Charitos plays in the heart of the same district. In Exarchia two screens are a few minutes apart: Riviera on Valtetsiou, with director's chairs and a projector that still runs 35mm, and Vox on Exarchia square. Neapoli has Ekran and Panathinaia, Pangrati has Oasis on Pratinou, a leafy garden with ceramic statues, and Aello on Patision serves the north of the centre. For a sea breeze, Cine Flisvos in Palaio Faliro sits a few metres from the water, a short tram ride from the centre.
The first screening starts once the sun is down, around 21:00 in June and July and closer to 20:00 by September, with the second around 22:00 to 23:00. Films are in their original language with Greek subtitles, never dubbed, apart from most children's films. The ritual is the same everywhere: a cold beer or lemonade and a toastie from the canteen, and a light jacket for cooler late-season nights. At many places the sound is kept lower for the late show out of respect for the neighbours.
Under the Acropolis there's Thiseion, Cine Paris in Plaka and Aigli in the Zappeion gardens. Kolonaki has Dexameni and Athinaia, Exarchia has Riviera and Vox, Pangrati has Oasis, Petralona has Zefyros and Faliro has Cine Flisvos by the sea. Mood's programme shows what each one is playing tonight.
The first show starts after sunset, usually around 21:00 in high summer and around 20:00 in September. The second show starts around 22:00 to 23:00. Exact times for every screen are on Mood.
Foreign films are shown in their original language with Greek subtitles, so English-language films are in English. Most children's films are dubbed in Greek. Check the version on Mood before you go.
Thiseion on Apostolou Pavlou and the Cine Paris rooftop in Plaka both look straight at the Acropolis. Seats are first come, first served, so arrive early. Find their next showings on Mood.
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