From our apartment at Ioulianou 50 you need just three minutes on foot to find yourself on one of the most historic streets in Athens: Patision Street — officially «28is Oktovriou» (28th of October), but no one calls it that. A straight, long, commercial axis that begins at Omonoia, the heart of the city, and stretches north toward the Patisia neighborhood.
📍 A little history (very briefly)
Patision was laid out in the 19th century, in the Kleanthis & Schaubert plan for the new Greek capital. It took its name from the area of Patisia — further north, where the road originally ended. Two of Greece's greatest education landmarks were built along it: the National Technical University of Athens — «Polytechneio» — (an architectural masterpiece by Lysandros Kaftantzoglou, 1862–1876) and right next to it the National Archaeological Museum. Two neoclassical buildings, side by side, that define the soul of the street.
On November 17, 1973, Patision entered world history: the Polytechneio uprising against the military junta took place right here, in the courtyard you walk past every morning. Patision has been the official path of every commemorative march ever since.
🛍️ An entire shopping axis
Patision is Athens' second great shopping street, after Ermou. At its southern end, at Omonoia, it essentially joins the big commercial network that runs down Athinas Street to Monastiraki and ends at Ermou — the other huge shopping street. In a few hours, without a taxi or the metro, you can walk the entire commercial axis of Athens: straight down Patision all the way to Syntagma.
On Patision you will find everything: traditional jewelers and watch shops around Victoria Square, electronics stores and fabric shops as you go down toward Omonoia, small grocers, bakeries, patisseries, souvlaki joints, barbershops, cafés, bookstores and historic arcades with dozens of tiny shops. The street is alive all day, from early morning until late at night.
🏛️ The key spots along the street
From north to south, starting from our neighborhood and walking down toward Omonoia, here are the spots worth knowing:
Patision (28is Oktovriou)
📍 From Omonoia toward Patisia, Athens
The long commercial axis of Athens, lined with dozens of shops, cafés and historic buildings. From Ioulianou 50 it takes just 3 minutes to step onto the street, right at the level of the Archaeological Museum.
National Archaeological Museum
📍 28is Oktovriou 44 (Patision), Athens 106 82
One of the most important museums in the world, with the largest collection of ancient Greek art. Open Monday to Sunday (hours vary by season). Ticket: €12 (reduced €6).
O Kipos tou Mouseiou
📍 28is Oktovriou 44, inside the museum garden
Specialty coffee and light food inside the restored garden of the Archaeological Museum. Free entry — no museum ticket needed — worth it just for the coffee.
Pedion tou Areos
📍 Alexandras Ave. & 28is Oktovriou, Athens
The largest park in central Athens, featuring neoclassical statues of heroes from the 1821 Greek revolution, playgrounds, alleys and plenty of greenery. Open 24/7.
Victoria Square & Metro
📍 28is Oktovriou, Victoria Square, Athens 104 34
The nearest metro station (Line 1, green) and the historic Victoria Square with the statue of Theseus. Surrounded by dozens of jewelers, cafés and restaurants.
🚶 From Patision to Ermou — one straight line
Here's something few visitors know: if you leave Ioulianou 50 and walk all the way down Patision, after about 2 kilometers you reach Omonoia. From there Athinas Street begins — another commercial street lined with the traditional Athens Municipal Market, spice shops, tools, sportswear and electronics. At the end of Athinas you find yourself in Monastiraki, with its flea market and the Acropolis right above your head. Turn left and you enter Ermou — the pedestrian street with all the international chains (Zara, H&M, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Sephora, etc.) that ends at Syntagma Square and Parliament.
The whole route can be done on foot — from our door to Parliament it's about 3.5 km. If you want to do it faster, you can always take the metro from Victoria (5 min walk) to Omonoia or Syntagma.
💡 Practical tips
- Early morning (before 10:00) Patision is quiet and ideal for a walk to the Museum.
- Weekends: most shops are closed on Sunday. Saturday until 17:00–18:00.
- Watch the junction at Patision & Alexandras — big intersection, use the crossing in front of the Museum.
- Panepistimiou / Stadiou / Akadimias: these three parallel avenues start at Omonoia and lead to Syntagma. They are the continuation of Patision after Omonoia and feature Athens' finest neoclassical buildings (University, Academy, Library — the «neoclassical trilogy»).
- Victoria station (Line 1): 5 min walk, connects you to Omonoia, Monastiraki, Thissio, Piraeus.
✨ Why it's worth walking
Patision doesn't have the «postcard beauty» of Plaka or Thissio. It is a living, authentic Athenian street — where right next to the neoclassical Museum you'll see a 1960s souvlaki place, and across from the Polytechneio you'll hear voices in five different languages. This is Athens as it really is today — and I consider anyone who stays this close to it lucky.
Happy walking! And if you get lost, message me — Ioulianou 50 is always just two blocks away. 💛
— Kathy