The Mall Athens at a glance
The Mall Athens sits in Marousi, at Andrea Papandreou 35, right next to the Olympic Stadium (OAKA) and directly above the Neratziotissa station on metro Line 1 and the suburban rail. It opened on 25 November 2005, shortly after the Olympics, built by Lamda Development — the same company now developing the former Hellinikon airport site — and has been the reference point for shopping in the northern suburbs ever since.
The numbers tell their own story: about 58,500 sqm of retail space, five shopping levels (Level 0 through Level 4), three underground parking levels holding 2,100 cars, and roughly 200 shops: fashion, tech, cosmetics, sportswear, toys, books, a supermarket, a pharmacy, banks — plus a food court with more than 20 options. It's still, by a wide margin, the largest shopping centre in the country.
What makes it special for us, though, isn't the size. It's the location: unlike most of Attica's big malls, which really want you to arrive by car, The Mall sits right on top of a metro station. You step off the platform, cross a footbridge, and you're inside. From Victoria, that's a 20-minute ride with zero changes.
🚇 11 stops · ~20 min
Line 1 from Victoria towards Kifisia, get off at Neratziotissa. €1.20 ticket (valid 90 minutes). No changes.
🅿️ 2,100 spaces
Three underground levels. Monday–Saturday: €2.50 for the 1st hour, €4.50 for 2 hours. Sunday: flat €5 all day.
🛍️ ~200 shops
58,500 sqm across 5 levels. Zara, H&M, Public, Sephora, Intersport, Kotsovolos and dozens more.
🎬 Village 14 + IMAX
14 screens, Gold Class recliner seats, and the only IMAX with Laser screen in Athens.
The Mall Athens — a walk through the shops
🛍️ The shops — what you'll find, and where
Here's the most useful thing to know first: The Mall is organised level by level, and the escalators at the centre of the building take you from one to the next in under a minute. Near the metro footbridge entrance, on Level 2 there's an Info Desk (open Monday–Saturday 08:30–22:00 and Sunday 09:00–22:00) with a map of the centre — grab one, it's a big building. Broadly, here's how it breaks down:
Level 0 — Everyday & services
Sklavenitis supermarket, the pharmacy, Veneti Go for coffee and bread, banks, various services. The parking lifts also open onto this level — you'll end up back here right before you leave.
Levels 1 & 2 — Fashion & beauty
The heart of the shopping: the big fashion chains, cosmetics, accessories, jewellery, lingerie, shoes. Level 2 is also where the Info Desk sits.
Level 3 — Food & entertainment
The food court with over 20 options, sit-down restaurants, cafés with a view, the newer Urban Roof Garden — and the signs pointing up to Village Cinemas.
Level 4 — Cinema & fun
Village Cinemas' screens, the IMAX and Gold Class rooms, entertainment spaces. The top floor is The Mall's "evening side" — and it stays open on Sundays too.
As for the shops themselves: names come and go (which is why I'd also point you to the official directory), but as of writing, you'll find:
- Fashion: Zara, H&M, Pull&Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Intimissimi & Calzedonia and plenty of Greek brands — every major chain under one roof.
- Sportswear: Intersport, Nike, Adidas and more. If you need walking shoes for exploring Athens, you'll often find them cheaper here than in the centre.
- Tech: Public (books, gadgets, games), Kotsovolos, Germanos, iStorm (Apple), Samsung — for chargers, headphones, adapters, SIM cards.
- Beauty & health: Sephora, Hondos Center, cosmetics and perfume shops, plus the pharmacy on Level 0.
- Jewellery & accessories: Pandora, Swarovski, watches, sunglasses, bags.
- Home & gifts: homeware and décor shops, bookshops, stationery, small gift stores.
- Kids: Moustakas toy shop, children's clothing, baby gear. There are baby-changing rooms on Levels 1 and 3.
💡 Kathy's shopping tip
Sales in Greece run twice a year: winter sales from the second Monday of January through the end of February, and summer sales from the second Monday of July through the end of August, with shorter ten-day sale windows in May and November too. If you're here during those weeks, The Mall is the easiest place to make the most of them. Go on a weekday morning — Saturday afternoons get packed. If you're visiting from outside the EU, ask the bigger shops about Tax Free — most of them offer it.
🍽️ Where to eat — Level 3, in detail
I'll linger a bit longer here, because food at The Mall isn't "mall food" in the bad sense. Level 3 has two sides to it: the food court, with shared seating in the middle and counters all around (fast, cheap, great with kids — open daily 08:30–23:00), and the sit-down restaurants with table service, running daily 11:00–01:00, so well after the last film lets out. Both stay open on Sundays, when the shops are closed.
Restaurants & food court — Level 3
My own favourites — and why
- La Pasteria Italian · sit-down
The Mall's most "proper" restaurant, running here for over 20 years. Fresh pasta, risotto, thin-crust pizza, a decent wine list and waiters who know what they're doing. If you want a tablecloth and an unhurried hour over dinner, this is it. Book ahead for Saturday nights (210 6198230). - Ladi kai Rigani Souvlaki · gyros
The Mall's souvlaki spot — and a genuinely good one. Thessaloniki-style gyros, hand-made corn-flour pita, feta sauce, and the Gyros Burger, which is exactly what it sounds like. Two pitas, fries and a beer will leave you full for a few euros. Perfect for a quick bite before the film. - Yasu Frozen yoghurt · dessert
Frozen Greek yoghurt you build yourself: pick a flavour, add honey, walnuts, fresh fruit, chocolate. The most Greek dessert you'll find in any mall, and the kids' favourite after the cinema. - Goody's Burger House Burgers · Greek chain
Greece's answer to McDonald's, running since 1975 in Thessaloniki. If you're after a burger, try this one first — and ask for the fries with Goody's sauce. There's also McDonald's and KFC right next door for anyone craving the familiar. - Shisan Sushi · Asian
Sushi, bao and noodles since 2016, with fresh ingredients and fair prices for the category. A solid pick for a lighter dinner. - Ancho & Taco Bell Mexican
Ancho is a build-your-own burrito bar with plenty of vegetarian options, and this Taco Bell is only the second in Greece — for anyone who knows it from abroad and has been missing it. - Mailo's The Pasta Project Pasta · quick
Fresh pasta made to order: pick your shape, pick your sauce (ten options, from carbonara to truffle), and in five minutes you've got a plate that has nothing to do with fast food. The food court's smartest idea. - Cong Vietnamese
Pho, banh mi, rice bowls — fragrant, light, different. For the day you've had enough souvlaki (it happens!). - Patafritas Fries · snacks
Since 1999: fries with dozens of sauces, Philly cheesesteak, sausages. A cone of fries with cheese sauce for the walk between floors. - Pizza.gr · Magic Box · Everest Quick bites
Pizza by the slice, viral snacks, and Everest for cheese pie, sandwiches and coffee — the Greek chain you'll see everywhere in Athens. - Kayak · Cinnabon · Bubble Tale Sweet
Kayak is one of the best Greek ice-cream makers around (30 years in business, premium ice cream — try the kaimaki or the Aegina pistachio). Cinnabon for warm cinnamon rolls, Bubble Tale for bubble tea. - Be Twins · Starbucks · TED Coffee
Be Twins opens at 08:00 and has a terrace looking out over Athens — the best spot for coffee before the shops open at 10:00. Starbucks and TED for anyone who wants the familiar. - Veneti Go Level 0 · bakery
The Veneti bakery chain, right by Sklavenitis: coffee, koulouri, cheese pie, bread to take home. We've written about it in detail — you'll find the same products here.
🌿 New: Urban Roof Garden
Level 3 now has an open-air, all-day self-service space, the Urban Roof Garden, with plants, outdoor tables and a view. Grab food from whichever shop you like and eat it in the open air — on spring and autumn days it's the best spot in the whole centre. In summer, it comes alive in the evenings after 20:00.
🎬 Village Cinemas: 14 screens, Gold Class and Athens' only IMAX
If you love cinema as much as I do, this alone is a reason to come to The Mall even if you don't want to buy a single thing. Village World 14 Cinemas @ The Mall Athens is Greece's largest cinema complex: 14 screens, including two Gold Class rooms, two Cinema Europa screens for European and independent films, one Vmax giant screen — and the newest addition, the IMAX® with Laser screen.
The IMAX deserves a couple of extra lines, because it's genuinely unique: according to Village Cinemas itself, it's the chain's only IMAX screen in Athens, and it exists only here, at The Mall Athens (Thessaloniki has its own Village at Mediterranean Cosmos). IMAX with Laser technology means 4K laser projection with deeper contrast, IMAX's multi-channel sound system, and a huge curved screen roughly five storeys tall in a stadium-style layout. If a blockbuster shot for IMAX is playing — a Nolan film, an Avatar, a Dune, a Marvel release — there's no better place in Greece to watch it.
Village Cinemas @ The Mall Athens
How cinema works in Greece — for our guests
- Films screen in their original language with Greek subtitles. An American film sounds like an American film — nothing is dubbed, except children's films (which often run in two versions, "dubbed" and "subtitled"; check the schedule for that).
- Gold Class: recliner seats that fold flat, a blanket, and food and drink served to your seat from a separate lounge. Pricier tickets, but for a proper "night out" it's worth it.
- Tickets: online at villagecinemas.gr, or at the counters and kiosks. IMAX and Gold Class screenings sell out on weekends — book the day before.
- Timing: Wednesdays usually have a discounted ticket price. The last screenings start around 22:30–23:00 — and Line 1 runs until just after midnight (Friday and Saturday until 02:00), so getting home is easy.
🛒 Sklavenitis on Level 0 — what to stock up on before you head back
This is the part that makes a trip to The Mall genuinely useful if you're staying in an apartment: on Level 0, right by the exit to the parking and the metro, there's a large Sklavenitis (tel. 210 6300050) keeping standard shop hours. It's Greece's biggest supermarket chain — we've also got one 5 minutes from the apartment — but this branch is roomier, with a full fresh-produce section and a wide selection. Since you'll already have a bag in hand, here's what's worth taking home:
- For breakfast: strained yoghurt (Fage Total or Olympos — the real thing, not "Greek style"), thyme honey, seasonal fresh fruit (peaches and grapes in summer, oranges and mandarins in winter), bread from the in-store bakery, Greek coffee (Loumidis Papagalos) or filter coffee, milk, eggs, butter, jam.
- For a Greek dinner at home: barrel-aged feta from the cheese counter (ask for a taste), Kalamata olives, extra-virgin olive oil (the small bottles from Crete or Laconia), tomatoes, cucumber, onion, oregano — an eight-euro village salad, essentially. Plus ready-made dolmadakia, tzatziki and taramosalata from the chiller.
- For your glass: Greek wine — Santorini Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Agiorgitiko — at €7–15, well below restaurant prices. Greek beers (Fix, Mythos, Alfa, Vergina), ouzo from Plomari, tsipouro, or Chios mastiha as a digestif.
- Snacks for day trips: Cretan rusks, pasteli, nuts, breadsticks, halva, and plain bottled water (the 6×1.5-litre packs are dirt cheap here, and heavy to carry from the centre).
- Gifts to take home: Chios mastiha (gum, liqueur, sweets), loukoumi, jars of honey, vacuum-packed olives, spices (oregano, thyme, Kozani saffron), packaged Greek coffee, Macedonian halva. At supermarket prices rather than tourist-shop prices — the difference is often double.
- Practical bits: travel-size detergent, dishwasher tablets, shampoo, sunscreen, nappies, kitchen roll — all on Level 0, usually cheaper than the mini-markets in the centre.
🧊 One thing to plan for
If you're heading back by metro, remember it's 20–25 minutes plus a 5-minute walk to Ioulianou: for cheese, yoghurt and meat, grab an insulated bag at the checkout (€1–2) — especially in summer. Wrap wine and oil bottles in clothing if you're packing them in a backpack. And remember: olive oil over 100 ml can't go in aeroplane hand luggage — for gifts, buy the small bottles or pack them in your checked bag.
🚇 Getting there by metro — step by step from Ioulianou 50
This is exactly why The Mall is the mall for anyone staying with us. No line changes, no bus, no taxi.
Step 1 — Ioulianou 50 → Victoria station (4-minute walk)
Leave the apartment and head towards Victoria Square: from Ioulianou heading east, right onto Aristotelous or 3is Septemvriou, and 300 metres later you're at the entrance to Victoria station (Line 1, the "green" line, ISAP). Get your ticket (€1.20, valid for 90 minutes across all modes) from the machines with card or cash — or simply tap your contactless bank card on the gate, same as in London. One ticket per person.
Step 2 — Line 1 towards Kifisia, 11 stops (~20 minutes)
Head down to the platform marked "KIFISIA" (the other direction goes to Piraeus — towards the sea, not where you're headed today). The train runs through: Attiki → Agios Nikolaos → Kato Patisia → Agios Eleftherios → Ano Patisia → Perissos → Pefkakia → Nea Ionia → Irakleio → Eirini → Neratziotissa. It's above ground for most of the ride, so you'll watch the city change from the apartment blocks of Patisia to the leafier, house-and-garden northern suburbs. At Eirini station, look right for the Olympic Stadium and Calatrava's arch — your stop is next.
Step 3 — Neratziotissa → straight into the Mall (3 minutes)
Neratziotissa station is elevated, above the Attiki Odos motorway, and also serves the suburban rail. Follow the signs for "The Mall Athens": a covered footbridge runs from the platform level straight to the mall entrance, without crossing a single road. Not a minute in the sun or the rain. The trip back is the same in reverse: platform marked "PIRAEUS", 11 stops, Victoria.
🗺️ Map 1: Victoria → Neratziotissa on Line 1
The metro route with all 11 stops. Tap the Mall pin for public-transport directions from the apartment.
🚆 The alternative: suburban rail from Larissis Station
Neratziotissa is also served by the suburban rail (Proastiakos), on the line to the airport, which departs from Larissis Station, a 12-minute walk from Ioulianou. The ride itself takes just 12–15 minutes, but trains run only every 30–60 minutes — so it only makes sense if you check the timetable first. Your metro ticket covers it too (within Attica). For the trip back with shopping bags, Line 1's frequent service is the more relaxed option.
🚗 Getting there by car — and the affordable parking
If you've rented a car, The Mall is about 10 km from Ioulianou 50 — 17 minutes with no traffic, realistically 25–40 minutes at peak times. The route is simple: from Victoria, get onto Leoforos Alexandras, turn onto Leoforos Kifisias heading north (through Psychiko, Filothei, Marousi), and just before the Attiki Odos motorway, follow the signs for "OAKA / The Mall Athens" onto Andrea Papandreou street, which runs alongside the motorway. The parking entrance is on Andrea Papandreou, level with the building.
Coming from the Attiki Odos motorway (say, from the airport or a day trip), take exit 11 "Olympic Stadium / Leoforos Kifisias" — the mall is right there. On GPS, search "The Mall Athens" or "Andrea Papandreou 35, Marousi".
The parking: 2,100 spaces, three underground levels, cheap for Athens
The underground car park (Levels -1, -2, -3) is open daily 08:30–02:00, monitored by cameras, and its lifts open straight onto Level 0 next to Sklavenitis — handy for loading your shopping. Prices are some of the most reasonable you'll find at any mall in Attica:
| When | Price | Kathy's note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Saturday, until 21:00 | 1st hour €2.50 · 2 hours €4.50 · 3 hours €5.50 | Budget 3 hours for shopping plus food: €5.50. In central Athens the same stay costs €12–15. |
| Sunday, until 21:00 | Flat rate €5.00 | All day, however long you like — for a Sunday of cinema and food this is the best deal around. |
| Every day, 21:00–02:00 | Flat rate €4.00 | For the evening film: arrive after 21:00 and pay €4 no matter when you leave. |
Pay at the automated machines before returning to your car (they take cards and cash) — you get a few minutes to reach the exit barrier. These are the rates posted at the mall as I write this; check the sign at the entrance, as they rarely change.
🗺️ Map 2: Ioulianou 50 → The Mall Athens by car
The route via Leoforos Alexandras and Leoforos Kifisias, roughly 10 km. Tap the parking pin for Google Maps directions from the apartment.
🗺️ Map 3: Around The Mall — what's where
The Neratziotissa station and its footbridge, the main entrance, the parking entrance, Eirini station and the Olympic Stadium next door.
🕒 Opening hours — mind the Sunday closures
| What | Mon–Fri | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops | 10:00–21:00 | 10:00–20:00 | Closed* |
| Sklavenitis (Level 0) | Shop hours | Shop hours | Closed* |
| Pharmacy (Level 0) | 08:30–21:00 | 08:30–20:00 | Closed |
| Food court | 08:30–23:00 | 08:30–23:00 | 08:30–23:00 |
| Restaurants | 11:00–01:00 | 11:00–01:00 | 11:00–01:00 |
| Village Cinemas | Until the last screening | Until the last screening | Until the last screening |
| Parking | 08:30–02:00 | 08:30–02:00 | 08:30–02:00 |
* In Greece, shops close on Sundays, with a handful of exceptions set by law: the first Sunday of the January and July sales, the Sundays before Christmas, and a few others. On those Sundays The Mall opens as normal, 11:00–20:00 — check themallathens.gr for the current list.
ℹ️ Handy facilities inside
Free Wi-Fi throughout the building. Info Desk on Level 2. Baby-changing rooms on Levels 1 and 3. ATMs and bank branches (Eurobank, National Bank). Pharmacy on Level 0. Clean toilets on every level. Mall phone number: 210 6300000.
🗓️ Planning your day — Kathy's schedule
Two versions: a "full" weekday built around shopping, and a Sunday, when the shops are closed but the food and cinema are at their best.
| Time | 🛍️ Weekday shopping trip | 🎬 Sunday: food & cinema |
|---|---|---|
| 09:15 | Metro from Victoria. Coffee at Be Twins with a view, before the shops open. | Slow breakfast at home. Book the 17:00 IMAX screening online. |
| 10:00–13:00 | Shopping from Level 1 upwards, while the mall is still quiet. | Morning stroll in Pedion tou Areos park or the Archaeological Museum. |
| 13:30 | Lunch at the food court: souvlaki from Ladi kai Rigani, or pasta from Mailo's. | Metro from Victoria, arriving at 14:00. |
| 14:30–16:30 | Second round: gadgets at Public, gifts, shoes at Intersport. | Sit-down lunch at La Pasteria, unhurried. |
| 17:00 | Frozen yoghurt at Yasu, or Kayak ice cream, on the Level 3 terrace. | IMAX screening. Two and a half hours you won't forget. |
| 19:30 | Sklavenitis run, Level 0: yoghurt, fruit, feta, wine for the apartment. | A wander round the Urban Roof Garden, a drink, and frozen yoghurt. |
| 20:30 | Metro towards Piraeus, back at Victoria by 21:00. Village salad on the balcony. | Metro, Victoria by 21:15. (Sklavenitis is closed Sundays — do that shop on Monday.) |
🏟️ What else is nearby
- Olympic Stadium (OAKA): right next to The Mall, with a walk under Santiago Calatrava's arches. Worth the 20 minutes, especially at sunset. This is where the big concerts and AEK and Panathinaikos matches happen — if there's a game on, expect the metro to be packed.
- Golden Hall: The Mall's "little sibling" from the same developer, a few minutes further south on Leoforos Kifisias, opposite OAKA — more upscale and quieter. Walkable through the Olympic complex, or reachable by bus along Kifisias.
- Kifisia: three stops further on the same metro line (Marousi → KAT → Kifisia), Athens' most upscale suburb, with neoclassical buildings, cafés and the Goulandris Natural History Museum. If you have time, combine the two.
- Marousi: its own square and market, one stop before Neratziotissa, for a more "local" afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to The Mall Athens from Victoria by metro?
Take Line 1 (the green line, ISAP) from Victoria towards Kifisia, 11 stops, and get off at Neratziotissa. About 20 minutes, €1.20 ticket (valid 90 minutes). From the station, a covered footbridge leads straight to the mall entrance.
How much is parking at The Mall Athens?
Monday–Saturday until 21:00: €2.50 for the first hour, €4.50 for two, €5.50 for three. Sunday until 21:00: flat €5. Every day from 21:00 to 02:00: flat €4. There are 2,100 spaces across three underground levels, open 08:30–02:00.
Is it open on Sundays?
Shops and Sklavenitis are closed on Sundays, apart from the handful of Sundays set by law (e.g. before Christmas and at the start of the sales). The food court (08:30–23:00), restaurants (11:00–01:00), cafés, Village Cinemas and the car park all run as normal.
Is there an IMAX screen at The Mall Athens?
Yes. Village Cinemas @ The Mall Athens has the chain's only IMAX® with Laser screen in Athens, with 4K laser projection, IMAX's sound system and a giant curved screen roughly five storeys tall. It's the sole IMAX auditorium in the city. Book online, especially on weekends.
Where can I eat?
On Level 3: a food court with Ladi kai Rigani (souvlaki), Goody's, McDonald's, KFC, Taco Bell, Ancho, Shisan (sushi), Mailo's (pasta), Cong (Vietnamese), Patafritas, Pizza.gr, Everest, and restaurants like La Pasteria. Dessert at Yasu (frozen yoghurt), Kayak (ice cream), Cinnabon. Coffee at Be Twins (with a view), Starbucks, TED. Veneti Go is on Level 0.
Is there a supermarket?
Yes, a large Sklavenitis on Level 0, next to the exit for the parking and the metro, keeping standard shop hours (closed Sundays). Ideal for yoghurt, fruit, feta, olives, oil, wine and gifts at supermarket prices before you head back to the apartment.
How far is it by car from Ioulianou 50?
About 10 km via Leoforos Alexandras and Leoforos Kifisias — 17 minutes with no traffic, 25–40 minutes at peak times. From the Attiki Odos motorway, take exit 11 "Olympic Stadium / Leoforos Kifisias". The parking entrance is on Andrea Papandreou.
Is it really the biggest shopping centre in Greece?
Yes — with about 58,500 sqm of retail space, roughly 200 shops, five levels and 2,100 parking spaces, The Mall Athens (2005) remains the country's largest shopping centre.
Sources:
- The Mall Athens — Information: opening hours, parking rates, access
- The Mall Athens — Services: Sklavenitis, pharmacy, Info Desk, Wi-Fi, baby-care rooms
- The Mall Athens — Food & Drinks: restaurants, food court, cafés
- Village Cinemas — The IMAX® with Laser screen at The Mall Athens
- Wikipedia — The Mall Athens (history, size, levels)
- STASY — Metro Line 1: stops, schedules, tickets
- Route data: OpenStreetMap / OSRM (distance and driving time with no traffic)
— Kathy
