Once again hotels King George and Grande Bretagne have brought the Christmas spirit in the most central part of Athens!

With a magnificent Christmas tree and festive decorations, we invite you to visit our renovated concept store ''GB Corner Gifts & Flavors'' at the Grande Bretagne, to discover amazing gift ideas and world famous sweets from our award winning pastry chef, Arnaud Lahrer.

Next door, at the entrance of King George, check out our ''KG Perfumery''. You will find top quality perfumes, ideal your friends and family.

At the ''Winter Garden'', the best lounge in town, a magnificent buffet of festive sweets will be waiting for you to enjoy them with your coffee, hot chocolate or our great variety of tea.

And of course, on Christmas and New Year's Eve visit our restaurants ''GB Roof Garden'' and ''Tudor Hall''. Our Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis has created a special menu for you and your loved ones to enjoy, all while admiring the view of a festive Athens.

Read our Christmas Festivities brochure HERE!

And don't forget to check out our Christmas package deals for an unforgetable stay at our hotels!

Set in Gazi, the brightly lit Christmas Factory looks like a real wonderland right in the middle of the city center and promises to get both young and old into the magical spirit of Christmas!

First stop, the small train that takes visitors around the village. Even though the village is set up in an industrial space - dating back to 1857, Gazi was the first coal gas factory in Greece - the result is actually very beautiful and festive. The cobbled alleys are lined with market stalls, selling everything from candy and accessories to toys and magic props!

 

Next stop, the Carousel. This old-fashioned ride it's sure to make you smile! If you want to enjoy some absolutely stunning views of the city the giant Ferris Wheel is a must-see attraction. You will also have fun in the bumper cars, the tube slide, and the mini roller coaster. There is also an ice skating rink, an indoor play area with bouncy toys, and a bunch of other funfair rides.

 

One of the main reasons to visit the village is for your little ones to write and post a letter to Santa and, of course, meet him in person. All you have to do is buy a Christmas postage stamp, write the letter, and post it in one of the red post boxes outside Santa’s headquarters. Santa's impressive headquarters feature a big fireplace, a beautiful tree, and bags filled with gifts scattered all over the room. You'll find him sitting in his chair, often surrounded by his loyal workers, the elves!

 

The Christmas Village in Gazi will run until January 6, 2022, from 10:00 to 22:00 and tickets cost 6 euros each or 20 euros for a family of 4.

Important Note: Admission to the park will be available to all adults with a Vaccination or Recovery Certificate. Children can enter upon presenting a negative Self Test result. 

All nations are welcome to attend our 'Friends of Canada' (FoC) New Year's Canada Night at 7.30pm on Thursday, January the 3rd. Lots of fun and frolic, so reserve a spot to attend via e-mail by December 28th.

La Piazza pizzeria will once again be offering a FoC special for two people (14€, 7 € each) for a shared Set pizza, salad, dessert & glass of house wine, but orders can also be made from the menu (10% off).

We are also asking guests to kindly donate items, if possible, for the Salvation Army’s ‘Green Light Project’ (for the sexually exploited):  

- Baby wipes 
- Adult women’s socks (new, any size) 
- Adult women’s underwear (new, any size).

It's the Hot spot to be for a New Year's celebration!

The editors of ARCHAEOLOGY, the publication of the Archaeological Institute of America, revealed the 10 most compelling archaeological finds of the year. Among them is a Greek relic discovered near Ancient Olympia.

 

Scientists have dated the newly discovered excerpt back to the third century A.D. at the latest and believe it is likely the oldest inscribed section of the Odyssey ever to be found in Greece.

The inscription consists of the first 13 verses of the poem’s 14th book, in which Odysseus finally returns home to Ithaca. “I think the brick was inscribed at some point, and later it was used for construction,” says Erofili-Iris Kolia, director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia.

Greece is getting ready to host its first ever Ironman 70.3 triathlon race in April 2019! Scheduled to take place at Costa Navarino in the Peloponnese on April 14, 2019, the event will welcome athletes from all around the world, who will travel to Greece to experience the renowned Greek 'philoxenia' (hospitality) and test their limits and strength in one of the most demanding sporting events in the world.

 

Ironman events are held in 55 countries around the world, while the community numbers about 1 million athletes and 5.5 million sports fans. Organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), the one-day event consists of a 4km swimming race; a 180km bicycle ride and a 42.2km marathon run.

 

Thanassis Papadimitriou, CEO & Founder of EY ZHN Greece DMC, the official travel partner of IRONMAN 70.3 Greece, said: “IRONMAN is not just a race! Ιt is an idea, a global move, a passionate crowd, an event that promotes the motto ‘Anything is possible’…” 

 

 

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Are you wondering where to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve in Athens?

Athens is so inviting during the holiday season; it’s all lit-up and beautifully decorated while the abundance of festivities are an excellent excuse to celebrate out on the town! Once you’ve finished discovering the celebrations, make your way to one of the city's great restaurants for a joyful and delicious meal with family and friends.

Chefi is a boutique grill & delicious food restaurant, housed in a lovely property with a lush garden. Enjoy the restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere and friendly service and indulge in its delicious culinary suggestions, amazing meat dishes, and mouth-watering desserts! Check out Chefi's festive menus here.

 

 

 

Discover all services and events at St Paul’s Anglican Church Athens this holy and festive season.

There will be something for everyone to participate in from Singalong Christmas Carols and Songs, to Singalong Messiah; from a service of Lessons and Carols to Midnight mass and the Family Christmas Day service.

We have much to celebrate and be thankful for so do come along and join us at one of our services

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and Athens has a great variety of shows to offer residents and visitors!

The Christmas Theater in Athens is the perfect place spend the holidays and get the chance to experience mesmerizing shows with your friends and family!

December 19-30 2018

Christmas wouldn't be the same without one of the world's best Ballet theater performing the ''Nutcracker'', accompanied by a live orchestra.

January 1-3 2019

The legendary composer Franz Lehar and his orchestra will perform 3 incredible concerts in Athens. They will present us the absolute best Viennese Waltzes and will remind us how magical the Austrian capital is at this time of the year.

Christmas Magic Festival
January 4-6 2019:

A show full of magic, humour and passion. Few of the world's best magicians and illusionists will come to Athens from places like Hollywood and Las Vegas to perform a fantastic show that will blow your mind!

This Christmas, Impact Hub Athens and the Kypseli Municipal Market are all set for the festive season and here to help you with your holiday shopping! 

You will find toys, clothes, pieces of art, selected Greek products and many more. You can even try our delicious food and drinks, listen to music and participate in small events for every age group, such as workshops, performances and the first Greek-Ethiopian festival.

By buying Greek products from the small producers of WISE Greece you will financially help the organisation and people in poverty, as well as anyone with special needs by supporting the first social flower shop, Flower Power.

At Archipelagos, a second hand shop, you will find used items in excellent condition in order to assist fellow citizens with pschycological issues, while at the Gallery-Margarita you will be able to purchase silk made items signed by famous artists.

From the 23rd of December, the Market will transform into Super Kypseli, a pop-up area where visitors will find all sorts of small businesses and even hairdressers, plumbers, electricians, craftsmen and DIY specialists. All of whom reflect the real face of our neighbourhood.

Of course, Christmas wouldn't be the same without an amazing pop-up branch! So on December the 30th, head over to enjoy some delicious street food, cuisines and stands from famous chefs, all while listening to some festive music.

At the Kypseli Municipal Market, every purchase has a positive impact on people who need our help. We are all going to be there to thank you for an amazing 2018!

S.G. Art Gallery presents the solo exhibition of Qinghua Ioanna Lin "Human Excellence"

The emerging Chinese artist, Qinghua Ioanna Lin, creates portraits of celebrities of modern world culture who have managed to gain eternity through excellence. Among them are Maria Callas, Princess Diana, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Marilyn Monroe, Vincent van Gogh, Coco Chanel, David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor, Shanmao, Zhan Guorong, Chenxiaoxu.

“I seldom drew portraits before, because at times it was difficult to face the eyes of others, as at times I find it difficult to face myself. The human eye can deliver all sorts of messages, and when it is sad, it gushes tears; when it rages, it resembles the black hole of the universe, devouring you. Man is a very complicated and advanced creature.

Human beings are the existence of senior life; portraiture, is the picture of the era”.

Qinghua Ioanna Lin

Professor Weihe Chen of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts mentions about Lin's work:

A Chinese artist who uses Chinese traditional painting material to create portraits of famous international artists and exhibites them in Athens, the place where western civilization was born.

Andy Warhol, who was the master of The Factory in New York could not imagine that a young Chinese artist used a traditional chinese method to restore his glorious appearance. Qinghua used pop art to depict his anxiety, nervousness and free spirit.

Portraits show people’s emotions and temperament. The portraits of famous people should depict the characteristics of their time and their portrayal of life feelings.

Quingua Ioanna Lin was born in Guangdong Province, South China. She lives and works between Greece and China. She studied Drawing and Art History at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and was a Lecturer at Guangdong Baiyun University. Initially, her works focused on traditional Chinese painting, while she was involved with modern Chinese Calligraphy and contemporary painting with various traditional techniques like paper ink, watercolor, and modern techniques using a variety of materials.

The exhibition will be held unfer the auspices of the "Greece China Association".

Schedule:
Duration: 13 December 2018-12 January, 2019 
Opening hours: Wednesday & Saturday: 11:00 - 16:00 Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 11:00 - 14:00 & 18:00 - 21:00