Athens’ Iconic Lykavittos Theater to Reopen in Fall

The Lykavittos open-air theatre (before works began for its upgrade) on Lycabettus Hill gives panoramic views of Athens.

The historic Lykavittos open-air theater atop Lycabettus Hill in central Athens, will be reopening to the public following a complete revamp, announced Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis this week.

The popular 3,000-seat Lykavittos Theater has hosted some of the world’s and Greece’s brightest stars, including Peter Gabriel, Moby, James Brown, Tito Puente, Jethro Tull, Radiohead, as well as Mikis Theodorakis, Haris Alexiu, and Pyx Lax.

The theater is scheduled to open its doors after getting a facelift as part of an ongoing drive for the overall upgrade of the Greek capital.

The Lykavittos open-air theatre (before works began for its upgrade).

“The theater of Lycabettus, a venue associated with unforgettable summer evenings full of sounds and spectacles will be operating again this summer hosting events and concerts,” Bakoyannis told the press.

Lykavittos Theater has remained closed for years due to safety hazard. The overhaul of the venue was undertaken by the Athens Municipality. In 2021, the management of Lycabettus Hill, was handed over to the  municipal authority after a city council decision ended a jurisdiction dispute.

In 2021, the municipality of Athens announced a 1.5-million-euro revamp program to be funded by the European Investment Bank and to include the reconstruction and reopening of the Lykavittos Theater, maintenance of the hill’s trails and footpaths, anti-flooding and anti-corrosion works, lighting and road upgrades with the use of sustainable materials. Initial forecasts placed completion in 18 months’ time.

Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis at the Lykavittos open-air theater where upgrade works are in progress. Photo source: @KostasBakoyannispage

Bakoyannis had committed to establishing Lycabettus Hill as an exemplary landmark of Athens. “After years of indifference and neglect…. We are working to reclaim lost time …passing from theory to action,” he said. “Our goal is to give the citizens of Athens, but also all its visitors, a living and recreational space.”

Lykavittos Theater was designed by architect Takis Zenetos and constructed in 1965 over an old quarry on the initiative of Greek thespian Anna Synodinou.

“There is still some time left before the historic Lykavittos Theater welcomes us into its embrace after years of silence. See you in September for the first concert,” said Bakoyannis.