Exarcheia in Athens is One of the World’s Coolest Neighborhoods

Exarcheia. Photo source: GNTO/ Skoulas.

Time Out magazine recently released its 40 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World list and Exarcheia in Athens is in the 31st place.

The sixth edition of the Time Out Index involved surveying over 12,000 urban residents and consulting with experts from various cities around the world, to create a catalog of the most captivating and distinctive neighborhoods globally.

Laureles in Medellín, Colombia, was named the world’s coolest neighborhood, hailed for its nightlife and traditional Colombian vibe.

Exarcheia

Exarcheia. Photo source: Flickr.

Characterized by its rare and historic revolutionary spirit, Exarcheia is slowly becoming more of a tourist spot.

Time Out’s contributor Quentin Goerres says that “the area is home to one of Greece’s oldest universities in the shape of the Athens Polytechnic, cultural venues from museums to record stores, and great food and drink. The start of construction on a new metro station in the central square last year marked a turning point in the area, with many fearing that the anarchic and underground atmosphere of the neighborhood will be eradicated. Exarcheia’s central square has a long history of being a place to gather and stage demonstrations.”

Exarcheia. Photo source: GNTO/ Skoulas.

The magazine recommends Exarcheia as a must – visit destination in Athens offering a perfect day from ” a morning stroll through the neighborhood, where you’ll spot buildings, former squats,  with their windows cemented shut. For a dose of culture, mooch around the Archaeological Museum or one of the many record stores while for recreation and some fresh air, you can either go to the city’s nearby main park Pedion Tou Areos or the famous Strefi Hill.”

 

2023 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World Index – TOP 5

Laureles in Medellín, Colombia topped the Index for its combination of laidback atmosphere with a digital nomad-friendly vibe, while Dublin’s Smithfield, where “tradition and activism coexist” according to Time Out, followed second.

LAureles, Medellin. Photo source: Bureau de Medellin.

Madrid’s latest version of SoHo, Carabanchel came in third, while Copenhagen’s Havnen, recognized as the Danish capital’s “living room”, came in fourth. Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan closed the top 5, for being “the only place in Hong Kong where you can find a mix of historic temples, antique stores, and dried seafood stalls alongside contemporary art galleries, Melbourne-style cafes, stylish boutiques, and contemporary restaurant,” as Time Out notes.

Launched in 1968 in London, Time Out Group today is a global media and hospitality business that inspires and enables people to explore and enjoy the best a city has to offer.