Planning a bookish escape to Athens? Discover our curated list of the city’s best literary spots, from bookshops to libraries.
Great literature has been part of Athens’ identity for centuries. Between its role as a hub of writing and culture in the Classical period and its importance to philosophers such as Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato, the Greek capital has consistently stood as a major intellectual center. Even nowadays, it still retains much of its literary charm and remains a thriving destination cherished by bibliophiles from all over the world.
Start your reading trip around Athens with the help of our book lover’s guide to the city, with places to stay, bookstores to visit, historic libraries, and plenty of other surprises along the way.
NEW Hotel Athens
An innovative project by hit designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, the NEW Hotel Athens is the best place to stay for those fond of a few titles. This accommodation is dotted with touches that book enthusiasts will appreciate, like the Art Lounge with its own dedicated library on the 7th floor that offers a stunning view of the Athens skyline.
The guestrooms exude a trendy atmosphere with modern furnishings and contemporary fixtures, but none more so than the Penthouse Suite. It comes with small shelving filled with volumes, wooden detailing, and beautifully designed marble bathrooms.
Address: Filellinon 16, Athina 105 57, Greece
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3:00PM
– Check-out time: 11AM
Bookbar by Kaktos
A recent arrival on Athens’ literary scene, Bookbar by Kaktos opened in 2023 as a book café housed in a historic building tucked away on Aiolou. Much of their book selection comes from well-known publisher Kaktos, though there’s also a solid variety of titles from other publishers as well.
Bookbar by Kaktos has a refreshing look, following a minimalist theme in both the store and the cafe. They really nail the book cafe concept, with light reads stacked beneath the coffee counters, alongside carefully arranged bookcases.
Address: Aiolou 39, Athina 105 51, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 9AM – 10PM
Lemoni Bookshop
Known locally as ‘the Lemon Bookshop,’ Lemoni is situated in the heart of Athens and covers an array of topics, but its specialty is poetry and philosophy. From the outside, Lemoni looks quite small, but once you enter, there are so many books surrounding you that you’ll feel almost tiny.
Beyond being a bookshop, Lemoni has a few other sides to it. They regularly host reading clubs and occasionally put on photography exhibitions, which are always a pleasure to witness.
Address: 118 51, Iraklidon 22, Athina 118 51, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9:30AM – 9:30PM
– Saturday: 9:30AM – 8PM
– Sunday: Closed
Little Tree Books and Coffee
Whenever you need a break and want to take things slow, curling up with a book for the day with a cuppa in hand, nothing beats a book café, and Little Tree Books and Coffee is one of Athens’ finest. Set near the Acropolis, their cozy location is instantly recognizable on Kavalloti, with a few seats out front and wide-open doors that let you peek inside at its stock of works.
The menu at Little Tree Books and Coffee is filled with warm drinks, including coffee, hot chocolate, and soft drinks. If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, be sure to give some of the desserts a shot, like a luscious slice of carrot cake.
Address: Kavalloti 2, Athina 117 42, Greece
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Sunday: 9AM – 12:30AM
– Monday: Closed
Book Garden
Book Garden is one of Kolonaki’s top second-hand bookstores, where you can find something to read in plenty of languages, including Greek, English, French, and German. Inside, it almost feels like a greenhouse with lush plant life scattered around the place and green interiors that set the tone.
If you need to offload some books from your existing collection, Book Garden also has a donation system in place. As long as your hardcovers and paperbacks are readable and intact, they’ll take them off your hands.
Address: Dimitrakopoulou 51, Athina 117 41, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 10:30AM – 6PM
– Saturday: 10:30AM – 4PM
– Sunday: Closed
Vallianeio Megaron
Now we’re moving on to one of Athens libraries, but not just any library, it’s the great Vallianeio Megaron. Built in a striking neoclassical style, the Vallianeio Megaron was previously home to more than 2 million works, including books, manuscripts, and much more, making it an important cultural landmark in its prime.
After nearly two years of closure, the Vallianeio Megaron, the historic headquarters of the National Library of Greece in the heart of Athens, is preparing to reopen its doors to the public. The collection that was held here was relocated in 2017 to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. However, you can still stop by the site to admire the impressive facade, with grand staircases, imposing sculptures, and ornate pillars.
Address: Panepistimiou 32, Athina 106 79, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 4PM
– Saturday and Sunday: Closed
BOOKS PLUS
Right across the street from Panepistimio Subway Station, BOOKS PLUS is a multi-story shop that’s easy to get lost in. Visitors are immediately struck by the expansive murals that span the walls, which blend nicely with the scattered book presentations around the store.
The lineup at Books Plus is divided between English and Greek language titles, though it leans slightly toward Greek, with a strong emphasis on authors and philosophers from around the country.
Address: Panepistimiou 37, Athina 105 64, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 8:30AM – 9PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 8PM
– Sunday: Closed
Παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο Ίστωρ (Istor Used Bookstore)
Παλαιοβιβλιοπωλείο Ίστωρ, or otherwise known as Istor Used Bookstore, is a popular shop for picking up pre-owned texts on the busy avenue of Akadimias. There’s no shortage of titles here, with plenty of areas of interest including history, economics, and science. It doesn’t just end there. Their offering extends to diaries and newspapers as well.
Make sure to have a good look around when at Istor Used Bookstore, as there’s often plenty of written works priced cheaply. If you have a particular book in mind before visiting and see it available on their website, reserve it ahead of time to ensure they still have it before you arrive.
Address: Akadimias 63, Athina 106 78, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday and Wednesday: 10AM – 6PM
– Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10AM – 8PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
– Sunday: Closed
Patakis Bookstore
With more than 200,000 volumes up for grabs, Patakis Bookstore is one to look out for on your visit to Athens. Showcasing the best of the best from both Greek and international publishers, their shop is loaded with books on a range of topics from politics and economics to humanities and social sciences.
Low, table-sized bookcases line the expansive open floor, with taller shelving covering the walls displaying even more literature. Although there’s an abundance of densely arranged aisles of books throughout Patakis Bookstore, it’s well organized for customers to browse with ease.
Address: Akadimias 65, Athina 106 78, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 9PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 5PM
– Sunday: Closed
Booktique
If you’re traveling with children and need to give them some pages to flick through during their downtime, Booktique’s specialised kids section in Kolonaki has been praised by locals and visitors alike. They have so many options for younger readers of all ages, whether it’s toddlers or teens.
Adults are also well served at Booktique, with plenty of fiction and non-fiction publications on sale. Staying true to its name, the shop embraces a boutique atmosphere, featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of English-language books alongside gift-worthy pieces by Greek designers.
Address: Patriarchou Ioakim 21, Athina 106 75, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday and Wednesday: 10AM – 6PM
– Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10AM – 9PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
– Sunday: Closed
Free Thinking Zone
Part bookstore, part cultural events space, the Free Thinking Zone is a vibrant creative hub. It’s a place where activism takes center stage and conversations unfold around bookish topics like politics, ideology, and history, with a well-rounded English-language section for visitors to enjoy.
There are plenty of thoughtful touches that make the Free Thinking Zone stand out, from their in-house coffee to open panel discussions held at various times. The owner is also incredibly helpful with recommendations and always happy to chat about all sorts of subjects, whether light or more serious.
Address: 106 80, Skoufa 64 &, Griveon 1, Athina 106 80, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 10:30AM – 7:30PM
– Tuesday and Thursday: 10:30AM – 8:30PM
– Saturday: 10:30AM – 4PM
– Sunday: 12AM – 3PM
Kompraí
If there’s one thing all of us readers can agree on, it’s that nothing tops a good indie bookshop like Kompraí. Founded in 2022, Kompraí gives special attention to literature and essays at their cute store on Didotou, best admired while browsing with a coffee in hand, which they serve on site.
Kompraí’s look is defined by fresh white interiors, complemented by thoughtful details such as pendant lighting and a light-blue rolling ladder attached to the bookshelves.
Address: Didotou 34, Athina 106 80, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 10AM – 8PM
– Saturday: 11AM – 6PM
– Sunday: Closed
Lexikopoleio
Lexikopoleio places a heavy focus on dictionaries. Yes, that’s right, nicely placed in the Pangrati district, the shop was the first one in the country to deliver dictionaries of all kinds. Some are written in various languages such as English, Greek and Ancient Greek, German, French, and more, while others are based on phrases or proverbs, giving customers a nice mix to choose from.
Not only does Lexikopoleio sell new dictionaries, but they also stock a sizable number of rare options and second-hand versions. You’ll even be able to pick up some general ready material too, so don’t let the dictionary focus deter you if you’re just after a new fictional read for the flight home.
Address: Stasinou 13, Athina 116 35, Greece
Opening hours:
– Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday: 10AM – 6PM
– Thursday and Friday: 10AM – 9PM
– Monday and Sunday: Closed
National Library of Greece
After discussing the Vallianeio Megaron, it only makes sense to mention the new location where the collection is held, which is the National Library of Greece at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. The facility is spectacular in every sense, with eight well-appointed reading rooms, a sustainable design, and a multi-storey reading hall.
Included in the National Library of Greece’s inventory of over a million items are 20,000 rare texts, 4,000 works of art, and 5,500 manuscripts. On top of that, the collection includes 300 million digital resources and around one million historical materials.
Address: Leof. Andrea Siggrou 364, Kallithea 176 74, Greece
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 8PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 2PM
– Sunday: Closed
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Adam Ryan
Adam is a distinguished content writer, bookworm, and full-time adventurer with a constant craving for coffee. When he's not working, he loves exploring remote corners of the world, immersing himself in different cultures, and writing about his experiences.
