Where to run in Athens? Best running routes for long runs, intervals and trail running
Are you visiting Athens and looking for the best places to run in the Greek capital? Here are my personal recommendations, from the parks to the trails and the beach front.
The pros and cons of running in Athens
I spent one month in Athens, during which I was training for a half marathon and running six days a week. I therefore clocked a lot of miles in Athens and explored a variety of running routes. Before I tell you about my favourite places to run in Athens, let’s look at the pros and cons.
The pros
The weather is generally always nice. It gets really warm during the Summer but if you get your run done early in the morning you won’t be too hot. I was in Athens in January, and although it was a little chilly in the morning, it was much warmer than at this time of the year in London.
Every run is a sightseeing tour. Wherever you go, you’ll see historic sites from a distance, statues and stunning buildings. If you love exploring a city whilst running, you’ll love Athens.
The cons
Athens is a busy capital and a little *chaotic* at times. Traffic is crazy at all times of the day, even early in the morning and you’ll have to stop at traffic lights more than once.
It’s a hilly city, which is both a blessing and a curse. Incorporating hills into your training is beneficial, but it can be tricky to find a flat stretch for your speed sessions. There are a few athletics tracks you can go to, but you’ll have to pay. Personally, I preferred dealing with a little elevation and enjoying the stunning views rather than running laps around a track.
Where to run in Athens? My favourite running routes
If you’re interested in seeing the running routes in details (exact routes, elevation, distance…), you can check out my runs between December 20th 2022 and January 20th 2023 on Strava.
Check out this Reel for a quick overview.
National and Zappeion Gardens
They are basically two parks in one and make a decent loop. You can take the paths inside the gardens or run around them.
The area is not pan flat but it’s one of the flattest for interval sessions (this loop is great) and you don’t need to stop for cars. Some areas are not extremely lit up, so if you run in the dark you may want to wear a chest light.
You’ll see a few statues, the beautiful Zappeion Hall and if you run around the gardens, you’ll also spot the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
For a bigger loop on an easy run day, you can include Rizari Park which isn’t far away. However I don’t recommend this one for intervals. It has many twists and turns and gets busy as there’s a tube station there.
Pedion Tou Areos Park
Another great park, where I went for medium to long runs and even some speed sessions. It has a little more elevation than the National and Zappeion Gardens but it’s very enjoyable to run inside this park and it’s very quiet in the morning.
I also loved seeing the very tall statue of Goddess Athena just in front of the main entrance gate.
This route inside the park was a great loop. It’s a little over 3km away from the Acropolis area where I stayed, but I enjoyed running there and back via Panepistimiou street which has some stunning buildings.
Beach promenade
I wish the beach was closer to the centre, because it’s lovely to run on the promenade. You can also do a few laps around the Stavros Niarchos park which is by the beach.
It’s a little over 5km away from the Acropolis neighbourhood so it’s mainly a long run route, and you have to pay attention to traffic (be prepared to stop several times for cars). It’s also not pan flat, but nowhere is in Athens!
Philopappos Hill
If you enjoy trail running, you’ll have a great time in Athens! I’m mainly a road runner but I enjoyed a few trail runs on Philopappos Hill and made good use of my Nike Pegasus Trail 4.
It has a variety of terrains (gravel, dirt, paved paths) and the views at the top are incredible, especially at sunrise.
Best streets for hill reps
If you prefer to do your hill reps on tarmac, you’ll easily find roads with enough incline. I would recommend Mitseon street as well as Mark. Mousourou street where I did a great pyramid hill session (up to 90s reps)
Can you run inside the Panathenaic Stadium?
Yes you can! They do “morning jogging” sessions between 7:30 and 9:00, where you are allowed to run on the track inside the stadium. Watch this Reel for a sneak peek.
It officially opens at 8:00 for non-running visitors, so if you arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 you’ll have to pay the 10 euro fee on your way out.
What makes the Panathenaic Stadium special?
This stadium was the home of the very first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and it’s also the only stadium in the world to be entirely made of white marble. It’s absolutely stunning and a really cool experience.
Although the stadium is very old, the track is very modern and it’s a great surface to run on. However, it’s not a 400m track, but 180m.
I personally didn’t do a session there, just an easy run because I wanted to enjoy the experience and take photos without worrying about the quality of my run that day.
After your run, make sure to take the underground path that leads to a mini museum dedicated to Modern Olympic Games up until today.
Want to see video footage of the best places to run in Athens and the Stadium? Check out this video:
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