Athens' Podoniftis Stream: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Long before Athens expanded, the Attic landscape was crossed by countless streams and waterways. One of the last surviving traces of that landscape is the Podoniftis stream, which once flowed through a landscape of orchards, gardens, and cypress trees north of the city. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll discover hidden layers of that older Athens. You'll also hear how refugee communities, a legendary cave taverna, and a deadly 1994 flood all shaped the stream's story. The tour starts at the church of Agia Varvara outside Ano Patisia Metro Station. Walking along Perissou Street, you'll get your first close look at Podoniftis, its banks dense with eucalyptus, fig trees, and reeds, with water birds and even herons hunting in the shallows. The tour ends at a small park near Papanastasiou Street, from where Perissos Metro Station is a short walk away.