Teleporio™ — Greek Island Travel Intelligence

Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is the most spectacular open-air concert venue in the world. Guide to the Athens Epidaurus Festival programme, booking, and what to expect.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Built in 161 CE by the Roman rhetor Herodes Atticus in memory of his wife, the Odeon is a 5,000-seat open-air theatre beneath the Acropolis that hosts the centrepiece programme of the Athens Epidaurus Festival from June to September. It is one of eight major cultural venues covered in the Teleporio Discover Athens guide to Athens cultural life.

Booking and Programme

Tickets for performances at Athens venues are generally available through the official venue website and through the Athens Epidaurus Festival box office for festival programme events. For summer performances — particularly at Herodes Atticus and Lycabettus — advance booking is strongly recommended, as the most anticipated concerts sell out weeks in advance. The Epidaurus performances on summer weekends require booking further ahead than central Athens performances.

Practical Notes

Evening performances in Athens begin no earlier than 21:00 — often later. Plan dinner before or after, not during. Most Athens cultural venues have no rigid dress code, but attending a performance in smart casual dress is the norm rather than the exception. The combination of a performance at a major Athens venue with the city's evening energy — dinner in Psyrri or Koukaki before or after — is one of the finest experiences the city offers.

Getting There

All major Athens venues are reachable by metro or a short taxi ride from the city centre. The Athens metro runs until midnight on weekdays and later on weekends — check the current timetable for late-night return options after performances. For venues outside the central zone, pre-booking a return taxi is advisable, particularly on busy summer weekends when demand is high after concerts end.