The east wall of the Athens basin — 1,026 m, lower and drier than Parnitha, with the most famous sunset view of the city.
Mt. Hymettus is the long ridge that forms the east wall of the Athens basin — sixteen kilometres long, 1,026 m at the highest point (Evzonas), drier and lower than Parnitha but closer to the city.
The classical writers — Theophrastus, Pliny — singled out the mountain for two things: its thyme honey (still the best in Greece, made from wild thyme that flowers May–June across the dry slopes), and its marble (the bluish-grey-veined stone used for the lower courses of the Acropolis). The summit ring road — the Periferiakos Imittou — is open to cars and reaches a viewpoint at 950 m with a 270-degree view from Aegina to Penteli, with the whole basin laid out below. The road is closed at sunset officially but tolerated until thirty minutes after; this is the most famous sunset view of Athens. The lower slopes hold the Kaisariani Monastery (an 11th-century Byzantine site, see its own page) and a 600-hectare protected pine forest. Bring: a windbreaker (always windier than the city), water, an early start in summer.
A Hymettus afternoon.
Half-hour from central Athens; the road climbs through pine forest; park at the viewpoint.
Small mountain kafenio at the lay-by; the view starts here; €4 coffee.
Out and back along the summit ridge; the air, the view, the silence.
Park returned to the viewpoint; the sun sets behind Hymettus into the basin; the Acropolis lit below; the closing image.
Half-hour back; dinner at Spondi or Mavro Provato; the natural Hymettus-day end.
Within twenty minutes.
On the lower western slope — the 11th-century domed church. Detail on the Kaisariani page.
At the foot of the western slope — the after-Acropolis Athens neighbourhood.
Half-hour drive east — the eleven wineries and the agricultural plain.
Half-hour drive south-west — the Athens Riviera.
Twelve kilometres west; half-hour by car.
Tell us a little about the trip you want — pace, who's coming, how you'd like to spend your mornings. We'll build the days.
