From Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday, the Maria Callas Museum of the City of Athens invites children aged 5 to 10 to the MCM Kids Easter Camp, a camp filled with music, theater, visual arts, and play! Every morning from 10:00 to 13:00, children will experience the magic of spring inside and outside the Museum, participating in experiential art-filled activities.

Through play and artistic experience, children become familiar with the performing arts and discover the life and work of Maria Callas. At the same time, they get to know the Museum as a space for creating experiences and play, exploring their imagination and creativity while understanding how opera combines different arts into a single unified experience.

MCM Kids Easter Camp Program:

Holy Monday, April 6, 2026 | When the Egg Went Missing! 
Easter Treasure Hunt in the Museum & Visual Arts Play 

A mysterious musical Easter egg that was supposed to be in a performance of Carmen has gone missing inside the Museum! Children are called to find it through a musical treasure hunt. Guided by imagination, cooperation, and the sounds emerging from the exhibits, kids explore the Museum spaces, solve riddles, and discover hidden stories. The day concludes with an artistic game, where children capture their hunting experience by creating their own 3D Easter egg, inspired by the colors, sounds, and emotions of the day.

Holy Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | Musical Canvases! 
Visual Arts Play & Musical Storytelling 

Spring is in the air inside and outside the Maria Callas Museum, and inspiration comes from nature and music! Children head outside to observe the colors and images of spring through an exploration game. Afterward, they listen to musical excerpts in the museum's themed stage rooms, connecting sounds, emotions, and images. Finally, they collectively create a large spring canvas, which isn't just a piece of art, but the backdrop for a story born from their play and imagination. The children's story will be presented within the Museum's exhibition space!

Holy Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | OPERA: SOS! 
Drama Education Program 

On the final day, everything is turned upside down! The opera is lost, and nothing is in its place. The children take action, splitting into teams of set designers, musicians, singers, actors, and technicians. Through collaboration, they rebuild an opera from scratch—its story, its music, its sets, and its roles. The day culminates in the presentation of the "Lost Opera," where everything they learned and created over the previous days comes together in a celebration of art and teamwork.

General Information:

• Dates: Holy Monday – Holy Wednesday, April 6 - 8, 2026

• Hours: 10:00 – 13:00

• Ages: 5 – 10 years old

• Cost: €18 per child/day or €50 per child for all three days. A 10% sibling discount applies.

• Flexibility: Bookings can be made for one or more days; attendance for the full program is not mandatory.

• Reservations: Limited spots available. Booking is required via more.com.

• Important Note: Children should bring their own mid-morning snack.

For Chaperones/Parents: 

While the children enjoy the Easter activities on Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday, accompanying adults can:

• Tour the museum exhibition space with a reduced ticket (€7).

• Enjoy coffee or breakfast with a 15% discount at the La Divina café.

• Explore the museum gift shop.

The first edition of the Athens International Literature Festival (AILF) will be taking place at Technopolis City of Athens from 27 to 29 March with free entrance, welcoming visitors to a three-day celebration of the power of literature. Discussions, book signings, masterclasses and a packed slate of side events will transform Technopolis into an open space for thoughtful dialogue and joyful creativity.

Top international writers, among them 2025 Nobel Prize winner László Krasznahorkai and Booker Prize winners David Szalay (2025) and Paul Lynch (2023), will be joined by activists, journalists, athletes, and filmmakers to discuss the hot-button issues of our times, such as identities and gendered violence, migration and the rise of the far right, and the relationship between literature and other aspects of modern life, like politics and cinema.   
  

Entrance to the festival is free, but getting a free entry pass is necessary to participate in the panel discussions that will be taking place in the Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert” and the Purifier Hall. A limited number of passes will be available for early booking through the more.com platform on Monday 23 March at 12:00. The rest will be available at the AILF registration desk two hours before the start of each event and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Entry pass holders will have to be at the venue 20 minutes prior to the start of the panel. Please allow yourself plenty of time to get to the venue, as latecomers will not be seated and their entry passes will be invalid.  

For those unable to get an entry pass, LED screens in the Upper Courtyard and the INNOVATHENS space will be showing the discussions for all visitors, no booking required. 

Live translation into Greek, English and the Greek sign language will be available for all panel discussions. To get access to the digital translation platform, visitors will be able to scan a QR code prominently displayed at the venue and connect through their mobile phone. To listen to the live translation, visitors will have to use their own headphones.
 

A rich slate of side events will round out the festival, expanding the visitors’ literary experience beyond the venues of the panel discussions and into the city and the world of the imagination. Guided tours of the Industrial Gas Museum and a walking tour of downtown Athens, digital art installations, screenings and musical events make up a diverse program of experiences where literature enters a creative dialogue with Athens and its industrial heritage, music and the moving image, graphic arts and the new technologies. Entrance to the AILF side events will be free on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Literature meets cinema for a night dedicated to the intense and uncompromising gaze of the late Hungarian director Béla Tarr. On Saturday 28 March at 21:00, join us for a screening of the iconic film Werckmeister Harmonies at the Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”, an evocative, poetic masterpiece that had a profound impact on European cinema. The film will be introduced by Béla Tarr’s long-time collaborator and screenwriter, László Krasznahorkai. 

On Sunday 29 March, after 20:30, the festival will be screening clips from the video installation and filmed public events created by the ongoing community project the AfroGreeks (11 films), an artistic endeavor that is in direct conversation with the themes of the panel Deconstructing “white thinking” on its own turf with Lilian Thuram, Demis Nikolaidis, Lauretta Macauley and moderator Panagiotis Menegos. The project is run by the Døcumatism collective and the Afro-Greek protagonists themselves and is presented as a video installation complemented by public events, workshops, a podcast, musical events, discussions, screenings and audiovisual material from the history of the African diaspora in Greece and the Mediterranean over the past four centuries.

As a Major Sponsor of Technopolis City of Athens, COSMOTE TELEKOM continues to forge new paths at the intersection of Art and Technology, presenting its own Art/Tech Corner at the 1st Athens International Literature Festival. On Saturday and Sunday from 14:00 to 20:00, visitors will have the opportunity to experience an innovative literary universe, where words and stories come alive through immersive, interactive, and multisensory journeys.

What if you could walk inside your favorite book? At the Art/Tech Corner, Immersive Cinema by Poetics transforms storytelling into a new digital experience through 360° VR projections, from the cosmic sci-fi of Arthur C. Clarke in 2001: A Space Odyssey, as visualized by Stanley Kubrick, to the dystopian fantasies of Philip K. Dick. Visitors will also get the opportunity to discover a striking literary and audiovisual work chronicling writer John Hull’s personal journey into the world of blindness, based on his audio diaries. 

 

The Art/Tech Corner hosts two unique works of digital art and literature that allow the written word to escape the page and become a digital experience, curated by the Athens Digital Arts Festival (ADAF). Words, stories, movement, and interaction invite the audience to “read” with their body, gaze, and touch. Invading Space Characters by Vera Sebert is a game where poetic prose about memory loss slowly moves across the screen while the viewer/player destroys characters one by one with a click, opening gaps within the poem itself. As the letters disappear, reading becomes fragile and the text is deconstructed right before our eyes, like memory gradually fading. Acqua Alta by Adrien M and Claire B is a book brought to life through augmented reality. Ink drawings and foldable paper transform into an intimate dance performance. A mundane story is disrupted by a strange flood of ink, transforming a simple narrative into a dreamscape.

 

Highlighting the connection between AILF and the venue hosting it, on Saturday and Sunday at 12:00, the team of the Industrial Gas Museum will lead guided tours for adults and teenagers through Athens’ former gasworks, a rare industrial monument and the best-preserved gas factory in Europe. Participants will meet at the Central Chimney and follow the original gas production line to admire the machinery, experience the factory smells still lingering on site, and gain insight into the workers’ roles and everyday life in the historic Gazi district through historical documents and audiovisual materials.

The first edition of the AILF special section Athens, a city for writers is dedicated to accomplished Greek writer Menis Koumandareas (1931-2014), a formidable chronicler of Athens. On Sunday 29 March, at 11:00, we take to the streets of the city for a walking tour highlighting the landmarks that inspired his writing and instilled his characters with life and specificity. Starting from Hotel Grand Bretagne, we will follow the traces of Koumandareas’ literary heritage from the heart of the city to Monastiraki and Gazi, and get to know the city through his eyes. Guided by Alexandra Tranta, Doctor of Archaeology and Museum Studies and literary executor of Menis Koumandareas, this literary walk explores the neighborhoods, textures, and urban stories that shaped his work. 

As each festival day draws to a close, music takes over and the conversations sparked by the festival continue in a more relaxed, joyful atmosphere. Every night, in the Auditorium Courtyard, three unique dj sets will round out your AILF experience.  

On Friday 27 March, at 21:00, En Lefko 87.7 radio producer Sakis Tsitomeneas sets the tone for AILF with a special DJ set, opening the festival with cinematic soundscapes, pop, electronica, and ambient textures that will get us moving. On Saturday 28 March, at 20:00, radio producer and DJ of Nostos 100.6 Iliana Stergiopoulou, takes over the decks for the second day of AILF, inviting the audience to a unique musical experience full of eclectic sounds, from neo soul, RnB and downtempo to electro jazz, electronica, sophisticated indie, and soul. The closing party of the festival on Sunday 29 March, at 20:30, will be in good hands, with the performers/protagonists of the AfroGreeks project, Tokyo (Tony Youngster) and Pepper & Spice (Konstantinos Kalagbor) delivering a dynamic dj set full of black music, accompanied by open-air screenings of videos from the AfroGreeks community project. 

AILF’s in-depth masterclasses will give participants the chance to gain insight into the creative process of two internationally acclaimed writers, Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch and prominent American novelist Nicole Krauss. After each panel discussion, there will be book signings at the specially modified Old Retorts venue, where visitors will be able to meet and talk to the writers on a first-come, first-served basis. Greek editions of the writers’ books and festival merchandise will be available to buy both at the Technopolis shop and the festival book café, which will take over the INNOVATHENS space. 

At the end of March, in the heart of Athens, literature will provide the inspiration for three days of dialogue, creativity and community. The 1st Athens International Literature Festival will transform Technopolis City of Athens into a space where ideas meet creators and the audience becomes part of a vibrant, multifaceted celebration of literature. 

---

See the full program of festival events at ailf.gr

---

For all the latest festival news, follow the AILF official accounts. 

Website: www.ailf.gr

Facebook: AILF - Athens International Literature Festival 

Instagram: @ailf.gr

The 5th Anniversary Japan Festival is entering its final stretch with an exciting, refreshed program! Dozens of workshops, talks, live streams, concerts, performances, cosplay events, art exhibitions, retro gaming consoles, and much more await you - right where the heart of Japan beats!

Visitors will embark on a journey to Japan with Kiki Koda, the festival’s Ambassador, as she explores the Japanese mindset, daily life, and way of thinking. Professor Kosuke Fukuda, PhD, will share his insights—delivered in fluent Greek—on the travels and work of Nikos Kazantzakis in Japan, including the author’s unforgettable experiences in Osaka in 1935. The friends of the Japanese Festival can also try their hand at writing haiku, sparking creativity and reflecting on the similarities and differences between Greek and Japanese culture in a workshop led by psychologist Stavroula Sanida, and they can watch the moving documentary The Lit-Up Calm by Hisashi Arima, which tells the story of the residents of Suzu City as they recover from two devastating earthquakes, restoring their annual matsuri festival and finding the resilience to rebuild their community. For lovers of Japanese history, mythology and folklore, Andreas Patsalides - also known as Tzapanezk - will present his book TZAPANEZK, immersing guests in a universe of gods, emperors, spirits, legends, and extraordinary tales, and welcoming discussions with anyone who shares a passion for the world of Japan.

The Japanese can find beauty in everything—even in the old, the worn, the imperfect, the humble, and the accidental. The Japan Festival invites visitors to experience the modest yet profound charm of Japanese traditional arts. Nectaria Dassacli, Conservator of Antiquities, will introduce audiences to Kintsugi, the traditional technique of repairing ceramics with gold, which heals a broken object and celebrates its story while transforming its cracks into marks of memory and value. Meanwhile, Japanese calligraphy master Mizuki Imamura will offer a deeply Japanese experience through her dedication to the mastery of the brush, and initiate visitors into the “living art” of Shodo, where every brushstroke carries the breath and spirit of the artist.

The festival will also showcase a world of beauty emerging from the elegance of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, with Christalla Karaisaridou, inviting guests to awaken the beauty within themselves. Festival guests can also explore the Japanese Oni mask in Diabolu’s workshop, transforming it through the creative process of painting and modeling.

The infinite potential of a simple material fascinates Alex Lucky Origami, a Civil Engineer who has folded hundreds of origami papers, exploring their deep connections with mathematics and geometry - much like architect Masahiro Chatani, who used origami to represent 3-D designs, opening up new perspectives with light and shadow. Japanese ingenuity also shines in Rakugo, a traditional form of storytelling invented by Buddhist monks  who wanted to make their sermons more appealing. Kimochi, one of Japan’s most talented Rakugo performers, will share both humorous and bittersweet tales exclusively for the Japan festival audiences.

Between 1794 and 1795, an artist working under the name Tōshūsai Sharaku created over 140 Ukiyo-e woodblock prints featuring Kabuki actors, Sumo wrestlers, and others, and then disappeared without a trace. Reflections on the work of this mysterious artist, Sharaku and Toulouse -Lautrec will be the main theme of Nektarianna K.Saliverou’s speech. The festival will also celebrate contemporary Japanese art through manga. Award-winning Greek mangaka Gyro Doujima, who lives and works in Japan, will introduce audiences to the magic of manga—often considered the cultural successor of Ukiyo-e—and will perform a live painting session specially for the festival.

The main stage will host the ultimate cosplay competition, featuring headliners Yvaine Dazzling and Olivia Chan, who will present the epic showdown of the country’s most talented cosplayers! The winners will travel to Japan to the international Pop Culture Festival in Hiroshima where they will represent Greece!


Photo Credit: Panos Bakogiannis

The main stage will shine with the performance by THE SUPERNOVAS in collaboration with Blue Hair Veela, while Greek cosplayer and crafter AngieV will share her secrets for the perfect cosplaying pose and photoshoot in a unique workshop. As for the savvy fans, they will be able to test their knowledge in the most exciting Anime Quiz Game, hosted by the well-known voice actor and radio producer Tasos Ntapantas from Greek Otaku Radio, and win collectible gifts, as well as exclusive anime merchandise!

This year’s Japan Festival welcomes an exciting special guest: Japanese music producer and performer KOHEI. With expressive vocals inspired by J-pop and J-rock, he combines the energy of Japanese pop culture with electrifying live performances, promising an unforgettable concert experience filled with emotion and dynamic sound.

The stage will also come alive with Japan’s beloved popular songs from the Shōwa era, performed by the captivating singer LJ English. Known for his powerful voice and striking tailor-made costumes, he brings passion and nostalgia to these timeless melodies. Meanwhile, W♪shcheerful will guide the Greek audience through a rich journey across Japanese music, from the nostalgic sounds of kayōkyoku to contemporary J-pop.

In 2007, Dimitris Rapakousios heard the Tsugaru shamisen, a traditional string instrument from northern Japan, for the first time. Since then, he has traveled eight times to Aomori, its birthplace, to study under the renowned Shibutani Kazuo Sensei. Now a virtuoso of the shamisen, he will share on the Japan Festival stage the powerful and evocative sounds of this tradition—music shaped by the region’s harsh winters, gentle autumns, and the breathtaking spring of cherry blossoms in bloom.

The Japan Festival celebrates the enduring spirit of Bushidō, honoring its legacy and influence on martial arts. Esteemed instructors will present dynamic demonstrations, offering audiences a glimpse into Japanese martial arts. The iconic “Empty Hand” martial art, Karate, originated in the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and spread worldwide through the Shotokan style taught by Funakoshi Sensei.

Savvas Mastrappas (8th Dan)—an accomplished international competitor and former coach of the Greek National Fudokan–Shotokan Karate Team—will join his team to showcase the power, precision, and discipline of this remarkable art. Festival visitors will also discover the graceful practice of Aikido, which does not rely on muscular strength but on complete harmony with the opponent’s movement in order to achieve maximum effect. Sensei Panagiotis Agrios of the Athens Bushido Center and Sensei Christos Koutelieris of Hellenic Inochikan Aikikai will introduce this elegant martial art focused on awareness and personal growth. Completing the program, Nikos Tsoupakis will present the Okinawan traditions of Yuishinkai and Ryukyu Kobujutsu, sharing more than 25 years of experience in preserving these historic martial arts.

Festival visitors will have the chance to sharpen their minds with the timeless strategy of Japanese board games at the Japan Festival. They will have the opportunity to discover the elegance and challenge of Go, widely considered the world’s oldest board game, guided by certified instructor Petros Zazanis, or experience the fast-paced twists and strategic reversals of Othello with Andreas Litsas from the Hellenic Othello Players Association. Meanwhile, with Kostas Vlachos, visitors will explore traditional games such as Mahjong, Shogi, and the beautiful “flower cards” of Hanafuda. This card game developed during the Edo period, and today the largest active producer of Hanafuda cards is Nintendo, a company that first began its journey in 1889.

Those who seek to discover the secrets of the stars can try 9 Star Ki, a method of Japanese astrology, that offers a comprehensive system for understanding a person’s character, talents, and life or relationship dynamics with Fanis Chazakis, in addition to the life force that surrounds us with Reiki practitioner and Life Coach Naoko Ishikawa who will introduce audiences to ki, a term that describes the vital energy that flows through all living things, connecting breath, spirit, and the natural world, who will also showcase the Japanese face-lifting method, a practice that harmonizes energy and beauty.

These experiences and much more await you at the celebratory 5th Japan Festival - don’t miss it!

The Japan Festival renews its support for Be the Miracle.

Panagiotis Agrios (Organizer, Public Relations)

Dorita Papadodima (Production Organization & Execution)

Art Exhibitions Curatorship: Artkor Team

The Athens International Literature Festival debuts at Technopolis from March 27–29, 2026. This three-day celebration brings together world-renowned authors, Nobel and Booker prize winners, journalists, and activists for a series of provocative discussions on the most urgent topics in literature and society today.

Program Highlights

The festival features a stellar international lineup exploring identity, gendered violence, the rise of the far-right, and the future of reading in the digital age. Key participants include:

• Nobel & Booker Winners: László Krasznahorkai, Paul Lynch, David Szalay, and Nicole Krauss.

• Featured Voices: Kevin Barry, Selva Almada, Katharina Volckmer, and activist Lilian Thuram.

• Special Events: Masterclasses with Paul Lynch and Nicole Krauss, book signings at the "Old Retorts" venue, and a tribute to Athenian chronicler Menis Koumandareas.

Quick Schedule

• Friday: Opening talks on resistance and political anxiety (18:00 – 21:00).

• Saturday: Full day of panels on femicide, Dark Europe, and book clubs (12:00 – 20:00).

• Sunday: Discussions on AI, cinema vs. literature, and deconstructing racial identity (14:00 – 20:00).

You can take a look at the fulle schedule HERE and on the AILF website!

---

You paid for home insurance on your Greek property and believe that you have coverage.

There is a little-known provision in many home insurance policies (the vacant clause) that could have invalidated your coverage while your property is empty. It usually states that if your property remains vacant for 30 to 60 days consecutively, the insurance company will either reduce coverage or eliminate it completely. 

• Greek diaspora property owners based in Australia, Canada, the U.K., the U.S.A. and elsewhere
  
  
• Property owners with a Golden Visa who are away from Greece frequently
  
  
• Seasonal owners with homes in Greece that sit empty for extended periods of time
  
  
• Any owner that relies upon a neighbor or family member to “check” on the property when they are away.
  
  

This last point is particularly relevant. Informally making arrangements with a family member does not constitute documentation of oversight. In the event that you file a claim and your insurance provider requests evidence that the property was being monitored during the time of the loss, a text message from your neighbour will not suffice.

• Vacant Clause - Exceeding the 30 to 60 day threshold will allow the insurance company to either reduce or invalidate coverage.
  
  
• Theft/Vandalism - These are often the first items that insurance companies drop once a vacancy limit is exceeded.
  
  
• Water Damage - Undetected leaks caused by burst pipes and boilers can turn a minor leak into a totally gutted apartment.
  
  
• Wildfire/Storm Damage - Greece’s vulnerability to wildfires and storms makes unmonitored properties extremely susceptible to damage.
  
  
• Claims Notification Deadlines - Depending on the type of claim filed, some Greek insurance policies have a requirement that claims be notified to the insurance provider within eight (8) days of the insured discovering the damage; whereas, in cases involving theft, the police must be notified within twenty-four (24) hours. In cases where no one is checking the property, it is likely that the opportunity to file a timely claim will pass.

• Option 1 - Notify your insurance provider and ask them to issue a vacancy endorsement. This is going to cost you more money than simply having a standard insurance policy. However, this option still requires that you document reasonable efforts to monitor the property.
  
  
• Option 2 - Utilize a property oversight service. By utilizing a third party to conduct regular inspections of your property, you will create a paper trail documenting that your property is being actively monitored and is not abandoned. This provides you with an insurer-approved method to demonstrate that your property is being maintained while you are away and allows you to file a claim should something occur.

Founded by Giannis Zisis, Home Watch Athens is a dedicated property management service for overseas owners in Athens - built around the specific challenges faced by Greeks abroad, international property owners, and Golden Visa investors who can't be there in person.

Monthly Property Inspection - The core service provided by Home Watch Athens includes monthly property inspections. Each visit includes:

• Leak inspection and moisture check of doors, windows, balcony and terrace
  
  
• Flush all faucets and toilets
  
  
• Check electric panel visually
  
  
• Collect mail and forward
  
  
• Send photo report to client via WhatsApp immediately after completing the inspection

Members of Home Watch Athens may also take advantage of additional services including:

• Payment and tracking of utility bills
  
  
• Coordination with insurance provider for renewals and claims
  
  
• Supervision of contractors and maintenance
  
  
• Cleaning and preparation prior to arrival
  
  
• Representation at building meeting

All of these options are made possible through a single, trusted keyholder providing full accountability and eliminating the need for clients to coordinate with relatives or chase down contractors from another part of the world.

 

How long before my insurance is invalid?
Insurance policies typically contain a 30-60 day consecutive day vacancy clause. Please review your policy documents to confirm the applicable time frame.

Will my insurance cover me even if my property is furnished?
Partially. Furnished properties can assist with insurance coverage but will not supersede a vacancy clause once the specified time has passed.

Can a home watch service keep my insurance coverage valid?
Yes. Documented property inspections establish the proof of active oversight expected by insurance providers. Additionally, a documented property oversight service will ensure that any necessary notifications are fulfilled in the event that something happens to your property while you are away.

What is the best way for Golden Visa holders to manage their property?
Combining a compliant insurance policy with a documented property oversight arrangement will protect your investment and satisfy compliance requirements associated with your residency program.

Your Greek property is currently vacant between visits; it is time to take action – before you need to file a claim and discover that your coverage did not apply.

---

If you own a property in Athens but live outside Greece then you will likely ask yourself at least one variation of the same question; Who can be responsible and look after my home while I am away?

Most foreign property owners create an informal arrangement; a family member willing to help, a neighbor who has a spare key, a friend who checks on your home from time to time. The informal arrangement usually works until it doesn’t. And when something goes wrong many miles away (i.e., when you cannot be there to handle the issue), checking on your home from time to time may not be sufficient.

Home Watch Athens is a specific and dedicated property management service designed exclusively for overseas owners of homes in Athens - for Greeks living abroad, for all international property owners, and for Golden Visa holders requiring a local representative rather than simply a telephone number.

The services provided by Home Watch Athens were created and will be run by Giannis - thus providing an owner with a single contact person, a single key holder, and a single accountable individual. Therefore, there are no telephone centers, no rotating personnel, and no handover of your keys to someone you do not know.

Giannis represents the consistency and reliability that overseas owners require. He knows your property, its idiosyncrasies, and what is considered normal - therefore, if something is amiss prior to becoming a costly issue, he is aware of it.

More than you would think. Your property is inspected each month, and a record is made of its condition. Following each inspection, you receive a photograph report detailing what took place during the inspection - wherever in the world you are located.

Each property inspection includes:

• Leak detection and moisture test of all walls
  
  
• Doors, windows, balcony and patio inspection
  
  
• Flush tap test and toilet flush test
  
  
• Electrical panel visual inspection
  
  
• Collection of mail and forwarding of same

That is the exact space Home Watch Athens was established to fill. Not a large agency managing hundreds of properties. Not a neighbour who is helping you out as a favor. An individually managed, founder-led service providing consistent and documented monthly inspections of your property.

Therefore, for Greeks residing in countries such as Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and USA - and for international property owners who visit Athens only once or twice a year - it is the difference between hoping everything is fine versus actually knowing.

In cases of urgency - i.e., a ruptured water pipe, a burglary, a neighbor's complaint against you, a utility failure - having someone who is familiar with your property and able to respond quickly in the event of an emergency is of great value. 

In case of an emergency, Giannis coordinates emergency response, supervises contractors, and informs you of any developments regarding the emergency so that you are not forced to deal with a remote emergency situation using a series of untrustworthy contacts.

Members also have access to:

• Payment and monitoring of utility bills
  
  
• Representation at meetings of condominium associations and building boards
  
  
• Supervision of contractor work and maintenance activities
  
  
• Cleaning and preparation of your home prior to your arrival

Regardless of whether you are searching for a person to take care of your home in Athens, a property management service for your Greek property while you are abroad, or a trusted contact for emergency assistance - Home Watch Athens was developed to fulfill these needs.

 

Exploring a city doesn’t have to drain your wallet and Athens is living proof! From museums and green escapes to nightlife and neighbourhood happenings, the Greek capital shows you exactly how to soak up culture, fun and sunshine without spending a thing. It’s the ultimate reminder that some of the best experiences really are free!

• Athens is absolutely brimming with museums and cultural spots and with a bit of strategic planning, many of them can be enjoyed completely free of charge. Some gems don’t even require timing at all: the Museum of Greek Folk Instruments (where you might stumble upon a free concert), the Hellenic Children’s Museum, the Greek Film Archive & Museum of Cinematography, and even the charming Museum of the Athens–Piraeus Electric Railways for transport lovers. Folklore fans will adore the Museum of Folk Art & Tradition, while the Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre brings traditional shadow theatre to life. And if you fancy a musical treat, the newly revamped Olympia City Music Theatre “Maria Callas” hosts a free concert every month; just pick up your ticket on-site the day before.

• If you’re playing the weekly free‑entry game, Thursdays are your date with the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, open (and free) until midnight. Sundays, meanwhile, unlock the National Historical and Ethnological Museum, where traditional Greek costumes shine inside the former parliament building. Art lovers can wander through the Municipal Gallery’s impressive Greek collection, explore the edgy Breeder Gallery in Metaxourgio, or dive into Romantso’s creative chaos near Omonia. TAF in Normanou is perfect for unexpected discoveries, while Dio Horia in Psychiko brings a fresh, international twist to contemporary art. Community‑minded spaces like the Victoria Square Project add a social heartbeat to the scene, and architectural icons such as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre and the Onassis Cultural Centre offer free exhibitions and performances in spectacular settings. 

Pro tip: If your schedule is flexible, mark your calendar for the big free‑admission days — 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, 5 June, 27 September, 28 October, the last weekend of September, or the first Sunday of any month from November to March. On those magical Sundays, all archaeological sites are free, yes, even the Parthenon.

Even though Athens buzzes with all the glorious chaos of a capital city, it’s surprisingly easy to slip away into pockets of calm — and it won’t cost you a single cent. Start with the city’s iconic hills: climb Philopappou for dreamy Acropolis views or head up Lycabettus for a panorama that feels straight out of a postcard. Prefer something softer? Pack a picnic and unwind in the National Garden or stretch out under the trees at Pedion tou Areos. If you’re craving a proper breather from the urban frenzy, wander just beyond the city limits for a refreshing hike. Fitness lovers can even squeeze in a workout at one of Athens’ most striking landmarks: the Athens Olympic Sports Complex in Maroussi, designed by Santiago Calatrava for the 2004 Games — talk about an inspiring backdrop.

Pro tip: Athens itself is an open‑air museum. You can admire the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch from outside their gates, catch a perfect street‑level view of the Tower of the Winds in Monastiraki, or spot the Panathenaic Stadium and even the Acropolis from free vantage points like the Hill of the Pnyx. And for a taste of local life, wander through the city’s street and flea markets: the chic Kolonaki market on Fridays or the more alternative, bohemian Exarcheia market on Saturdays. 

With its famously buzzing nightlife, it’s no surprise that Athens also serves up plenty of free‑entry events for those who love going out without splashing the cash. The star of the show might be the This is Athens City Festival, which peaks in May but sprinkles more than 250 free events across the city all year long, from concerts and outdoor screenings to quirky neighbourhood happenings. Beyond the big festivals, the city is full of spontaneous pop‑up parties and one‑off happenings that won’t cost you a thing. Keep an eye on Romantso, the creative incubator near Omonia, where you might stumble into a DJ set, a live show or a late‑night art‑meets‑music mash‑up.

Pro tip: For the coolest free parties in surprise locations, follow Needless, Street Outdoors and Athens Drunks Crew on social media. They’re the ones who know exactly where the city’s next secret dancefloor will appear.

And there you have it: a whole day of exploring Athens without spending a penny… which means you’ve saved just enough for a well‑earned dinner in a cosy taverna once evening rolls in! Cheers to smart sightseeing!

 

 

 

Identity, gendered violence, the relationship between politics and writing, the future of reading. From 27 to 29 March, AILF at Technopolis City of Athens will present a diverse program of discussions between some of the greatest Greek and international writers, journalists, and critics on the most urgent topics in the world of literature today.

The 1st Athens International Literature Festival (AILF) is happy to present its core program, an exciting lineup packed with conversations focusing on literature and its relation to major issues of our times. The first edition of AILF will take place at Technopolis City of Athens from 27 to 29 March 2026 with free entry. For three days, Athens will welcome leading writers, journalists, activists, academics, artists and curious readers from Greece and abroad, all coming together in a creative hub of dialogue and inspiration.

The discussions will focus on literature as a fertile field for creativity, artistic exploration, deep reflection and social intervention, touching on issues such as identity, gender, violence, inequality, the relationship between politics and literature, and the future of reading. By bringing together different voices and experiences, AILF aims to encourage a meaningful and nuanced conversation between writers and readers, establishing a new, dynamic institution in the city’s cultural life and elevating the festival to a modern celebration of literature where stories, ideas and people are in constant dialogue. 

As the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, states: “The Athens International Literature Festival pulls together distinct and disparate voices, experiences and concerns to highlight literature as a powerful tool for empathy and social transformation. For three days, great writers, journalists, activists, academics, artists and active readers from Greece and abroad will meet at Technopolis City of Athens. We are proud to bring you a rich schedule packed with conversations and events covering a variety of urgent topics, from the state of contemporary fiction and the relationship between politics and literature, to gender, violence and social inequality, the future of reading and the dialogue between cinema and literature, all available to you for free, along with masterclasses and open discussions with writers and artists. Let’s get literature off the shelf and into society.”

Centering Writers & Their Work 

The core program of the festival revolves around conversations that illuminate the entire body of work of prominent international writers and the themes that permeate their writing. 2025 Nobel Prize winner László Krasznahorkai will meet The New Yorker critic Merve Emre for an intimate conversation about violence, decay, political anxiety and the power of his writing to awaken consciences, posing questions about literature as an act of resistance and vigilance in a crisis-stricken world. 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay talks with writer Sofia Nikolaidou about the relationship between writing and gender, drawing on his novel Flesh and the entire span of his work to discuss issues of identity, power and social experience. 2023 Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch meets writer Nikos Mandis to talk about the creative process, literature’s “Irish boom”, contemporary fiction and the challenges ahead in an age of Artificial Intelligence and global upheaval. Irish writer Kevin Barry is joined by writer and translator Christos Asteriou for a conversation about his unconventional heroes and his stylistic and narrative choices, focusing on his books Night Boat to Tangier and The Heart in Winter. 

One of the most prominent American writers today, Nicole Krauss, will be in conversation with writer and translator Lefteris Kalospyros to analyze her complex narrative mechanisms, her approach to the issue of identity, and the diverse influences that shape her work. Starting off from a conversation about his book Le lacrime degli eroi [Tears of the heroes], Italian writer Matteo Nucci will be joined by writer and archaeology professor Dimitris Plantzos to talk about the modern uses of the “classical” and how antiquity is mobilized today as a cultural and political tool. 

German writer Katharina Volckmer will meet poet, publisher and translator Danai Sioziou to talk about her provocative body of work and writing as a space ripe for risk and exposure. Argentinian writer Selva Almada is joined by journalist Tina Mandilara in a conversation about the relationship between writing and community, memory, gendered violence and social despair, exploring how the local and the specific can be transformed into a global literary experience. Lilian Thuram, former football player and now leading activist against racism, will have a discussion with Demis Nikolaidis and Lauretta Macauley, moderated by Panagiotis Menegos, about his recent book White Thinking: Behind the mask of racial identity and racial stereotypes on and off the field. 

Literature, Politics & Contemporary Challenges

Discussions on racism and social inequality become a springboard for the festival to broaden its scope and examine the political and ideological context that allows such phenomena to emerge and proliferate: the rise of authoritarianism and the far-right in today’s Europe. In the festival’s main panel discussion titled Is hope a mistake? Literature and politics in Dark Europe, Nobel prize winner László Krasznahorkai, German intellectual and war correspondent Caroline Emcke, historian and writer Kostis Karpozilos, and the President of Technopolis City of Athens, educator and director of anti-far right collective “Simeio”, Kostis Papaioannou, will examine how barbarism and hate become normalized, how the standards of acceptability in public speech have shifted, and the limits of literature and political thought at a time of uncertainty.  

Gendered Identities, Violence & Modern Writing

Another thematic axis of the festival is the dialogue between gender and literature. In a panel titled Don’t call it murder. It’s femicide, moderated by Anastasia Grigoriadou, writers Selva Almada, Katharina Volckmer and Vicky Tselepidou will use their own books as a starting point to talk about how language obscures gendered violence, how this violence is depicted in literature, and what it means for a writer to create in a deeply patriarchal society. The issue of gender is approached from a different angle in the discussion “Male”, “female” and the concept of the literary character, which will bring together Nicole Krauss, David Szalay and Greek writer Kostas Kaltsas. The panel will use Szalay’s Booker Prize winning Flesh and the diverse array of narrators in Krauss’ work as reference points to talk about how male and female voices are constituted in modern literature, how masculinity and vulnerability are depicted, and what the concept of the literary character means today.

The Current State Of Literature

The festival will attempt to view the present and future of literature through a fresh lens. For the panel The past is in the past: a discussion on the present and the future of literature, influential literary critics Merve Emre (The New Yorker) and Thomas Meaney (editor of literary magazine Granta) are joined by journalist Athos Dimoulas (K magazine) to talk about the role of literature at a time when attention deficits and digital traps are setting new challenges for reading, upending the traditional relationship between books and readers.  

This is also a time when the written word is called to constantly compete against the image. In the panel 1000 images, 1000 words, writers for the page and the screen, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, Kallia Papadaki, and Panagiotis Evangelidis, get together with director and screenwriter Yannis Economides to explore where the heart of storytelling beats today. Is the written word still the main tool for artists trying to understand the world or has it been relegated to a source of inspiration for film and TV writers?

Book clubs and reading groups have come to represent a large, dedicated and commercially consolidated community of readers, highlighting the power of active, collective reading. Book club pioneer Vivi Georgantopoulou will be leading the discussion The present and future of book clubs and collective reading with representatives from the most active Greek book clubs, moderated by Mikela Chartoulari. 

Athens, A City For Writers

The festival would not be complete without some connection to the city that hosts it. The special section Athens, a city for writers will hopefully become a yearly staple for the Athens International Literature Festival, illuminating the ways in which the city shapes and inspires writers and their characters. For this first edition, the section will be dedicated to one of the most distinct postwar voices in Greek literature and a formidable chronicler of Athens, Menis Koumandareas (1931-2014). For Koumandareas, Athens is more than a mere backdrop, but a living organism that molds and traps his characters. The event “Time is just a toy. And Athens is everywhere”: Menis Koumandareas and the city will bring together writers Theodoros Grigoriadis, Eliana Hourmouziadou, Christos Chrysopoulos and Maria Fakinou to reintroduce the audience to Koumandareas, shedding light on the unfulfilled desires of his characters and the atmosphere of the city that permeates his entire body of work.     

Masterclasses: In conversation With Contemporary International Literature

Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch and celebrated American novelist Nicole Krauss will be leading two masterclasses as part of the 1st AILF. Participants will have the opportunity to get an inside view of the creative process, explore how narratives are born, and discover the role of language in shaping memory and experience. The masterclasses are designed for readers, writers and literature lovers alike and will be available to a limited number of participants on a first-come, first-served basis. More information on booking and participation fees on ailf.gr. 

The AILF Experience

All panel discussions will be hosted at two of the most iconic Technopolis venues, the Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert” and the Purifier Hall. Entrance will be free with entry passes and more information on the booking process will be available soon. For those not able to secure a seat, all discussions will be shown on screens around the venue with live translation in Greek, English and Greek sign language.  

Beyond the panels, AILF will focus on the direct interaction between the creators and the audience. After every discussion, visitors will be able to meet the participating writers for book signings, which will take place in the specially modified Old Retorts venue. Greek editions of the writers’ books and festival merchandise will be available to buy both at the Technopolis shop and the festival book café, which will take over the INNOVATHENS space. 

But the festival does not end here. A rich slate of workshops, screenings, tours, concerts and other side events will be announced soon. For three days in the heart of Athens, AILF will create a welcoming and inspiring space where writers, readers and visitors can meet, not just to talk about books, but to share experiences, debate ideas and exchange stories. Our goal is for AILF to become a landmark event in the city’s cultural life and a celebration of literature open to all.    

Friday, March 27, 202618:00 A wind that lays waste | Selva Almada, Tina Mandilara | Purifier Hall

19:45 Longing - anguish - melancholy: the emotional spectrum of resistance | László Krasznahorkai, Merve Emre | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”

Saturday, March 28, 2026

12:00 The present and future of book clubs and collective reading | Moderator: Mikela Chartoulari | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”
13:00 Contemporary uses and misuses of the “classical” | Matteo Nucci, Dimitris Plantzos | Purifier Hal
14:30 “Time is just a toy. And Athens is everywhere”: Menis Koumandareas and the city | Theodoros Grigoriadis, Eliana Hourmouziadou, Christos Chryssopoulos, Maria Fakinou, Alexandra Tranta | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”
15:00 An Andalusian dog in Montana | Kevin Barry, Christos Asteriou | Purifier Hall
16:30 The past is in the past: a discussion on the present and the future of literature | Merve Emre, Thomas Meaney, Athos Dimoulas | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”
17:00 Don’t call it murder. It’s femicide | Selva Almada, Katharina Volckmer, Vicky Tselepidou. Moderator: Anastasia Grigoriadou | Purifier Hall
18:30 Is hope a mistake? Literature and politics in Dark Europe | László Krasznahorkai, Caroline Emcke, Kostis Karpozilos, Kostis Papaioannou | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”
19:00 “Male”, “female” and the concept of the literary character | Nicole Krauss, David Szalay, Kostas Kaltsas | Purifier Hall

Sunday, March 29, 2026

14:00 1000 images, 1000 words | Nikos Panagiotopoulos, Kallia Papadaki, Panagiotis Evangelidis, Yannis Economides | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”
14:30 Telling the stories we leave untold: a how-to guide | Katharina Volckmer, Danai Sioziou | Purifier Hall
16:00 Literature in turbulent times: the writer as creator and preserver of memory | Paul Lynch, Nikos Mandis | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”
16:30 Man, Woman, Other: Does writing have a gender? | David Szalay, Sofia Nikolaidou | Purifier Hall
18:30 Navigating collapse: how to find our way through a forest dark | Nicole Krauss, Lefteris Kalospyros | Purifier Hall
19:00 Deconstructing “white thinking” on its own turf | Lilian Thuram, Demis Nikolaidis, Lauretta Macauley. Moderator: Panagiotis Menegos | Gasholder 1 – Auditorium “Miltiadis Evert”

Book Signings

Friday 27.03.2026 | Old Retorts

19:45 - 20:30 Selva Almada
21:15 - 22:00 László Krasznahorkai

Saturday 28.03.2026 | Old Retorts

14:45 - 15:30 Matteo Nucci, Dimitris Plantzos
16:15 - 16:45 Theodoros Grigoriadis, Eliana Hourmouziadou, Christos Chryssopoulos, Maria Fakinou
16:45 - 17:30 Kevin Barry
18:45 - 19:30 Selva Almada, Katharina Volckmer, Vicky Tselepidou
20:15 - 21:00 Caroline Emcke, Kostis Karpozilos, Kostis Papaioannou
20:45 - 21:30 Nicole Krauss, David Szalay, Kostas Kaltsas

Sunday 29.03.2026 | Old Retorts

15:45 - 16:30 Nikos Panagiotopoulos, Kallia Papadaki, Panagiotis Evangelidis
16:15 - 17:00 Katharina Volckmer, Danai Sioziou
17:45 - 18:30 Paul Lynch, Nikos Mandis
18:15 - 19:00 David Szalay, Sofia Nikolaidou
20:15 - 21:00 Nicole Krauss
20:45 - 21:30 Lilian Thuram

Festival participants: Selva Almada, Kevin Barry, Caroline Emcke, Merve Emre, Nicole Krauss, László Krasznahorkai, Paul Lynch, Thomas Meaney, Matteo Nucci, David Szalay, Lilian Thuram, Katharina Volckmer and Christos Asteriou, Mikela Chartoulari, Vivi Georgantopoulou, Theodoros Grigoriadis, Anastasia Grigoriadou, Athos Dimoulas, Panagiotis Evangelidis, Kostas Kaltsas, Kostis Karpozilos, Lauretta Macauley, Tina Mandilara, Nikos Mandis, Panagiots Menegos, Nikos Bakounakis, Lefteris Kalospyros, Demis Nikolaidis, Sofia Nikolaidou, Yannis Economides, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, Kallia Papadaki, Kostis Papaioannou, Dimitris Plantzos, Danai Sioziou, Alexandra Tranta, Vicky Tselepidou, Maria Fakinou, Eliana Hourmouziadou, Christos Chryssopoulos.

Artistic directors: Christos Asteriou, Lefteris Kalospyros, Mikela Chartoulari

Organized by: Technopolis City of Athens 

The 1st Athens International Literature Festival is brought to you by COSMOTE TELEKOM (Technopolis City of Athens Major Sponsor), Athenaeum Eridanus Luxury Hotel (Official Hospitality Sponsor), Welcome Pickups (Official transport sponsor) and is supported by the Embassy of Ireland, the Goethe Institute of Athens (Goethe-Institut Athen), the French Institute of Greece (Institut français de Grèce), and the Italian Cultural Institute in Athens (Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Atene). 

FokiaNou Art Space presents the group exhibition “A Closer Look II” with works by five artists who explore different aspects of the human experience. The exhibition focuses on detail and deeper observation, from the body and the city to nature and memory.

Duration: March 19 – April 4, 2026

Opening:  Thursday, March 19, 18:00  Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 17:00–20:00 

Buschbeck explores the delicate conversation between man and nature: the eternal rhythm of blossoming and decay, the traces of transformation, light and darkness. She wonders how nature reflects man and whether the earth can hold a memory, where time ends and memory persists.

 

Gounari explores the invisible ecologies of the natural world through digitally transformed landscape photographs. Roots, rocks, foliage and water flows reveal underground networks and interdependencies that are usually hidden. The negative color palette destabilizes the visual habit, suggesting the landscape as a living, multi-layered system.

 

A year after the great fires, Zachariou returns to the burnt landscapes of Penteli, Parnitha and Rhodes. Her photographic eye captures the fragile balance between the loss and regeneration of a landscape that is slowly transforming, within a world of climate change.

 

Kantas approaches functional dyspepsia as a psychosomatic phenomenon and wanders around Athens following the traces of physical discomfort. The body becomes a tool for reading the urban landscape, revealing stories that persist beneath the surface.

 

Her photographic wanderings in Palermo map a city through the desires of her friends. From the intensity of the markets to the silence of the churches, her images combine sweetness, mortality and sunlight, revealing the many layers of the urban experience.

 

Participants: Bettina Buschbeck, Dimitra Gounari, Kyveli Zachariou, Vassilis Kantas, Georgia Touliatou. Curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris.

 

FokiaNou Art Space is an active and open creative hub, promoting collaboration between Greek and international artists. In 2024, it celebrated ten years of continuous presence, having presented, under the curatorship of Panagiotis Voulgaris and Mary Cox, more than 70 group, solo and interdisciplinary exhibitions, as well as workshops and lectures. Its outward-looking character is further strengthened through participation in major international events, such as the TRYST Art Fair at the Torrance Art Museum in Los Angeles, the Athena exhibition in Karlsruhe (2025) and the SuperMarket Independent Art Fair in Stockholm (2023, 2019), contributing to the interconnection of independent art spaces and the creation of a broader international network of collaborations.