The Guardian Places Athens’ Nea Smyrni Neighborhood Among Europe’s Best

The neighborhood of Nea Smyrni, which can be found between the center of Athens and the southern coastal suburbs of Alimos and Glyfada, is included on The Guardian’s list with 10 of the best city neighborhoods in Europe.

The list was compiled by the British newspaper based on its reader’s tips, and published in its online edition.

“Parks with city views, great-value restaurants and lesser-known museums rewarded our tipsters who wandered out of touristy city centers from Dublin to Budapest,” The Guardian said.

Nea Smyrni was selected by David, one of the newspaper’s readers, for its location, family-friendly features and long history. The neighborhood gained its name from the former Greek city of Smyrna, now Izmir, from where refugees settled the area in the 1920s.

“Car-free Nea Smyrni Square is at the neighborhood’s heart and is spectacular, with fountains, shops, restaurants, trendy cafes and bars to suit all ages, trends and budgets. With a plethora of outdoor entertainment during the summer, it’s a real find not on the typical tourist route,” David noted.

David also referred to the Nea Smyrni Alsos park, “a large green oasis with aleppo pines, cypress and stone pines and good for strolling. It also has a jogging track, an outdoor gym and a café”.

The Guardian’s list includes the following European city neighborhoods:

• Nowa Huta, Kraków (Winning tip)
• Śródmieście, Wrocław
• Wilhelminapark, Utrecht
• Vallecas, Madrid
• Moabit, Berlin
• Le Panier, Marseille
• Howth, Dublin
• Döbling, Vienna
• Józsefváros, Budapest
• Nea Smyrni, Athens

Photos: Municipality of Nea Smyrni