The Monastery of Daphni
The Monastery of Daphni
4.5
About
One of the greatest masterpieces of the Byzantine Empire, this 11th century masterpiece is currently being refurbished, so phone ahead to check if it’s open.
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More than 3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
94 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
26
Average
8
Poor
2
Terrible
3
traviss301
5 contributions
Apr 2023
The mosaics are absolutely amazing and totally worth the trip out. The staff was welcoming and friendly. Information identifying the subjects of the mosaics was available in English. There was plenty of street parking available when we visited on a warm spring Sunday afternoon. Easily combined with a visit to the Diomidous Botanical Garden just up the street.
Written 15 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SiberianEmo
Omsk, Russia219 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
Daphni Monastery dates back from 11th century. Surprisingly, it fell in disrepair at the time of Greek War for Independence in 1830s. Now the monastery is a UNESCO site.
Monastery conists of a main church, which features amazing frescoes, a tiny museum, and, what appears to be, excavation sites.
To see everything will probably take about 20 minutes. (Those who love to admire beautiful frescoes and take photos will spend longer time) Thus, it is up to you whether you want to head there.
It will take about 30 minutes to get there from the center. Take M3 line to Agia Marina (going in the direction opposite to airport). Once exiting subway station, walk away from the main street into the neighborhood to the intersection of Agias Marinas & Katsarou Streets. The bus stop is nondescript and one can walk past it without realizing it. Take either bus 866 or 876. (Don't forget to wave the driver, the first bus randomly drove by even though there was clearly a person waiting for the bus). Google maps will direct you to exit the bus at Byzantiou stop, but get off at an earlier stop, which is appropriately called Daphni Monastery. Also, press the stop button, since the driver might just drive past the stop. Cross the street and walk roughly 200 meters.
In the off tourist season, the Monastery is opened from 8.30 to 3.30 Wednesday to Sunday.
If you have a limited time in Athens (less than 3 days), then this attraction is generally skip-able.
Monastery conists of a main church, which features amazing frescoes, a tiny museum, and, what appears to be, excavation sites.
To see everything will probably take about 20 minutes. (Those who love to admire beautiful frescoes and take photos will spend longer time) Thus, it is up to you whether you want to head there.
It will take about 30 minutes to get there from the center. Take M3 line to Agia Marina (going in the direction opposite to airport). Once exiting subway station, walk away from the main street into the neighborhood to the intersection of Agias Marinas & Katsarou Streets. The bus stop is nondescript and one can walk past it without realizing it. Take either bus 866 or 876. (Don't forget to wave the driver, the first bus randomly drove by even though there was clearly a person waiting for the bus). Google maps will direct you to exit the bus at Byzantiou stop, but get off at an earlier stop, which is appropriately called Daphni Monastery. Also, press the stop button, since the driver might just drive past the stop. Cross the street and walk roughly 200 meters.
In the off tourist season, the Monastery is opened from 8.30 to 3.30 Wednesday to Sunday.
If you have a limited time in Athens (less than 3 days), then this attraction is generally skip-able.
Written 16 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E M
4 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
Bad surprise: the site is closed (due to fire risk), so one would do kilometers for nothing, as the coffee shop next is open and serving to various people enjoying the freshness of the park. It looks like there is no sense of respect for tourists who come here, running kilometers by car such as in my case, to visit a world heritage: what a difficult task to write few lines in the Web page of the Monastry and thus informing us for the changes in opening hours and even, eventually, avoid risks for tourists to come here if it is so dangerous?
Written 5 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
permia
Ireland40,651 contributions
Mar 2020
Following online guidance, early Saturday morning we went to Ika Bus Stop expecting to take No A16 to the Monastery, but it was either changed or discontinued.
A local kindly advised crossing the square for another bus, but again no success. Eventually took a taxi for a few € arriving before 8am opening time.
We had the holy complex to ourselves, in the glorious sunshine. Its evocative history dates as far back to the 6th century with its moniker deriving from the laurels growing there.
It has tremendous architectural features with impressive stone and brick work. It was great walking around the grand cloisters. Ruins of the expansive Scriptorium are to be seen, the size reflecting the importance of writing and manuscripts.
Mosaic wise it is fabulous. What is extant following restoration is delightful. Christ Pantokrator is remarkable in its clarity.
The Transfiguration is still radiant portraying Elijah and Moses on either side of Christ with Apostles James, Peter and John at his feet.
A local kindly advised crossing the square for another bus, but again no success. Eventually took a taxi for a few € arriving before 8am opening time.
We had the holy complex to ourselves, in the glorious sunshine. Its evocative history dates as far back to the 6th century with its moniker deriving from the laurels growing there.
It has tremendous architectural features with impressive stone and brick work. It was great walking around the grand cloisters. Ruins of the expansive Scriptorium are to be seen, the size reflecting the importance of writing and manuscripts.
Mosaic wise it is fabulous. What is extant following restoration is delightful. Christ Pantokrator is remarkable in its clarity.
The Transfiguration is still radiant portraying Elijah and Moses on either side of Christ with Apostles James, Peter and John at his feet.
Written 1 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jordanellie41
Longridge, UK1,062 contributions
Sep 2019
This place was a pure joy to see and totally unexpected. It's worth the 20 minute bus journey outside of the city to see it. Parts of it are still standing, other parts are ruins but it's structure is awesome. It's a little plain on the inside but you do have to use your imagination. It has a beautiful dome and murals, but be careful to check it's opening times as they are infrequent.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vitavoyager
Miami, Florida108 contributions
Oct 2019
If you love Orthodox mosaics that rival the beauty of those in Istanbul visit the Monastery of Daphni. I spent 2 hours here this morning. Few visitors. Had the church interior to myself for 15 minutes. A guard showed us around actually. Quiet setting. Can be reached by metro/bus combination - metro to Agia Marina stop, then bus 801, 811, 836, 866, 876 to bus stop "Psyciatreio" then short walk, or in 25-35 minutes by taxi. Two of us did taxi due to time restraints & paid 70E for round trip. Free admission when we were there. Open some days. Closed others when conservation work is done so be sure to check before going.
Written 10 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
g w
54 contributions
Aug 2019 • Solo
If ur in Athens an got 1/2 a day, it is worth to visit this jewel w its magnificent mosaics. I took bus 16 from Eleftherias (Koumoundourou) sq on a sat morning, the ride took 20', the bus stop is a 5' walk from the monastery. Ride back took 25'. Check the timetable on the internet so u can adjust your visit and avoid waiting for the bus. Get your tkt beforehand, since u can't buy it on the bus! I think a visit of up to 2 hs is enough. If the gate is closed, just ring the bell. It is supossed to be open wed, thur, fr & sat 08-15, entry is free.
Written 4 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil369
Herstal, Belgium138 contributions
Jul 2019
If you want to visit this wonderful place outside Athens, you'd better check the opening days and hours. In July ,2019 (when I visited), the monastery was only open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8 to 15. But the opneing days and hours seem to change all the time.
Visiting Athens, the place can easily be reached by public transportation - By metro (Line 3 - Agia Marina -Doukissis Plakentias/Airport) to Agia Marina station and then by bus (bus lines 801, 811, 865, 836, 866, 876 and Α16 - bus stop "Psyciatreio"). It is definitely worth it, though most of the tourists visiting Athens won't be there, concentrating on the sights in the city centre. This gives a permanent peaceful atmosphere to the place. Together with Ossios Loukas and Kaisariani, it is definitely worth a visit. The mosaïcs are wonderful - they belong to the bbest ones in Greece.
Visiting Athens, the place can easily be reached by public transportation - By metro (Line 3 - Agia Marina -Doukissis Plakentias/Airport) to Agia Marina station and then by bus (bus lines 801, 811, 865, 836, 866, 876 and Α16 - bus stop "Psyciatreio"). It is definitely worth it, though most of the tourists visiting Athens won't be there, concentrating on the sights in the city centre. This gives a permanent peaceful atmosphere to the place. Together with Ossios Loukas and Kaisariani, it is definitely worth a visit. The mosaïcs are wonderful - they belong to the bbest ones in Greece.
Written 6 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
geo k
Athens, Greece105 contributions
May 2019
a fusion site with a lot of architecture in its finest and avery polite crew of people to assist the visit
Written 26 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom B
Barnegat, NJ812 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
Hidden gem. If you're into Christian mosaics like me, this is something to see. It"s a bit out of the way. I had to metro to agia marina, then bus to the psych hospital, then short walk. Watch the hours. It is open a few days a week. The mosaics were nice and I was the only one there for a bit before a few others showed up.
Written 13 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fabio F
Paris, France
vorrei sapere se il monastero di dafni è stato riaperto, se si con quale orario e se possibile i mezzi pubblici per raggiungerlo
Dimitrios L
Athens, Greece25 contributions
Take the metro and find on map the Agia Marina station. Stop on this station and take the bus 811 or 876 passes from Dafni (stop there) and walk about 100-200 meters.check on Google maps.
Michael C
Chicago, IL171 contributions
I will be in Athens in October 2016. Will the restoration be complete? What are the days and hours it will be open?
Bill H, New York City
New York City, NY21 contributions
How does one get to the Monastery of Daphni by public transportation? Thank you. wjh/nyc
GlennaRoseGoes
San Diego, CA218 contributions
Well, I have not done it yet so I cannot speak from personal experience....but my own research on Google maps shows you would take the Metro Line 3 to the end of the line at Egaleo (just a few stops from Syntagma Square), then connect to the A16 bus. Looks like the bus gets you within a few minutes of the monastery. The transit button on Google maps has served me well in many countries.
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