Plato's Academy Park
Plato's Academy Park
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The area
Neighbourhood: Akadimia Platonos
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3,404 within 5 kms
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624 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
54 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
10
Average
9
Poor
6
Terrible
4
Daniel Y
San Diego, CA2 contributions
Jul 2022
Hidden ancient ruins at the center of Athens, worth visiting for everyone considering they are the ruins of Plato's Academy. Visited the place as part of Plato's experimental workshop and learnt about the significance of the place. Great place to visit during the morning hours.
Written 8 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.
George D
Canggu, Indonesia12 contributions
Mar 2017 • Solo
I'm local and I walk my dog there. Every time I see a tourist or a group of tourists I feel great embarrassment, because there is truly nothing for them to see here.. Today in the morning, a young couple was asking me "Where is Plato's Academy ?". I told them, "It's right here!". You could see that face of disappointment.. It was Sunday morning and they had just realised, they had spoiled half day of their vacations to reach and leave this place..
I really don't know, who is promoting this place as a sightseeing and through which media channels? Good for locals, nice place for the kids and dog owners , but only this. Cannot be compared to European Parks, even the green is blooming only a few months per year (mostly in spring), so don't have expectations of this site.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention. During spring and summer, in case you are "lucky", you may meet families of gypsies, sleeping on blankets on the grass, children running naked in the park, rubbish, bad smell and noise! And some times gypsy weddings in the park, cars parked on the grass, traditional gypsy music etc..
CAUTION!
NO lights in the evening! At least not until the next municipality election :(
Take your shot!
I really don't know, who is promoting this place as a sightseeing and through which media channels? Good for locals, nice place for the kids and dog owners , but only this. Cannot be compared to European Parks, even the green is blooming only a few months per year (mostly in spring), so don't have expectations of this site.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention. During spring and summer, in case you are "lucky", you may meet families of gypsies, sleeping on blankets on the grass, children running naked in the park, rubbish, bad smell and noise! And some times gypsy weddings in the park, cars parked on the grass, traditional gypsy music etc..
CAUTION!
NO lights in the evening! At least not until the next municipality election :(
Take your shot!
Written 5 March 2017
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.
Arlindo C
31 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Small, but interesting. Plato's lovers will love!
Interactive, it tells really well the history about the Academy and his major character, Plato.
It is close to the park, but is quite hard do find, so, here is the exact location: Monastiriou 141-143, Athina 104 42, Greece (lat 37.994201, lon 23.707336).
Interactive, it tells really well the history about the Academy and his major character, Plato.
It is close to the park, but is quite hard do find, so, here is the exact location: Monastiriou 141-143, Athina 104 42, Greece (lat 37.994201, lon 23.707336).
Written 3 February 2016
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.
Dick A
West Orange, NJ25 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
We were very anxious to see the site of Plato's Academy, even if we knew very little remained. The area is well away from the classic old city of Athens, in a seperate neighborhood (some reviews mistakenly put the site in the old city's Agora, where Socrates taught, and Aristotle formed his Academy). The Grove of the Academy is in & around a park, with a few spots of ruins. And a small museum opened about a year ago (only open until 4 pm -we just missed it). But regardless of the near-neglected site, it is humbling to stand in the spot of philosophical history and imagine the foundations of Western thought.
Written 15 October 2017
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.
David B
Palm Bay, FL1,144 contributions
Dec 2013 • Solo
WOW!!! Im surprised nothing is on here for the ruins of Plato's Academy. There is a park on Monastiriou if you follow it west until it ends, called Parko Akadimias Platonos, aka Park of the Academy of Plato, or Plato's Academy Park. Here you will find the original site of Plato's Academy. There are signs posted and some ruins. I walked here alone. Not the greatest area of town, sort of out of the way to the northwest of the Acropolis a few blocks, but if you are a fan of Plato, how could you miss this attraction? I felt honored to be walking the same steps and same ground that Plato walked on, I would not have missed it. The park today is a neighborhood dog park where locals might be found playing basketball or football, jogging, and walking their dogs. There are gates to the park so it must close at some point, but there were not attendants collecting fees while I was there, so I believe it is a free park. I have plenty of photos to add to this thread when I can.
Written 19 June 2014
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.
TorontoJK
Toronto, Canada1,997 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
We had the benefit of a good guide who helped us understand the site and what it looked like in Plato's day.
It was very evocative to sit here an imagine the great philosopher instructing and debating his students on this very spot.
It was very evocative to sit here an imagine the great philosopher instructing and debating his students on this very spot.
Written 9 August 2017
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.
Erica F
Seattle, WA57 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Arguably it is one of the most important sites in history, sadly it is in quite poor condition today. We were eager to visit and grateful to be there. We would recommend it to others who are very interested in philosophy and/or history, but without that interest and background, you would likely enjoy other sites more in Athens. We had chosen some passages to read while there and had planned to picnic, unfortunately the temperature was around 100' and we didn't last long. We hope to go back someday! I'd recommend a taxi or rental car (if you already have one) to get there. If your time is limited, you may appreciate the Agora and Aristotle's Lyceum more. Ack! -- it is hard to believe I can say that about Plato's Academy!
Written 25 July 2018
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.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland29,093 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
One of the greatest spiritual centers of ancient Athens (even of the whole world), which has given to mankind the expression 'academy' is today a very sad place to visit: a neglected park full of littering in a run down neighbourhood of Athens.
If somebody has made the effort to get out here (and it is not so easy to find, quite removed from any useful public transport system) and thinks he can recapture some of the original atmosphere of the philosophers times, nothing but disappointment will await him here.
What is officially called a park is an area with some greenery bisected by several streets and roads with quite a few uncoordinated signs by different agencies involved and with some fenced off parts. There are ruins lying around, where people take their dog for a walk or go bowling. A museum cannot be found and the only public toilet is out of use and closed. And no café exists in the whole area for a little break.
So long as this academy park has not seen any significant improvement I would suggest to take one of Plato's dialogues and sit on a bench in the well kept park of the Philopappos hill facing the acropolis. Any lover of ancient Greek philosophy will thus be much more rewarded and will feel closer to the atmosphere of these past times than by visiting the actual site of the academy.
If somebody has made the effort to get out here (and it is not so easy to find, quite removed from any useful public transport system) and thinks he can recapture some of the original atmosphere of the philosophers times, nothing but disappointment will await him here.
What is officially called a park is an area with some greenery bisected by several streets and roads with quite a few uncoordinated signs by different agencies involved and with some fenced off parts. There are ruins lying around, where people take their dog for a walk or go bowling. A museum cannot be found and the only public toilet is out of use and closed. And no café exists in the whole area for a little break.
So long as this academy park has not seen any significant improvement I would suggest to take one of Plato's dialogues and sit on a bench in the well kept park of the Philopappos hill facing the acropolis. Any lover of ancient Greek philosophy will thus be much more rewarded and will feel closer to the atmosphere of these past times than by visiting the actual site of the academy.
Written 23 June 2016
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.
sofoudeli
Athens, Greece92 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
A nice park to visit if you are a tourist in Athens. The museum is really small but interesting. Cute coffee shop all around.
Written 4 March 2018
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.
Black V
6 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
Just a ruins in public park, has 3 main parts, the roman age, the plato academy and the public garden...I personally just stared at the ruins and my body just was anxious because of the so much greatness happened in this place
Written 30 January 2017
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.
Anyone knows whether the park opens during nighttime or early in the morning (say 5 or 6am)? It'll be my first time to Athens next June and I'll be there for 3 days. I'm a big fan of Socrates and Plato. Thanks in advance!
Written 22 October 2016
Hi there. One part of this park usually stays open from sunrise to sunset. Another part is accessible day & night.
Please do not forget to visit Plato's Digital Museum which is near by (and it's free too). You will find it extremely interesting! Trust me...
Written 14 February 2017
Platonos 125, Athina 104 42, Greece
It will appear as a park on your map, which is basically what it is, but has some basic ruins and historical markers/info. A good joke from the main tourist areas, but walkable.
Written 23 August 2016
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