By Athens Tourism and Economic Development Agency

Athens is famous for its vibrant nightlife. The Athenians like to party and will do so almost every night of the week.

The choices are many and they appeal to all tastes and lifestyles. In general, things get started pretty late - after midnight for bars and clubbing and after 10pm for dinner at the city's tavernas, restaurants and bar-restaurants.

The Greeks are known for their love-of-life lifestyle - a sort of OPA! mentality that includes good food and good company, regardless of age. In Athens, life is for living and leaving your worries behind. The result is a good-hearted, energetic city with bars and restaurants to match.

Hip areas include Gazi, Psirri, Kerameikos and Kolonai. Traditional Greek evenings can be spent in Plaka.

Bars & clubs
Athens is one of the best parties in the house! Glance at the list of guest DJ's that spin the latest tunes and you'll see that the Athens nightlife scene is one of Europe's hottest. Local Greek DJ's have emerged, gaining international recognition for their mixes that include foreign and Greek top hits.

The party lasts into the wee hours of the morning, as native Athenians and visitors dance, dance, dance. Athens is just overflowing with modern, bohemian, ethnic, Latin, dance, rock, fashion and mainstream bars, lounges and clubs.

Jazz is very big in Athens, too, and enjoys a strong repertoire of performers and venues that feature them. Karaoke bars have recently sprung up and offer an alternative fun night out. Especially popular are the restaurants and bars with Oriental and other types of ethnic music.

A unique cultural phenomenon in Athenian nightlife is the migrating of venues according to season. In Athens, one venue or club usually has two "homes" or addresses - a summer home and a winter home. Some time in October, the venues usually move back to their winter homes, which are often in the centre of Athens.

The streets of Gazi and Psirri are packed with people ready to enjoy the areas' many restaurants, bars, clubs, art galleries and theatres. Summer or winter, the clubs host leading DJs and feature the latest and greatest in their genre - hip hop, R&B, soul, rap disco, funk, rock and Greek.

Many of the summer venues are located on the outskirts of Athens along the coast in Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni, taking advantage of the breathtaking sea views. The popularity of the coastal clubs doesn't mean the fun stops in the centre, though. Gazi and Psirri are hot nightlife destinations all year round.

Greek nightclubs
To truly experience modern Athenian nightlife, you should spend a few hours at a Greek nightclub with live Greek music. The levels vary from mellow to extreme. In the winter, leading Greek pop singers fill large halls along the industrial strip known as Iera Odos and Pireos Street and in the summer months along the coastal towns of Glyfada, Voula and Voulgiameni. Here patrons are part of the fun, dancing on the stage and on the tables until the wee hours. Laid-back evenings can be enjoyed at the many rebetadika in Psirri and Plaka.

Psirri
If you enjoy going out at night, Psirri is a must to visit. Some of Athens' hottest clubs and bars are here. Large and small, they play all types of music from Greek, rock, ethnic, Latin, pop and jazz. Psirri has become an Athenian favourite. It offers artistically designed venues with good food, great music and an overall ambiance.

Gazi
A modern take on Athens would not be complete without a visit to the industrial district of Gazi. Most of the galleries, mainstream bars, restaurants, clubs and Greek nightclubs here are trademarked by their industrial design as many of them are housed in remodeled factories. In recent years, this area has developed into one of the hippest Athenian neighbourhoods. The area, and its new inhabitants of artists, has attracted fine restaurants frequented by the see-and-be-seen Athenians.

Kolonaki
This popular Athens neighbourhood is where you will find contemporary style eateries, in addition to buzzing all-day tavernas, grills, bars and an esplanade of outdoor cafés, perfect for people watching or relaxing after taking in the delightful shops. Kolonaki is a staple dining and entertainment destination catering to the city's urban working professionals who enjoy an after work cocktail at many of its bars that are open - and busy - until after midnight, even on weekdays. The area's many restaurants range from the affordable to the expensive, with Greek and international menus. The clubs here are also very chic. Some of the streets where the trendy bars are plentiful are Haritos and Skoufa.

Exarcheia
Exarcheia is where to go for smaller more bohemian style haunts that cater to artists and college students. At the foot of Lofou tou Strefi, is where you will find most of the bars and clubs, many which play rock music.

For more information about Athens, visit www.athenstourism.gr.

The article Nightlife in Athens originally appeared on 999 Today