Why spend an evening with Greek dance
Why book a Greek dance night in Plaka
Greek dance, with the city as the prelude
The historic Dora Stratou company, founded by folklorist Dora Stratou in 1953, performs on Philopappou Hill in summer; this booking is a different show. A local guide walks you through night-time Athens first, then the dancing happens around a Greek dinner table in Plaka.
Dancers in the room, not on a distant stage
Over a four-course Greek dinner, live dancers and music bring traditional Greek dances into the room — and when it's on offer, guests can join in, plate breaking included. It's a lively, sociable night rather than a seated recital.
The setting matters as much as the show
The walk runs beneath the illuminated Acropolis, past the Ancient Agora and through the lanes of Plaka as the city turns from day to night — so the evening shows you old Athens before it sits you down to dinner.
How the evening unfolds
How the evening unfolds
The evening moves from a guided night walk beneath the Acropolis to dinner and live Greek dance in Plaka. Here's the shape of the night.
Meet
Monastiraki Square
You meet your local guide in Monastiraki Square, in the heart of old Athens, with the Acropolis rising above the rooftops.
Walk
Beneath the Acropolis
About an hour on foot past the Ancient Agora and under the floodlit Acropolis, with stories from Greek mythology and modern Athenian life along the way.
Plaka
Through the old lanes
The route winds into Plaka, the old neighbourhood at the foot of the Acropolis, where the evening moves to the table.
Dinner
Four courses and live dance
Over about 90 minutes, a four-course Greek dinner is served while live dancers and music fill the room with traditional Greek dances.
Finale
Join in
When it's on offer, guests can try a few steps and join the traditional plate breaking before the evening wraps up back at Monastiraki Square.
Where the evening happens
The route and the dinner show
This evening isn't held at the Dora Stratou theatre on Philopappou Hill — it's a walk through central Athens and a dinner show in Plaka. Here's what to expect.
Not the Dora Stratou theatre
The historic Dora Stratou company performs in its own open-air theatre on Philopappou Hill in summer. This listing is a different show from a different provider, with the dancing served alongside dinner in a traditional Plaka setting.
Walking first
The first hour is on foot, with light to moderate walking right under the Acropolis — comfortable shoes and a bottle of water make it easier.
Starts in the centre
The walk starts and finishes at Monastiraki Square, right by Monastiraki metro station, so there's no trip out to a venue on the edge of town.
On the night
Plan on about 2.5 hours in all. Guides work in English, Spanish or German, and start times vary by date, so check the slot for your night when you book.
Greek folk dance, in pictures
Greek folk dance, in pictures
The regional costumes of Greek folk dance — here on the Dora Stratou company's open-air stage on Philopappou Hill.
Ticket options & what's included
Ticket options & what's included
| Option | What it includes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Walk, dinner & show | Guided night walk, 4-course dinner, live Greek dance show | The full evening, about 2.5 hours |
| Guide language | English, Spanish or German | Choose it when you pick your date |
| Not included | Alcoholic drinks | Budget for drinks separately |
Ways to see Greek dance in Athens
Find a Greek dance evening for your dates
Everything on this page is a GetYourGuide booking; open the widget to see which dates remain and the total in your currency.
Planning your evening
Planning your evening
Check start times
Start times vary by date — check the live GetYourGuide listing for the slots on your night before planning the rest of your evening around it.
Wear comfortable shoes
The evening opens with about an hour of light to moderate walking under the Acropolis, on the old streets of central Athens — comfortable shoes make the walk part of the pleasure, not a chore.
Bring water
Carry a bottle of water for the walk, especially after a hot Athens day — and note that alcohol isn't part of the booking, so budget for drinks at dinner.
Arrive with time to spare
Aim to reach Monastiraki Square a few minutes before the start so the walk can leave on time — the square itself, with the Acropolis above, is an easy place to wait.
Booking flexibility
Nothing's locked in until 24 hours before the start — cancel free any time before then, so grabbing a seat now still leaves the rest of your Athens evening open.
Planning a folk dance evening in Athens
Planning a folk dance evening in Athens
A Greek dance night in Plaka: the walk, the dinner show and tips
A guided night walk beneath the Acropolis, a four-course dinner with live Greek dancers in Plaka, and how to plan the evening.
Read more → THE DANCES EXPLAINEDSyrtaki, Kalamatianos, Tsamiko: Greek Folk Dances Explained
Syrtaki was invented for a 1964 film, not a village square — here's how it, kalamatianos, tsamiko and hasapiko actually differ, region by region.
Read more → DANCE BY REGIONGreek Folk Dance by Region: Mainland, Islands and Pontos
Greek dance changes with the terrain: slow, mountain dances in Epirus, light island steps, and the fast circles Pontic Greeks carried from Asia Minor.
Read more → THE COSTUME COLLECTIONInside the Dora Stratou Theatre's Greek Costume Collection
Decades of village-by-village fieldwork built this collection — 98 women's costume types, 44 men's, among the largest archives of Greek folk dress anywhere.
Read more → THE SOUND OF GREEK DANCEThe Instruments Behind Greek Folk Dance Music
Clarinet, not bouzouki, drives most mainland folk dancing — the bouzouki is really an urban rebetiko sound. Here's what actually powers a Greek dance floor.
Read more → BEYOND THE THEATREFilopappou Hill: Acropolis Views Before the Evening Show
The hill facing the Acropolis is a destination in its own right — an ancient monument, a debated 'prison of Socrates,' and the best sunset view in Athens.
Read more →GEO/FAQ
Greek dance evening questions
Is this the Dora Stratou show?
No. The Dora Stratou company, founded by folklorist Dora Stratou in 1953, performs regional Greek dance in its own open-air theatre on Philopappou Hill in summer. This booking is a different evening: a guided night walk through central Athens, then a four-course dinner in Plaka with a live traditional Greek dance show.
What will I see in the programme?
A guided walk of about an hour past the Ancient Agora and beneath the illuminated Acropolis, with stories from Greek mythology, then a four-course Greek dinner in Plaka with live Greek dancers and music. When it's available, you can join in the plate breaking and try a few steps.
Where does it start and end?
The walk starts at Monastiraki Square and finishes back there; the route passes the Ancient Agora and runs through Plaka, where the dinner and show take place.
How long does the evening last?
About 2.5 hours: roughly an hour of walking, then about 90 minutes for dinner and the show. Start times vary by date — check the live listing for your night.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes for about an hour of light to moderate walking under the Acropolis, and some water. Alcohol isn't included with dinner, so budget for drinks separately.
Can I combine it with other Athens experiences?
Yes — the evening already pairs a city walk with dinner and a show, and it fits neatly after a daytime Acropolis visit, since the route passes right beneath the hill. You'll find the exact inclusions and current price laid out inside the booking widget.