NEA SMYRNINea Smyrni or Nea Smirni is a suburb south of Athens. Nea Smyrni is located about 5 km SW of downtown Athens, about 5 km SW of Kifissias Avenue, W of Vouliagmenis Avenue, about 6 km E of Piraeus, and NE of Poseidonos Avenue.The area was once partly made up of farmlands, with woods dominating the landscape, and its mixed farming included pastures, vegetables, and groves ; forests lay to the east. In 1922, a number of refugees principally from Smyrna, (today's Ezmir), arrived and settled in the southwestern part of Athens, which became Nea Smyrni. Many of its inhabitants, including the soccer team of Panionios, moved here from Smyrna, transforming the plain into an urban area. The district is mainly made up of residential areas with a few business areas particularly on Syngrou Avenue and round it's central square. Its two main streets have been linked since 1995 with interchanges and the roads connecting with Hymittos Street and Syngrou Avenue to the north. The Athens Industrial Area lies to the north. There is no better place to stop on your way to the beach than Nea Smyrni. Both lines of the tram will take you there. Stop at the Nea Smyrni Square (Plateia stop) and wonder arround. Starting from the Starbucks at your left you visit the square. Since the last few years there are no cars allowed at the square, a fact that makes the square a beautiful and relaxing place where you only see people shopping, walking, relaxing with a coffee at the fountains and families who enjoy the oasis of the square. There is a huge amount of cafeterias to be founded at the square and the streets around it. The Omirou Street is the main commercial street of Nea Smyrni where you can visit the shops (Prices are mostly lower than in the centre of Athens). At the El. Venizelou Avenue, where the tram leaves you you can find almost all the banks. Near the Square is the Estia of Nea Smyrni, a nice neoclassical building which operates as culture museum and demostrates the heritage from Minor Asia. On your way to the square, from the window of the tram, perhaps you notice a big park. This park (alsos of Nea Smyrni), is worth visiting, since it is totally renovated, has a nice open air cinema and is daily crowded with the locals who make sports. Near the park and at a walking distance you will find one of the most beautiful and worth visiting greek Churches in Greece. The church of Agia Fotini has also a big surrounding are and despoting view of the town, while it has a beautiful architechure. There are a lot of ways to reach Nea Smyrni. Perhaps the easiest and most confortable way is to just take the tram . But for those who like to see more places there are a lot of buses to nea smyrni. The busline 218 (232) starts from the port of Pireas and drive through Nea Smyrni (Omirou Street) and goes east. The busline 219 starts from Kallithea Metro Station, passes also Omirou Street and ends east. The buslines 134, 135, 136, 137 will take you from the centre of athens, from syntagma, directly to Alsos of Nea Smyrni. More infos and linemaps at www.oasa.gr On your way to the beaches, next stop is the sports facilities of Agios Kosmas.
local bus organisation : OASA International airport: El. Venizelos NEXT STOP is AGIOS KOSMAS |