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Open-air cinemas are one of the most beloved Athens summer traditions. Through the warm months, outdoor cinemas across the city show first-run films, classics, and themed retrospectives in walled gardens, rooftops, and squares filled with jasmine, ouzo, and deck chairs. The best known is Cine Thission, open since 1935, where the illuminated Acropolis looks down on the garden as the film plays. This is the complete Athens open-air cinema summer guide for 2026 with the historic cinemas, the rooftop venues, ticket prices, and the unique etiquette of Greek summer-cinema culture.
The Athens Open-Air Cinema Tradition
Open-air cinemas (called “therines” in Greek, meaning “summer”) have been a central feature of Greek urban life since the 1930s. The format: walled garden, jasmine and bougainvillaea, deck chairs, a small kiosk serving ouzo, retsina, beer, popcorn, and traditional Greek snacks, and one or two films per night projected onto a screen in front of the audience. Athens has many of them, and they open for the summer season only. Ticket prices are set by each cinema: at Cine Thission a standard ticket is €10 and a reduced one €8.
For broader context, see our Athens Nightlife pillar, our Athens at night guide, and our unique Athens experiences guide.
The Iconic Cine Thission
Founded 1935, with views of the illuminated Acropolis from its garden. Located in the Thissio district, a short walk from Thissio metro. New-release films in original language with Greek subtitles; small repertory programme of classic films. Garden seating with tables; a small kiosk serving ouzo, beer, wine, pizza, sandwiches, popcorn, and Greek sweets. Tickets cost €10, or €8 reduced; check the cinema’s programme for screening times. Open from April to October. Reservations possible at cine-thisio.gr. Address: 7 Apostolou Pavlou Street.
The Best Athens Open-Air Cinemas
1. Cine Thission
The best-known open-air cinema in Athens. See above. Address: 7 Apostolou Pavlou Street, Thissio.
2. Cine Paris
Located on the rooftop of an early-20th-century neoclassical building in Plaka, with direct views of the Acropolis. New releases and themed retrospectives. Address: 22 Kydathineon Street, Plaka.
3. Cine Riviera
Open-air cinema in central Exarchia, screening films since 1969. Eclectic programming including arthouse and indie cinema. Address: 46 Valtetsiou Street.
4. Aigli (Zappeion)
Athens’s most beautiful open-air cinema setting, in the Zappeion gardens immediately behind Parliament. Walled garden with classic films, special director retrospectives, and seasonal festivals. Address: Zappeion, Vasilissis Olgas Avenue.
5. Dexameni (Kolonaki)
Famous Kolonaki open-air cinema in a leafy hilltop garden. Mix of first-run and retrospective programming. Address: Dexameni Square, Kolonaki.
6. Vox (Exarchia)
Open-air cinema in the bohemian Exarchia neighbourhood. Eclectic programming including political and indie films. Address: 82 Themistokleous Street.
7. Floisvos (Athens Riviera)
Seaside open-air cinema in the Floisvos marina; mix of mainstream and arthouse programming. Address: Floisvos Marina, Faliro.
Specialty & Boutique Cinemas
8. Trianon Cinema (Indoor + Outdoor)
Historic cinema open all year, with a retractable roof that turns the hall into an open-air screen. Address: 21 Kodrigktonos Street.
9. Asty Cinema (Plaka)
Boutique open-air cinema in Plaka with curated programming.
How Athens Open-Air Cinemas Work
Showtimes: films start after dark, and many cinemas run a later second show; each cinema publishes the night’s times in its programme.
Tickets: prices differ from one cinema to the next (Cine Thission charges €10, €8 reduced). Buy at the door or online (cine-paris.gr, cine-thisio.gr, etc.). Arrive early for a good spot.
Subtitles: Almost all films in original language with Greek subtitles. Hollywood and European films play almost universally in English.
Food & drink: kiosks serve beer, wine, ouzo, soft drinks, popcorn, sandwiches, pizzas, and Greek snacks. You can usually bring your own drinks at the smaller venues.
Atmosphere: very relaxed; chatting between scenes is common; smoking permitted at most outdoor venues.
What Films Show at Athens Open-Air Cinemas?
The programming is a mix of recent Hollywood releases (with their Greek summer release timed for the open-air season), European arthouse, themed retrospective seasons (Hitchcock, Truffaut, Kubrick), and classic Greek films. Programmes change often through the season, so check individual cinema websites or the consolidated guide at greekcinema.gr for current listings.
Best Time to Visit Athens Open-Air Cinemas
Best months: June and September. June brings the longest days of the year, and September evenings are cooler than those of high summer. Avoid the hottest weeks of July-August when daytime heat lingers into the early evening.
Best showtimes: 9 PM is the social show (couples on dates, friends). 11 PM is the quieter intimate show.
Best night of the week: Tuesday-Thursday for smaller crowds. Friday-Saturday for the social atmosphere. Sunday for the family programming.
Cine Thission: The Detailed Experience
The most famous open-air cinema deserves a dedicated section. The 1935-founded cinema is in the Apostolou Pavlou pedestrianised street between Thissio and the Acropolis. From the garden you look up at the illuminated Acropolis while the film runs. Seating is a mix of chairs and small tables, and the cinema bar serves drinks and snacks. Films shown in English with Greek subtitles; usually the latest Hollywood release plus a 1970s-90s classic. Conversation continues throughout the film. The later show is the more romantic; arrive early for the best seats. A ticket costs €10 (reduced €8).
Open-Air Cinema Etiquette
Phone calls during the film are technically not allowed but lightly enforced. Smoking is permitted at most outdoor venues. Bringing outside food is not technically allowed but rarely policed. Arrive early for prime spots. Bring a light layer; even summer evenings can cool down after 10 PM.
The Kiosk Menu Tradition
The Greek open-air cinema kiosk is part of the experience. Standard items:
Drinks: Greek beer (Mythos, Alpha; €4-6), Greek wine (€5-8 per glass), ouzo (€4-7), tsipouro (€5-8), soft drinks (€3-5), Greek frappe coffee (€3-5), water (€1-2).
Snacks: popcorn (€3-5), nuts (€3-5), Greek olives (€4-6), Greek cheese plate (€8-12), Greek sweets (€4-8).
Light meals: pizza (€8-12), sandwiches (€6-10), small souvlaki (€5-8).
Open-Air Cinemas by Neighbourhood
Central Athens (Plaka, Monastiraki)
Cine Paris (Plaka rooftop with Acropolis view), Cine Thission (immediately below the Acropolis), Asty Cinema (small boutique Plaka).
Kolonaki & Central North
Dexameni (the famous Kolonaki garden cinema), Aigli Zappeion (the elegant Zappeion garden cinema).
Exarchia
Cine Riviera (screening since 1969), Vox (the political-bohemian alternative).
Athens Riviera
Floisvos (the seaside Faliro cinema).
Special Events at Open-Air Cinemas
Themed retrospective seasons: Hitchcock weeks, Greek classics months, Kubrick festivals.
Director Q&A nights: the Athens International Film Festival (September) hosts evenings with directors at major open-air cinemas.
Live music accompaniment: some cinemas occasionally show silent films with live musical accompaniment.
Children’s programming: look for family-friendly films in each cinema’s programme.
Athens Greek Film Festival: September; several open-air cinemas participate.
Open-Air Cinema vs. Indoor Cinema in Athens
Open-air cinemas (summer): the seasonal Athens experience; relaxed; jasmine and ouzo atmosphere.
Indoor cinemas (year-round): multiplex chains such as Village Cinemas and Odeon; the standard year-round option.
Most Athenians prefer open-air in summer; indoor in winter.
Open-Air Cinema Photography
The Athens open-air cinemas are highly photogenic:
Best photo spots: the entrance to Cine Thission (the famous ramp), the Cine Paris rooftop (Acropolis view), the Aigli Zappeion garden.
Best time for photos: 30-60 minutes before sunset (golden hour); 30 minutes after sunset (blue hour with cinema lights).
Permissions: photographing the venue is universally accepted; photographing other audience members requires their permission.
Open-Air Cinema Booking & Reservations
Most Athens open-air cinemas accept walk-in entry. The exceptions:
Cine Thission and Cine Paris on weekend nights: reservations recommended via the cinema websites (cine-thisio.gr, cine-paris.gr).
Special-event nights: film festival openings, retrospective seasons, director Q&A nights — book in advance.
Reserved tables (some larger cinemas): ask about any extra charge when you book.
Greek Open-Air Cinema Outside Athens
Open-air cinemas operate throughout Greece in summer:
Greek islands: many island towns have an open-air cinema in summer.
Patras: several open-air cinemas in the western Peloponnese.
The “open-air cinema network” is a uniquely Greek summer cultural experience; visiting cinemas in different Greek towns offers comparable atmospheres.
The Athens International Film Festival
Held annually in September; major Greek film event with international director Q&As, premieres, and retrospectives. Several Athens open-air cinemas participate. In 2026 general admission was €8, special screenings were priced separately, and an €80 pass covered ten €8 screenings.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Athens open-air cinemas open?
Open-air cinemas run through the warm months, and each one sets its own season. Check the cinema’s website or programme for its opening and closing dates before you plan an evening.
How much do Athens open-air cinema tickets cost?
Each cinema sets its own prices, so check its website before you go. Cine Thission, the best known, charges €10 for a standard ticket and €8 reduced. Snacks and drinks from the kiosk cost extra.
What is the most famous open-air cinema in Athens?
Cine Thission in the Thissio district, founded in 1935, with views of the illuminated Acropolis from its garden.
Are films at Athens open-air cinemas in English?
Almost all films are in original language with Greek subtitles. Hollywood and European films play in English; subtitles do not interfere for English-speaking viewers.
Do I need to book Athens open-air cinema tickets in advance?
Not required but recommended for Cine Thission and Cine Paris on weekend nights. Book online via the cinema websites. Walk-in usually works at most other cinemas.
What time do Athens open-air cinemas show films?
Screenings begin once it is dark, and many cinemas add a second, later film. Times change through the summer, so check the cinema’s programme for the night you want.
Are Athens open-air cinemas kid-friendly?
Yes. Many cinemas have early-evening family screenings and welcome children. The atmosphere is relaxed; bring a snack and a light layer.
Plan the Rest of Your Athens Trip
For more nightlife content, see our pillar guide to Athens Nightlife, our Athens at night guide, our unique experiences guide, our rooftop bars guide, our festivals calendar, and our things to do guide.