Olympic Stadium (OAKA)

The Basics

The Olympic Stadium is named for Greek athlete Spiros Louis, winner of the 1896 marathon.

Stadium renovations took place over the course of two years, when Athens was working hard to rebuild and modernize its infrastructure in anticipation of the 2004 games. A gargantuan, earthquake-proof roof was added, and a thermophile lawn with an inbuilt irrigation system was grown. Today, most people come here for concerts and sporting events. Unless you have tickets, the only way to visit the stadium is as part of a group tour organized ahead of time.

Things to Know Before You Go

• OAKA is a must-visit for sports fans.

• The center is open for group tours (of over 15 people) with advance reservation; smaller groups or individuals must join a tour to visit.

• The Olympic Stadium is not to be confused with the Panathenaic Stadium, constructed in the fourth century BC and used for early Olympic Games, 15 minutes away.

How to Get There

OAKA is located about a half-hour drive northeast of Syntagma Square. Numerous buses stop nearby, and the Neratziotissa train station is a 7-minute walk from the stadium. The Eirini station on line 1 of the Athens Metro is also nearby.

When to Get There

Visiting OAKA requires advance planning: You either need to join a tour, have a group of 15 people and set up a tour, or visit for a concert or sporting match. Plan ahead if you want to attend an event, or look into booking a group tour for a more in-depth experience.

The Olympic Games in Greece

The Olympic Games began in the 11th century BC in Greece as a festival dedicated to the god Zeus. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896 in the Panathenaic Stadium, a 4th-century BC stadium which was restored for the games. The 2004 games were only the second Olympics ever held in the country.

Ways to explore

The Olympic Stadium is named for Greek athlete Spiros Louis, winner of the Olympics’ inaugural marathon in 1896. Today, you'll likely visit for concerts and sporting events. Unless you have tickets, the only way to get inside the stadium is on a group tour organized ahead of time. Don’t get it confused with the Panathenaic Stadium, an ancient stadium dating back to the fourth century BC, or with Ancient Olympia, home of the original Olympics, a 3.5-hour drive away in the Peloponnese.

Accessibility

The stadium is reasonably accessible, with wheelchair-friendly seating and adapted bathrooms.

Age limits

None

What to pack

A hand-held fan if attending concerts in summer

What to wear

There’s generally no special dress code for events.

Not allowed

Rules vary from event to event: Coldplay banned single-use plastics for their shows on environmental grounds.

Amenities

Restrooms, food and drink stalls

Address

The Olympic Stadium is located about 7 miles (11.5 kilometers) northeast of the Acropolis in Marousi, a northern suburb of Athens.

Driving

Parking can fill up rapidly at big events, and Athens traffic is a nightmare. Still, if you want to drive from central Athens, get on the EO1 highway, which runs by the Panathenaic Stadium and Zappeion Garden, then follow the signs.

Public transportation

The Irini metro station (Line 1) is right by the Olympic complex, although the stadium itself is about a 15-minute walk. Neratziotissa, further away, has Line 1 metro trains and suburban rail connections.

Best times to visit

The best time to visit the Athens Olympic Stadium is when it has an event you want to see. Note that matches often start around 9pm.

Best days to visit

There’s no best day to visit OAKA: It depends on what’s happening.

Best months to visit

The roof makes the stadium a year-round venue.

Special events

Plan ahead to book tickets for big-name acts touring during your visit: Concerts sometimes sell out in a few hours.