A breath of life in a rare ecosystem
The National Garden – Metropolitan Green S.A., invites Athenian citizens and new strolling visitors to a walking experience among the historic monuments of the National Garden, under the rustling of leaves,
the sounds of running water from the Ilissos springs on Mount Hymettus, and the chirping of small birds.
The National Garden of Athens is a cultural landmark of landscape architecture, representing 19th-century Western European garden design, with rare biodiversity. It is a metropolitan oxygen lung, inextricably linked to the heart of the Athenian metropolis.
It is the oldest botanical garden in the country, covering an area of 150,000 square meters and offering 7 kilometers of walking paths. It features a rare collection of century-old trees and plants, 133 flowerbeds, 40,000 shrubs, and numerous plants belonging to 519 species and varieties. There are also six lakes where ducks and various species of fish swim.
The Garden’s rare fauna includes protected lizards, 13 species of turtles—among them the striped water turtle—Balkan frogs, and the giant African snail Lissachatina fulica.
In 2011, the Garden was officially designated a Historic Site by the Ministry of Culture and a Cultural Monument of Europe by the International Committee of Historic Gardens and Cultural Sites.
The National Garden hosts environmental education programs and experiential games for children, as well as wellness activities, guided walking tours, and experiential exercise sessions—all open to everyone. It also supports environmental awareness programs and accessibility initiatives for people with disabilities and individuals with limited mobility.
