Rema Pikrodafnis Athens

Athenian wilderness

Dimitris from Athens

""Rema Pikrodafnis" is one of the few relatively untouched streams in Athens. I love this seemingly abandoned part of it, a symbol of what Greece really is."

Rema Pikrodafnis is one of the few remaining relatively untouched streams in Athens. You can see the areas it runs through by clicking here. Polluted waters, illegal dwellings tacked on the stream itself, an overgrowth of reeds everywhere... It's a forgotten, completely different world. You'll find such things as chicken coops, tin shacks, tortoises, frogs and great views over the stream from the winding, labyrinthine roads that run parallel to it. Some might say it's not an interesting sight and might wonder why anyone would want to visit a place such as it. I for one love this seemingly abandoned part of the city and really think it's a symbol of the part of Greece a lot of people choose to forget.

It's a great walk any time of day. I suggest you bring something good to listen to while walking or biking along the wild vegetation. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle in audiobook format was my choice and it fit strangely well with the desolateness.

I first wrote this article 10 years ago, and still, not much has changed.

To get to the lower part of the stream, which is most easily accessible via local transport, catch a tram and get off at stop Achilleos. Go down Eleftheriou Venizelou past the shops and sure enough you'll see the first reeds in the distance. The rest is up to you.

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Athens Spotter Dimitris

About Me Hi! I'm Dimitris Hall. I've been an Athens Spotter since 2013 and have worked with Spotted by Locals as the site's editor, social media and content manager since early 2017. I was born a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall and grew up in Nea Smyrni (New Izmir), a suburb of Athens that a century ago didn't even exist as a concept. I’m a μισός-μισός, a “half-and-half”, my constituent parts being Greek and Australian, which honestly doesn’t sound quite right, since the last time I was in Australia was more than 15 years ago, and that just for holidays. I woul...

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Pikrodafnis

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Nov 9, 2025

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