First Cemetery of AthensAbout First Cemetery of Athens
The First Cemetery of Athens is the main cemetery of the city of Athens and one of the earliest modern burial grounds established after Greek independence. It is the principal public cemetery for the city and a focal point for Greek funerary art.
A wide range of monuments and family mausoleums line the cemetery avenues, with numerous neoclassical and twentieth-century sculptural memorials. Many visitors come to study the funerary sculpture or to visit the graves of prominent Greek politicians, writers and artists.
The cemetery was laid out in the 19th century to serve the growing modern capital and has been used continuously since then, accumulating funerary architecture that spans two centuries. Over time family vaults and sculpted monuments were added, creating the park-like cemetery visible today.
Located within the city of Athens, the cemetery sits inside the urban area and serves as the city’s principal burial ground.
- Monuments and sculpture: Contains numerous 19th- and 20th-century funerary monuments and family mausoleums by notable Greek sculptors, making it of interest to those who study funerary art.
- Principal civic cemetery: Open to the public and used as the principal civic cemetery of modern Athens, it also holds the graves of many Greek statesmen and cultural figures.
Nearby Attractions to First Cemetery of Athens
Best Time to Visit First Cemetery of Athens
Best in spring and autumn for comfortable walking and attentive visits.
Weather & Climate near First Cemetery of Athens
First Cemetery of Athens's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 32°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 7° - 13° | 7° | 48 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.8h |
| February | Good | 7° - 13° | 8° | 49 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.7h |
| March | Very Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 53 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Excellent | 11° - 20° | 16° | 32 mm | some cloud | 71% | 3.3 m/s | 1.3 high | 13.0h |
| May | Ideal | 16° - 25° | 20° | 18 mm | some cloud | 62% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 very high | 14.0h |
| June | Ideal | 20° - 30° | 25° | 8 mm | clear | 55% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 14.5h |
| July | Ideal | 23° - 33° | 28° | 7 mm | clear | 51% | 3.8 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 14.3h |
| August | Ideal | 22° - 32° | 28° | 7 mm | clear | 53% | 3.9 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 13.4h |
| September | Ideal | 19° - 28° | 24° | 10 mm | mostly sunny | 61% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 high | 12.3h |
| October | Excellent | 15° - 23° | 19° | 46 mm | some cloud | 71% | 3.6 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.1h |
| November | Very Good | 11° - 18° | 14° | 62 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.5 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.0h |
| December | Good | 8° - 14° | 11° | 66 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.5h |
How to Get to First Cemetery of Athens
By metro: Evangelismos or Syntagma stations are nearby with a short bus or taxi ride; local buses serve Ralli Avenue and nearby streets.
Tips for Visiting First Cemetery of Athens
- Allow time to walk the central avenue and study the portrait‑plaques and sculptures - many 19th‑ and 20th‑century Greek artists and statesmen are buried here.
- Respect local customs: the cemetery is an active site of remembrance and occasional commemorative ceremonies.
- Look for the tomb of Melina Mercouri and Konstantinos Karamanlis; the statues and reliefs reward closer inspection.