Founded 61 years ago, the Athens Festival is the absolute highlight of the Athenian theatre and arts season. Albeit it passed through a series of negotiations and cancellations this year (with the notorious Jan Fabre incident back in February), the Festival was set up to meet international standards in almost no time at all by its new director, Vangelis Theodoropoulos. Presenting a kaleidoscopic programme of music, theatre, dance, visual art exhibitions and more, the festival literally opens up the whole city and takes place in venues both big and small, from the Roman-era Herod Atticus theatre right under the Acropolis, to the Greek National Theatre near Omonoia Square.

The festival also incorporates performances held at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, one of the world’s best-preserved Ancient Greek theatres where visitors can watch contemporary stagings of Greek drama under the star-lit sky. Τhe theatre used to be part of a large sanctuary dedicated to Asklepios, the god of health and healing, which indicates that the ancients associated theatre and performance with healing and spiritual properties. Don’t miss the performance of Aristophanes’ “Birds” in mid-August, which coincides with the brightest full moon of the summer.