Set just below the Acropolis, the Monument of Lysicrates is a highlight of tours that touch on Athens’ ancient treasures. Walking, cycling, and driving tours stop in Lysicrates Square to admire this striking work of ancient architecture that was once topped with a bronze choral trophy in the shape of a tripod. The earliest-known construction that used Corinthian capitals externally, the pedestal is decorated with an ancient frieze that depicts Dionysus, patron god of the stage—a nod to the choral performance for which the original tripod trophy (now lost) was awarded.
The Monument of Lysicrates is located outdoors where there is little shade, so wear a hat and sunscreen to visit in the summer.
The pedestal sits at the end of Tripodon Street, one of the liveliest shopping and dining thoroughfares in Plaka, making it an easy stop while exploring the neighborhood.
The square around the monument is flat and paved, easy to navigate with strollers and wheelchairs.
The Monument of Lysicrates is located on Lysicrates Square near the Acropolis in the heart of Plaka. It’s an easy walk from a number of the city’s top monuments or you can admire the monument as part of a Plaka tour on foot or by bike. The closest metro station is Acropoli, just a few minutes away.
The midday sun in Athens is unforgiving, so time your visit to the Monument of Lysicrates for the cooler hours of early morning or late afternoon. This area of Plaka is particularly lively in the evening, so you can pop by the pedestal before continuing on to dinner at a nearby restaurant.
The Monument of Lysicrates marks the beginning of Tripodon Street, the oldest street in Athens that connected the Roman Agora and Theater of Dionysus in ancient times. Once lined with choragic monuments topped by bronze “tripod” trophies celebrating choral performances in the nearby theater, the street is now known for its atmospheric cafés, restaurants, and shops.
