The Ellinikon in Athens – Greece’s Largest Urban Regeneration Project
The Ellinikon is one of the most ambitious urban regeneration projects in Europe, transforming the site of the former international airport of Athens into a new coastal district combining parks, sports, culture, residences, shopping, hospitality, entertainment, and public spaces.
Located on the Athens Riviera, just south of the city center, the development covers approximately 6.2 million square meters and extends from the former airport site to the coastline of Agios Kosmas.
The project is being developed gradually, with some areas already open to the public and many major buildings and public spaces still under construction.
The Ellinikon at a Glance
The Ellinikon is being created on the site of the former Athens International Airport and surrounding coastal areas.
The development includes approximately 2 million square meters dedicated to The Ellinikon Park, a revitalized coastline, residential neighborhoods, sports facilities, hotels, offices, schools, healthcare facilities, shopping destinations, cultural spaces, walking and cycling routes, and new public areas beside the sea.
When completed, the development is expected to create a new connection between metropolitan Athens and its coastline.
From Athens Airport to The Ellinikon
The area has played an important role in the modern history of Athens for decades.
The airport at Ellinikon opened in 1938 and eventually developed into the main international airport serving the Greek capital.
During the second half of the 20th century, millions of travelers arrived in Greece through Ellinikon. One of its most recognizable buildings was the East Terminal, designed by the Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen and inaugurated in 1969.
Airport operations ended in 2001, when Athens International Airport moved to its present location at Spata.
Parts of the former airport site were later used during the 2004 Olympic Games for several sporting facilities before the area entered a long period of transition.
The large-scale redevelopment project officially entered its construction phase in the following decades, beginning the transformation of the former airport and coastal zone into The Ellinikon.
The Ellinikon Park
At the heart of the development is The Ellinikon Park, planned to cover approximately 2 million square meters.
The park is designed to combine Mediterranean vegetation, recreation, culture, sports, historic structures, and large public green spaces.
A network of approximately 50 kilometers of walking and cycling routes is planned to connect neighborhoods, attractions, green spaces, and the waterfront.
The park also includes a cultural route linking historic buildings, monuments, and archaeological remains associated with the long history of the area.
The Ellinikon Experience Park
The Experience Park was the first major public area of The Ellinikon to open.
Covering approximately 75,000 square meters, it includes landscaped green areas, walking paths, a playground, outdoor fitness facilities, a Zen Garden, and the interactive Water Maze.
The park contains hundreds of trees and tens of thousands of plants and provides visitors with an early glimpse of the landscape planned for the wider development.
Admission to the Experience Park is free.
The Ellinikon Experience Centre
Inside the Experience Park is the The Ellinikon Experience Centre, an interactive exhibition housed in a renovated former airport hangar.
The center presents the history of the site, the development currently underway, and the future vision for The Ellinikon through digital installations, models, and audiovisual experiences.
Its themed areas explore subjects including nature, sustainability, smart living, urban technology, and the future coastline.
The Experience Centre is free to visit, although advance booking is generally required.
The Ellinikon Sports Park
A major new addition opened to the public in July 2026 with the gradual launch of The Ellinikon Sports Park.
The Sports Park covers approximately 287,000 square meters, including large areas of open green space and facilities for professional athletes, amateur sports, and everyday recreation.
Its first phase includes athletics facilities, football pitches, basketball courts, tennis courts, green exercise areas, walking and cycling routes, and athlete accommodation.
The Sports Park is designed as a year-round destination for sports, fitness, wellness, and major events.
Riviera Tower
One of the most visible landmarks currently under construction is the Riviera Tower.
Designed by Foster + Partners, the tower will rise approximately 200 meters above the coastline and contain 170 residences across 50 floors.
It is designed as Greece's first green residential skyscraper and will offer views toward the Athens Riviera, the Acropolis, and the wider coastline of Attica.
Construction began in 2022, with completion currently planned for the first half of 2027.
The Coastal Front
The transformation of the coastline is one of the most important parts of The Ellinikon project.
The wider redevelopment includes approximately 3.5 kilometers of revitalized coastline, with public access, walking routes, green spaces, a new beach, marina facilities, hotels, dining, shopping, and leisure areas.
The coastal plan is designed to reconnect large parts of the former airport site with the sea and create a continuous waterfront destination on the Athens Riviera.
The Beach and Marina
The future coastal front includes approximately 1 kilometer of landscaped public beach together with upgraded marina facilities.
The Agios Kosmas Marina is being redeveloped to accommodate a wide range of vessels, including large yachts, while the surrounding waterfront will include public promenades and leisure areas.
The coastline will eventually connect directly with The Ellinikon Park through pedestrian and cycling routes.
Riviera Galleria
Another major waterfront development is Riviera Galleria, designed by the internationally known architect Kengo Kuma.
The project will combine fashion, gastronomy, entertainment, and direct access to the marina and coastal promenade.
Approximately 19,000 square meters will be dedicated to retail and dining, with around 100 shops, cafés, and restaurants planned.
Construction is currently in progress, with the destination expected to open in 2027.
The Ellinikon Mall
Farther inland, The Ellinikon Mall is being developed as one of the largest new retail and entertainment destinations in southern Europe.
The project is planned to include approximately 100,000 square meters of retail space, more than 340 stores, restaurants, entertainment areas, and a large cinema complex.
Its design combines indoor and outdoor areas, extensive greenery, renewable energy systems, and modern transport connections.
Residences and New Neighborhoods
The Ellinikon will also include several new residential districts.
These neighborhoods are designed around green spaces, pedestrian routes, local shops, schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and easy connections to the wider park and coastline.
Projects range from high-rise residences such as Riviera Tower to lower-rise coastal homes and urban neighborhoods closer to the park.
Hotels, Dining and Entertainment
A range of hotels, restaurants, cafés, entertainment venues, and hospitality projects are planned throughout the development.
The coastal zone will include new waterfront hotels, while other areas will combine accommodation with shopping, culture, nightlife, and leisure.
These projects are intended to make The Ellinikon both a residential district and a destination for visitors staying elsewhere in Athens.
Green Space and Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the central themes of The Ellinikon project.
The redevelopment includes large green areas, extensive tree planting, pedestrian and bicycle routes, energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy systems, restoration of natural streams, and environmental remediation of parts of the former airport and military site.
Before and during construction, large-scale decontamination works have been carried out on soil and groundwater affected by decades of airport and military use.
History Preserved Within the New Development
The Ellinikon is not being developed as a completely new site without reference to its past.
Several historic buildings and structures associated with the former airport are being preserved or incorporated into the redevelopment.
The wider park is also planned to include a cultural route connecting historic structures and archaeological areas, allowing visitors to discover different periods of the site's history.
What Can Visitors See Today?
The Ellinikon is still under development, so visitors should not expect the entire project to be complete.
As of 2026, some of the main areas already open or accessible include:
- The Ellinikon Experience Park
- The Ellinikon Experience Centre
- The Ellinikon Sports Park
- Selected event and recreational areas
Visitors can already walk through parts of the development and see construction progressing on projects such as Riviera Tower and other major buildings.
What Is Still Under Construction?
Many of the most important parts of The Ellinikon remain under development.
Projects currently in progress include the wider Ellinikon Park, Riviera Tower, the Coastal Front, Riviera Galleria, The Ellinikon Mall, hotels, residences, infrastructure, education facilities, and other commercial and public spaces.
Most major Phase 1 developments are expected to become operational gradually during 2027–2028, although individual project schedules may change.
The Ellinikon and the Athens Riviera
The Ellinikon is becoming one of the most important new destinations on the Athens Riviera.
Its location between the metropolitan area of Athens and the coast allows visitors to combine modern architecture, parks, shopping, sports, and entertainment with beaches and other southern suburbs such as Glyfada, Voula, and Vouliagmeni.
As more areas are completed, The Ellinikon is expected to become an increasingly important stop for visitors exploring the coastal side of Athens.
Visit The Ellinikon Today
The Ellinikon is unusual because visitors can already experience parts of a city-scale project while watching other sections take shape around them.
The Experience Park, Experience Centre, and Sports Park provide the clearest introduction to the development today.
Visitors can combine a trip to The Ellinikon with Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Lake Vouliagmeni, or a longer journey along the Athens Riviera toward Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon.
The Ellinikon Today
Today, The Ellinikon represents one of the largest transformations taking place in modern Athens.
A former international airport is gradually becoming a new coastal district centered on public green space, sport, culture, housing, hospitality, shopping, and access to the sea.
Some of its most important landmarks remain under construction, but the opening of the Experience Park and Sports Park means that The Ellinikon is no longer only a future project — it is already becoming a destination that visitors can experience.
