Antonis Tritsis Metropolitan Park

At roughly 1.2 square kilometres one of the largest parks in Greece, sitting in the northwest Athens suburb of Ilio. Reforestation began in 1832 and the eucalyptus avenues date from the mid-19th century; seven artificial ponds now form a chain rimmed with reeds where herons, kingfishers and pond turtles nest. The park is named for Antonis Tritsis, the Greek minister for urban planning in the 1980s who pushed the project through as an ecological counter-balance to dense Athenian sprawl. Inside you'll find cycle paths, free open-air concerts in summer, a petting zoo and a small farm corner. Take Metro Line 2 to Agioi Anargyroi and walk ten minutes to the south entrance.