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Northern Suburbs

The Northern Suburbs of Athens are a complex of municipalities and scattered neighborhoods that developed along the northern and northeastern residential axis of Athens, extending toward northeastern Attica. The historical center of the northern suburbs is the city of Kifisia, and of the northeastern suburbs, Chalandri. Traditionally, the northern axis runs along Psychiko–Ekali, while the northeastern runs along Thrakomakedones–Papagou–Dionysos. The modern urban center of the northern axis is Marousi, while the hub of the northeastern axis is Agia Paraskevi. The urban center of the far northern suburbs, an extension of the northern axis, is Agios Stefanos, while the seat of the northern Mesogeia, an extension of the northeastern axis, is the city of Pallini.

This complex is known as Zone B, whose modern metropolitan center is the developing city of Marousi. On maps, Zone B is depicted in green. Families from higher income groups usually live in the northern area.

When studied as a compact complex covering the northeastern plain of Athens, the area is bounded by the Kifisos River, Mount Parnitha, Mount Penteli, and Mount Hymettus, enclosing the municipalities of Metamorfosi, Irakleio, Ekali, Penteli, Agia Paraskevi, and Papagou. This zone is known as “Northeastern Athens.”

Considering the complex under modern conditions as Zone B of Athens–Attica, it consists of municipalities and communities oriented toward and around Mount Penteli. The central plain is bounded by Tourkovounia, Parnitha, Penteli, and Hymettus, and the two residential axes extend toward northeastern and eastern Attica. The first extension covers the Agios Stefanos area, and the second the Pallini area. The latter is gradually separating from the traditional Mesogeia area, following its orientation toward the Marathon Development Zone and its participation in SPAP, moving toward Penteli and Marathon, which traditionally belong to northeastern Attica.

Municipalities located close to the Municipality of Athens, such as Galatsi and others, are essentially served by the city center of Athens for their needs, as they lie within the plain bounded by Tourkovounia to the west.

Map of the Northern Suburbs

Thrakomakedones, at the foothills of Mount Parnitha, appears in Zone B as the northernmost edge of the northern suburbs, after its transport connection with Kifisia (Kymi Avenue extension). It is an exclusively residential area and was incorporated into the Municipality of Acharnes in 2010. Residents belong mainly to the middle and upper economic classes, and the area continues to develop with new housing.

Lykovrysi and Anthousa are the two areas of the northern and northeastern suburbs, respectively, that have not yet experienced the development they seek. The former due to the suspension of necessary transport projects and the exploitation of cheap land and encroached forests by lower-middle-class residents; the latter because it lies outside the basin, on the boundary between mountainous terrain and the Mesogeia plain. Both have fragmented plots and did not benefit from the system of apartment-for-land exchanges. However, this also leaves many promises for their future development.

In 2004, for the needs of the Olympic Games, a new area for athletes’ accommodation was created in northeastern Attica: the Olympic Village, south of Thrakomakedones. After the Games, it was given to middle-income residents and administratively belongs to the Municipality of Acharnes.

Also under the Municipality of Acharnes are Varympompi and Tatoi. The former is an exclusively residential area, while in the latter are located the famous entertainment venues (clubs) of the northern suburbs, including the historic Tatoi Club, Jockey Club, and Varimpompi Club. Tatoi also includes the former royal estates and many equestrian clubs.

Similar characteristics are found in the unified municipality of Nea Filadelfeia and Nea Chalkidona, which follow the northwestern residential axis, while Galatsi is now being integrated into central Athens. In recent years, these municipalities have belonged to Zone D of Athens, known as Western Athens. The municipality of Papagou is now considered one of the expensive central areas as well.

In addition, many mountainous areas are being developed on the southeastern slopes of Penteli, just outside the basin (Drafi, Dioni, Desi, Kallitechnoupoli, Neos Voutzas, Kallithea), attracting high-income populations, although the legality of some of these settlements (or their extent) has often been questioned, as has that of the communities of Penteli, Rodopoli, and Dionysos.

Zone B of Attica also includes the municipalities of northeastern Attica.

Areas included:

Agia Paraskevi, Agios Stefanos, Anoixi, Varympompi, Vrilissia, Galatsi, Dionysos, Drosia, Ekali, Irakleio, Thrakomakedones, Ippokratios Politeia, Kifisia, Kryoneri, Lykovrysi, Marousi, Melissia, Metamorfosi, Nea Ionia, Nea Erythraia, Nea Kifisia, Nea Penteli, Neo Psychiko, Olympic Village, Palaio Irakleio, Penteli, Pefki, Rodopoli, Stamata, Tatoi, Filothei, Chalandri, Cholargos, Psychiko, Papagou.

Source: Wikipedia