"Travel Info

We visited in October 2025, after reading many reviews. Using a mapping service, you can get to where you can park and then take very easy walk/hike on gravel road. Roughly 1km before arrival to a parking area, you will reach a fork in the road - the left the sign directs you to St. Pantelimon Monastery - but turn right and travel up the hill. There is a lower parking area and an upper one. For lower one, the word “Cave” appears on the road in blue paint. See my photos and video. Coordinates are 38.07556° N, 23.86995° E

Further up the road and around to the left is more parking. A utility vehicle (not a car) with ample height and preferable 4x4, or motorcycle suitable for dirt roads, can get you nearly all the way to the caves - up to a steep incline gravel road for a 1-2 minute walk. Otherwise suggest a walk from the lower parking which is an easy 15 minutes. I have included some photos of the gravel road as well.

It’s a great site to visit, both the church and the cave, which you can walk all the way in on the left and down to nearly the far end. You should explore the area further for amazing views and other signs of excavation of marble many years ago."

Jim Kavadias

"A Journey Through Time, Conversing with History —— The Trip to Davelis Cave

Today, I embarked on a wonderful journey, with the destination being the mysterious and historically charming Davelis Cave. It used to be an ancient quarry. From as far back as the 6th century BC all the way to the early 20th century, it silently supplied high-quality stones for the residential houses in northern Athens, witnessing the development and changes of the city throughout the long years.

On the way to Davelis Cave, tiny pieces of white marble fragments were scattered everywhere, as if they were imprints left by history. Each fragment carried stories of the past. With every step forward, that strong sense of history became even more intense, making me even more eager to see the ancient quarry.

Finally, I reached the entrance of the mountain cave, and a Byzantine-style stone church came into view. The church stood there quietly. Without the presence of a priest, it still gave off a sense of holiness and solemnity. Stepping into the church, the clean and refreshing layout inside made me unconsciously slow down my steps and lower my voice. I imagined the miners in the past. Before going down into the mine, they would come to this church to pray, hoping for safety and smoothness. Perhaps with the power of this belief, they could gather up the courage and no longer be afraid of the dark and deep mine, resolutely devoting themselves to the arduous stone quarrying work.

Stepping out of the church and coming to the stone quarry on the mountaintop, I stood on this ancient land and overlooked the entire city of Athens. At that moment, a strange feeling welled up in my heart. Great figures like Archimedes and Plato, who shone brightly in the long river of history, once walked on this very stone quarry just like me and gazed at the same scenery. Although we are separated by thousands of years, at this moment, I seemed to be able to feel the blending of my thoughts with theirs. Their wisdom and their contemplation of the world seemed to transcend time and converge with my train of thought.

I firmly believe that the world is in our hands. Whether it was the people in ancient times thousands of years ago or us today, as long as we unite as one, we possess the power to change the world. This trip to Davelis Cave was not only a visual feast but also a spiritual baptism, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of the world and myself amidst the sediment of history."

chen Gary

"The hike from the bottom area (Paliatsos Bar) where you can park your car, to the cave, takes about 40-50mins and is easy to follow, a bit steep in some parts but doable for most young people. The cave itself ant the little church are great - highly recommend for a morning activity from Athens."

Marija Koteva