In the village Eyoi Eyan  just ten feet away from the Rion train station; if you are lucky you will enjoy some live music as well.

The centre of Patras is full of cafes where  you can enjoy your coffee, beverages and snacks and at the same time work with your laptop and your books. The best book café of the town is Tag located at the bottom end of Pantanassis Street.

At Ypovrychio Vanillia you enjoy Greek coffee in the picturesque Markato Square and at SiDoux you will feel romantic. At Plaz there is also a vast area for sports and swimming.

To combine coffee and/or drinks (sometimes even food) there is Pop Horn, where you travel back in time, and Syndetiras, situated at a lovely terrace by Gerokostopoulou stairs, enjoying the best music in the city, aired from its own studio. Mare Mare combines a stunning sunset view with drinks and beverages. More “after” suggestions include the balcony of Bocas for a classy combination of cocktail and jazz music, the always elegant Pedonale in Riga Feraiou, Abbey Kitchen Bar at Psilalonia square, and Tam Toom at Rion.

Hint: Wine lovers should taste a glass of Malvasia Aromatica by Orfanos or Sideritis-Apostagma Oinou by Parparousis. For beers, the local Dione and Mamos are your natural choices.

In the seaside are of Rio we suggest ,Naftiko,  Distinto and W as a more forma option that offers coctails and drinks . Koukoutsis near the Rion train station is very popular too  but more informal.

In the city center we suggest Salumeria, Carousello, Bodegas, Tomo’s Open Kitchen Bar and Rokfor, You can also go to Talks which is at Psilalonia square. A little bit more formal, but still casual is Fagioum in the Upper Town. Fasoloi in the city center is synonymous of a low budget, yet tasty every day cuisine.

If you want fresh seafood, then Amalia in the city center is a balanced option for sea ‘meze’, while Istioploikos at the end of the seaside is a great option for those who want to taste really fresh fish.

During summertime, several cultural events take place. There are theatrical performances, such as ancient tragedy plays in the Roman Odeon (unfortunately in Greek, with no hyper-titles), open air concerts and exhibitions. More information about cultural opportunities during the conference week will be available on due time.

The Archaeological Museum of Patras is located in between the city center and the University. It opened on 2009 and has 8,000 square meters of interior spaces, making it the second-largest museum of Greece. The museum has four thematic sections, three of which permanent and one periodic. The three permanent ones are dedicated to public and private life, while the third one refers to the necropolis. Items of the museum come from the Mycenaean, Ancient, Hellenistic and Roman Greece, with the oldest one is of the 17th century BC.

If you want to stay fit and exercise, the Southern Park (watch a panoramic video below), starting from Faros (the Lighthouse), opposite to St. Andrews Church, is a place where you can run, cycle and walk. Cross the shoreline to the East and you will reach the Plaz (Beach), where you can also enjoy a swim.

According to the Christian tradition, Patras was the place of Saint Andrew’s martyrdom. The Church of Saint Andrews is the largest in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, a typical example of Greek Orthodox basilica church of approximately 1,800 square meters are. A five meter long gold-plated cross stands over the central dome, while over the other domes there are 12 smaller crosses, symbolizing Jesus Christ and His apostles. The interior of the St. Andrews is decorated with Byzantine-style paintings and mosaics.

For hair nails and makeup services visit “The Parlor”.
https://www.instagram.com/theparlorhairproject/

With an experienced and knowledgeable team of professionals and alongside its minimalistic design, its definately a hair salon we recommend.

There is a wide selection of shops both in the Patras centre and in Rio.  In the city centre you will find the mainstream high street brands but also smaller local business which offer high quality products.

For women’s clothing and accessories pay a visit to  “Shop Shop” and  “Tiny Shop” both located in Pantanassis Street. They offer a wide selection of quality clothes and accessories and represent various brands.

For men’s fashion  visit Dur in Maizonos Street popular for its elegant, minimalist and comfortable lines.

For women’s jewellery we suggest visiting 7epta. Paying meticulous attention to detail, 7epta’s  jewelry is completely handcrafted that ensures expert quality.

For children’s toys and clothing we suggest “Mpiz” toys in Kanakari Street and “Pigi” in Plateia Georgiou Square.

For books “Gonia tou Vivliou” in Agiou Nikolaou Street is very popular among locals.

For home decoration, Petrichor’s product portfolio includes d lighting, organic soaps and stationary, framed posters and coffee table books, tableware and kitchen tools, functional furniture and design pieces focusing on the Scandinavian but also Mediterranean lifestyle.

Outside the center of Patras and near the new port, you will find Top Parks (https://www.facebook.com/topparkspatras) which  is a family-friendly destination that  features shops like IKEA, Adidas, Pepco, Sinsay, and Moustakas Toys and KFC. It’s a  great place to spend a few relaxing hours, whether you’re shopping, browsing, or enjoying a walk around the new commercial park.