AthensBook began with a simple idea: that technology could make our beloved city more accessible to everyone. What started as a passion project grew into something beyond our wildest dreams—a digital companion carried in the pockets of over 400,000 Athenians and visitors every day.
For years, AthensBook guided you to open pharmacies when you needed them most. It helped you discover that perfect taverna tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. It showed you which cinema was playing your favorite director's latest film. It connected you to the pulse of Athens in ways that transformed how we all experienced our city.
We built AthensBook at a time when smartphones were just beginning to reshape our daily lives. We were proud to create something uniquely Hellenic - an app that understood the rhythm of Athens, its challenges and its charms.
What We Created Together
AthensBook wasn't just our creation - it was yours too. Every search, every review, every recommendation helped build a living, breathing digital map of Athens as it truly existed for its residents. Together, we created:
A lifeline to essential services when you needed them most
A culinary guide that celebrated both venerable institutions and hidden gems
An entertainment companion that kept you connected to Athens' vibrant cultural scene
A community that shared the best our city had to offer
While AthensBook's journey has come to an end, we're immensely proud of what we accomplished. In a rapidly changing technological landscape, we created something that made a difference in the daily lives of Athenians.
The spirit of innovation that drove AthensBook has left its indelible mark in Hellenic technology development. And many members of our small team have gone on to create new tools and services that continue to shape the digital landscape, both in Greece and beyond.
Thank You
To everyone who opened AthensBook looking for a pharmacy at midnight, seeking the perfect date spot, or simply exploring their own city with fresh eyes—thank you. Your trust and enthusiasm made this journey possible.
Athens continues to evolve, as all great cities do. New technologies will emerge to serve its people in ways we can't yet imagine. But for a time, we connected Athens to its people in a way that made daily life a little easier and a lot more enjoyable.
For that opportunity, we will always be grateful.
The AthensBook Team
Our Journey
Launch
AthensBook was launched on the 4th of March 2009 for iPhoneOS, helping people discover the best of Athens on their exciting new iPhones. More than 10000 people install AthensBook in its first week. It tops the AppStore charts in Greece and remains at the top for several weeks.
Cinemas, Bars & Restaurants
More than 100000 people are using AthensBook each month to get information about places in Athens. Several commercial partnerships signed. Expanded coverage to include cinemas, bars, and restaurants throughout Athens. Won the App of the Year award for 2010.
Android Launch
AthensBook expands to Android, reaching a much wider audience. Userbase quickly reaches 200000.
Windows 8 & Content
AthensBook becomes a Microsoft Windows 8 launch partner. Content partnerships signed with restaurant, traffic and more!
Web & New Features
Comrehensive brand and design update and an iOS rewrite. Launched AthensBook's web version along with Spotlight and Treats features. Introduced Machine learning PoI verification system.
'Places'
Introduced 'Places' allowing business owners to claim and manage their listings. Personalised recommendations based on user activity goes live. Userbase reaches 400000.
Development Stops
Active Development of the core AthensBook applications, services and infrastructure ends. Regular new content updates would continue until 2018 with automated update and ingestion for some categories continuing until 2021.
Apps EOLd
AthensBook is officially shutdown. The apps are removed from the App Store and Google Play.
Launch
AthensBook was launched on the 4th of March 2009 for iPhoneOS, helping people discover the best of Athens on their exciting new iPhones. More than 10000 people install AthensBook in its first week. It tops the AppStore charts in Greece and remains at the top for several weeks.
Cinemas, Bars & Restaurants
More than 100000 people are using AthensBook each month to get information about places in Athens. Several commercial partnerships signed. Expanded coverage to include cinemas, bars, and restaurants throughout Athens. Won the App of the Year award for 2010.
Android Launch
AthensBook expands to Android, reaching a much wider audience. Userbase quickly reaches 200000.
Windows 8 & Content
AthensBook becomes a Microsoft Windows 8 launch partner. Content partnerships signed with restaurant, traffic and more!
Web & New Features
Comrehensive brand and design update and an iOS rewrite. Launched AthensBook's web version along with Spotlight and Treats features. Introduced Machine learning PoI verification system.
'Places'
Introduced 'Places' allowing business owners to claim and manage their listings. Personalised recommendations based on user activity goes live. Userbase reaches 400000.
Development Stops
Active Development of the core AthensBook applications, services and infrastructure ends. Regular new content updates would continue until 2018 with automated update and ingestion for some categories continuing until 2021.
Apps EOLd
AthensBook is officially shutdown. The apps are removed from the App Store and Google Play.