Directions to Davelis Cave

Directions to the Davelis Cave

Pendeli Mountain, North of Athens, Greece

Location: 38° 04' 14.80" N, 23° 52' 37.11" E

From the centre of Athens:
Take Kifissias Avenue going north (in the direction of Kifissia).
Turn right for Melissia onto Odos Pendelis.
(note the Maroussi platia & the Germanos building on the left-hand side as you turn).
Keep on this road (it takes a sharp left & right bend over a bridge) and then becomes Odos Demokratias.
Continue up through Melissia high street & come to a busy junction.
(note an Alpha Bank on the left and a Eurobank on the right).
Go straight ahead (a slight left & right turn required) for Nea Pendeli (Do not bear right for Vrilissia).
Reset your Odometer (Kilometres) to zero at this junction.
GO TO CONTINUE...

From the northern suburbs of Athens:
Get to Melissia high street going north & pass through the main shopping area.
Continue up through Melissia high street & come to a busy junction.
(note an Alpha Bank on the left and a Eurobank on the right).
Go straight ahead (a slight left & right turn required) for Nea Pendeli (Do not bear right for Vrilissia).
Reset your Odometer (Kilometres) to zero at this junction.
GO TO CONTINUE...

CONTINUE:
0.0 Melissia junction
0.5 Take RIGHT lane at the division in the road - so continuing straight & keep straight on
2.2 Pendeli mountain looms ahead
2.6 Turn LEFT at junction with stop sign (and proceed up short steep hill section) & keep straight
3.0 Road narrows, then sharp left-hand bend
3.4 Road levels out. View of pine trees on mountainside
4.1 Pass under pylon cables
4.2 Turn RIGHT up mountain road signposted "Ag. Padelimona monastary - 3 Km"
5.1 Road levels out and parking is possible. You may want to stop for a view of the mountain.
6.4 Road Junction, Shrine, & left-pointing sign for the monastary dead ahead. Bear RIGHT here.
7.3 Turn right down bumpy earth track (this turn is just before a sharp left-hand bend in the road).
7.7 Track narrows and becomes rougher.
7.8 Cement workmans huts can be seen ahead on the right.
8.1 Park & walk unless you have a 4WD vehicle.
(The cave is about 150 metres further along the track, on the left).

PHOTOS OF TRIP STARTING FROM MELISSIA JUNCTION:

Heading north towards Pendeli mountain immediately after the junction in Melissia.
Note the blue circular "use snowchains" warning sign on the right.
The Melissia Post Office is about 50 metres up the road on the right.

A few hundred metres up this road at the split in the road
take the RIGHT LANE (for Nea Pendeli)
(i.e. keep straight)

Continue on the same road and at this junction (observe Stop sign)
in Nea Pendeli TURN LEFT towards Pendeli mountain.
Immediately you will go up a steep hill section.

After some winding, steep road arrive at this junction where you
TURN RIGHT directly up the mountain road with pine trees either side.
(i.e. Follow the direction of the sign to the Ag. Padelimona monastary - 3 Km)

Part-way up the road levels-off and one can park on the right for this view of Pendeli mountain.
Disused marble quarries have been filled with earth from th Attiki Odos motorway excavations
and are being re-forested with pine trees.
(Use horizontal scroll to view whole picture ->)

On arriving at this junction, make a RIGHT TURN
(the road to the left leads to the monastary - which is interesting to visit
& always under construction. This order of hospitable monks serve
coffee to visitors in a cosy room with a fireplace)

TURN RIGHT here and proceed down the
rough track towards Davelis cave.

Coordinates for this turn-off: 38 04' 31.84'' N, 023 52' 10.34'' E

On the track to the cave

Pass an ancient marble quarry on the right -
just before reaching the cave area.

Park before arriving here (left, down the track) & walk
unless you have a 4WD. The cave is beyond the trees.