Using Exarcheia, a neighbourhood in Athens, as our research context, we identify an oppositional atmosphere that is encouraging a major growth in anarcho-tourism to the area. We illustrate how the production and consumption of this unique atmosphere depends on the many grassroots initiatives and anti-authoritarian mobilisations that are predominant in Exarcheia, and how the atmosphere is being threatened by the encroachment of tourism provision. Yet, drawing on Duncombe's (2007) concepts of the ethical spectacle and transmutation, we challenge the co-optation/resistance binary to contemplate whether elements of spectacular consumption can, under specific conditions, be used as tools for progressive social change. •Oppositional atmospheres are the outcome of bottom-up resistive initiatives.•Anarcho-tourism is a form of tourism driven by oppositional atmospheres.•Oppositional atmospheres drive tourism yet tourism can kill these atmospheres.•We problematize the co-optation/resistance binary.•We develop the concept of atmospheric transmutations.