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This dissertation was written as part of the MSc in Environmental Management and Sustainability at the International Hellenic University . The paper demonstrates the feasibility of smart city concept. The term “smart city” appeared in late ‘90s as a response to rapid urbanization and simultaneously as a lever to serve the three pillars of sustainability (environmental concern, social cohesion and economic prosperity). However, the at- tempt to conceptualize smart city various approaches and definitions remains both fuzzy and ubiquitous. Through the process of literature review the paper aims to give a comprehensive account of smart city concept according to the every time emerging conditions and how the term is interpreted accordingly. Thus , a summary of several definitions of smart city are provided in order to certify this claim but also as an effort to show up the different evolution of the term per decade. Consequently, the paper concentrates on the core factors that characterize the smart city ( technology, human capital and institution s role ) and analyses the crucial characteristics of smart cities. Researchers, scholars and policy makers agree on six critical characteristics that promote a city to a smart city: Governance, People, Mobility, Environment, Living and Economy. The paper introduces thoroughly each of the six characteristics aiming to close the gap in literature as most of the researchers place emphasis on few characteristics in accordance with their academic or scientific perspective. More concrete , each characteristic is analyzed by identifying its particular features and in terms of the various applications of Information and Communication Technology. Based on this framework the paper ex- plains how these critical features give prominence to the smart city idea and how they can be used effectively. Overall the paper presents the evolution of smart city concept regarding its role, crucial factors and characteristics.