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We list the best hotels, hostels, B&Bs and guesthouses in Athens as recommended by travel experts from CNN, Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Fodor’s, New York Times and more. All hotel recommendations have been referenced with customer reviews and we only listed places that have at least a 4 out of 5-star customer review rating.
Best cheap hotel in Athens: Aparthotel Live
Best boutique hotel in Athens: AthensWas Boutique Hotel
“The arty and bold New Hotel, designed by Fernando and Humberto Campana, two brothers, is situated near Syntagma and has 79 beautifully designed rooms. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant and the seventh-floor rooftop New Art Lounge and is decorated with contemporary art collected by its Greek-Cypriot owner, Dakis Joannou.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 Hours in Athens.
“The grande dame of hotels in Athens sits opposite the Parliament on Syntagma Square and has been a beacon of luxury and sophistication in the city for many years. There are many draws to this 1842-vintage building that used to be a private mansion.”
“The 21-room AthensWas, with its clean-lined Classic Modernist interiors, is steps away from the Acropolis Museum.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 Hours in Athens.
“This 216-room hotel has sweeping views of the Parthenon, an outdoor pool, and is centrally located near Syntagma Square. There are three restaurants, a rooftop bar, a sauna and a Turkish bath in the Electra Metropolis.”
“When it went up in the 1960s, the Hilton was Athens’ first modern luxury hotel, and it is still one of the best hotels in town. Thanks to the Metro, you can be in Syntagma Square or at the Acropolis in minutes.”
Featured as Frommer’s Exceptional Choice in Athens.
“The small and elegant Ava Hotel, has only 15 rooms, all suites, but it’s in the historic neighborhood of Plaka and offers views of the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 Hours in Athens.
“It’s not the cheapest hostel going, but with its jaunty style and helpful staff, City Circus does lift the spirit more than most ultra budget lodgings.”
“Nestled on an unassuming little street in the heart of Plaka, Athens’ quaintest and most historic neighborhoods, the neoclassical-style hotel building is grandiose in a charmingly old-fashioned way.”
Featured as Fodor’s Choice in Athens.
“At the heart of the Athens Riviera action is Vouliagmeni, an arc of honey-colored sand sheltered by a pine-fringed peninsula. Behind the original modernist façades, there are lashings of pale marble, extravagant floral displays, and intriguing contemporary art.”
Featured in CN Traveler’s 2020 Gold List.
“This cosy, cheerful and casual boutique hostel, tucked down a tiny urban road in the Psirri district, encourages travellers to meet with lots of communal spaces, including a scenic rooftop bar and restaurant known for its happy hour.”
“For an apartment stay with concierge services, check into Live in Athens, a selection of 11 colourful flats in various sizes, all within a stroll of the main attractions.”
“Behind its elegant neoclassical facade, this boutique hotel was totally rebuilt. But the formal interior design stays true to exterior style, with lots of brass and dark wood.”
“In the middle of the Psyrri night life scene, Fresh Hotel offers 133 bright rooms with whimsical splashes of highlighter tones. Look out for works by local artists hanging above Philippe Starck- and Zaha Hadid-designed furniture.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 Hours in Athens.
New York Times, CNN, Lonely Planet, Fodors, Telegraph
CNN, Lonely Planet, Fodors, Frommers, Telegraph
New York Times, Lonely Planet, Telegraph
CNN, Fodors, Telegraph
Frommers, Fodors, Telegraph
New York Times, Telegraph
Lonely Planet, Telegraph
Fodors, Frommers
CN Traveler
Telegraph
The Guardian
Lonely Planet
New York Times
The city of Athens is the capital of Greece and it was also the center of Ancient Greece. The city still retains the landmarks dating back to the Ancient Greek Civilization and is a popular destination among tourists across the globe.
Here are some of the best neighborhoods to stay in Athens:
Plaka
Plaka is the historical neighborhood of Athens and is arguably the most picturesque and beautiful area of the city. The neighborhood is located in the vicinity of Acropolis and its ancient temples. Replete with tiny shops selling clothes, jewelry, and ceramics and paved with narrow cobblestone streets, the area has the ambience of a village.
Monastiraki
Monastiraki is famous for its iconic landmarks such as Stoa of Attalos, the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Library, and a museum exhibiting Athenian artifacts. With a well-known flea market, the neighborhood also houses ancient ruins, restaurants, hotels, taverns, bars, cafes, and small shops as well as offers views of the Acropolis.
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square is a historical landmark in Athens and is an important hub of social, political, and commercial life of the city’s residents. Syntagma Square is situated in front of the Old Royal Palace that accommodates the Greek Parliament since 1934.
Exarcheia
Exarcheia is an area located in the downtown part of the city near the iconic building of the National Technical University. The neighborhood is renowned for the home of Greek anarchists.
Kolonaki
Kolonaki is a neighborhood with shopping complexes that provides space to both Greek boutique designers and international brands. It is also home to a wide array of mid-range and fine dining restaurants.
Also check out our travel guide about the best areas to stay in Athens.
The average rate for a 3-star hotel in Athens is around $75 per night. If you're looking for a 4-star hotel in Athens then it will cost you around $110 per night. For the luxury segment, 5 star-hotels, you'd be looking at a cost of around $205 per night.
If you're looking for a cheap hotel in Athens, then try Aparthotel Live. It's an excellent budget hotel offering great value for money. It's in a good location, it's been recommended by travel experts and the hotel has excellent customer reviews. Also check out our list of the best cheap hotels in Athens.
Not a fan of big chain hotels? No problem. If you want to stay in a boutique hotel in Athens, then you should book AthensWas Boutique Hotel. The hotel has been rated highly by previous guests for its boutique style. It has also been recommended by influential travel journalists. Also check out our list of the best boutique hotels in Athens, it's a manually curated list of the most unique and romantic hotels in the city.
If money isn't a problem and you're looking for a luxury hotel in Athens, then go for Hotel Grande Bretagne. The hotel offers excellent service, it's in a top location, it has been rated very highly by previous guests and renowned travel critics have recommended it. Also check out our list of the best luxury hotels in Athens, it's a manually curated list of the most exclusive 5-star hotels in the city.
If you're looking for a great hostel in Athens, then you should check out Hostel City Circus. The hostel has magnificent reviews by backpackers, it has been recommended by well-known travel experts and it's in a good location. Also check out our list of the best hostels in Athens.
The Hilton Hotel offers amazing views of the Acropolis. The Hotel Grande Bretagne also offers great views of Athens.
The early bird catches the worm, if you're looking for an Athens hotel offering a great breakfast, then go for the AthensWas Boutique Hotel.
Athens Electric Bike Tour. Make easy work of Athens’ busy streets and steep hills by whizzing around the sights on an easy-to-ride electric bike. Glide effortlessly around the hilltop ruins of the UNESCO-listed Acropolis of Athens, pedal around the atmospheric Old Town of Plaka, and explore lively Monastiraki. Price: $57.
Athens: Acropolis Small-Group Guided Tour & Skip The Line. Skip the ticket lines to the Acropolis and see the most famous monuments of Athens. Discover the birthplace of Western civilization and hear fascinating myths of ancient Greece from a licensed guide. Choose between a shared or private tour. Price: $71.
Full Day Tour & Sailing to Agistri, Moni & Aegina. Enjoy a fantastic day out at sea on a beautiful wooden sailing boat, all along the mesmerizing Saronic Sea and its islands of Agistri, Moni and Aegina. Price: $133.
More things to do in Athens
Athens is Greece’s capital city. A city with a rich history, it is also one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was chosen as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2025.
The city has many attractions to offer tourists, from ancient temples to an amazing nightlife. Athenians are known for being friendly and open-minded, so you’ll have a great time exploring the city with them! Let’s take a look at what Athens has to offer!
Athens has a long and rich history. The first settlers of Athens were the tribes of Dimili, Pankoponiki and Akhaine. They established the city in 1000 BC and named it after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war.
The development of Athens is closely related to the development of democracy in Greece. In 486 BC, Athens became the capital of Greece and one of the most important cities in Europe.
In 1834, Athens was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake that caused about 30,000 casualties. Modern-day Athens didn’t really develop until after 1860 when Otto founded a kingdom on the ruins of this old city.
After World War II, Greece entered its Golden Age thanks to its rapid industrialization based mainly on tourism and shipping industries. That led to a period of economic growth from 1950-1973 with a steady growth rate.
The 1980s marked a turning point for Greece as they faced many challenges during this time period including two international conflicts: World War II and the Turkish invasion in 1974 which marked a period known as “the Greek tragedy.”
In 1980, Andreas Papandreou came into power as Prime Minister with his party called PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement). He initiated reforms that would help Greece become more democratic but also increased tensions between classes because he tried to change the system too quickly without much thought for those who had been living under traditional ways for generations.
Today, Greece is going through a difficult financial crisis.
Athenians are known for being friendly and open-minded, so you’ll have a great time exploring the city with them! Let’s take a look at what Athens has to offer!
Here are some things you might want to see or do during your stay in Athens:
1) Visit the Acropolis-Ancient temple complex atop a hill overlooking the city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is home to 2 ancient monuments: The Propylaia and The Parthenon.
2) The Temple of Olympian Zeus-one of the largest temples ever built in Greece, this is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site
3) Visit Panathenaic Stadium-an outdoor stadium where the first Olympic Games took place
4) Visit Agora Plaka District-popular gathering point for locals with shops and cafes frequented by tourists too
5) Walk through Hadrian’s Archway-a triumphal arch that opened up into Rome’s most prestigious avenue. It served as an entrance into Ancient Athens
Athens is known for having excellent food. The restaurants are diverse and offer a range of traditional and international dishes.
You might want to try some mezes (appetizers) like hummus and pita bread, or the famous gyro sandwich. For a heartier meal, you can’t go wrong with meatballs made from ground beef, pork and lamb. If you’re looking for something sweet to top off your day, Athens offers many pastries such as baklava – layers of filo dough soaked in honey and sprinkled with pistachios.
Greece is also famous for its amazing ouzo drink, which is an anise-flavored liqueur that can be served either straight up or mixed with water or other drinks like soda water. If you’re feeling adventurous and would like to try something new, we recommend trying tsipouro – it’s a distilled white grape spirit that tastes similar to vodka but stronger than most liquors.
Athens is the perfect place to have a good time. This city has tons of restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs. You can even find places where you can dance the night away!
One of the most popular places in town is Gazi. It’s a lively district with lots of bars and clubs that play all kinds of music, from hip-hop to drum ‘n’ bass. If you want something more laid back, then head to Metaxourgeio. There are plenty of bars and taverns here, as well as cafes and theaters.
Athens has a lot to offer in terms of culture and food and is a perfect destination for your next vacation. The city is filled with beautiful monuments, great nightlife and restaurants, and delicious cuisine.
Take the time to plan your trip and get the most out of your visit by reading about Athens’ best attractions and where to eat and drink. We also recommend you read our guide about where to stay in Athens.
If you like our list of the best hotels and hostels in Athens, then you should also check out our selection of recommended hotels in Istanbul or the best hotels in Vienna.