Expert reviews
“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.”
“Central, affordable lodgings are often bland and basic, but this hostel brims with warmth and charisma. Housed in a pair of handsome townhouses, there’s a sociable vibe in the large living room, a buzzy bistro and colourful roof terrace.”
What guests liked
- Friendly staff
- Comfortable beds
- Great place
- Boutique style
- Top location
All you need to know
This small hotel with rooms totaling 19 in all, is the perfect cozy hostel you will find in the city. The premises are fit to accommodate a wide range of needs. The hostel features a rooftop terrace designed to be the perfect relaxation spot and the floors of the rooms have been restored to wooden floors. The hostel is ideal as a resting place due to its excellent location; it is 650m from Omonia Square, 20 km from Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, 350 m from the Monastiraki Metro Station and 400m from Thisio.
Regarded as one of the best value-for-money hostels, this is evident as a result of the high-quality services and amenities such as bar/lounge, full air conditioning in rooms, breakfast buffets and many more. This 4-star hotel and its friendly staff are very welcoming making guests feel at home throughout their stay in the hotel.
The hotel offers standard double ensuite bathrooms in its rooms, custom-made beds are also available in every room. Free Wi-Fi is standard for every room in the hotel.
The new restaurant, Zampano, offers both local and continental dishes ensuring that guests have the best meals during their stay in the city. The restaurant features traditional Greek cuisine which is equally matched with modern cooking creating a fascinating treat for guests. For wine lovers, you are provided and well cared for by the extensively long list of wines available to guests. The hostel is designed for you to enjoy every bit of your stay in the city of Athens.
Lowest price guarantee
We partner with Booking.com and Agoda. Both booking websites offer the lowest price guarantee so you can be certain you will always get the best deal for this hotel. If you have seen a better price elsewhere, all you need to do is contact the booking website and they will refund you the difference immediately. You can price match right up until the day before check-in.
Location
Recent guest reviews
11 November 2024
11 out of 10
Cheerful circus theme, convenient, quiet and safe location, comfortable and clean rooms (each with a private bathroom, either as an ensuite or a designated bathroom outside the room), nice view from the terrace. The super helpful staff answered all my questions, whether it be about tours, where to buy a postal shipping box, where to get a haircut, or teaching me Greek. For food, you can self-cater, dine at Zampano next door or visit the nearby authentic bakery, Artos Venetis. I extended my stay here as I was so happy with the place!
Minor point - The wi-fi signal was weak on the terrace.
5 November 2024
Central location, good value. Friendly
great value for family of four staying in the deluxe room. enough space, comfy beds, clean and organized. breakfast in the adjoining restaurant a la card offers good choices. well equipped common kitchenette available. rooftop terrace with a nice acropolis view
central location dictates loud nights all week long ... once prepaid breakfast we were not allowed to change unless paying again full price! comparable offers in all the places around without limitation of choice
3 November 2024
End of October 2024 stay-- highly recommend
I was lucky enough to have the room to myself for the majority of my stay. The mini-balcony with the room was lovely and enhanced the stay. The staff were all incredibly supportive. The restaurant below had good food. The things they have to purchase are quite convenient. I would stay again and recommend this place to others.
The toilet being down the hall. That's it.
3 November 2024
Exceptional
The hospitality, cleanliness and quality of the room were above expectations! Value for money!! Great location
27 October 2024
The place to be in Athens!!!
Location. People. Food..... If is not in Hostel is behind a corner!!! 🗺️ #travel #foodie #adventure
I stayed wayyyy toooo shorttttt...
27 October 2024
Historic and Affordable Gem
This historic building was beautiful! It was also affordable and with easy access to local restaurants, bakery, coffee houses, etc. i was thrilled to learn there was a great view of the Acropolis from the top floor. I would definitely stay here again!
This has no bearing on the hotel but a couple roommates were inconsiderate when they arrived after midnight. I did speak to management.
20 October 2024
Perfect, my go to place in Athens.
I was impressed by the place's elegance, cleanliness and practicality. Everything was smooth, easy going and professional. The staff very efficiency and professional in every I needed. Their partner restaurant had the best breakfast. Very convenient. The rooftop is a treat, especially at night. Loved this place full on. Thank you
I would love some hooks or shelfs in the bathroom for clothes. This way I can easily get dressed inside the bathroom, since I am sharing a room and I need a privacy to get ready.
18 October 2024
Brilliant staff, fantastic location - book your stay asap!
Staff are amazing - friendly, welcoming, professional and have a wonderful ‘can do’ approach when it comes to any queries or issues that may arise. The property itself is a little maze of rooms , some quirky circus touches around the place which makes it quite interesting. has communal areas with tables/ chairs and lounges where you can sit and use laptops, chat, watch TV or relax. Definitely make your way to the top floor and the rooftop terrace with its views of the Acropolis! Location is excellent and you’re surrounded by great places to eat, drink and soak up the atmosphere.
Overall I throughly enjoyed my stay - what I failed to realise (and it was entirely my oversight) was that the room was split level with the bedroom upstairs and bathroom/ sofa downstairs (my fault entirely) If you had any mobility issues (I had injured my knee just prior to travelling) it could be a big challenge as it’s a tiny, spiral staircase. The staff were very accomodating and made up the sofa bed for me to help. Space in the bedroom area I was in was very tight as every inch is utilised to the maximum so read descriptions carefully to avoid any misunderstandings
9 October 2024
Comfy, great location, helpful staff.
Always a great stay.
Nothing.
9 October 2024
Location, comfort, great staff.
Always a great stay
7 October 2024
Comfortable, friendly and central.
Location is central, convenient for metro stations and on a direct route from the airport. Staff are fantastic - so friendly and helpful. We really liked the restaurant next door too, Zampano, where there is a discount if you’re staying at City Circus. We had a private room which was great.
Nothing.
5 October 2024
Indeed value for money.
Location was pretty convenient and central, 5 mins from Monastraki station.
What I did not like was the size of the room. Shared room was small for 6 people.
5 October 2024
Perfectly suited my quick stopover, clean, comfortable and accommodating accommodation!
Location was great, central without being in a main road. Instructions from the train station were really clear and directed me through well lit and populated areas even when arriving close to midnight. The shower was fantastic - pressure and temperature were excellent (had a not so great experience somewhere else recently). Everything was clean and in good repair. Very helpful staff, held my bag for a few hours afters check out and were happy for me to use the lounge and wifi after checkout. All very friendly staff with special thanks to Tyrion. I highly recommend City Circus.
Nothing I can think of
3 October 2024
Cosy place and ideal for visiting Athens
The hostel is very nice and well-kept. The staff is super helpful
2 October 2024
Incredible Experience!
Amazing experience. Athens felt like home. The location was exceptional. The staff of the Hostel was great. Everybody very kind, especially Lina. I recommend 100% staying in this Hostel.
Leaving Athens 🫠
1 October 2024
Very nice hotel !
Good hotel location Very smiling and pleasant staff ! Excellent breakfast at the attached cafe-restaurant (avocado toast with poached eggs was … amaaaazing ! Beautiful as well as tasty ) Nice ambiance & inside design, with notes of humor
Up-floor studio equipment to be improved or added (main power plug, kitchen sponge and/or kitchen towel, missing bedside tables -even small ones-)
30 September 2024
I'd recommend it to friends :)
It was very clean and practical, the staff were kind and patient, and the food was excellent!
As much as I liked the concept of cards in order to use and preserve electricity, I felt it was a little inconvenient when it came to charging electronics when I wasn't in the room.
27 September 2024
A Home away from Home...
City Circus is located close to many attractions, tour buses and Subway. Staff has been extremely helpful and were available when asked for. Next Door Resturant is very good. Positive vibes all around. Staff Mr. Elan is very friendly and accommodating. Recommended for Stay...
Outdated lift may be replaced...
25 September 2024
Exceptional
Very kind personal, everything very clean comfortable and close to everything.
Don’t find any
22 September 2024
Exceptional
My flight was delayed and emailed communication was great as I was concerned about missing the last train from the airport. I was reassured and informed about alternatives - the bus and a taxi. I did get the last train and the walk to the hostel was easy and through a lovely part of Athens with restaurants and bars so no worries about that late at night. Lovely communal area. Spotlessly clean 4 bed female room - greatly appreciated as so often now all dormitories are mixed. Just one night passing through. Would stay there again and recommend.
22 September 2024
Exceptional
The staff was really nice and helpful. Location is perfect. There's a great terrace on the top of the building. Really clean.
Really soft mattress. Having curtains around the beds would be great.
19 September 2024
Good hostel and lovely staff !
I like the Location the most , It wasn’t a struggle to find the hostel at all with the guidance of the staff and because it’s near the metro station. The area is safe and the people I met at the hostel were kind. As my first time trying a hostel sharing room With others it was quite a good experience. You also get discounts on so many restaurants around by showing the hostel card ;) . Would like to thank the staff there for their welcoming and kindness too.
Everything was good except the noise that comes from the hardwood floor, but that’s itself of no account especially if u there for a short stay .
18 September 2024
Exceptional
This hostel is beautiful! Our family LOVED staying here! The location is perfect, easy walk to all of the sights of Athens as well as to the metro that takes you to/from the airport. Staff was lovely.
Nothing! Everything was great!
18 September 2024
Exceptional
Great location, great facilities. Great staff.
The lift went to who called it first, not in order of the floors.
18 September 2024
Exceptional
It’s very clean and comfortable!!
17 September 2024
Fabulous, fun, affordable, and enriching!
Everything!! Especially the food at Zampano’s and the cleanliness of the dorms
Nothing!
16 September 2024
Fabulous
Great included breakfast
16 September 2024
Exceptional
great location. i was upgraded for a twin room and it was perfect. great design in an old and full of charachter building.
13 September 2024
Comfortable hotel, excellent value for the money in a cute neighborhoof in Athens
Well positioned, easy to walk to al the sites and neighborhoods
Nothing really, we really enjoyed our stay.
11 September 2024
Fabulous
The staff is very professional and nice always helpful.
6 September 2024
True view of the city.
Staff were great. Top notch view from the rooftop. Adjoining restaurant was top class. Very welcoming vibe through and through.
That I couldn’t stay longer.
31 August 2024
Exceptional
Everything was excellent. Thank you Kostas gave me all the Information! Everything was perfect! :)
25 August 2024
Overally a very good hostel
I would appreciate the staff most, they were very nice. Also the overall cleanliness and the fact they organized the activities each day except for Monday.
I would benefit from more hooks or places where I could lay/store my belongings. The beds were not that private - there was no curtain. The Psirri/Monastiraki location is dirty and smelly. A lot of shops/restaurants on the way are not open unpredictably. It is a relatively small hostel, so not many travelers - but those who were there were nice. If the air condition is on, the cover blanket might not be enough to feel warm. The windows were closed all the time and there was little light in the room. Good if you want to sleep, but bad if you want to read. You still have your personal light though.
23 August 2024
Great Priced Hotel near Monastiraki
You get exactly what you pay for; this is a location of convenience and does not boast luxuries. This is an ideal spot if you need a moderately priced stay if you’re doing 1 night between other travels. Very close walk from Monastiraki station (7-8min), which means easy travels between Airport and Athens. Check in was very simple, as reception is 24hr. Facilities are clean, and everything within the hotel is easily accessible. Check out is just as easy. The room we stayed in had a full makeup table set up - ideal for getting ready for a night out! The location is great in terms of finding some food, bars, or even some locations to dance.
21 August 2024
Exceptional
Great environment. I made friends who I am still in touch with.
I couldn't really ask for more, they do it really well.
15 August 2024
Kool place in Athens
The neighborhood is vibrant with a lot of shops, restaurants, and bars. It is also closer to the mdtro
All was good
14 August 2024
Exceptional
The location is great! Very friendly staff!
14 August 2024
Fabulous
The accommodation was maintained to a high standard of cleanliness with daily room service. The entrance area and terrace, though compact, were well-designed and functional. I was very pleased with my stay overall. The only suggestion for improvement would be to consider a more flexible check-in policy. The kitchen facilities were comprehensive and met all our requirements. Kindly note that guests are requested to bring their own locks as these are not provided in the rooms. The card access system ensures the security of your belongings.
7 August 2024
Pleasant stay
The location is near the center, the room is clean ang amenities are available. Plus they have big and comfy lounge where you can relax and mingle and full equiped kitchen.
The area where its located is a bit eerie. I will not advise you to stay up very late and walk around the area.
5 August 2024
Fabulous
Great location, close to train station for the lines to the airport and port, as well as lots of cafes, restaurants and the main tourist attractions. Clean facilities, dorms well looked after. Nice communal area and kitchen. Staff were super helpful.
4 August 2024
Comfortable, pleasant, great located place to stay in Athens
friendly and helpful staff. great location, nice neighborhood, the bar below the hotel is really nice for dinner and wine.
4 August 2024
Very good
Really comfortable bedding. Nice bars around and still really quiet
Air conditioning was super cold in the room. Apparently one could go down and ask them to take it off but still .. waking up freezing in the middle of the night is not ideal. Appart from that, great
31 July 2024
Nice.
Great staff that have good advice and look after you.
All good.
29 July 2024
Exceptional
Awesome location in a neighborhood close to a bunch of nice restaurants, bars, cafés. The metro and all the major landmarks including the Acropolis are within walking distance as well. Dorms and bathrooms are well maintained. The kitchen area has everything you need for basic cooking and the terrace on the roof is great as well. Very fast and good laundry service provided for a small fee. The staff are incredibly friendly and you can tell that they enjoy working there! According to some sites this isn't considered a "social hostel" which I don't agree with at all. I met plenty of lovely people without making an effort and they offer daily events including a pub crawl if you want to meet fellow travellers.
Can't think of anything. Would recommend this place to anyone staying in Athens.
28 July 2024
Fabulous
It was an amazing stay the staff we so helpful and kind the location is 10/10
27 July 2024
Great for upmarket backpacking
It was in a great spot, clean and nice staff.
24 July 2024
Exceptional
The staff here are so helpful and kind. They let me store my bags and stay in their lovely lobby area while I waited for check in at my next place. Beds were comfy, facilities were clean, the terrace had a stunning view of Acropolis and rooftops around you. Was a great place with a really nice communal area .
22 July 2024
Great place to stay in Athens
Amazing location, very helpful and friendly staff, clean and comfortable rooms! Nice view from the balcony.
Top bunk beds are quite squeaky and if you move a lot the whole bed is shaking, also the curtains in the ensuite bathrooms are quite uncomfortable as they move around a lot when you’re taking a shower.
20 July 2024
Very good
Location near Monastiraki square and kind staff.
It's noisy but that's probably because the building is old.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Snack bar
- - Kid meals (additional charge)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Luggage storage (additional charge)
- - Lockers
- - Invoice provided
Outdoors
- - Garden
- - Terrace
- - Sun terrace
- - Outdoor furniture
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Packed lunches
- - Car hire
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
- - Airport shuttle (additional charge)
- - Shared lounge/TV area
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Activities
- - Games room
- - Cycling
- - Evening entertainment
- - Pub crawls (additional charge)
- - Happy hour (additional charge)
- - Live music/performance (additional charge)
Business facilities
- - Fax/photocopying
Kitchen
- - Shared kitchen
Entertainment and family services
- - Board games/puzzles
- - Indoor play area
Transport
- - Airport pick up (additional charge)
- - Airport drop off (additional charge)
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key access
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Face masks for guests available
15 November 2024
Excellent hostal w rooftop, best value for money in the heart of Athens!