Where to stay in Athens, in short: Plaka, right below the Acropolis, for a first visit; Monastiraki and Psiri for lively evenings; Syntagma for the airport metro; Koukaki for a calmer street by the Acropolis Museum; Piraeus for ferries. We have stayed in five Athens hotels. See Athens hotels and prices Ad
Best for: First-timers who explore on foot
Car-free lanes; the Acropolis, Anafiotika and Monastiraki on foot. We stayed here at Hotel Byron.
Pros Walk everywhere.
Cons The most expensive area; old buildings, not always a lift.
Near the Acropolis but quieter, families
Browse hotels in Koukaki and Makrygianni Ad Staying in this area: details
Late arrivals, big suitcases
| Area | Best for | Location | Hotels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plaka | First-timers who explore on foot | Below the Acropolis | Browse hotels in Plaka Ad |
| Monastiraki and Psiri | Late nights, groups of friends | The centre itself | Browse hotels in Monastiraki and Psiri Ad |
| Syntagma | Late arrivals, big suitcases | The transport hub | Browse hotels in Syntagma Ad |
| Koukaki and Makrygianni | Near the Acropolis but quieter, families | Around the Acropolis Museum | Browse hotels in Koukaki and Makrygianni Ad |
| Thiseio | Acropolis views, quiet evenings | By the Ancient Agora | Browse hotels in Thiseio Ad |
| Kolonaki | Second visits, upmarket and quiet | Foot of Lycabettus Hill | Browse hotels in Kolonaki Ad |
| Omonia | Tight budgets | North of the centre | Browse hotels in Omonia Ad |
| Piraeus | Early ferries, cruises, island day trips | The port, 15 to 20 minutes away | Browse hotels in Piraeus Ad |
Your picks update instantly, no reload needed. Our area suggestions come from what we saw on the ground, and hotel prices change with your dates.
Eight areas at a glance: the most expensive nights in Athens are in Plaka and in rooms with an Acropolis view, the cheapest around Omonia. The blue link on each area card opens that neighbourhood's hotels with prices for your dates.
Best for: first-timers who want to walk everywhere: car-free stone lanes at the foot of the Acropolis, with the Acropolis, Anafiotika and Monastiraki all on foot. Plaka is the oldest district of Athens, Greece, and most of the boutique hotels in Athens are in this neighborhood too, in its old stone houses.
In return it is the most expensive area, the buildings are old and small hotels do not always have a lift. We stayed in Plaka too, at Hotel Byron.
Best for: First-timers who explore on foot
Metro: Akropoli (M2), Syntagma (M2, M3), Monastiraki (M1, M3)
Things to do: the Acropolis , Anafiotika , Mnisikleous Street , the Roman Agora and Tower of the Winds , the Lysicrates Monument, Fethiye Mosque
Food and drink: Lyra , Stamatopoulos
Watch on YouTube · 11:42 our walk through the lanes of Plaka
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Best for: staying out late and walking to the most places to eat: Monastiraki Square, the flea market and the street art of Psiri are on your doorstep. Monastiraki station is on both the airport line (M3) and the Piraeus line (M1).
Rooms facing the street can be noisy at night. We stayed at M18 Studios in Psiri, and on Mitropoleos Street between Monastiraki and Syntagma at Regal Hotel Mitropoleos.
Best for: Late nights, groups of friends
Metro: Monastiraki (M1, M3); direct to the airport and Piraeus
Things to do: Monastiraki Square , Tzistarakis Mosque, Monastiraki Flea Market, Hadrian's Library , Psiri , Varvakios Market
Food and drink: Hoocut , Suvla , Lukumades , Krinos , Koukouvaya , Taverna Ermou , Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani , Ipeiros , Diporto
Watch on YouTube · 2:17 arriving at Monastiraki Square
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Best for: late arrivals, early flights and anyone who does not want to change trains with a suitcase: the airport metro and the X95 bus both run straight to Syntagma. Parliament, the National Garden and Ermou Street are on the doorstep, and Plaka is a few minutes on foot.
Syntagma is the city center of modern Athens, and most downtown hotels, the big international ones included, are around here; rooms facing the square can be noisy.
Best for: Late arrivals, big suitcases
Metro: Syntagma (M2, M3); the airport metro and the X95 bus stop here
Things to do: Syntagma Square and the changing of the guard , the National Garden , the Zappeion, Ermou Street , the Metropolitan Cathedral , the Panathenaic Stadium
Food and drink: Kostas , Meat the Greek , Ariston , 72H Artisanal Bakery
Watch on YouTube · 6:53 Syntagma Square and the Parliament
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Best for: walking to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum and spending the evening a little away from the crowds: Makrygianni is right in front of the museum and the south entrance of the Acropolis, and Koukaki is the quieter neighbourhood behind it.
A little cheaper than Plaka; metro Akropoli and Syngrou-Fix (M2). Some of the hotels near the Acropolis with a view are here too.
Best for: Near the Acropolis Museum, quieter
Metro: Akropoli and Syngrou-Fix (M2)
Things to do: the Acropolis Museum , the Acropolis , the Odeon of Herodes Atticus , Filopappou Hill , Hadrian's Arch , the Temple of Olympian Zeus
Watch on YouTube · 12:45 walking into the Acropolis Museum
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Best for: looking at the Acropolis from across the valley and quiet evenings at the edge of the Ancient Agora: the pedestrian Apostolou Pavlou runs along the west slope of the Acropolis down to Monastiraki. Thiseio station is on the Piraeus line (M1). There are few hotels and rooms fill up fast.
Best for: Acropolis views, quiet evenings
Metro: Thiseio (M1)
Things to do: the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus , Filopappou Hill , the Acropolis
Food and drink: To Steki tou Ilia
Watch on YouTube · 9:18 walking into the Ancient Agora
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Best for: a second visit or anyone who wants a quiet, upmarket neighbourhood: the foot of Lycabettus Hill, boutiques and cafés. Syntagma is a 10 to 15 minute walk, metro Evangelismos (M3). The streets are steep, which gets tiring with luggage or walking down to Plaka and back every day.
Best for: Second visits, upmarket and quiet
Metro: Evangelismos (M3), walk to Syntagma
Things to do: Kolonaki , Lycabettus Hill and the funicular
Food and drink: Mpirmpilo
Watch on YouTube · 18:51 arriving in the streets of Kolonaki
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Best for: travellers on a budget who will not be out late: the cheapest central hotels, and lines M1 and M2 cross at Omonia station. We stayed here too, at Hotel Solomou; in the evenings it can feel a bit uneasy and unsafe, so take care. Look at hotels on the main avenues rather than in the side streets.
Best for: Tight budgets
Metro: Omonia (M1, M2)
Things to do: Omonia Square , the Academy, University and National Library , Varvakios Market
Food and drink: Lefteris o Politis , Stani
Watch on YouTube · 4:42 arriving at Omonia Square
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Best for: an early ferry to the islands, a cruise departure or an island day cruise: Piraeus is the biggest departure point for the Greek islands. The airport metro (M3) and line M1 both reach Piraeus, 15 to 20 minutes from central Athens by public transport.
It is also a good base for a seafront dinner in Mikrolimano or Pasalimani. If you need Athens hotels near the cruise port or Piraeus port, this is the area. If you would rather have Athens hotels by the beach, look further south at Glyfada and Vouliagmeni in our Athens Riviera guide .
Best for: Ferries, cruises and island day trips
Metro: Piraeus (M1, M3); X96 bus from the airport
Things to do: the port, Kastella, Mikrolimano and Pasalimani
Food and drink: Ammos , Kir Aristos
From Piraeus: island day cruises to Hydra, Poros and Aegina; the airport metro, the X96 bus and the ferries are in our Athens transportation guide
Watch on YouTube · 0:40 arriving at the port of Piraeus
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Browse hotels in Piraeus AdHotels near the airport in Athens, Greece make sense for one night only: a flight before 7 in the morning, or landing after midnight. Otherwise the airport metro (M3) and the X95 bus run straight to Syntagma, and a hotel in the centre is the better base; see Syntagma.
We have never needed an airport hotel ourselves: from our hotels in the centre we went to the airport by metro, and from Omonia by taxi.
At the airport · 5 stars · across the road from the terminal
Sofitel Athens Airport is the one hotel at Athens airport you can walk to from arrivals, about 400 ft from the terminal (Booking info, October 2026). For an early flight it is the easiest choice; expect a higher price than the airport hotels a few kilometres away.
Artemida · about 2.6 miles from the airport · free airport shuttle
The most reviewed of the Athens hotels close to the airport on Booking. The free shuttle runs on the hour, so after a late landing you may wait for the next one. There is no restaurant; reception arranges food delivery. A late check-in fee applies after 1 am (Booking info, October 2026).
Attica Avenue · about 10 minutes by car · free airport shuttle
One of the Athens hotels with an airport shuttle that is also a chain hotel: on the motorway near the airport, with an indoor pool, a restaurant and a free airport shuttle. Guests praise the shuttle and the location for flights; it is not handy for going into the city (Booking info, October 2026).
Vravrona Bay · about 20 minutes by car · on the beach
A resort on the beach in Vravrona, with a sea-water pool and a spa: the choice if you want a night by the sea before your flight rather than a motorway hotel. Booking lists it with an airport shuttle; check whether it is charged (Booking info, October 2026).
Spata · about 2.6 miles from the airport · free shuttle from the airport
Simple rooms for one night before an early flight. The pickup from the airport is free; the host has said the ride back to the airport is charged per room, so ask when you book (Booking info, October 2026).
Shuttle hours and prices change, so write your arrival time in the booking and confirm the pickup with the hotel, especially for a night arrival. To compare every hotel around the airport for your dates:
Our short list for anyone asking for the best hotels in Athens, Greece, or simply a good hotel with an Acropolis view: three classic 5 star luxury hotels in Syntagma and Plaka, and three hotels near the Acropolis, right below or facing it (one of them a 4 star, one a 3 star).
Every one is a central hotel, a short walk from the Parthenon, and each five star pick has rooms with the view. We chose them by location, the Acropolis view and the Booking guest score (Booking info, October 2026).
Syntagma · 5 stars · across Syntagma Square, facing the Parliament
Hotel Grande Bretagne is the classic grand hotel of Athens, Greece: across the square, with a rooftop restaurant and pool that look out to the Acropolis. Some balconies face the Acropolis and the Evzones guard. For a special night.
Syntagma · 5 stars · right next to the Grande Bretagne
King George Hotel is a neoclassical building in the heart of Athens, Greece, between the Parliament and Voukourestiou Street. Rooms face either the Acropolis or the quiet inner courtyard, so if you want the view, check it when you pick the room type. Plaka is within walking distance.
Plaka · 5 stars · 5 minutes on foot to Syntagma
Inside Plaka, with a rooftop pool and a terrace restaurant looking at the Acropolis; with the Grande Bretagne, it is one of the two Athens hotels on this list with a swimming pool on the roof; some rooms have a direct Acropolis view. For staying in Plaka and still having a pool.
Makrygianni · 5 stars · on pedestrian Dionysiou Areopagitou, opposite the Acropolis Museum
Right across from the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum; every room has a veranda, and the seventh-floor restaurant looks onto the Acropolis. For walking up to the Acropolis first thing in the morning.
Makrygianni · 4 stars · a few steps from the Acropolis Museum
Herodion Hotel sits at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, with a rooftop restaurant facing it directly. Most rooms have a balcony and some have an Acropolis view. For staying close to the view without paying 5-star prices.
Psiri · 3 stars · about 100 metres from Monastiraki
Attalos Hotel is for keeping to a budget in Athens, Greece and still seeing the Acropolis from the terrace: on Athinas Street, run by the same family since 1963, with a lift and soundproofed windows. The food stops of Monastiraki and Psiri are on the doorstep.
Chain hotels: if you collect points, the Hilton Athens is on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, a few minutes from Evangelismos metro, with the Galaxy rooftop bar facing the Acropolis and a large outdoor pool. The Athens Marriott Hotel is on Syngrou Avenue in Palaio Faliro, opposite the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, with a rooftop pool; from there you need a taxi or a bus to Syntagma.
The Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel is not in central Athens, Greece at all but on the Vouliagmeni peninsula on the Riviera, with its own beach.
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To see every hotel around the Acropolis for your dates: See hotels near the Acropolis Ad
This is where we stayed in Plaka. At the foot of the Acropolis, a few minutes from the Acropolis Museum and the metro; a very good location for walking up to the Acropolis early in the morning.
Breakfast is served on the roof terrace facing the Acropolis (Booking info, October 2026). For the rooms, read the latest Booking reviews.
The studio we stayed in on our winter trip. Renovated studios in the middle of Psiri; Monastiraki Square and the food stops are a few minutes on foot.
The building has a lift; the studio has a microwave, a mini fridge and air conditioning (Booking info, October 2026).
We stayed here, and it was the most comfortable of our Athens hotels. Its strongest point is the location: you walk to Plaka, Monastiraki, Ermou and Syntagma, and because the airport metro passes through Monastiraki, arriving and leaving is easy too.
When you book or check in, write that you want an Acropolis view room with a clear view.
We stayed here too; it is a hotel many tour groups to Athens use. You can walk down to the centre, and because it is on a side street it is quieter than Omonia. If you are out sightseeing all day and only need somewhere to sleep, it does the job.
Fine for one or two nights if you only use the hotel to sleep; for a longer stay, look at Plaka or Monastiraki.
The hotel we stayed in on our summer trip. Very close to Omonia metro and the National Archaeological Museum; an old hotel used by tour groups, so set your expectations accordingly.
If you have another option, especially if you want to walk back relaxed at night, do not stay here. If you do stay at Omonia, pick a hotel on a main avenue and keep out of the side streets in the evening.
Athens has plenty of choice beyond hotels; many old apartment buildings in the centre have been turned into flats and studios. If you are looking for an Airbnb in Athens: some of the rentals are also listed on Booking.
We stayed in a studio at M18 Studios in Psiri; the studio has no kitchen, but it has a microwave and a mini fridge (Booking info, October 2026).
Some old buildings in the centre have no lift; carrying a suitcase up to the fifth floor is no way to start a trip. If the listing does not say, ask the host.
If it is your first time in Athens, Plaka: you walk up to the Acropolis in the morning and to Anafiotika and Monastiraki in the evening. If you like being out late, Monastiraki and Psiri; to have the airport metro on your doorstep, Syntagma. To be near the Acropolis Museum and a little calmer, Koukaki and Makrygianni; for a quiet, upmarket neighbourhood, Kolonaki.
If you are taking a ferry or a cruise to the islands, Piraeus. We stayed in Plaka, on Mitropoleos Street, in Psiri, in Metaxourgeio and at Omonia; the pros and cons of all five are in the hotels we stayed in.
Most rooms with an Acropolis view are on the upper floors of hotels in Plaka, Makrygianni and Syntagma, and in their rooftop restaurants. Not every room has the view, so check that the room type itself says Acropolis view. Our picks are in the 5-star and Acropolis view hotels section.
Metro line 3 (blue) runs from the airport to Syntagma, Monastiraki and on to Piraeus without a change; a single airport ticket is €9 (official info, October 2026). The X95 bus goes to Syntagma for €5.50.
If your hotel is in Syntagma, Monastiraki or Plaka, the metro is the easiest. On the trip when we stayed at Omonia we went back to the airport by taxi. Every option, timetable and ticket is in our Athens transportation guide .
During the day the square is busy and fine. We stayed at Hotel Solomou near Omonia, and in the evenings it can feel a bit uneasy and unsafe, so take care. Prices are lower and the metro connections are good, but on a first visit, if you want to walk back late at night, Plaka, Monastiraki or Syntagma are more relaxed. Details in the Omonia section.
If you have an early ferry or a day cruise in the morning, one night in Piraeus makes sense: the port, Mikrolimano and Pasalimani are within walking distance. This is also the answer to where to stay in Athens before a cruise.
To see the city, stay in the centre: Piraeus is 15 to 20 minutes from central Athens by public transport, but you would be travelling in every day for the Acropolis and Plaka. More in the Piraeus section.
Athens hotel prices change a lot by date and area, so the best way is to enter your dates and check current prices. As a rule, Plaka and the Acropolis view hotels are the most expensive, Syntagma and Kolonaki sit in between, Monastiraki and Psiri are a little cheaper and the Omonia area is the cheapest.
The summer months, especially July and August, are the most expensive time of the year. See central Athens hotels Ad
For one or two nights a hotel brings fewer surprises. For three nights or more, or if you are working out where to stay in Athens with family or a group of friends, an apartment makes sense; we stayed in a studio in Psiri.
Some of the Athens apartments on Airbnb are also listed on Booking. In the old buildings in the centre, ask about the lift, the entrance and the key handover time before you book.
Total price: Greece can charge an accommodation tax per night on top, so compare hotels by the total price. Free cancellation: always pick it for the summer months. Noise: in Monastiraki and Psiri, rooms facing the street can be loud at night; choose a room facing the inner courtyard or on an upper floor. Lift: old buildings in the centre do not always have one, which matters with a suitcase. Metro: check how many minutes the hotel is from which station; for the airport and Piraeus, stations on the blue line (M3) are the easiest.
Hydra, Poros and Aegina cruise
Athens Riviera
Syntagma, the National Garden and the Athens markets
Athens food tour: gyros, souvlaki, loukoumades and the market
Breakfast and food spots in Athens
Piraeus: Mikrolimano and Pasalimani
Athens vlog, part 2: the Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki and Mikrolimano
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