If you want to stay in Athens, there are several types of accommodation to choose from: hotels, rented flats, youth hostels, airbnb, etc. The most important thing is to know which district to stay in according to your budget and expectations.
Follow the guide, I have listed and detailed for you the best districts in Athens as well as the best accommodation.
Athens is a city that has been built, destroyed, conquered and then rebuilt again over the centuries and millennia. The victors who successively invaded the city shaped it in their own image, before others destroyed these constructions and rebuilt once again.
This ebb and flow of construction giving way to ruins and so on has made the city what it is today, an incredible patchwork of buildings from different cultures and eras.
It’s a city you absolutely must visit at least once in your life.
I’ve chosen the best places to stay in Athens for you. Follow the guide!
If you have an early morning flight or arrive late at night, check out our recommendations on where to stay near Athens airport.
⏰ Don’t have time to read everything?
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations sorted by price category :
🚨 These hotels are among the most popular so don’t delay in booking. Plus, they offer free cancellation, so don’t worry if you change your mind.
Athens21: Cheap hotel in a great location with terrace : Book here
Niche hotel Athens: Mid-range hotel (700m from the Acropolis + Extra Breakfast!) : Book here
❤️ Coco-mat Athens BC: Top hotel in the heart of Athens + swimming pool, sauna and great terrace! : Book here
24K Athena Suites: Superb family flat with views of the Acropolis! Located in the tourists’ favourite district. Book here
Hotel Perianth: One of the most beautiful hotels in Athens, just a five-minute walk from Monastiraki Square. Book here
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
Table des matières
Where to sleep in Athens the first time: Monastiraki & Psiri
Looking for a tourist area to sleep in Athens? The districts of Monastiraki and Psiri are located next to each other in the heart of Athens.
For those who want to be at the heart of the action and stay in the centre, discover the best hotels in Athens city centre.
Both areas offer exceptional experiences with some of the most popular sites in Greece, including breathtaking views of the Acropolis.
You can admire Attalus’ stoa, the ancient Agora and the ruins of Hadrian’s library in Monastiraki.
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations listed by price category:
🚨 Note: Don’t delay booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Athens.
Athens21: Cheap hotel in a great location with terrace : Book here
Niche hotel Athens: Mid-range hotel (700m from the Acropolis + Extra Breakfast!) : Book here
❤️ Coco-mat Athens BC: Top hotel in the heart of Athens + swimming pool, sauna and super terrace! : Book here
24K Athena Suites: Superb family flat with views of the Acropolis! Located in the tourists’ favourite district. Book here
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price
This rather lively area attracts visitors from all over the world, so the streets are lined with cafés, restaurants and of course souvenir shops.
But you’ll also find more authentic items if you head to the famous Monastiraki flea market.
Psiri, to the north of Monastiraki, is a well-known nightlife district.
Head to the lively Iroon square for a drink in one of the many tavernas, concert halls and nightclubs set up around it.
You’ll find quirky souvenirs in graffiti-covered shops dotted around the maze of bars. This little corner of Athens is known for never sleeping.
Where to stay in Athens with your family: Pláka
Pláka is the oldest district for accommodation in Athens. You’ll find it right at the foot of the Acropolis, stretching as far as Syntagma.
Pláka is particularly popular with families, so you’ll find plenty of restaurants and shops aimed exclusively at foreigners.
For those travelling with their families and looking for suitable accommodation, here are our suggestions on where to sleep with your family in Athens.
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations sorted by price category:
🚨 Note: Don’t delay booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Athens .
Athens21: Cheap hotel in a great location with terrace : Book here
Niche hotel Athens: Mid-range hotel (700m from the Acropolis + Extra Breakfast!) : Book here
❤️ Coco-mat Athens BC: Top hotel in the heart of Athens + swimming pool, sauna and super terrace! : Book here
24K Athena Suites: Superb family flat with views of the Acropolis! Located in the tourists’ favourite district. Book here
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
Two main pedestrian arteries demarcate the Plaka area-Kydathineon and Adrianou-and the intersection of the two is generally considered the centre of this historically rich neighbourhood.
All the streets in the area are cobbled, and most of those in the oldest part are completely car-free.
However, you should take care when wandering through the alleyways, as scooters and delivery lorries are permitted.
The magnificent pavements are lined with restaurants, cafés and shops.
You’ll have to go a little deeper into the district to find a more authentic atmosphere, and keep your eyes peeled for the trinkets and other tourist traps that flood the shop shelves.
But if you find the right shops, you can sample real traditional dishes, buy handmade jewellery and incredibly inventive souvenirs.
The upmarket, luxury area to stay in Athens: Kolonaki
Kolonaki, or ‘little column’, is named after the column in Kolonakíou Square, which was there before a single house was built in the area.
Today, it is the most expensive area in the city of Athena. The area is simply stunning, thanks in no small part to its exceptional location on the southern slopes of Mount Lycabetta.
If you’re looking for a luxurious experience, don’t miss our selection of the most beautiful hotels in Athens.
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations sorted by price category:
🚨 Note: Don’t delay in booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Athens .
Athens21: Cheap hotel in a great location with terrace : Book here
Niche hotel Athens: Mid-range hotel (700m from the Acropolis + Extra Breakfast!) : Book here
❤️ Coco-mat Athens BC: Top hotel in the heart of Athens + swimming pool, sauna and great terrace! : Book here
24K Athena Suites: Superb family flat with views of the Acropolis! Located in the tourists’ favourite district. Book here
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
Take a stroll through this upmarket neighbourhood and you won’t fail to notice why it’s reserved for the well-to-do.
Whether it’s a Rolex on the wrist of a man sitting on a café terrace or the famous Louis Vuitton logo on the handbag of a woman strolling by, Kolonaki won’t let you forget its opulence.
Needless to say, Kolonaki is the place to shop in luxury boutiques.
In addition to these shops reserved for a certain clientele, you can visit some fabulous museums in Kolonaki.
Like the Benaki Museum, an incredibly well-preserved neoclassical mansion with a fantastic collection of works of art, just a stone’s throw from another fine collection, that of the Museum of Cycladic Art, also known as the Goulandri Art Museum.
Athens’ historic district: Syntagma
Here you can visit two historical museums, the Numismatic Museum and the National Historical Museum, which are well worth a visit if you want to see some exceptional ancient artefacts.
The Valaoritou pedestrian street takes you straight to the square, where chic cafés and authentic restaurants abound. The trendy Karytsi square is the centre of the area’s nightlife.
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations sorted by price category:
🚨 Note: Don’t delay booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Athens.
Athens21: Cheap hotel in a great location with terrace : Book here
Niche hotel Athens: Mid-range hotel (700m from the Acropolis + Extra Breakfast!) : Book here
❤️ Coco-mat Athens BC: Top hotel in the heart of Athens + swimming pool, sauna and super terrace! : Book here
24K Athena Suites: Superb family flat with views of the Acropolis! Located in the tourists’ favourite district. Book here
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
In 1843, a popular uprising shook the whole of Greece. The people, with the army at their side, demanded that Greece’s first king sign a constitution.
Syntagma Square, also known as Constitution Square, takes its name from the historic document that founded the country’s current system of government.
The square is an important part of Greece’s political history and you may even be able to witness demonstrations or marches during your stay.
The Parliament building is located near the square, which is lined with cafés. The area is teeming with people and there’s a real energy about it that’s almost palpable.
It’s an incredible place to watch people go by, sitting on a terrace with a coffee to enjoy the fine weather. But the district is much more than just a historical and political landmark.
Where to stay in Athens? The Koukaki district
Not sure where to stay in Athens? If you want to take your eyes off the nearby Acropolis and stay away from the touristy Pláka area, you can enter the Koukaki district.
You’ll get an undeniably local experience in this often overlooked part of Athens.
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations sorted by price category:
🚨 Note: Don’t delay booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Athens.
Athens21: Cheap hotel in a great location with terrace : Book here
Niche hotel Athens: Mid-range hotel (700m from the Acropolis + Extra Breakfast!) : Book here
❤️ Coco-mat Athens BC: Top hotel in the heart of Athens + swimming pool, sauna and great terrace! : Book here
24K Athena Suites: Superb family flat with views of the Acropolis! Located in the tourists’ favourite district. Book here
🏨 Se e other accommodation at the best price 👈
Koukaki is almost sleepy, especially compared to neighbouring Pláka, but you’ll discover a warm and welcoming urban village atmosphere here.
The restaurants and cafés are less busy, but serve more traditional Greek dishes.
If you’re looking for a quiet café and want to support the work of local artists, drop by the TriiArk Hub.
Take a stroll along the pavements of Georgaki Olympiou pedestrian street, which runs from Koukaki Square. You’ll enjoy the soothing shade of the orange trees as you gaze at the shop windows, cafés and restaurants.
Then head to the magnificent National Museum of Contemporary Art and the Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum to round off your relaxed day in Koukaki.
The street-art district: Exarchia
Exarchia is the most sulphurous part of the city, the cradle of civilisation. Stroll through streets whose walls are literally covered in graffiti with political messages.
The shops sell anarchist books, rare vinyl records and original, resolutely punk guitars.
This is, of course, the place to go if you want to catch an alternative live music concert while sipping a good beer.
Here are our 3 favourite accommodations in this district, sorted by price category:
Note: Don’t delay booking as these hotels are among the most booked in Ahtene.
Cheap hotel in a good location with terrace: Athens21
Mid-range hotel (700m from the Acropolis + Extra Breakfast!): Niche hotel Athens
Top hotel in the heart of Athens + swimming pool, sauna and super terrace! : Coco-mat Athens BC
But this district’s alternative image is also reflected in its cuisine. You’ll find plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Athens’ rockiest district.
The population of Exarchia is really young, and their youthful energy sometimes spills over and causes a few clashes with the local authorities.
Take a stroll through Exarchia and you could find yourself in the middle of an anti-capitalist march without even meaning to.
The US State Department even issued a warning to its nationals wishing to visit the area, but this came at the time of a political incident.
There are no security problems in the area, and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens is well worth a visit, as is the Vox, the city’s oldest theatre.
You can also take a walk up Strefi Hill for an impressive view of the city.
Find accommodation in Athens in the Glyfada district
Glyfada is a south-western suburb of Athens that stretches from Hymettus Mountain to the Saronic Gulf.
It is a fairly opulent area, which has earned it the nickname of the Hellenic Hamptons (a reference to the Hamptons on Long Island). The district’s seafront is the heart of the Athens Riviera.
Asteras Glyfadas beach is the jewel in Glyfada’s crown. Here you can swim in crystal-clear waters, bask in fine sand and enjoy a wide range of facilities on this iconic beach.
Don’t forget to visit Archelon, a Greek non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting sea turtles.
You can watch as injured or sick sea turtles are nursed back to health before being released back into the wild.
After a day at the beach, head to Glyfada’s digital planetarium. Here you can see breathtaking images of the universe, or explore modern art at the Blender gallery.
Of course, the area is also full of authentic restaurants where you can enjoy fresh seafood.
Where to stay in Athens? The Piraeus district
Not sure where to stay in Athens? Piraeus is located to the south of Athens, opening out onto the Gulf, and is one of Europe’s largest ports.
Many travellers arrive in Athens via Piraeus when disembarking from cruise ships.
You’ll also need to pass through Piraeus if you’re taking a boat to one of Greece’s countless islands. And the port city is just a few minutes by metro from the heart of Athens.
But Piraeus is also a destination in itself. Take a coffee by the sea and marvel at the luxury yachts moored in the port of Zea, also known as Pasalimani.
The hilltop district of Castella is well worth a visit for its sublime neoclassical houses, the Church of the Prophet Elias and the Veakeio open-air theatre.
Culture is also very much alive in the Piraeus district. Take in a show at the historic municipal theatre, visit the Hellenic Maritime Museum or one of the city’s many Greek Orthodox churches.
Piraeus is a real bridge between the Greek islands and Athens, but it’s also a wonderful place to visit.
If Athens is on your list of destinations, get ready for an unforgettable experience. Whether you want to satisfy your taste buds, spend a memorable evening or discover the city’s historical treasures, we’ve got you covered. For food lovers, discover the best restaurants in Athens. If you want to experience Roman nightlife and discover the city’s trendiest spots, check out our guide to the best bars and clubs in Athens. And of course, for a cultural and historical immersion, don’t miss our must-see activities and visits on what to see in Athens.
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