Athens, the capital of Greece, has some very good hotels, but the area and the neighbourhood you will be staying in can make or break your accommodation in this historic city. The Best Hotels in Athens are those near the main archaeological attractions, such as the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, Plaka, Monastiraki, Ancient Agora, and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens (my favourite).
BUT ALSO CHECK:
- For Luxury: Grande Bretagne
- For Acropolis Views:Electra Metropolis
- For Families:Coco-Mat Athens BC
- 5-Star:King George
- Best Rooftop:Electra Palace
- Best Swimming Pool:The Dolli
- In Plaka: A77 Suites
- In Koukaki:Acron Urban Suites
I was born and raised in Athens (back in the 80s), and I can tell you that not all areas are the same. Athens is probably the only European city where its centre is so deprived, which is quite evident. That is why most Athenians prefer to live in a suburb close to the beautiful Athens beaches in the southern areas.
However, there are some areas that you should better avoid, and these are Exarcheia, Plateia Vathis, Omonoia, Plateia Amerikis, Kypseli, or Kolonos. These can be very dodgy areas at night, especially, and police raids are a daily occurrence in those neighbourhoods (not always justified, though, but that’s a different story).
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Best Hotels in Athens
So, without further ado, let me show you the best hotels in Athens where you can stay.
1. Coco-Mat Athens BC
2. Hotel Grande Bretagne
Read Also:The Cutest Area to Stay in Athens
3. A77 Suites by Andronis
4. Electra Metropolis
5. 360 Degrees Hotel
6. King George, Luxury Hotel
7. Bohemian Suites Athens
8. Wyndham Athens Residence
9. Athens Capital Center Hotel
10. Academia’s Hotel Autograph Collection
11. Milos Hotel
12. Hellenic Vibes Smart Hotel
13. Perianth Hotel
VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT ATHENS
- Best Area to Stay in Athens: Plaka is the best area to stay in Athens (see hotels in Plaka), but Kolonaki, Petralona, Monastiraki, and Koukaki are also great and safe areas to stay. Plaka is definitely the most touristic area, but it is also the most picturesque. Avoid areas such as Exarcheia, Gyzi, Plateia Vathis, Kypseli, and Omonoia Square, as they are considered less safe.
- Best Hotel in Athens: Coco-Mat Athens BC
- Best Luxury Hotel in Athens: Hotel Grande Bretagne
- Best Budget Hotel in Athens: Plaka Hotel
- Best City Villa in Athens: Athenee Residence by K&K
- Safest place to stay in Athens: Plaka, Kolonaki, Koukaki, Monastiraki, and all the areas around the Acropolis (Thission, Petralona, Filopappou) are considered super safe. Syntagma Square is not as safe as it is usually the epicentre of demonstrations and riots. Also, Exarcheia, Kypseli, Gyzi, and Omonoia are less safe. They are worth your visit, though!
- How many days do you need in Athens? If you are in a rush, 2 nights should be fine, but if you want to explore the city more, I suggest you spend 4-5 nights. In general, you will be better off visiting a Greek island and spending more time on the beach!
- How to Move Around in Athens: if you stay in Plaka, Monastiraki, Koukaki, Petralona, Thission, or Kolonaki, then everything will be within 30 minutes walking distance, but if you want to move around, then you should hop on the Athens Metro, which is very safe, clean, and reliable.
- Best Neighbourhood in Athens: Plaka, Monastiraki, Kolonaki, Petralona, Koukaki, Filopappou, and Thission
- What is the best area to stay in Athens on a budget? You can find excellent, amazing budget hotels in Plaka or around the Acropolis temple. Athens is a very budget-friendly city, and you can find a great apartment / flat in the center of Athens for less than 50 euros per night! Kolonaki and Plaka areas in general are more expensive, though.
- What is the best area for nightlife in Athens? Gazi and Keramikos are the nightlife centres of Athens, but you will find lots of cute bars and wine restaurants behind Syntagma Square (Kolonakiou Square)
- Where to Stay in Athens with Family: Plaka and Kolonaki are great options as they are both very safe and quiet residential areas.
- Is it safe to walk in Athens at night? Yes, it is generally safe as long as you avoid certain areas (Areas around Omonoia Square, Gyzi, Exarcheia, Syggrou Street, etc.). I have never felt threatened in Athens, but common sense should be applied everywhere you travel…
Why would you want to stay in Athens?
There are two main reasons why you would want to stay in Athens for a few days:
- It has some of the most significant archaeological sites, museums, and cultural events in the world (especially in the summer, with all the happening festivals).
- If you are flying from outside of Europe (like the US, Canada, or Australia), Athens is your stop before taking a flight or a ferry to an island like Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete.
How many days do you need in Athens?
Athens is a city of more than 4 million people, and it would be pretty naive to think you could explore all its neighbourhoods and areas in a few days.
So, here is my suggestion for Athens:
- If you are heading to one of the Greek islands (like Santorini or Mykonos), this is your first time in Greece, and you only include Athens because your flight doesn’t go directly to an island, then you only need to stay 2 nights in Athens. You will then see the basics like the Acropolis, Plaka, Monastiraki, and Syntagma Square, and then…you will be off to a marvellous sunny island!
- If you want to dive into the history of Greece and Athens while visiting more areas and neighbourhoods, I suggest staying at least 4 nights in Athens. You will then be able to see less touristic areas, visit more hidden museums, and also take a ride to the marvellous Athens Riviera seaside areas (southern suburbs like Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza)
- If you are NOT interested at all in visiting museums, archaeological sites, cultural events (such as the famous summer Greek Festival) and you can’t wait for the time you will be next to a pool or a beach ba,r then DO NOT STAY AT ALL in Athens. Yes, it’d be nice to spend a few days there, but you will be bored to death, and in the end, it will feel like a waste of time since you will only have limited time in Greece. Instead, you should spend more days on an island or at another beachside resort.
CONCLUSION
Athens is one of the most exciting cities in Europe and has thousands of years of history. Its modern urban environment is not one to admire. Still, with the addition of the Athens Metro and the loss of impressive renovated or newly built hotels, it’s now an excellent destination for a few days to explore and discover some of the most impressive archaeological monuments of Western civilization.
I think Coco-Mat Athens BC is the best hotel in Athens, and it won’t break the bank either. It is located very close to the Acropolis, and overall, it’s got amazing reviews from verified guests on Booking.com.
