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Athens is a bit overwhelming when you visit for the first time. There are so many places and areas to stay in, and it is quite spread out. A lot more than other main cities in Greece like Thessaloniki, which has one main area to choose from, or the smaller towns in Peloponnese like Nafplio.
I’ve visited Athens more times than I can count, sometimes staying with friends and family but often staying in hotels and Airbnbs, so these are all based on my own experience, as a visitor, for best areas to stay during your trip to Athens.
Top Places to Stay in Athens (in 2026)
⭐ Budget:
- City Circus Athens: Social, well-run, and right in the action. Great if you want central, affordable, and don’t need luxury.
- Attalos Hotel: Old-school but unbeatable for the price. Rooftop Acropolis views do a lot of heavy lifting here.
⭐⭐ Mid-range (Best Overall Value)
- CITYLUXE Suites & Rooms (Kolonaki): Modern, comfortable, excellent bathrooms, and a great location without the chaos.
- Divani Palace Acropolis: The safe luxury choice. Spacious rooms, pool, great breakfast, and consistently reliable.
⭐⭐⭐ Premium / Ultra-Luxury
- The Dolli at Acropolis: If you want something unforgettable and don’t care about the price. The infinity pool alone makes this a category of its own.
Where to stay in Athens – My Experience
My experience staying in Athens spans a dozen years and is usually for work, family or friends. For that, I’ve managed to stay in a pretty solid number of hotels in and around the center of Athens.
The following picks are what I would pick for myself, and they cover places I’ve mostly stayed in myself.
The Best Areas to Stay in Athens
Plaka and Anafiotika
This is what people usually mean when they say “old town.”
It has an island vibe and narrow streets, especially in Anafiotika, because the houses there were built as temporary homes by workers from the island of Anafi, near Santorini. These workers came to Athens in the mid-19th century (around the 1840s–1860s) while working on construction projects in the newly formed Greek capital, during the reign of King Otto. The houses were built in the style they knew from home, which is why this part of Athens feels so different from the rest of the city. It’s a wonderful part of the city’s history that you will learn more about if you do a guided tour.
Now… this is the best area to stay if you:
- want very easy access to the Acropolis
- don’t mind narrow, sometimes crowded streets
- like slow walks, browsing, and wandering without a plan
It’s not the quietest or cheapest part of Athens, but it has beautiful views and is extremely walkable.
Famous attractions near Plaka
- Acropolis of Athens
- Roman Agora
- Ancient Agora of Athens
- Tower of the Winds
- Monastiraki Square
Hotels I recommend in Plaka and Anafiotika area
In this area you are paying for location. Being in the heart of Athens and with views to the Acropolis. There are some affordable options as well, but they are older hotels or guesthouses that would have you sacrificing some comforts. If you choose to stay here, expect over $150-$200 a night for something nice.
Palaidian Home: This 4 start hotel is a bit on the luxury side, in a neclassical mansion in the heart of the Plaka. They offer most deluxe style suites with views of the Acropolis. Great treat option if you’re celebrating a special occassion. The average rate over the summer of 2026 at the moment is $350.
Hotel Phaedra: This is a great value for money option and you can find rooms for as little as $130 if you book ahead, even during the busy season. The rooms are basic but clean and functional and you still get the same unbeatable view.
Koukaki
Another super central location is Koukaki, and this is personally my go-to area if I need to book a place in the center of Athens.
It sits just on the other side of the Acropolis hill, which gives it a more quiet feel while still keeping everything within walking distance. You’re close to major sights, but without the constant crowds and souvenir shops you’ll find in Plaka.
This is a great area if you:
- want to stay central without feeling overly touristy
- enjoy cafés, bakeries, and casual restaurants
- like neighborhoods that feel lived-in rather than designed for visitors
Koukaki has a mix of cafés, bakeries, restaurants, theaters, and everyday local spots, especially once you move a few streets away from the main roads.
It also has quicker access to the main road of Syggrou if you need to drive to Piraeus or grab a taxi.
Famous attractions near Koukaki
- Acropolis Museum
- Dionysiou Areopagitou
- Philopappou Hill
- Acropolis of Athens
Best Hotels in Koukaki I would recommend
All three of the hotels I recommend in Koukaki are places I’ve stayed in and are within about a 5-minute walk of each other and the Acropolis Museum.
Divani Palace Acropolis: This tends to be the most expensive option on the list, with excellent, comfortable rooms, a great breakfast, as well as a swimming pool and restaurant. If you book ahead of time, you might also score some very good prices, especially outside peak season. They book well in advance, but you can still find rooms for summer 2026 season for about $250-$300.
Herodion Hotel: Herodion is another solid option, even though I find the rooms noticeably smaller compared to Divani Palace. If prices are similar, I would personally go for Divani Palace. There is no swimming pool here, but they do operate outdoor jacuzzis all year round, which is a nice touch. The breakfast here is excellent. Their budget double rooms for 2026 go as low as $215.
Philippos Hotel: If you want to stay in the area at a better price point, head to Philippos. The rooms are slightly more dated on some floors, but the reception and breakfast/bar area is cozy and welcoming. There’s also a terrace with a good view that you can enjoy in the evening. You can find rooms for as low as $170 for the 2026 season.
Monastiraki and Psyrri
I’ve grouped Monastiraki and Psyrri together because they blend into each other and share a similar energy.
These areas can vary a lot from street to street, but overall they’re known for nightlife, bars, and a younger, more energetic crowd. They’re very central and well connected, but noise can be an issue, often well into the night. Parking is also difficult here, so they’re not ideal if you’re renting a car.
This is a good area if you:
- want to be in the middle of the action
- plan to go out at night
- don’t mind noise and busy streets
- value central location over quiet
The best way to describe Psyrri is the former alternative neighborhood of artists that has gone mainstream. You get a lot of Airbnbs here, and a lot of rooftop bars as well.
Famous attractions near Monastiraki & Psyrri
- Monastiraki Square
- Ancient Agora of Athens
- Roman Agora
- Ermou Street
Hotels I recommend near Monastiraki and Psyrri
A for Athens: One of the aforementioned super popular rooftop bars, that is also a hotel! The rooms here follow the less is more design of newer hotels, with a modern aesthetic and they are highlight due to the view on the terrace, where you’ll be having breakfast every morning! For June expect around $400 in 2026 and July is a bit cheaper at $370.
Attalos Hotel: This is a solid budget option that will keep you happy on all fronts. Location is great with lots of food options, the rooms are basic but a bit dated, and there is a terrace for your pictures with the Acropolis in the background. For the price, Attalos is a clean, respectable option! Expect to find rooms under $200 this summer if you book now.
City Circus Athens: This quirky hostel is a popular choice if you want to be in Psyrri and have an affordable stay. It has a few social spaces, and the rooms are what I would term “good enough”. The main issues you’ll face are noise, as the building does look out to the street and it can be very noisy. There are private and shared rooms to choose from, but do come prepared with towels, soap and the rest. A double room can be as low as $150 this season. I’ve stayed here and would stay again when prices are low.
Kolonaki
Kolonaki is the “upper west side” of Athens. It’s traditionally known for more upscale residences, embassies, and long-established Athenian families. In practice, what you’ll mostly notice is the price range and the overall calmer, more polished feel.
Best if you:
- want a quieter, more residential base close to the center
- don’t mind paying more for accommodation and dining
- like cafes, wine bars, galleries, and boutique shopping
- are fine with some uphill walking
Things to keep in mind:
- parts of Kolonaki are steep, especially as you move toward Lycabettus
- it’s less touristy and has less nightlife compared to Monastiraki or Psyrri
- accommodation prices are generally higher than surrounding areas
Nearby attractions:
- Mount Lycabettus (views over the whole city)
- Benaki Museum
- Museum of Cycladic Art
- easy access to Syntagma and the city center on foot
Recommended Hotels in Kolonaki
CITYLUXE Suites & Rooms: Great modern option if you want something fresh and central without going full luxury hotel. Rooms start from a bit over $130 for the summer season and are modern, stylish with great bathrooms!
St George Lycabettus Lifestyle: If you don’t mind a bit of distance, St George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel will give you unbeatable views over Athens, an outdoor pool, spa and wellness center, and plenty of space in comfortable rooms. Prices usually sit around $400 per night, depending on season. It’s a great option if the view matters more to you than being right in the middle of the action.
COCO-MAT: Another strong option in the area is COCO-MAT Athens BC. Prices are usually around $350 per night, and this hotel is especially well known for its mattress quality and excellent sleep. Everything here is built around comfort, with environmentally conscious design, natural materials, and thoughtfully chosen furnishings. If good sleep is high on your priority list, this one really delivers. I usually love COCO-MAT hotels, even though I haven’t’ stayed in this location.. yet.
What is the most expensive hotel in Athens?
If we’re talking flashiest, grandest, old-money-meets-power-ultra-luxury hotel in Athens, there’s really only one answer.
This is the hotel. The one every politician, royal, celebrity, shipping magnate, and “important person” has stayed in at least once.
It sits right on Syntagma Square, facing the Parliament, and it’s been doing the whole luxury thing since the 19th century.
Many Athens hotels struggle to justify €900+ per night in summer. Plenty are nice, but the amenities don’t always match the price tag.
This one does.
Why it earns the splurge:
Rooftop restaurant with direct Acropolis views (arguably the best in the city)
Indoor and outdoor pools
Proper spa and wellness center
Impeccable service that feels old-school, not try-hard
Rooms that feel genuinely grand, not just “expensive-modern”
If we’re talking boutique, ultra-luxury, design-forward, and genuinely eye-watering prices right in the heart of Athens, then the crown goes to:
This is a different kind of luxury than the Grande Bretagne.
Grande Bretagne = historic, grand, old-money, power-hotel luxury
The Dolli = intimate, curated, ultra-boutique luxury with shockingly good Acropolis views
Why The Dolli stands out:
- Voted #1 Best Hotel in Greece at the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards
Direct, unobstructed Acropolis views from the pool and restaurant
Museum-level interiors (it’s a restored neoclassical mansion)
Tiny room count, very private, very controlled atmosphere
Prices that can easily exceed Grande Bretagne in high season, especially for suites
If someone asks:
“What’s the most luxurious hotel experience in central Athens right now?”
The honest answer is The Dolli.
If they ask:
“Where do heads of state and shipping dynasties stay?”
That’s still Grande Bretagne.
Both places will set you back… a fair bit of money. The Dolli has a limited number of rooms, some of which are quite small in size that start at $1.4. If you want to experience Athens in the off season, you’ll be able to book for half the price.
The Grande Bretagne rooms start at just under $1k as well during the summer season.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Must Know When Visiting Greece
- Emergency: Dial 112 for all emergencies. For police, dial 100. For ambulance 166. For fire dial 199.
- Language: English is widely spoken in most tourist areas. Common phrases to learn are “Kalimera” (Good morning), “Yia” (Hello and Bye – informal), and “Efharisto” (Thank you).
- Water: Tap water is safe in Athens, mainland Greece and a small number of islands. Always ask beforehand.
- Driving: Right-hand side, international driving permit recommended. Book your rental car with Discover Cars for the best rates and comparisons across all major and local companies.
- Accommodation: Booking.com for the most options on hotels, apartments and hostels. Free cancellation in a lot of places and no need to pre-pay. Great for their rewards points system.
- Islands: There are a lot of islands, spread out around the country. Start with a map or ferry service to get an idea of travel times. Ferry Scanner is the best for ferry bookings to the Greek islands.
- Activities: From cultural sights to day trips, food tours and city guides, use Get Your Guide.
- Public Transport: For Athens, use the Athens Metro. If you are not renting a car, use Trains (Hellenic Train) or KTEL (Public Buses) services.
- Domestic Airlines: The main airlines for air travel are Aegean Airlines and Sky Express. I recommend Aegean Airlines and its rewards program.
- Taxi: Always use a taxi app, instead of flagging down a taxi from the road. Use FREE Now (formerly BEAT).
- Culture: A siesta nap is still common in less touristy areas. This also means businesses will close between 2 PM – 5 PM. Except for hospitality businesses, everything is closed on Sundays.
