Where to stay in Athens, Greece

·29 September, 2018
·Samantha - Travelling King

Famous skyline of Athens with Acropolis hill and Pathenon illuminated at night, Athens Greece, retro toned

Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, and a great destination for visitors from all over the world. Evidence of civilization in Athens dates back to the 13th century BC, and with ruins like the Acropolis alongside Greek beaches and delicious Mediterranean cuisine, you’ll definitely want to stay in Athens for a while. The capital city is also a financial hub and the largest passenger port in Europe, so you will have your choice of places to stay in Athens. We’ve researched the best neighborhoods and most interesting areas to help you decide where to stay in Athens.

Wondering where to stay in Athens Greece? We will cover off all types of Athens accommodation options from Hostels to luxury Athens hotels as well as how to decide where to stay in Athens, the best Athens hotels, best places in Athens, the best places to stay in Athens, best neighborhoods to stay in Athens Greece, hotels near Athens attractions and many more. All of the areas we have suggested below are safe areas to stay in Athens, I would suggest that you avoid places like Omonia and Metaxourgio square.

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Plaka – Where to stay in Athens close to attractions

The Plaka is the oldest area of Athens, sitting under the Acropolis. This quiet, cobblestoned hillside neighborhood is lined with cafes, boutiques and tavernas. Many tourists pass through Plaka en route to the Acropolis, but despite a concentration of tourists, Plaka still has a “Greek village” authenticity and is a great place to enjoy a bite to eat or a cocktail.

Most streets are closed to traffic, which adds to the village feel of this neighborhood. Platia is a small square in Plaka that is surrounded by cafes and restaurants, and a nice place to spend an afternoon or evening enjoying delicious Greek food and people watching. Plaka has the best hotels in Athens as its the best part of Athens to stay in.

Best Places to Stay in Plaka Athens

ATHENS GREECE - Cafe Klepsidras is one of the most popular cafes in Plaka in Athens

Syntagma Square – Where to stay in Athens for first time visitors.

Syntagma Square is the central square of Athens and is said to be the most popular places to stay in Athens for first timers as it’s easy to get from Syntagma to pretty much anywhere else in Athens. The square is named after the Constitution that the first King of Greece (Otto) grant after a military uprising in 1843. It is located right in front of the the Old Royal Palace. This area has significant political history. This is the place I would suggest where to stay in Athens for 2 nights as it might very well be best place to stay Athens.

Best places to stay in Syntagma Square

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Syntagma Square:

The Student & Travellers Inn
Athens Backpackers
Hotel Dioskouros
Hotel Fivos

Budget Hotels in Syntagma Square:

Ermou Suites by Livin Urbban
Omiros Hotel
Hotel Acropolis House
Hotel Metropolis

Mid range Hotels in Syntagma Square:

Amalia Hotel
Syntagma Square Apartment by Livin Urbban
NJV Athens Plaza
The Athenians Modern Apartments

Family Friendly Hotels in Syntagma Square:

Electra Hotel Athens
InnAthens
Lozenge Hotel
V1935 Luxurious Apartments

Affordable Luxury Hotels Athens in Syntagma Square:

Electra Metropolis Hotel
Electra Palace Athens
NS Place
King George, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Gazi – Best place to stay in Athens for nightlife

Gazi is a neighborhood in Athens, that surrounds Athens old gasworks precinct. Now a days it is an industrial museum and exhibition space called “Technopolis”, next to Keramikos and close to the Acropolis. Gazi is a fairly “new” place in Athens, especially for tourists however it is full of restaurants, cafes and music palours. Gazi also has some of Athens coolest nightspots.

Best places to stay in Gazi

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Gazi:

City Circus Athens
AthenStyle Hostel
Acropolis Hostel

Budget Hotels in Gazi:

Evripides Hotel
The Frogs Guesthouse
Athens Odeon Hotel
Cozy Apartments McQueen

Mid range Hotels in Gazi:

Be My Guest Athens
Estia Boutique Apartments
Phidias Hotel
Jason Inn

Family Friendly Hotels in Gazi:

Heart of Athens
18 Micon Str.
V1935 Luxurious Apartments
Live in Athens, Short Stay Apartments

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Gazi:

47 Luxury Suites
Wyndham Grand Athens
NS Place
Klepsydra

ATHENS, GREECE - : Main square in the Gazi neighbourhood of Athens

Makrigianni – Where to stay in Athens on a budget

Makrigianni is an Athens neighborhoods, where you’ll find the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis Metro Station. While there are not many tourist attractions in Makrigianni, the central location makes it a great place to stay, and you will feel more like a local than a tourist in this green leafy neighborhood.

The lack of vehicle traffic makes this a great neighborhood for walking, jogging or bicycling. Makrianni Street has many small jewelry shops, as well as restaurants with outdoor seating. The nearby metro station means you can easily get around Athens to see all the popular sites such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which is in walking distance. I would recommend that this is where to stay in Athens for one night.

Best Places to Stay in Makrygianni

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Makrigianni:

Athens Backpackers
Hotel Dioskouros
AthenStyle Hostel
The Student & Travellers Inn

Budget Hotels in Makrigianni:

Hotel Acropolis House
Hotel Nefeli
Adams Hotel
Hotel Phaedra

Mid-Range Hotels in Makrigianni:

Herodion Hotel
Hera Hotel
Byron Hotel
Philippos Hotel

Family Friendly Hotels in Makrigianni:

Acropolis Museum Boutique Hotel
Divani Palace Acropolis
The Athens Gate Hotel
AD Athens Luxury Rooms and Suites

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Makrigianni:

King George, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Royal Olympic
B4B Athens Signature Hotel
AthensWas

ATHENS GREECE - : The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece.

Koukaki – Best neighborhood to stay in Athens

Adjacent to Makrianni is the trendy residential neighborhood of Koukaki. Drakou Street is one of the main thoroughfares, which is lined with outdoor cafes and leads to the Syngrou-Fix metro station, where you can access the metro to travel all over the city of Athens. Koukaki has a real “village” feel and you’ll feel like a local if you stay in Koukaki, which many people do. This is one of Airbnb’s top five most interesting neighborhoods in the world. If you are looking for quieter place to stay in Athens, check out Koukaki.

Best Places to Stay in Koukaki

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Koukaki:

Athens Backpackers
Hotel Dioskouros
Hotel Fivos
Chameleon Youth Hostel

Budget Hotels in Koukaki:

Hotel Phaedra
Marble House
Kimon Athens Hotel
Adams Hotel

Mid-Range Hotels in Koukaki:

Acropolis Select Hotel
NLH Fix – Neighborhood Lifestyle Hotels
Hera Hotel
Acropolis Museum Boutique Hotel

Family Friendly Hotels in Koukaki:

Philippos Hotel
Acropolis View Hotel
AD Athens Luxury Rooms and Suites

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Koukaki:

Royal Olympic
InterContinental Athenaeum
NJV Athens Plaza
Acropolis Hill Hotel

Athens, Greece - View of Tzistarakis Mosque and Monastiraki Metro Station with tourists on Monastiraki Square. Acropolis on background.

Thissio – Where to stay in Athens for nightlife

Thissio is a central neighborhood and if you are looking for nightlife, Thissio is the best place to stay in Athens. Thissio has incredible views of the Acropolis lit up at night, but this area is best known for the sheer number of cafes, bars and nightclubs. Easily accessed by the metro, and close to the Plaka and Monastiraki neighborhoods, Thissio also has an open-air cinema, which is a fun way to spend a summer evening in Athens. On nearby Phillipapou Hill, there are miles of trails winding through pine forests that you can explore on foot. With the unique combination of nature and nightlife, Thissio is a great place to stay in Athens.

Best Places to Stay in Thissio

Budget Hotels in Thissio:

Acropolis Stay
Athens Studios

Mid-Range Hotels in Thissio:

The Athens Gate Hotel
Acropolis View Hotel

Family Friendly Hotels in Thissio:

Herodion Hotel
Divani Palace Acropolis

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Thissio:

Acropolis Hill Hotel
AD Athens Luxury Rooms and Suites

The Temple of Thission, built in 449 BC, is supposed to be actually a temple of Hephaestos and Athena

Monastiraki – Best place to stay in Athens for sightseeing

Monastiraki is best known for the Monastiraki Flea Market. Monastiraki is actually one of Athen’s premiere shopping districts, selling typical tourist souvenirs, jewelry and home goods, in addition to the usual flea market fare on Sundays. This neighborhood is also known for famous landmarks like the Ancient Agora and Hadrian’s Library. Monastiraki is slightly less expensive than other popular areas like Plaka, but is a great place to stay in Athens. Nearby access to the metro means you can easily explore all of Athens from a home base in Monastiraki.

Best Places to Stay in Monastiraki

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Monastiraki:

Athens Choice Hotel
Chameleon Youth Hostel
Hostel Zeus
AthenStyle Hostel

Budget Hotels in Monastiraki:

Hotel Tempi
Hotel Carolina
Evripides Hotel
Hotel Athinaikon

Mid-Range Hotels in Monastiraki:

Emporikon Athens Hotel
Cecil Hotel
Adrian Hotel
Attalos Hotel

Family Friendly Hotels in Monastiraki:

Hermes Hotel
Arion Athens Hotel
Central Athens Hotel
Athens Center Square

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Monastiraki:

MET34 Athens Hotel
Andronis Athens
Hotel Grande Bretagne, A Luxury Collection Hotel
Athens Mansion Luxury Suites

Sunset over the Plaka, the old town of Athens, Greece, with the Parthenon Temple at the Acropolis

Kolonaki – Best place to stay in Athens for shopping

Kolonaki is an Athens neighborhood known for upscale shopping, designer boutiques and trendy cafes. You can also find fine dining with global cuisines in Kolonaki. While this is more upscale and modern than more traditional areas of Athens, such as the Plaka, if you are looking to experience the finer side of Athens, Kolonaki is a great place to stay.

With a large concentration of office buildings, Kolonaki can feel a bit like a business district, but you’ll still find bustling streets lined with sidewalk cafes. Located next to Lycabettus hill, you can catch a funicular in Kolonaki and explore the summit for 360-degree views of Athens. There are also two metro stations in Kolonaki which will whisk you away to other parts of the city.

Best Places to Stay in Kolonaki

Cheapest Backpacking Hostels in Kolonaki:

Hotel Afaia
Hostel Zeus
Argo Hostel
Nubian Hostel

Budget Hotels in Kolonaki:

Hotel Theoxenia
Alma Hotel
Claridge Hotel
Elikon Hotel

Mid-Range Hotels in Kolonaki:

Titania Hotel
Athens Tiare Hotel
Pallas Athena Grecotel Boutique Hotel
Polis Grand Hotel

Family Friendly Hotels in Kolonaki:

Fresh Hotel
Mirabello Hotel
Melia Athens
Ambrosia Suites

Affordable Luxury Hotels in Kolonaki:

Athens Mansion Luxury Suites
Wyndham Athens Residence
Wyndham Grand Athens

Arial view of Mount Lycabettus and the surrounding populated city.

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Where to Stay in Athens

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Article written by: Samantha - Travelling King

Hi, my name is Samantha, Finance Managing Guru by day, Travel Blogging Enthusiast by... well... day too! Haha! Travelling King is the destination hotspot for the wannabe traveller! Showcasing affordable, luxurious getaways for the budget conscious! With the combination of my financial knowledge and travelling experiences I aim to show you, with a little planning, the right budget and a realistic goal you can fulfil your travel fantasies and explore the world whatever your budget or desires may be!