Best Hotels in Athens: From Budget to Luxury

The best hotels in Athens put you within walking distance of the Acropolis, the ancient sites, the food scene, and the neighbourhood energy that makes this city worth visiting in the first place. But Athens has a lot of accommodation — ranging from exceptional boutique properties with Parthenon views to overpriced tourist traps that trade on location alone.

This guide cuts through the noise. We’ve organised the best hotels in Athens by neighbourhood and price point — so whether you’re looking for a rooftop pool in Monastiraki, a quiet boutique stay in Koukaki, or the full luxury experience in Kolonaki, you’ll find exactly what you need here.

All picks are based on location quality, guest reviews, value for money, and the kind of experience they deliver — not which ones pay the highest commission.

Note: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you book through our links. This helps us keep creating free travel guides.

Athens Hotel Price Guide

Before diving into specific picks, here’s what to expect at each price level in Athens (per room per night, high season):

• € Budget (under €80): Hostels, guesthouses, and basic hotels. Limited amenities but often excellent locations. Athens has better budget options than most European capitals.
• €€ Mid-range (€80–€180): The sweet spot. Well-designed boutique hotels, good breakfast options, often with rooftop terraces. Most of the best-value stays in Athens fall here.
• €€€ Upper-mid (€180–€320): Boutique luxury, design hotels, properties with rooftop pools and Acropolis views. Where the experience starts to feel genuinely special.
• €€€€ Luxury (€320+): The grande dame hotels, five-star properties, full-service luxury. Hotel Grande Bretagne territory.

Prices drop significantly in low season (November–March) — often by 40–50% at mid-range and luxury properties. Spring and autumn are the sweet spot: lower prices, better weather, fewer crowds.

Best Hotels in Athens by Neighbourhood

Where you stay in Athens shapes everything. These are the main neighbourhoods and what they offer:

Monastiraki & Psyrri: Best Location for Sightseeing

The most central neighbourhood for Athens sightseeing — the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Monastiraki Square are all walkable. Lively and noisy (especially Monastiraki Square itself), with great street food and the flea market outside your door. If you want to maximise sightseeing time and don’t mind city energy at night, this is your base.

A for Athens

A boutique hotel right on Monastiraki Square with one of the best rooftop bars in Athens — direct eye-level views of the Acropolis. Rooms are modern and well-designed, the location is unbeatable for first-time visitors, and the rooftop (open to non-guests too) makes it a social hub. Can be noisy on lower floors facing the square — ask for a higher room.

• Neighbourhood: Monastiraki
• Price: €€€ (upper-mid)
• Best for: First-timers, couples, anyone who wants the Acropolis view
• Highlight: Rooftop bar with direct Parthenon views

Electra Metropolis Athens

A larger, design-forward hotel on the pedestrian street near Monastiraki — rooftop pool with Acropolis views, excellent breakfast, and well-appointed rooms that feel genuinely stylish rather than generic. Slightly more polished than A for Athens, with a higher price to match. The rooftop pool in summer is a genuine luxury.

• Neighbourhood: Monastiraki / Syntagma border
• Price: €€€ (upper-mid)
• Best for: Couples, design-conscious travellers
• Highlight: Rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis

Plaka: Charming Old Town, Boutique Stays

Plaka is the most photogenic neighbourhood in Athens — neoclassical buildings, narrow stone lanes, bougainvillea. Hotels here are mostly boutique properties converted from old Athenian houses. Quieter than Monastiraki at night, with a romantic atmosphere that works particularly well for couples.

Adrian Hotel

One of the most beloved small hotels in Plaka — a converted neoclassical townhouse with a rooftop terrace that overlooks the Acropolis and the Lysicrates Monument. Personal, well-run, and genuinely charming without trying too hard. The kind of place where the owner knows your name by day two.

• Neighbourhood: Plaka
• Price: €€ (mid-range)
• Best for: Couples, romantics, return visitors to Athens
• Highlight: Rooftop terrace with Acropolis and Lysicrates Monument views

Hermes Hotel

A consistently well-reviewed mid-range hotel in the heart of Plaka — clean, comfortable, good breakfast, and a rooftop terrace with clear Acropolis views. Excellent value for the location. Not a design hotel, but reliable and genuinely hospitable.

• Neighbourhood: Plaka
• Price: €€ (mid-range)
• Best for: Budget-conscious travellers who want a central, reliable base
• Highlight: Best value rooftop Acropolis view in central Athens

Koukaki: Local Feel, Excellent Value

The neighbourhood just south of the Acropolis — residential, genuine, increasingly popular with travellers who want something less tourist-saturated. Ten minutes on foot to the Acropolis Museum, 15 minutes to Monastiraki. Hotels here tend to be 20–30% cheaper than equivalent properties in Plaka, with a more local atmosphere.

Herodion Hotel

One of the most reliably excellent hotels in Koukaki — modern design, rooftop pool with Acropolis views, excellent breakfast buffet, and genuinely helpful staff. A step up in comfort from the mid-range Plaka options at a comparable or slightly lower price point. Very popular with couples and families visiting Athens.

• Neighbourhood: Koukaki (Makrygianni)
• Price: €€€ (upper-mid)
• Best for: Couples, families, anyone visiting the Acropolis Museum
• Highlight: Rooftop pool with direct Acropolis view

Marble House Pension

A small, family-run guesthouse in Koukaki that has been welcoming guests for decades. No rooftop pool, no designer furniture — just clean, comfortable rooms, a quiet courtyard, and hosts who genuinely care. The best budget option in the area for solo travellers and budget-conscious couples who want a personal touch.

• Neighbourhood: Koukaki
• Price: € (budget)
• Best for: Solo travellers, budget-conscious couples, long-stay guests
• Highlight: Family-run warmth at the best price-to-location ratio in Athens

Syntagma & Kolonaki: Central and Upscale

The most convenient transport hub in Athens (metro lines 2 and 3 both pass through Syntagma) and the city’s upscale shopping and dining district. Hotels here cater to business travellers and those who want a quieter, more polished base. The ancient sites are 15–20 minutes on foot.

Hotel Grande Bretagne

The most iconic hotel in Athens — a 19th-century landmark on Syntagma Square that has hosted royalty, heads of state, and everyone in between. The rooftop restaurant and pool look directly at the Acropolis. Service is at the level you’d expect from a Leading Hotels of the World member. If you’re going to splurge once in Athens, this is where.

• Neighbourhood: Syntagma
• Price: €€€€ (luxury)
• Best for: Special occasions, honeymoons, anyone who wants the full Athens luxury experience
• Highlight: The rooftop pool and GB Roof Garden restaurant — the most dramatic Acropolis view of any hotel in Athens

New Hotel Athens

A design hotel created by the Campana Brothers inside a converted neoclassical building near Syntagma. The interiors are extraordinary — a layered collision of recycled materials, antique furniture, and contemporary design that somehow works. Rooms are genuinely interesting to be in rather than just comfortable. One of the most design-forward hotels in Greece.

• Neighbourhood: Syntagma
• Price: €€€ (upper-mid to luxury)
• Best for: Design enthusiasts, creative travellers, anyone who wants a hotel that’s an experience in itself
• Highlight: Campana Brothers interiors — one of the most striking hotel designs in Athens

Best Boutique Hotels in Athens

Athens has developed a strong boutique hotel scene over the past decade — properties that prioritise character and personal service over scale. These are the best boutique hotels in Athens for travellers who want something beyond the standard chain experience.

Periscope Hotel — Kolonaki

A small design hotel in Kolonaki with an aerial photography concept — the ceilings of each room display an aerial photograph of a different part of Athens. Intimate, clever, and well-located for the Kolonaki dining and shopping scene. Roof terrace looks out over the city toward Lycabettus Hill.

• Price: €€€ (upper-mid)
• Best for: Design travellers, couples, return visitors to Athens

Coco-Mat Athens BC

From the Greek sleep-focused brand Coco-Mat — organic mattresses, natural materials, and a philosophy built around genuine rest. The Athens BC property is in a quiet part of Kolonaki, beautifully designed, and genuinely peaceful. One of the better night’s sleep you’ll have in the city. No rooftop Acropolis view, but not everything needs to be about the view.

• Price: €€€ (upper-mid)
• Best for: Anyone who prioritises sleep quality, wellness-focused travellers

Best Luxury Hotels in Athens

For a high-end Athens experience, these are the properties that consistently deliver at the top of the market.

Hotel Grande Bretagne (Syntagma)

The benchmark for luxury in Athens — full details above. For honeymoons, anniversaries, or anyone who wants the definitive Athenian hotel experience, this is it.

Price: €€€€

King George Hotel (Syntagma)

The sister property to Grande Bretagne — equally grand, slightly smaller and more intimate. The Tudor Hall restaurant on the top floor is one of the most romantic dinner settings in Athens, with Acropolis views and classical interiors.

Price: €€€€

Hotel Electra Palace (Plaka)

A large luxury hotel in Plaka with a rooftop pool and full spa. More anonymous than the boutique options but delivers consistently at the five-star level — large rooms, excellent service, beautiful pool terrace. Good for families who want space and facilities alongside a central location.

Price: €€€€

Best Budget Hotels in Athens

Athens is one of the more affordable European capitals for accommodation. These budget options offer genuine value without sacrificing location:

Marble House Pension (Koukaki)

The best budget pick in Athens for its combination of location, personal hospitality, and price. Full details above under Koukaki. Book directly with the property if possible.

Price: €

Tempi Hotel (Monastiraki)

A no-frills but clean and well-located small hotel right on the pedestrian street near Monastiraki Square. Basic rooms, great location, friendly staff. The price-to-location ratio is hard to beat for solo travellers.

Price: €

Athens Backpackers (Makrygianni/Koukaki)

The best hostel in Athens — rooftop bar with Acropolis views, social atmosphere, clean dorms and private rooms. The rooftop bar is one of the most relaxed spots in the city for meeting other travellers. Private rooms available for couples who want hostel social energy without shared dorms.

Price: €

Best Hotels in Athens with Acropolis View

Waking up to the Acropolis outside your window — or watching it illuminate at night from a rooftop pool — is a genuinely memorable experience. These are the best hotels in Athens where the view is the point:

• A for Athens (Monastiraki): Rooftop bar at eye level with the Parthenon — probably the most Instagrammed hotel view in Athens. €€€
• Herodion Hotel (Koukaki): Rooftop pool with direct Acropolis view and significantly less noise than Monastiraki. €€€
• Electra Metropolis (Monastiraki/Syntagma): Rooftop pool with full Acropolis and city panorama. €€€
• Adrian Hotel (Plaka): Rooftop terrace with Acropolis and Lysicrates Monument views. €€
• Athens Backpackers (Koukaki): Rooftop bar with Acropolis views at budget prices. €

Best Hotels in Athens for Couples

Athens is a genuinely romantic city — ancient and alive at the same time, with excellent food, atmospheric neighbourhoods, and the Acropolis glowing at night. These hotels enhance the experience for couples:

• Adrian Hotel (Plaka): The rooftop terrace, the neoclassical setting, the quiet Plaka lanes — one of the most romantic stays in Athens at a mid-range price. Perfect for a first trip to Greece together.
• Hotel Grande Bretagne (Syntagma): The luxury option for couples — rooftop pool, GB Roof Garden restaurant, the full grand hotel experience. Honeymoon territory.
• Herodion Hotel (Koukaki): Rooftop pool with Acropolis views, modern rooms, and a neighbourhood that feels more real than Plaka. Good balance of romance and authenticity.
• New Hotel Athens (Syntagma): For couples who care more about design and cultural experience than traditional romance — the Campana Brothers interiors make it a conversation in itself.

For more on planning a romantic Athens trip, see our Athens 2–3 Day Itinerary.

How to Choose the Right Area for Your Athens Hotel

Still deciding? Here’s the quick decision guide:

• You want maximum sightseeing convenience → Monastiraki or Monastiraki-adjacent. Everything walkable.
• You want romance and atmosphere → Plaka. Quieter at night, beautiful setting, boutique properties.
• You want local feel + value → Koukaki. 10 minutes to the Acropolis Museum, 20% cheaper than Plaka.
• You want upscale and quiet → Kolonaki. Best restaurants and shopping nearby, calm at night.
• You want luxury without compromise → Syntagma. Grande Bretagne, King George, and the best transport connections.
• You want budget + social scene → Athens Backpackers in Koukaki. Rooftop Acropolis views included.

Explore More About Athens

• Athens Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
• Athens in 2–3 Days: The Perfect Itinerary
• Best Restaurants in Athens: Where to Eat Like a Local
• Delphi, Meteora & Day Trips from Athens
• Best Hotels in Greece: Top Picks by Region
• How to Plan a Trip to Greece: Step-by-Step Guide

FAQ

What is the best area to stay in Athens?

For first-time visitors: Monastiraki (most convenient for sightseeing) or Plaka (most atmospheric). For a more local feel: Koukaki. For upscale comfort: Kolonaki or Syntagma. The choice comes down to whether you prioritise walkability to the ancient sites, neighbourhood character, or quiet comfort.

How much do hotels in Athens cost?

Budget accommodation starts around €30–50 per night for a hostel or basic guesthouse. Mid-range boutique hotels run €80–180 in high season. Upper-mid properties with rooftop pools and Acropolis views typically run €180–320. Luxury hotels like Grande Bretagne start at €350+ per night in summer. Prices drop 40–50% in winter.

Which Athens hotels have Acropolis views?

A for Athens and Electra Metropolis (both Monastiraki), Herodion Hotel (Koukaki), Adrian Hotel (Plaka), Hotel Grande Bretagne (Syntagma rooftop), and Athens Backpackers (Koukaki) all have rooftop terraces or pools with clear Acropolis views. The Parthenon illuminated at night from a rooftop is one of the better experiences Athens offers.

When is the best time to book hotels in Athens?

Book 2–3 months ahead for summer travel (June–August), especially for popular boutique properties with limited rooms. Spring and autumn (April–May, September–October) can often be booked 4–6 weeks ahead. Winter is walk-in territory at most properties, with significant discounts available.

Are Athens hotels close to the airport?

The airport (ATH) is about 35km from central Athens. All of the hotels listed in this guide are in the city centre — between 35–55 minutes from the airport by metro (Blue Line, direction Monastiraki/Aegaleo). There are also airport hotels for those with very early flights, but for a city visit, staying central makes far more sense.

Is Plaka or Monastiraki better for accommodation?

Monastiraki wins for sightseeing convenience and energy — you’re at the centre of everything. Plaka wins for atmosphere and quieter nights — the neoclassical lanes are beautiful and the neighbourhood settles down after midnight. Monastiraki for those who want to maximise Athens time; Plaka for those who want to savour it.

What is the most luxurious hotel in Athens?

Hotel Grande Bretagne on Syntagma Square is consistently ranked as the finest hotel in Athens — and arguably in Greece. A 19th-century landmark with a rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis, multiple restaurants, full spa, and the kind of service that justifies the price. King George Hotel (its sister property) runs it close for intimacy and setting.

Ready to Book Your Athens Hotel?

Lock in your accommodation first — the best properties in Athens book out fast in summer. Use the links above to check availability, or browse all options below.