Accommodation
Athens offers accommodations for every budget — from €15 hostels in Psyrri to €500 suites with private pools and Acropolis views. The price trend in recent years: The economic crisis made Athens a bargain travel destination for a long time, but prices have been rising since 2019 — especially in the Plaka and around the Acropolis. Nevertheless, Athens is still affordable compared to other European capitals.
The best location to stay depends on your priorities: Plaka/Koukaki for sightseeing, Psyrri/Monastiraki for nightlife, Kolonaki for elegance, Pangrati for authenticity. Avoid hotels in Omonia — the area is uncomfortable at night.
Budget (€): Hostels & Affordable Hotels€
- Athens Backpackers (Makri 12, Koukaki): The best hostel in Athens — and one of the best in Europe. Perfect location between the Acropolis Museum and Plaka, a rooftop terrace with Acropolis view (at hostel prices!), clean rooms, well organized. Dormitory from 20€, double room from 65€. The bar on the roof is worth a visit even for non-guests.
- City Circus (Sarri 16, Psyrri): Design hostel in a beautifully renovated neoclassical building. Hip cafe on the ground floor, creatively designed rooms, right in the nightlife district. Dormitory from 18€, double room from 55€. Breakfast included.
- AthenStyle (Agias Theklas 10, Monastiraki): Central location, rooftop bar with Acropolis view, colorful rooms, international atmosphere. A bit louder (it's Monastiraki, after all), but unbeatable for the location. Dormitory from 16€, double room from 50€.
- Pella Inn (Karolou 104, Omonia): Only for the hardcore: right on Omonia Square (not the nicest corner), but absurdly cheap. Spartan rooms, functional, clean enough. From 15€ per night in a shared room. The advantage: You save money for souvlaki and museums.
💡 Tipp
Airbnb is a huge market in Athens — entire apartments in the Plaka or Koukaki are available from 40-60€/night, often with Acropolis views from the balcony. For stays of 3 nights or more, often cheaper and more comfortable than hotels.
Mid-range (€€): Boutique & comfortable€€
- Plaka Hotel (Kapnikareas 7, Plaka): Family-run hotel in Plaka with one of the best rooftop terraces in Athens: The Acropolis seems to float right in front of the breakfast table. Rooms are clean and tidy, though not huge. Double rooms from 90-130€ including breakfast. Book well in advance!
- A for Athens (Miaouli 2, Monastiraki): Yes, the famous rooftop bar is also a hotel — and the concept works. Modern rooms with industrial chic, some with Acropolis views, and the bar is right above you. Double rooms from 100-160€. Downside: The bar music can be disturbing on weekends.
- Herodion Hotel (Rovertou Galli 4, Koukaki): Elegant 4-star hotel at the foot of the Acropolis, directly on the pedestrian street Dionysiou Areopagitou. Rooftop pool (!), excellent breakfast, quiet despite central location. Double rooms from 120-180€. One of the best value-for-money hotels in the city.
- Perianth Hotel (Lykavittou 5, Kolonaki): Design hotel in Kolonaki with rooftop pool and Art Deco decor. Stylish without being ostentatious, with a restaurant that also attracts locals. Double rooms from 140-200€.
- COCO-MAT Athens BC (Falirou 5, Koukaki): Greek furniture brand COCO-MAT has built a hotel here with their famous natural mattresses (coconut fiber, seaweed, cactus silk). You sleep like on clouds. Rooftop with pool and — of course — Acropolis view. Double rooms from 130-190€.
Luxury (€€€): Grand Hotels€€€
- Hotel Grande Bretagne (Vasileos Georgiou A1, Syntagma): The most legendary hotel in Greece — a destination for kings, presidents, and movie stars since 1874. Right on Syntagma Square, overlooking the Parliament and the Acropolis. The rooftop restaurant and bar are among the best viewpoints in the city. Spa, indoor pool, butler service. Double rooms from 300-600€. If you want to feel like Greek nobility once in your life: here.
- King George (Vasileos Georgiou A2, Syntagma): The sister hotel of the Grande Bretagne, a touch more modern and intimate. The Tudor Hall Suite on the top floor has a private terrace with a 360-degree view — realistically priceless. But even the standard double rooms (from 250-450€) are exquisite. The Tudor Hall Restaurant (7th floor) offers one of the best fine dining evenings in Athens.
- Electra Palace (Navarchou Nikodimou 18-20, Plaka): 5-star hotel in the heart of Plaka with a rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis. The pool terrace at night, with the illuminated Acropolis just a few hundred meters away, is one of the most romantic places in Athens. Neoclassical architecture, elegant rooms. Double rooms from 200-350€.
- Athens Capital Hotel - MGallery (Pireos 18-20, Psyrri): Design hotel of the Sofitel group in a converted industrial building. Minimalist-modern, with a rooftop bar that fits the nightlife district of Psyrri. For those who want luxury without plush. Double rooms from 180-300€.