9 Best places to stay in Athens

It takes chutzpah to call your hotel NEW – but this Design Hotel is still cutting-edge, although it opened in 2011. Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana were recruited to spruce up the Olympic Palace, a 1950s landmark on the edge of Plaka.

Renowned for their eco-ethos, the Campana brothers worked with local architecture students, upcycling the original fittings alongside bespoke pieces of their own creation. The result: edgy design at democratic prices.

Coupled with can-do service and the best breakfast in town, this is an ideal choice for design junkies and first-time visitors.

COCO-MAT made its name in Greece as a bed and mattress manufacturer using natural products, so it was only a question of time before they branched out into hotels. As such, sleep is elevated to prime importance so you’re guaranteed a good night’s rest.

Located in the upscale district of Kolonaki, the hotel occupies a renovated 1936 building designed by Emmanuel Lazaridis – the same architect who built the Monument to the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square.

The building’s austere, classical style is cleverly combined with 21st-century design touches: muted colours, natural lighting, understated furniture and, of course, fabulous beds.

The vibe throughout is informal and unpretentious – ideal for those who want a hotel that feels more like a home away from home. Guests serve themselves drinks from an honesty bar and can also rent bikes for free.

The icing on the cake is the view of the Acropolis from the leafy roof garden.

Oozing a hip Athens-does-Shoreditch vibe, the Modernist is housed in the former Canadian Embassy building, and combines slick, minimalist bedrooms with a rooftop bar that offers cocktails designed by the chief mixologist from the Clumsies, Athens’ prime cocktail lounge.

The vibe here is young and fashionable, with a real focus on being part of the local community. Paintings by local artists are exhibited on the Art Wall, and a wide range of locally-produced products – from notebooks to espresso cups – are sold in the chic shop.

The young staff are well versed in restaurant and bar recommendations, and the central location – an easy walk from Lycabettus Hill and one stop on the metro from Plaka – makes this a great first-time base for couples, or those looking to experience Athens at its most contemporary.

Every visiting VIP since 1874 has stayed at this neoclassical landmark opposite the Parliament. The opulent period interiors remain undiminished – from the Beaux-Arts lobby to the moodily-lit cigar bar everything oozes opulence.

Gracious staff glide through the gleaming interiors, tending to the whims of diplomats, celebrities, and CEOs. The small rooftop pool and bar are the height of discreet chic in the heat of summer, while the basement spa, with its marble-lined pool and hamam, is a treat in winter.

Without a doubt, this is the classiest address in the capital, and bang in the heart of town.

If you want to be at the heart of the action, the Divani Palace is an excellent choice; the hotel is located within a stone’s throw of the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum and the Grand Promenade, as well as being surrounded by the buzzy streets of Koukaki. 

And not just that: you are spoiled with 5-star luxury, an outdoor pool and a roof terrace with unrivalled close-up views of the Acropolis rock; so close in fact, that the ancient city walls built 25 centuries ago run through the basement. 

Make sure to book dinner at the rooftop restaurant; try the chicken kontosouvli (a kind of kebab on the spit) – a speciality from Thessaloniki. 

If you want to combine Athenian sightseeing with lazing in the sun, the Athens Riviera – which unfolds along the glittering Saronic Gulf – makes an ideal base.

Vouliagmeni is far enough to appear like a resort and close enough to allow you an easy commute to the centre of town.

The Four Seasons Astir Palace re-opened in 2019 after a renovation, and occupies a forested spot in a jutting peninsula with great views of the shoreline to the north.

Add to this a private beach, a gourmet restaurant and boat excursions to well-known sites like Sounio or quiet beachy coves only accessible by sea and you have the perfect combination for the full Attic experience.

If you want a quiet, central budget hotel, look no further than Athens4, five minutes walk away from Monastiraki station.

It has a young, back-to-basics vibe – no restaurant or spa here – and suits those who want to immerse themselves in the surrounding nightlife. Perhaps surprisingly, it also attracts families because of its large suites and its pet-friendly policy. 

This compact hotel is built on the site of an erstwhile cloth factory and the interior decor nods to its history, with vibrant patterned wallpaper.

A colour palette of sunshine yellows, creams and light blues make the rooms appear brighter and larger.

An 1890’s neo-classical gem named after the Frenchman who created the first Greek font, Mr Didot is an atmospheric place to stay, giving a glimpse of fin-de-siecle Athenian life. The hotel is also apocryphally whispered to have been the secret residence of John & Yoko’s during their trip to Athens in 1969.

Its six spacious, high-ceilinged rooms, connected by corridors and spiral staircases, sport parquet floors and coloured window grills on tiny balconies just wide enough for a small chair.

This is a charming small hotel, ideal for couples or those that want to stay somewhere with individual, Athenian character. It’s also a great base for sightseeing, with the Parthenon a fifteen-minute walk, and Panepistimio metro station almost on the doorstep.

A new boutique art-hotel in a belle epoque listed building, which, unlike others, can justify its ‘art’ signifier.  

The Greek-American artist Philip Tsiaras, based in New York, has curated a selection of his paintings – copies of a limited number of five – and allocated them to specific rooms, turning each one into a work of art. 

Art lovers can enjoy the ubiquitous works of art and relax on its terrace, which boasts wonderful views of the Acropolis – while sipping a glass from their excellent wine cellar. 

This is a chic Athens address, convenient for the Benaki Islamic Art Museum and Kerameikos, and the perfect choice for hipsters, art-lovers and those who value excellent coffee, good wine and one of the best views in town.