Hotels in Athens

This page will help you find a hotel in Athens and give you tips on where to stay and how to book. For more hotels in Athens and descriptions go to www.hotelsofgreece.com but you should probably read this page first.

General Athens Hotel Information

Hotels in Athens come in several categories with 5-star being the most luxurious. 4-star corresponds to A-Category, 3-star to B-Category and so on. But the difference in categories does not always have to mean that a hotel is better than another. That is because there are different degrees within a category. Not officially but this is how it works. A travel agency will describe a hotel as a high C-Category or B-superior. That is because you can have a C-Category that is a better quality than a B. (In some of the Greek islands you can find C-Category hotels that are as good or better than A). So what are the categories for? I don't know. I think it has to do with a number of variables such as size of the lobby, breakfast room, maybe room size too. Of course the price depends on the category but you can find B hotels that are cheaper than the most expensive C hotel. All this does not matter really because what you are looking for is something clean, friendly, centrally located and with AC should you need it, and you want the best hotel for the price. The hotels on this page are the ones that I have stayed at that I think are the best. You can book on this page or by following the links to the hotel or booking through one of the travel agents. I recommend the agency because you are not going to get any better deal booking directly with the hotel and chances are you are going to need to at least speak with an agency at some point, if not rely on one for hotels on the islands and ferry schedules. But if you are a backpacker on a budget and winging it then book directly with one of the C-category hotels I list. I strongly suggest booking your Athens hotel even if you are not planning to book any hotels until you get to Greece. Why not book in advance and stay in a pretty decent economy hotel rather then arrive in Athens, wander around for a couple hours and end up in a dump or at the mercy of a taxi driver who takes you from the airport to a hotel where he gets a commission?

Anyway if you are like me, the older you get, the less you feel like wandering around looking for a hotel after you have just gotten off a 10 hour flight. When I get off the plane I want to know that there is a bed somewhere with my name on it. Also I have info from reliable sources (the hotels and travel agents), that hotels fill up fast in Athens. Even now the Adonis, Attalos and the Electra Palace are booked full many nights during periods you might not expect because there are times when people from the islands and villages or other cities in Greece, come to Athens to do business, see relatives or have a holiday themselves. So if you are planning on getting off the plane and wandering around until you find something you may want to reconsider, especially if you are going in July, August and September.

Hotel Attalos
I can think of several reasons to stay at the Hotel Attalos. OK, so it's not in the Plaka. (It's a five minute walk). It is next to the Monastiraki Flea Market and Metro Station (for getting to the boats to the islands). It is a five minute walk to the Acropolis and it is a block from Psiri, the hippest part of Athens with great cafes, ouzeries and restaurants at night. It has a rooftop cafe with a view of the Parthenon, air-conditioning, breakfast, family owned and what else......oh yes. It is a bargain recommended by travelers and professionals! Probably the thing that will impress you most about the Attalos is the level of professionalism in the staff. In my opinion, Kostas Zissis and his staff, particularly Sakis, Kostas, Adonis and Maria, and the most elegant night manager in Athens: Mister John Lee, could run the Hilton hotel, the Grande Bretagne or any of the expensive luxury hotels in Athens. But here they are at the little old Attalos. Take advantage of quality service at a very low price and the best rooftop bar view in Athens! This is where I stay when I come to Athens unless it is full (which it often is, even in winter, so book early). If you need even more reasons to stay here they have free broadband internet from a computer in the lounge and a wire-free zone so you can use your laptop to get your e-mail. See their rates on their web page at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/attalos

The Attalos fills up quickly so if you know that this is where you want to stay book it. You won't find cheaper rates for this hotel than what they offer on this secure booking page

*Those who have used Frommer's Guide or website may have been discouraged by their review of the Attalos where they praise the hotel but say the area has prostitutes, drug dealers and other undesirables. It has been over 10 years since they cleaned up this area of Athinas Street. I have written to Frommer's twice telling them there are no drug dealers or prostitutes anywhere near the Attalos. The area is all small businesses and is the border of Psiri which is the restaurant, cafe and nightlife center of Athens as well as the primary shopping district. The riff-raff which inhabited this area 10 years ago is gone. The bars and bordellos are closed, and Frommer's needs to send someone back to Athens and update their website if they wish to retain their credibility.

Cecil Hotel
The Cecil Hotel occupies a beautifully renovated neo-classical building in the heart of old Athens, close to the Ancient Market and the New City Market. It is located near the most central pedestrian street of Athens and it is 20 minutes from the airport, and 20 minutes from the Piraeus port. The Acropolis, the Lycabettus hill, the Philopappus hill, the Syntagma square and other monuments, museums and galleries are some of the countless sights that are very close to the Hotel Cecil. The peaceful picturesque neighborhoods of Plaka and Psiri are only a short walk. The post office, the National Telecommunication Company and the metro station in Monastiraki are also very close to the hotel. Furthermore, Cecil Hotel offers easy walking access to numerous tavernas, restaurants and many places like cafes, nightclubs and cinemas, offering all forms of daytime and evening entertainment for which Athens is famous.  Very economically priced too. It is a block away from the Attalos. If the Attalos is full I stay here.
For more info and booking go to www.greecetravel.com/hotels/cecil

The Adams Hotel
Though not for everybody, the family-run  Adams hotel is about as close as you will get to a B&B in Athens. Before the Olympics this hotel was hit or miss. Some rooms had been rennovated and others were not. But  the owners took the money they made from the Olympics and completely rennovated the Adams and now all rooms have A/C, television, private bathrooms and many have balconies including those on the top floor which have terraces large enough so that you could throw a cocktail party if you wanted. But the best thing about the Adams is its location on a quiet street in the Plaka just one block from Kydatheneon Street. If you are looking for fancy digs you won't find it here. But if you want an economical hotel that is conveniently located visit their website at www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/adams

Looking for something cheaper than a C-catagory in Athens like a pension or youth hostel for example. See my page on Youth Hostels and also my Budget Hotels Section

B-Category Athens Hotels

Athens Cypria Hotel
This is a very nice but not very well known hotel in downtown Athens. Formerly the Diomias Hotel it has been totally renovated and is a  modern B category. It is on a very small street a couple blocks from Syntagma square and half a block from the pedestrian shopping street of Ermou and quite close to the Plaka and the archaeological sites. A year years ago Andrea and I arrived in Athens from Kea on a humid August night and called George at Fantasy Travel for a hotel. He put us here. I proposed to her in that room while the rest of Athens was watching the World Cup Football match. Thankfully she seems to have forgotten though for how much longer I don't know. I suppose eventually something will remind her. In the meantime I have been steering clear but there is no reason for you to. The views are not spectacular but the rooms are clean and attractive, the location is great and the price is good.
For booking info use this form or see www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/cypria/

A-Category Athens Hotels

The newly rennovated Athens Gate Hotel is an A Class hotel operating all year round located in the heart of Athens just a few blocks from Syntagma Square. With modern rooms that are tastefully decorated the hotel boasts two of the best views in Athens. Guests in the front have a view of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Mount Lykavettos. Guests on the top several floors of an unimpeded view of the Acropolis. From the rooftop garden you have a view of just about everything. Clean and well managed with helpful and friendly service this is one of the best hotels in the best locations just a short walk from the Acropolis Metro Station and all the important sites in Athens. For more see www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/athens-gate

The Armonia Hotel

For those looking for a hotel on the beach who don't want to pay an arm and a leg the Armonia fits the bill. Located across from the popular Vouliagmeni Beach and just down the street from the Lake Vouliagmeni Spa, the Armonia sits on the same peninsula as the Astir Palace and The Divani Palace Hotels which are two of Athens most luxurious beach hotels within easy striking distance of the city. Though you can't compare the quality of the Armonia with these Luxury class hotels, you have to give the Armonia points for location. The hotel has a pool and a restaurant and is just half an hour from the airport. There is regular bus service to central Athens and to Sounion and getting to the national road to see the rest of Greece is easy and avoids the traffic of downtown Athens. Vouliagmeni is the Gold coast, the Riviera of Athens, less than an hour from downtown.
For more info on this hotel visit www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/armonia

Luxury Hotels in Athens

By the way. The Grande Bretagne was chosen as one of the 100 Best Hotels in the World by Conde Naste Traveler.

Electra Palace Hotel!!!
The L-Catagory Electra Palace is newly rennovated, double in size and now looks like a smaller version of the Grande Bretagne. There is an indoor pool but by the time you read this there should hopefully be one on the roof just like the old Electra Palace. Big beautiful lobby, comfortable rooms with views of the Acropolis, fully air-conditioned and.... what else am I forgetting? Oh yeah. The best location of just about any hotel on this page, right in the Plaka and just 2 blocks from Syntagma Square and the Metro. The hotel has always been popular with businessmen and the reason they doubled the size is because it was so tough for people to find rooms there. Not any more. Plenty of parking too. I stayed here for a few days during February of 2006 and I loved it. It is a smaller version of the Grande Bretagne. I never used the downstairs swimming pool, sauna or exercise room, but I meant to and I felt healthier just knowing they were there. To read about the hotel go to www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/electrapalace

The Hotel Athens Plaza is a very fine hotel, one building away from the Grande Bretagne and also right on Syntagma Square. Highly recommended if you have the money or your company is paying the bill. If the GB is Old World Elegance then the Plaza is the modern world. Yes, I actually stayed here too, incognito, courtesy of George at Fantasy Travel so I would have an impression of his idea of elegance. It was pretty nice. The rooms were as comfortable as a human could stand it and the restaurant was great. Good AC, big lobby and great location too. See www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/plaza

Booking Hotels in Athens

As for other hotels, I recommend getting in touch with Dolphin Hellas Travel or George at Fantasy Travel . They can send you a list and do your bookings for you and make sure everything runs smoothly. I suggest finding hotels either in or within walking distance of the Plaka. If you are staying at a hotel further away, you can always find a taxi at the front entrance, but getting one back to the hotel is not as easy. Some hotels have shuttle service to Syntagma so ask your travel agent. The prices you get from a Greek travel agency should be cheaper then what you will get directly from the hotels. Because these agencies send the hotels a high percentage of their business they get reduced rates which they can pass on to the customers. Many travelers will say with pride that they never work with agencies and book hotels themselves. Maybe in other countries this will save them money. But hotels that try to undercut their own agency rates are either unscrupulous or desperate. Also some agencies pre-book rooms for the season and will sometimes offer these rooms for very low rates as incentive to use the agency for cruises, island hotels or packages.

There are other reasons to use an Athens based travel agency to book your hotels besides the discount. The first has to do with scheduling. Because the agency has ferry schedules at their disposal they can book a room knowing you will be able to make your connection. You may do your own bookings for Athens or the islands and find that because you misread the schedule or your boat was delayed you are unable to to use the room you have reserved and paid for, and you need a room for the night on the island you are delayed on. Unless you want to deal with all this yourself it is better to have the agency deal with it.

This leads to why a Greek agency rather then your local agent: If you should find yourself in a situation where you need help, your US travel agent is not exactly in a position to assist you. The time difference is an obvious problem as is the cost of long distance calls. A Greek travel agent who has a relationship with the hotels can solve any problems before they start and should you find yourself stranded on an island far from the hotel that has been booked for you, a call to Athens will get you off the hook and get you a room for the night.

If you are booking hotels on your own and you just want to book a night or two in Athens in a cheap hotel you will be better off booking directly with the hotel. The reason is that for bookings which don't total $300, many agencies must add a $50 service charge to pay for their work since comissions are low. Of course a couple nights in a high catagory hotel will come to well over the minumum. But if you want a couple nights at the Attalos or a c-catagory hotel, then book directly with the hotel unless you are using the agency to book your hotels in the islands as well as ferries and flights. If you are backpacking on the islands or island hopping without booking in advance I definitely recommend booking your Athens hotel before you get there. If you get to Athens and realize that you would rather book the rest of your trip with an agency I suggest contacting one of the agencies I recommend rather then putting your faith in a taxi driver, hotel concierge or some 'friendly guy on the street'.

If you are having trouble finding availability for the hotels you want try contacting Fantasy Travel. They buy rooms in advance and when the hotels and other agents have nothing left they may still have availabilty. Use this form and under comments let them know which hotel you are interested in if there is one in particular.

Many people find bargains on websites which book hotels all over the world or through package deals. The problem is that in many cases the reason there are such great deals on these hotels is because the hotels are empty because nobody wants to stay there. Either it is in a bad location or the hotel is lousy or it has a bad reputation from a previous owner and has not recovered. Since the hotel mega-site deals with thousands of hotels worldwide and the package tour agent is just trying to get the price as cheap as he can to make the offer attractive, they may be ignorant or not care about the quality or location. You have to balance price vs risk. In almost every case you can get as good a deal from a Greek travel agency and have them at your service for advice.

For those people who still don't want to go through a travel agency to book hotels and relish the thought of making their own ferry arrangements try using Athens Hotel Search where you can find hotels all over Greece and book it now. You can also compare rates from the different booking sites at www.hotelsofgreece.com/search

Where to Stay in Athens

When in Athens the desirable areas to stay in are the Plaka, Makrianni, Koukaki, Thission, Syntagma and Monastiraki. These areas all border the Acropolis and the archeological park around it. Everything you need including shops, restaurants, the metro to the ferries, buses, taxis and nightlife is within walking distance. Don't get stuck in areas like Ambelokipi, Illissia, or Alexandras which are noisy and far from the sights. Traffic can be pretty bad in Athens and a trip downtown may take you an hour or more if you are not on the metro line. For this reason be aware if you are booking through a US-based travel agent because in many cases they may know the classification of the hotel but be totally ignorant of the location, which is very important. Some of the nicest American style hotels have lousy locations and in most cases there is a comparable hotel within walking distance ofthe Acropolis. If you are booking by price with one of the giant automated hotel booking sites be aware that an A-catagory hotel with C-Catagory rates may be in an F-Catagory neighborhood. For this reason alone I say that if you want to use them to book your flights that is one thing. But if you want to enjoy Athens book with a travel agency in Athens. At least if you look around and don't like your surroundings you can call them up and say"Get me outta here!"

If you are wondering about a location of a hotel, whether it is in an undesirable neighborhood you can e-mail me. I don't want to write on my website not to stay in a hotel in a particular area because it tends to make enemies, just as it would if I wrote on my site not to stay in a particular hotel because it is a bad hotel. But if you are wondering about location I can give you my opinion on whether you may be happier elsewhere. It is generally not an issue with male travelers because nowhere in Athens is unsafe in the way that you would experience it in for example a decaying industrial city in the USA where there are neigborhoods that your life is in danger. But from a guy's point of view there are areas in Athens where there are things you might not want your children to see or even your wife, girlfriend, mother or even your mother-in-law. If the hotel you are booking is in one of these areas I will let you know. But the rule of thumb for families is to stay in or near the Plaka. If a hotel says on their website 'centrally located' that does not necessarily mean near Syntagma or the Acropolis. If you are unsure about the location e-mail me. Just don't ask me whether or not it is a 'good' hotel. The hotels I know are good are on this site. The others I just know what I have heard or nothing at all.

For those who don't care about location as long as its cheap see Budget Hotels

Most of the hotels near the beach provide transportation to the sights of the city, but ask just to make sure. The coastal tram runs from Glyfada to Syntagma Square and it is a fine ride through neighborhoods most travelers never see. But if you are going back and forth several days in a row it can get old because it makes a lot of stops and takes a long time. Still some would say it is a small price for staying on the sea.

Airport Hotels

Many people who are just passing through and are looking for a hotel for one night near the airport gasp when they see the prices at the Airport Sofitel. They shouldn't because you can't get any more convenient since all you have to do is walk out of the terminal and cross a small parking lot and you are in the lobby. Sure hanging out at ther airport when you could be wandering around the Plaka may seem kind of boring but with restaurants, satelite TV and a nice big IKEA down the street you can find something to do besides sleep between flights. For those looking for something a little cheaper and less airport-like there is the Hotel Les Amis in Vari, just 12 kilometers away. The Holiday Inn Attika Avenue is a 5 minute taxi ride or a few minutes on the metro and is in the price range opf the Sofitel. If you want to book these hotels for a night without going through a travel agency you can use the above links. If you are working with a Greek travel agency you can book through them as well.

The Avra Rafina is a beautiful Three-star hotel convenient to the ferries to the islands of Andros, Tinos, Syros, Mykonos, Evia and in the summer even Paros and Naxos. If you want to avoid Athens and go straight to the islands and spend the first night in Greece in a Greek-island-setting see www.hotelsofgreece.com/athens/avra-rafina

More Hotels in Athens

The following are not necessarily the hotels I stay in or recommend but I had the pictures and the descriptions so I decided why not give this page a professional travel page look. These are kind of upscale. Not because I want people to stay in fancy hotels but because I began with the fancy hotels and then lost interest. But I guess it can't hurt to include these since most people agree they are pretty good hotels. If you are looking for lower catagory hotels go to www.hotelsofgreece.com where I have a lot of cheaper hotels that I have stayed in or have been recommended by friends and travel agents.

You can book any of these hotels through Dolphin Hellas Travel , or George at Fantasy Travel . You can find hotel descriptions, photos and booking information at Hotelsofgreece.com and on my Athens Hotel Search Page

 See Athens from the Island of Poros

Other islands close enough to commute to Athens are Angistri and Aegina. In  Aegina, the village of Agia Marina is about a half hour trip on the Flying Dolphins. Check out the Hotel Karyatides and the Voula Apartments if you want to stay in affordable hotels on the beach and still be able to get into Athens for the day.

What is the best way to book your holiday to Greece? Can you really save by using auto-booking systems or by booking directly with the hotels? Are Travel Agencies a thing of the past? Read my article Endangered Species about the internet and the disappearance of the small personalized service travel agency.

Return to Athens Survival Guide Index