Where to Stay in Athens: Best Areas + Where We Stayed!
Planning a trip to Athens, Greece? Where you opt to stay in Athens can make or break your trip (friends of mine really didn’t like Athens and it was mostly due to their hotel location and where they had to walk to get to it). So here are some tips on where to stay in Athens so you can have an amazing trip!
Athens is a city full of INCREDIBLE history and the center of its history, the Acropolis, towers over the city. So, naturally people like to stay where they can see this historical landmark.
However, Athens has an overwhelming amount of hotel options and, its big, so it has a lot of different neighborhood options to choose from as well.
Let me help you narrow down your options a little!
Here are some great places to stay in Athens including the best, central neighborhoods, quieter options if you don’t want to be as central, plus our experience in staying near Omonia (where many people caution you to stay away from!)
- Athens Layout: Prominent Neighborhoods
- Where to Stay in Athens: Centrally Located Neighborhoods
- Where to Stay in Athens: Quieter Neighborhood Options
- Where to Stay in Athens: Luxury or Edginess?
- Where to Stay in Athens: Omonia?
- Where to Stay in Athens for First-Time Visitors
- Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Athens
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Athens Layout: Prominent Neighborhoods
I didn’t realize just how GIANT Athens is until we went up onto Lycabettus Hill and saw the city from above!
Athens is kind of set up a little chaotically as well. Where as many large European cities have a nice grid and organized streets, Athens is a little zig-zaggy and built around several large hills.
And, as the Acropolis is the highlight of the city, but is (kind of) oval-shaped, the neighborhoods stemming from it kind of wrap around the hill and work their way out (with what seems like no rhyme or reason.)
Below is a map that will give you an IDEA of the main neighborhoods (I didn’t take the time to get the exact borders). Plus I’ve added which hotel I would stay at in each neighborhood, which I will get into more detail below!
Neighborhood Summary
| Most Central Neighborhoods | Quieter Neighborhoods | Other Options |
| –Monstraki– The busiest square –Plaka– Cute with good Acropolis views –Syntagma– Central with shopping & Parliament –Psyri– 5 minutes from Monstraki | –Koukaki– Local, further from the crowds –Thiseo– Local, north of Philopappos Hill | –Kolonaki– More “posh” –Exarcheia– Edgy, ecletic –Omonia- Good or bad? |
Where to Stay in Athens: Centrally Located Neighborhoods
The good news about Athens is that you pretty well know the Acropolis and the Parthenon are center of attention. So, if you want to have views of them you can work your way out from there!
Monstraki Square
Monstraki Square is kind of the “central” square of Athens where you will find a lot of restaurants and shops. If you want to be smack-dab in the center of everything, this is where you want to be.
From Monstraki you can easily walk to the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Forum and a large list of the historical sites of Athens. Plus, if you want to see sights a little further from the city-center, you are super near to multiple metro stations.
This is also a place where you will get a lot of the up-close views of the Acropolis.
Where I would Stay in Monstraki Square
Plaka Neighborhood
Plaka is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods of Athens and usually at the top of the “where to stay in Athens” lists. It has some of the white-washed buildings and purple bougainvillea flowers.
It is also located SUPER close the Acropolis, so you will still be within walking distance of the main sites of Athens.
Know, though, that Plaka can be more expensive. It is also made up of a lot of residential buildings, so many of the housing options are apartments (which are getting kind of controversial in the cities.)
A great way to stay near the Plaka Neighborhood without spending a ton on a hotel is to stay in the southern portion of Plaka, closer to Kouklaki neighborhood.
Where I would Stay in Plaka
Syntagma Square Area
Syntagma is a little further from the Acropolis but has great shopping (the shopping street of Ermou starts here) and has loads of restaurants within walking distance as well.
Here you will also find the Greek Parliament Building and the changing of the guard.
Syntagma Square is one of the biggest squares and centrally located in Athens, making it a frequent meeting place as well.
The transition from the Monstraki area to Syntagma is quick. So many hotels that look like they are in one neighborhood are in the other.
However, this also means that both areas can be great! If you are choosing to stay in Syntagma, I would stay on the west side, just because it will save you a little on walking time to the city center.
Where I would Stay in Syntagma
Psyri
Psyri is located just north of Monstraki Square, which is also still centrally located. Psyri has some very cute areas, but not far from here you can also get some pretty dilapidated and dirtier streets.
So, if you choose this neighborhood just be aware that the scenery can change pretty quickly here.
The good news is, though, that your money can go a little further in this neighborhood! And, it is still easily walkable to the main sites of Athens.
Where I would Stay in Psyri
Where to Stay in Athens: Quieter Neighborhood Options
If you want to dip out of the crowds a little bit, there are still some great options a little further out.
Koukaki
Koukaki is located south of the Acropolis and just next to another famous hill, Philopappos Hill.
This neighborhood is one of the most-recommended neighborhoods outside of the city center due to its more local feel and location that is still within walking distance.
Its the neighborhood I would recommend if you still want to be within walking distance but out of the “tourist” areas.
Like Plaka, Koukaki is full of apartments as well, so it can be tricky to find a hotel in the area. But, certainly not impossible!
Where I would Stay in Koukaki
Thiseio
Thiseio doesn’t come up as often on the lists of “where to stay in Athens.” However, like Koukaki, it is more traditional and away from the hustle and bustle a little.
Thiseio is located just north of the Philopappos Hill and close to the Ancient Agora. It is only a 10 minute walk from Monstraki Square as well, so it can make for another good alternative for those seeking something outside the city center a little.
Where I would Stay in Thiseio
Where to Stay in Athens: Luxury or Edginess?
As a mid-budget, fast traveler, I am usually looking to pay up a bit to stay central to maximize my time. But, I also don’t splurge for luxury hotels. However, I know everyone’s boat floats a little different, so here is a good option for luxury and budget travelers.
Kolonaki
Kolonaki is generally considered the “higher end” area of Athens. Here is where you will find more fine dining and upscape boutiques.
It is also on the way to Lycabettus Hill, so if you plan to visit the hill you will likely pass through this area. You will also notice that this neighborhood is a bit of an uphill climb, but can have amazing views of Athens!
I don’t normally travel luxuriously and try to keep my hotels mid-budget at less than $200 a night.
However, if I were going to stay in Kolonaki during the summer months with the intent of splurging, I would stay at St George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel with its amazing rooftop pool and bar!
If I were traveling during the cooler months (where swimming wasn’t an option) I would stay at The Modernist– a super sleek and beautiful hotel that has a little more luxury INSIDE of the hotel.
Where I would Stay in Kolonaki
Exarcheia
Exarcheia, once known for its high surface area of graffiti, is molding into an edgy, eclectic area of Athens. With a university nearby, it is popular to students and a younger crowd. Here you can find many murals, vinyl stores, art shops, bookshops and bars with live music.
This bohemian-type neighborhood is good for those looking for a place to stay that has a local feel but lively, young and fun.
This is another area that is dominated by apartment rentals, but a great hotel option in Exarcheia is Areos Hotel.
Where I would Stay in Exarceia
Where to Stay in Athens: Omonia?
If you’ve read a few blogs already, you may have heard that Omonia and the areas north and west of it are places to “be mindful.” Omonia doesn’t really show up on top lists of “where to stay in Athens” due to its reputation of petty crime such as pickpocketing, etc.
Well we booked our trip with a package deal that included a hotel in none-other-than Omonia. I booked our trip this way so that someone else could handle flights and hotels because I opted to take this trip last-minute and didn’t have much time for planning.
Suffice to say, I didn’t pre-check much and just arrived in Athens, headed to our hotel and went with it.
It wasn’t until later (and researching for this blog post) that I realized this is where most people say to avoid in Athens 🙃
So how was it?
Our Hotel, Brown Kubic athens
We stayed at the Brown Kubic (also referred to as Casual Kubic on Booking) that is located on Agiou Konstantinou street in Omonia. It was a short walk from Omonia Square and a nearby metro and was JUST inside what is considered Omonia area.
The hotel was actually so nice! It seems like it has been recently renovated and the lobby area and breakfast areas were so nice, the rooms were nice with remote controlled lights and curtains and it has a great rooftop area!
As an added bonus the staff was so friendly and helpful! They were very welcoming and organized airport drop off for us (though that is an additional fee of about $50) for our EARLY morning departure.
Getting to Brown Kubic Hotel
The hotel is only about a 15 minute walk to the central Monastraki Square. From the square you can go two directions to the hotel; up Athinas Street or through Psyri and up Menandrou Street.
Athinas Street is higher-traffic with a market, several shops, restaurants, etc lining the street. But, one thing you should be prepared for before you visit Athens is that it isn’t the cleanest city. It has quite a bit of grafitti and the streets can be trashy, so even this street can feel a little “sketchier” than what it really is.
Menandrou Street is less populated and a bit more run down (more closed stores, more trash, more graffiti, etc). So, compared to the other street, may feel less safe. But, this street eventually runs into Psyri neighborhood and we took this street to Little Klook with no issues. Just not as appealing to the eye.
And, from what I can tell, the city is trying to do some updates to Omonia Square, so maybe the future is bright here. Who knows!
But, overall, mom and I walked back and forth to our hotel without any problems. It was still good for walking and also was close to the metro station for getting from the airport as well as to the further parts of the city.
Would I stay There Again?
I would stay at Brown Kubic again under certain circumstances. For instance, if the hotels really centrally located were super expensive, this would be a great alternative if it were cheaper! The hotel itself was perfectly fine and the location was manageable.
However, in all honesty, if I were to book a hotel myself to stay in Athens again, I wouldn’t choose it over other options if the price were right.
I think there are just too many other hotels that have a closer location, especially as a first-time visitor.
Where to Stay in Athens for First-Time Visitors
So, if not Kubic Brown for first-time visitors, then where? Which hotel is best for someone visiting the historical city of Athens for the first time?
If you are a first time visitor to Athens, and especially if you only have a couple of days in Athens, you want to be sure to stay somewhere as central as possible. But, there are certainly a lot of options that are walkable, aren’t there?
So here are the two places I would choose from if I were visiting Athens for the first time again.
1. Plaka Arch Suites– This would be my first choice due to the charm of the neighborhood, the proximity to the Acropolis, the view of the Acropolis plus it being a little less busy than that of Monstraki.
2. Downtown Suites by Athens Tower– This would be my second choice. Though it is busier, the location is just very convenient and it also has great Acropolis views.
But, with this being said, all the hotels listed above would be excellent options. All of the hotels (aside from the luxury one and the more budget-friendly hotel) also run about the same price and are comparable in regards to cleanliness.
If I were choosing a hotel for my first trip to Athens, I would start with these first two and then just compare prices of the other 4 hotels. Whatever you choose, you will have a great homebase for your trip to Athens!
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Athens
Though Athens, admittedly, has some dirtier areas, you can certainly find nice places to stay while in Athens. The city is built around the Acropolis and the ancient sites of the Ancient Agora and Roman Forums. As long as you don’t venture too far from here, you will be able to see the city easily by foot and metro!
How to spend 2 days in Athens!
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