Athens has such a wonderful mix of history, street art, little streets, and modern neighborhoods. No wonder Greece is one of the most visited countries in the world. In this blog post I’ll share the best Athens hotels with Acropolis views so you can have a memorable stay in the center of Athens. This blog post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
Are you looking for help with planning your trip? Check out these helpful resources:
- Flights
- Accommodation for all budgets
- Rental cars
- Europe train tickets
- Europe bus tickets
- Activities, tours, and day trips
- eSIM for international data
1. The Foundry Suites Athens
I opted to stay in Psyri at The Foundry Suites Athens. The hotel’s location is about a 5-minute walk from Monastiraki Square, so you’ll be close to the main attractions in the heart of Athens.
This was one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever stayed at. It’s a boutique hotel with just 12 apartments designed in an industrial style and decorated in a mid-century modern vibe. There are no rooms, just apartments. They all come with a fully functional kitchen, so if you’re traveling with family this could be a great option. The apartment I stayed in (suite A-0) reminded me of a loft in Brooklyn. It was funky, modern, and very welcoming.
The building that now houses the hotel used to be a type foundry, where typefaces were designed and distributed. It was originally built in 1930 and recently renovated and converted into this amazing boutique hotel.
The hospitable staff of the hotel made my stay even more amazing. From the moment I got there I was greeted warmly, they offered me water, they gave me a map with attractions around the hotel. They will go above and beyond to make sure their guests are having the best time. Greek hospitality is next level.
Breakfast at the Foundry Suites Athens
While they don’t have a restaurant on site, they will bring you a delicious breakfast from The Athenian Deli across the street every morning. You can fill out a form with everything you want to order for the next morning, and they will bring you everything in a basket either to your suite, or on the rooftop. It felt so cozy to get the breakfast delivered in this way, compared to the traditional breakfast buffet offered at the majority of hotels.
Rooftop terrace at the Foundry Suites Athens
The other unique thing about this hotel is the rooftop. If you take the elevator to the third floor you will get to an amazing rooftop garden with over 30 different species of plants and trees. It has breathtaking views of the Acropolis. There are tables and chairs if you want to have a drink or eat your breakfast here.
During the summer months they offer Neapolitan style pizza, cocktails, and wine and beer from small Greek wineries and microbreweries for dinner on their rooftop restaurant. I visited in December, so I couldn’t take advantage of this, but I can imagine it’s such a vibe to eat pizza and drink a cocktail at that rooftop bar with Acropolis views.
I highly recommend this hotel when you visit Athens. It’s a special place.
2. King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel
King George is a 5-star luxury hotel with incredible panoramic views of the Acropolis hill. It is a Luxury Collection hotel that is part of the Marriott chain.
So if you have enough Marriott Bonvoy points through their loyalty program you could book it that way too.
The hotel is has a central location and it is a few minutes’ walk from the Agora, Plaka, and Monastiraki. It has 102 elegant rooms.
And if a standard room is not luxurious enough for your taste you could book the Penthouse Suite, which comes with a private outdoor swimming pool overlooking the Acropolis.
They also have an on-site restaurant, Tudor Hall Restaurant, which has one Michelin star. The restaurant also boasts a splendid view of the Acropolis.
If you are looking for a luxurious stay, the unbeatable location of King George, the friendly staff, amazing breakfast, and great views make it the perfect base for your trip.
3. Electra Palace Athens
Electra Palace is a 5-star hotel in Plaka. The building is a neoclassical gem that is a short walk away from most landmarks.
The hotel has an incredible rooftop pool with great views of the Acropolis. Just imagine having a swim with those views!
It has multiple restaurants and bars on-site, including a roof garden restaurant and a pool bar.
It also has a fitness center and a spa, so you can have a relaxing stay in Athens.
4. Zillers Boutique hotel
Zillers Hotel is a historic building in the historical centre of Athens, in the Plaka neighborhood. The building is a neoclassical masterpiece designed by one of Greece’s top architects.
It is a 4-star boutique hotel that underwent total renovations, making it a great choice for your stay. Besides its great location, some rooms also have a private balcony with views of the Acropolis.
Since the hotel is in Plaka, most major attractions are within walking distance.
The hotel has a rooftop restaurant called The Zillers Rooftop Gastronomy, which has a Michelin star.
5. Hotel Grande Bretagne
Hotel Grande Bretagne is a luxury hotel located in Syntagma Square, across from Constitution Square and the House of Parliament.
If you stay you have to go watch the change of the guard ceremony in front of the Parliament. It’s free and it’s amazing to watch. You can read more about it in my Athens itinerary blog post.
If you visit during the winter, this square gets all decorated for Christmas, so you’ll be able to enjoy the Christmas tree and all the lights. I visited Athens in December and it’s beautiful.
The hotel was renovated in 2003 and its renovation cost a whooping 112 million euros. It’s a large hotel with over 300 rooms, a roof garden restaurant, and a rooftop pool.
FAQ about Athens
How can I get to the Athens city center from the airport?
Metro
Athens has good public transportation. You can take the metro from the airport to get to any central neighborhood. It will take about 50 minutes to get to Monastiraki.
The important thing you need to know is that the metro station is located outside of the airport. After you pass customs and you get your luggage, follow the train signs in the airport. You’ll have to exit the airport, cross the street, and then you’ll be at the train station.
They have ticket vending machines. Select your desired language from the various options offered, then pick the ticket type you want (usually a one-way ticket), and pay with a credit card. Trains leave every 30 minutes, so you might have to wait a bit if you just missed a train. The Athens metro operates between 6:30am and 11:30pm. If your flight arrives during the night you’ll have to take a taxi to get to the city center.
A one-way metro ticket costs 10 euros. If you’re traveling with 2-3 other people you should share a taxi since it will be the same cost as taking the metro. Plus, taking a car is a more convenient option.
Uber / Taxi
You can call a taxi through the Uber app. A ride from Athens international airport to the city center costs about 35-40 euros and it will take about 45 minutes. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.
What are some top activities I can do in Athens?
Food market visit and cooking class with wine
Half-day morning catamaran cruise
Guided day trip to Aegina Island with swimming
Full day Meteora tour with Greek lunch
Delphi archaeological site full-day guided trip
Aegina, Agistri, and Metopi day cruise w/ lunch
What is the best time to visit Athens?
While most people go to Greece in the summer or during the warmer months of spring and fall, I really enjoyed visiting in December. There were fewer tourists, everything was cheaper, the Christmas decorations were up, and the weather was still pretty warm.
I tend to avoid Europe summer travel because it gets so hot and there are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me. I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Is Athens safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes, in my opinion it is safe, as I can’t recall a single situation that made me feel unsafe in the city. I visited in December, which is off season, so there’s less pick pockets running around (I didn’t see any when I was there). As always, be on high alert, try to not walk alone on the street at night, and do as much research as you can ahead of your trip.
Do you recommend Athens as a solo destination?
I 100% recommend Athens as a destination for solo female travelers. Athens is a great city for solo travel.
Do I have to tip in Athens?
Tipping is not mandatory in Athens, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.
How can I get around Athens?
Athens is a walkable city, but it’s very large. They have a great subway system that has stations near all major attractions. If you don’t like to take the subway you can always take an uber.
What are some cheap eats I can try in Athens?
I put together this list of everything I ate in Athens under $5. There are so many options! Athens is one of the more affordable European destinations.
Do I need cash?
I didn’t use cash when I visited, I paid for everything with a credit card. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops who don’t accept credit cards.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do people speak English in Athens?
Yes, they do. Athens attracts a lot of visitors each year and, as you can imagine, not all tourists speak French.
What Greek words do I need to learn before my trip to Athens?
I always learn a few basic local words ahead of a trip. This is the list of words I think are useful for a trip to Athens.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Athens is a very popular destination so it’s very likely that tickets will sell out. Especially if you visit during the summer months. Booking in advance will give you peace of mind.
Need inspiration for your next trip? Check out some of my other articles.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.