Where to stay · Athens · Greece
Where to stay in Athens
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Plaka. Neoclassical houses, bougainvillea lanes and tavernas on the Acropolis slopes. Best alternatives — budget: Monastiraki and Psyrri; nightlife: Monastiraki and Psyrri.
Key facts
- First visit
- Plaka
- Families
- Plaka
- Budget
- Monastiraki and Psyrri
- Nightlife
- Monastiraki and Psyrri
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Plaka | Neoclassical houses, bougainvillea lanes and tavernas on the Acropolis slopes |
| Families | Plaka | Neoclassical houses, bougainvillea lanes and tavernas on the Acropolis slopes |
| Couples | Plaka | Neoclassical houses, bougainvillea lanes and tavernas on the Acropolis slopes |
| Budget | Monastiraki and Psyrri | Flea-market square, souvlaki grills and late-night bars below the Acropolis |
| Luxury | Syntagma | Parliament, the National Garden and the main transport hub |
| Nightlife | Monastiraki and Psyrri | Flea-market square, souvlaki grills and late-night bars below the Acropolis |
| Food lovers | Monastiraki and Psyrri | Flea-market square, souvlaki grills and late-night bars below the Acropolis |
| Solo travellers | Monastiraki and Psyrri | Flea-market square, souvlaki grills and late-night bars below the Acropolis |
| Shopping | Syntagma | Parliament, the National Garden and the main transport hub |
| Quiet stays | Koukaki and Makrygianni | Residential streets with cafés beside the Acropolis Museum |
| Beach | Glyfada | Seaside suburb with beaches, a marina and shopping on the Athens Riviera |
Athens neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and families
Plaka
Athens' oldest residential quarter spreads over the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, with car-free lanes, Byzantine churches and the souvenir-lined Adrianou and Kydathineon streets. Above it, the whitewashed houses of Anafiotika were built by island stonemasons in the 19th century. It is the most picturesque base and walkable to almost everything, but restaurants on the main lanes are aimed at visitors.
- Good
- Walk to the Acropolis and the main ruins; Car-free lanes that are quiet at night; Classic Athens scenery
- Watch out
- Touristy restaurants on the main streets; Small rooms for the price
- Nearby
- Acropolis, Anafiotika, Roman Agora, Syntagma Square
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, food lovers and solo travellers
Monastiraki and Psyrri
Monastiraki Square, with its metro station, Ottoman-era mosque and Acropolis view, opens onto the flea-market lanes of Ifestou Street and the souvlaki grills of Mitropoleos Street. To the north, Psyrri's narrow streets fill at night with tavernas, mezze places and bars, and the rooftop terraces around the square have some of the city's best views of the Parthenon.
- Good
- Metro line 3 straight to the airport; Lively food and bar scene; Inexpensive eats
- Watch out
- Noisy late at night; Crowded, and some streets feel gritty
- Nearby
- Monastiraki flea market, Ancient Agora, Hadrian's Library, Varvakios Central Market
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, families and quiet stays
Koukaki and Makrygianni
South of the Acropolis, Makrygianni holds the Acropolis Museum and the pedestrian Dionysiou Areopagitou promenade, while Koukaki behind it is a calm residential grid of cafés, bakeries and good-value apartments. Both are a short walk from the Acropolis's main gate and Philopappos Hill, with Akropoli and Syngrou-Fix metro stations close by.
- Good
- Shortest walk to the Acropolis entrance; Local cafés and bakeries; Quiet nights
- Watch out
- Fewer late-night options; Hilly streets towards Philopappos
- Nearby
- Acropolis Museum, Acropolis, Philopappos Hill, Odeon of Herodes Atticus
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, families and luxury
Syntagma
Syntagma Square faces the Hellenic Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the Evzones guards change every hour. The square is the hub for the metro, the tram to the coast and the airport bus, and pedestrian Ermou Street runs from here towards Monastiraki. It suits travellers who want convenience and larger hotels.
- Good
- Best transport links in the city; Wide choice of hotels; Short walk to Plaka
- Watch out
- Traffic and noise around the square; Occasional demonstrations close the square
- Nearby
- Hellenic Parliament, National Garden, Ermou Street, Plaka
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping, couples and culture
Kolonaki
Kolonaki is Athens' smartest district, with designer shops along Voukourestiou and Skoufa streets, private galleries, the Benaki Museum and the Museum of Cycladic Art. Its cafés fill with well-dressed Athenians at weekends, and stepped streets lead up to the paths on Lycabettus Hill. Hotels are fewer and pricier than in the historic centre.
- Good
- Elegant, calm streets; Excellent cafés and restaurants; Close to the best smaller museums
- Watch out
- Expensive; Steep streets; Few budget options
- Nearby
- Mount Lycabettus, Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, National Garden
$$ · Best for food lovers, quiet stays, budget and solo travellers
Pangrati
Across from the Panathenaic Stadium, Pangrati is a residential neighbourhood where Athenians eat out around Varnava Square and Plateia Proskopon in tavernas, mezedopoleia and wine bars. It has few sights of its own, but it is a 15–20 minute walk from Syntagma and Plaka and shows everyday Athens at its most relaxed.
- Good
- Neighbourhood dining at local prices; Good-value apartments; Close to the stadium and gardens
- Watch out
- No metro station in the middle of the area; Few hotels
- Nearby
- Panathenaic Stadium, National Garden, Temple of Olympian Zeus
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and first-timers
Thiseio
Along pedestrian Apostolou Pavlou street, Thiseio looks across the Ancient Agora to the Acropolis, with café terraces facing the Temple of Hephaestus and the Cine Thisio garden cinema. It is calmer than Monastiraki next door, and the promenade continues round Philopappos Hill to the Acropolis Museum.
- Good
- Acropolis views from café terraces; Car-free promenade; Metro line 1 to Piraeus
- Watch out
- Limited hotel choice; Café prices reflect the views
- Nearby
- Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, Philopappos Hill, Kerameikos
$$$ · Best for beach, families, luxury and shopping
Glyfada
About 17 km south of the centre, Glyfada is the best-known of the coastal suburbs, with organised beaches, a marina, a golf course and shopping streets around Metaxa and Lazaraki. The tram links it with Syntagma in about an hour, so it suits beach-focused stays more than sightseeing.
- Good
- Beaches within walking distance; Upmarket restaurants and bars; Shorter drive to the airport
- Watch out
- About an hour from the ruins by tram; Car or taxi needed for some beaches
- Nearby
- Glyfada Marina, Vouliagmeni, Lake Vouliagmeni, Varkiza
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Plaka | $$$ | Acropolis, Anafiotika, Roman Agora, Syntagma Square |
| Monastiraki and Psyrri | $$ | Monastiraki flea market, Ancient Agora, Hadrian's Library, Varvakios Central Market |
| Koukaki and Makrygianni | $$$ | Acropolis Museum, Acropolis, Philopappos Hill, Odeon of Herodes Atticus |
| Syntagma | $$$ | Hellenic Parliament, National Garden, Ermou Street, Plaka |
| Kolonaki | $$$$ | Mount Lycabettus, Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, National Garden |
| Pangrati | $$ | Panathenaic Stadium, National Garden, Temple of Olympian Zeus |
| Thiseio | $$$ | Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, Philopappos Hill, Kerameikos |
| Glyfada | $$$ | Glyfada Marina, Vouliagmeni, Lake Vouliagmeni, Varkiza |
Getting to your hotel
Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) is about 30 km east of the centre. Metro line 3 reaches Syntagma and Monastiraki in about 40 minutes, the X95 express bus to Syntagma takes about an hour depending on traffic, and taxis charge a flat fare to the centre, higher at night.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Athens for first-time visitors?
Plaka. Athens' oldest residential quarter spreads over the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, with car-free lanes, Byzantine churches and the souvenir-lined Adrianou and Kydathineon streets.
+Where should families stay in Athens?
Plaka: Walk to the Acropolis and the main ruins.
+Which area of Athens is best for a budget stay?
Monastiraki and Psyrri ($$): Flea-market square, souvlaki grills and late-night bars below the Acropolis.