10 of the best Athens hotels to book for a sun-drenched city break
- 1/11
10 of the best Athens hotels to book for a sun-drenched city break
Ticked Amsterdam, Florence and Dubrovnik off your list? Greece's capital city is another cool European hotspot to experience and checking into the best Athens hotels is the way to do it in style.
Greece holiday destinations can take you to the best hotels in the Greek islands of Crete and Rhodes, or to the heavenly mainland beaches of Halkidiki and the Peloponnese. But when it comes to city breaks, you can't beat underrated Athens.
One of the oldest cities in the modern world, Athens was once the ancient home of Greek gods and legends. It's best known attraction is the several millennia old Acropolis, the crumbling remains of a stone temple built for the Goddess Athena, which can be seen from almost every street corner.
From there, you can explore the historic neighbourhoods of Plaka and Psirri, watch the changing of the guard ceremony at the Presidential Mansion, or catch a performance at Herodion, the Roman amphitheatre on the southern side of the Acropolis.
But less than an hour from the historic centre, the Athenian Riviera is perfect for those who want to combine a beach escape with city culture. Promising more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Athens' stylish beach enclave is scattered with rocky coves and secluded bays, and is where you'll find luxury hotels, including the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel, which has its own beach.
From luxury beach resorts to design-led boutique hotels, here's our pick of the best Athens hotels for your next sun-charged city break.
Booking.com - 2/11
1) Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, Athens Riviera
Perched on the wooded peninsula of Vouliagmeni, Athens' most glamorous seaside suburb, the glamorous Four Seasons Astir Palace has an illustrious history. Once a hangout of A-listers from Brigitte Bardot and Frank Sinatra to Jackie Onassis and Barack Obama, it is now under the reign of the Four Seasons. It has a trio of private beaches, each connected by a winding boardwalk, a brace of outdoor pools and the luxe The Fountain House spa, which features an aromatherapy grotto.
The rooms have sweeping views over the Aegean and a contemporary vibe with, mosaic marble floors and glass-fronted bathrooms for soaks with a sea view. Naturally, there's no chance of going hungry with the eight restaurants, including a charming traditional Greek taverna by the sea.
Booking.com - 3/11
2) Hotel Grande Bretagne, City centre
On Syntagma Square overlooking the Hellenic Parliament, where you can see the changing of the guards, this glamorous Hellenic goddess is a favourite of Hollywood royalty and often cited as the best luxury hotel in Greece. Built in 1874, Hotel Grande Bretagne is stacked with period glamour and features a dramatic stained glass ceiling, lush potted palms and endless antique furnishings.
On the seventh floor, there's an outdoor pool, a luxury spa with a thermal suite, mud chambers and steam rooms, while the Wine Library bar is just the spot for a romantic nightcap. The rooms and suites are all suitably palatial, as is the breakfast on the rooftop terrace which offers magnificent views over Athens.
Booking.com - 4/11
3) Herodion Hotel, Plaka
Offering a direct view of one of the world's most famous sites, the Acropolis, this gorgeous boutique hotel has become a much-sought after and romantic spot for a weekend in the Greek capital. Located moments from the Acropolis Museum and the bars and restaurants in historic Plaka, Herodion Hotel is also close to many of Athens' key sights. Step inside to a veritable art gallery, as the hotel embraces its Neoclassical leanings with modern Greek art and unique sculptures.
However, the main draw is the rooftop bar and restaurant, where you can watch the Acropolis change hue through the day. The 90 rooms are simply but smartly furnished and the best rooms have a balcony with incredible views. There's also a rooftop yoga deck, a hot tub and a brace of smart restaurants, all with those views.
Booking.com - 5/11
4) King George, City centre
Overlooking Syntagma Square, this gilt-trimmed luxury hotel was once the Prime Minister's residence and still is as opulent as it was when it opened in 1930. A fantastic location for exploring the Greek capital, the King George is moments from the National Historical Museum, The Benaki Museum and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. However, the highlight is the Tudor Hall restaurant on the seventh floor, which has a direct view over the Acropolis.
The spacious rooms are suitably grand and regally furnished with antiques; splash out on a suite on the upper floors for views of the Acropolis. After a day of exploring, enjoy a relaxing massage in the basement spa before heading up for dinner in the Tudor Hall, which also looks over the National Garden.
Booking.com - 6/11
5) St George Lycabettus, Kolonaki
Located in the trendy neighbourhood of Kolonaki, this stylish boutique hotel offers fine views over the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill, the highest peak in Athens. It's close to some excellent restaurants, cocktails bars and modern art galleries, and moments from the cable car which whizzes up to the peak of Lycabettus Hill. Sights aside, it's the the amenities which makes this boutique pad stand out. After a day enjoying the city, relax in St George Lycabettus' rooftop pool, enjoy the spa or kick back in the private 30-seater cinema.
Out of the 150-plus rooms – all warmly decorated with a contemporary vibe – a handful are considered Eco-Chic, environmentally aware rooms which have Coco-Mat mattresses and natural wood. Breakfast is served on the roof terrace with the Acropolis in the distance.
Booking.com - 7/11
6) The Foundry Hotel, Psirri
A few minutes' walk from Monastiraki's flea market and The Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, this quirky small hotel in the vibrant Psirri district is for those looking for a more authentic Athens escape. Built in 1930 as a foundry, The Foundry Hotel has exposed brick features, floor-to-ceiling windows and is jam-packed with charming mid-century modern furnishings. While it lacks the opulence and facilities of Athens' five-star properties, the real highlight is the roof terrace garden and views of the Acropolis.
There are 12 apartments, all beautifully styled with a kind of urban-meets-botanical vibe, and all have high ceilings, wooden floors and small kitchen areas. Breakfast, along with picnics and drinks, are served on the roof terrace overlooking the city.
Booking.com - 8/11
7) Divani Apollon Palace, Athens Riviera
Perched in the heart of the Athens Riviera, this beachfront hotel offers the best of both worlds – a beach escape within 20-minutes of the city's many historical sites. Behind the austere Nineties-built facade, Divani Apollon Palace is awash with marble floors and polished wood furnishings, and has a quietly classy appeal. There are two pools, direct access to a sandy beach, and one of the best thalassotherapy spas in Greece.
The rooms are warmly decorated with flashes of contemporary colour, and most have a view of the sparkling Aegean Sea. Breakfast is served in the Atlantis Lounge, while Mythos is the more upscale seafood restaurant overlooking the sea.
Booking.com - 9/11
8) Ergon House, City centre
One of the best things about holidaying in Greece is the opportunity to sample its vast array of home-grown produce. Moments from Syntagma Square, Ergon House is the ideal base for exploring Athens' culinary and historic attractions. A magnet for any adventurous gastronome, the hotel is part of the Ergon Foods emporium by brothers, Thomas and George Douzis.
The rooms have a warm, urban-chic vibe with walnut wood floors, marble desks and bathrooms; some have modern four-poster beds and views of the Acropolis. At its heart is Agora, the ground floor marketplace which is flooded with light and where the city's best bakers, butchers, fishmongers and greengrocer sell their wares. Guests can feast on mezze, before retiring for a cocktail on the rooftop bar overlooking the city.
Booking.com - 10/11
9) The Margi, Athens Riviera
A cheery addition to the Athens Riviera since the Sixties, The Margi is a friendly, family-run hotel flooded with Greek warmth and style. Astir Beach is the close, but most guests prefer to relax on the comfy loungers surrounding the beautiful pool lined with olive trees and fragrant bougainvillea. A highlight is The Margi Spa, which combines therapies from Ancient Greece and the Indus Valley, along with an indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms.
As for dining, the poolside Malabar restaurant turns into a fairy-lit haven each evening and serves topnotch Greek dishes. The 89 rooms and suites are a serene delight. All are decorated in calming neutral tones and have natural wood furnishings; some suites have pool or distant sea views.
Booking.com - 11/11
10) AthensWas, Plaka
Lying under the crumbling gaze of the Parthenon and moments from the fascinating Acropolis Museum, this smart, design-led boutique hotel is perfect for exploring the key sights in this ancient capital. The style of AthensWas is very much minimalist-meets-modern and features swathes of polished wood, exposed stone walls and marble floors, plus leather furnishings by Le Corbusier and Konstantin Grcic.
A real highlight is the rooftop fine dining restaurant, Sense, which has a direct view over the Acropolis. The rooms and suites have a contemporary vibe; think dark wood-effect walls, flashes of colour and marble bathrooms, all with balconies and some providing views of the Acropolis. Breakfast is included and abundant in a typically Greek style, and served in Brasserie Moderne on the ground floor.
Booking.com
