Where to stay in Athens
Athens spreads out, but the sights sit in a small area around the Acropolis, and most of the good places to stay are within a twenty-minute walk of it. For a first visit, Koukaki and Makrygianni are the best mix of walking distance, quiet streets and ordinary neighborhood life. Plaka is the postcard version, with the crowds that come with it, and Monastiraki and Psyrri are for people who want to be out late. Omonia is the area we would think twice about, mostly at night.
The short answer
- First trip
- Koukaki or Makrygianni: a short walk to the Acropolis and its museum, and streets that are quiet after dark.
- Couples
- Thissio for evening views of the rock, or Plaka if you can put up with the crowds.
- Families
- Makrygianni or Pangrati: calmer streets, and the Acropolis Museum or the Panathenaic Stadium close by.
- Tight budget
- Omonia has the cheapest beds, with caveats. Otherwise Koukaki or Pangrati.
- Nightlife
- Monastiraki and Psyrri, which stay busy until the early hours.
How we judge an area of Athens: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Athens's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Acropolis | Ancient Agora | Syntagma metro | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaka | Walking to the sights | Busy until late on the main lanes | 5 min | 10 min | 10 min | On foot; Syntagma and Monastiraki metro | €€€ |
| Monastiraki | Nightlife, transport | Loud, late | 10 min | 5 min | 15 min | Metro lines 1 and 3, Monastiraki | €€ |
| Syntagma | Transport, shops | Quiet at night apart from the traffic | 15 min | 20 min | 5 min | Metro lines 2 and 3, Syntagma | €€€€ |
| Koukaki | First visits, quiet nights | Quiet | 10 min | 20 min | 20 min | Metro line 2, Acropolis; on foot | €€ |
| Makrygianni | Families, museums | Quiet | 10 min | 15 min | 15 min | Metro line 2, Acropolis | €€€ |
| Psyrri | Food, nightlife | Loud, late | 15 min | 5 min | 20 min | Metro line 3, Monastiraki; on foot | €€ |
| Thissio | Couples, evening views | Quiet | 15 min | 5 min | 25 min | Metro line 1, Thissio | €€€ |
| Kolonaki | Museums, quiet nights | Quiet | 25 min | 30 min | 10 min | Metro Evangelismos or Syntagma | €€€€ |
| Pangrati | A local feel, lower prices | Quiet | 30 min | 35 min | 20 min | Trams and buses; Syntagma on foot | €€ |
| Omonia | Tight budgets, with care | Rough after dark | 25 min | 20 min | 20 min | Metro lines 1 and 2, Omonia | € |
Walking times are the straight line from the middle of each area plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Several of these walks climb: the Acropolis, Lycabettus and the lanes of Plaka are all on slopes. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
Plaka, below the Acropolis
Narrow lanes and tavernas on the slope under the Acropolis, a few minutes from everything and full of day-trippers.
Plaka is the old neighborhood on the north-east slope of the Acropolis: whitewashed lanes, neoclassical houses, bougainvillaea and tavernas with tables in the street. The Acropolis entrance, the Ancient Agora and Monastiraki are all a short walk, and Syntagma is on the edge.
It is also the most visited part of the city. In the main lanes, the shops sell souvenirs, the menus come in six languages, and the food is priced for people who won't be back. Eat a street or two away. The lanes climb, and streets nearest the rock have steps. Rooms facing a taverna can be loud until midnight, so ask for the back or an upper floor.
Good for
- A first visit that puts the sights on the doorstep
- Evening walks when the day-trippers have left
- Staying inside the old city, not beside it
Think twice if
- You want good-value food outside the door
- Steps and slopes are hard for you
- You want a neighborhood that feels lived in
Monastiraki, for the flea market and the metro
Central, loud and well connected, with rooftop bars looking at the Acropolis and a metro stop for the airport.
Monastiraki is the square at the foot of the Acropolis where metro lines 1 and 3 meet, with the Sunday flea market, the old Tzistarakis mosque and a row of rooftop bars. For getting around it is the best-placed area in the city: the airport train leaves from here, and the Acropolis is fifteen minutes' walk.
It is not a quiet place. Bars and street musicians go on late, the square is busy all day, and the streets leading north into Psyrri are rowdier still. Pickpockets work the crowds around the station. A room high up and away from the square is a different experience from one that looks onto it, so ask which you are booking.
Good for
- Nightlife and rooftop views of the Acropolis
- The airport metro and line 1 for the port
- Being at the center of everything
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly
- You want a residential feel
- You'd mind watching your bag in a crowd
Staying in Monastiraki: nearby sights, food and getting around
Syntagma, for transport and the grand hotels
The parliament square at the center of the metro network. Practical and central, with more traffic than charm.
Syntagma is the square in front of the Parliament, where the guards change in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The metro here has lines 2 and 3, so the airport, the port at Piraeus and most of the city are one ride away. The National Garden is next door, and Plaka is five minutes down the hill.
It has some of the city's grand old hotels and plenty of chains. The square itself is busy with traffic and demonstrations, which are a regular and mostly peaceful part of life here, though they can block streets. It is a practical base more than a pretty one.
Good for
- Short stays that depend on the metro
- Grand hotels with views of the square
- The National Garden and the shops of Ermou
Think twice if
- You want a village feel
- You are sensitive to traffic noise and the occasional demonstration
Koukaki, for a quieter first visit
A residential neighborhood south of the Acropolis, with good cafes, small hotels and a ten-minute walk to the rock.
Koukaki sits just south of the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. It has apartment blocks, bakeries, small cafes and tavernas where most customers are neighbors, and has become the usual answer to where to stay for a first visit. The Acropolis is a ten to fifteen minute walk, and the Acropolis metro stop, on line 2, is on its edge.
It is quieter than Plaka and Monastiraki, and cheaper. Nothing here is grand, and the apartments are of mixed age. The streets around Veikou and Drakou are livelier; the blocks to the west, toward Filopappou hill, are quieter. Some of the nearer streets run on a slope.
Good for
- A first visit with an easy walk to the Acropolis
- Cafes and tavernas that locals use
- Staying somewhere quiet after dark
Think twice if
- You want to be among the rooftop bars
- A few streets have peeling paint and traffic, not charm
Makrygianni, by the Acropolis Museum
The pedestrian street and the museum on your doorstep, with the Acropolis entrance a few minutes away.
Makrygianni is the strip between Plaka and Koukaki, built around the Acropolis Museum and the long pedestrian street of Dionysiou Areopagitou, which runs along the south slope of the rock. The museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis entrance are all close, and the Acropolis metro stop is here.
It is calmer than Plaka, with a mix of hotels and apartments and some of the best views of the Parthenon from rooftops. Eating options are thinner than in Koukaki or Plaka, so you will walk a few minutes to find a good meal. Traffic on Syngrou Avenue to the south is loud.
Good for
- Families, and anyone planning museum days
- Walking to the Acropolis in minutes
- Rooftop terraces with a view of the Parthenon
Think twice if
- You want streets full of local restaurants
- Your hotel faces the avenue
Staying in Makrygianni: nearby sights, food and getting around
Psyrri, for eating and going out
Street art, small bars and ouzo tavernas packed into a few blocks north of Monastiraki. It does not sleep early.
Psyrri was a run-down craftsmen's quarter until the 1990s and is now the city's dense evening district: tavernas, mezedopoleia, bars and music venues, with murals on many walls. Monastiraki is a few minutes south, and the Acropolis is about twenty minutes on foot.
By day it is quieter and still a little rough at the edges. By night it is crowded, and at weekends the noise continues until three or four in the morning. The nearest hotels are well placed and often good value, but light sleepers should pick a room on an upper floor facing away from the street.
Good for
- Eating late and going out without taking a taxi
- Street art and small music bars
- Staying central at a fair price
Think twice if
- You need quiet before midnight
- You'd rather have shade and parks than bars
Thissio, for views of the rock
A relaxed, leafy corner west of the Agora, with cafes on a pedestrian street facing the lit-up Acropolis.
Thissio lies at the western foot of the Acropolis, beside the Ancient Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus, on the line of Apostolou Pavlou, a long pedestrian street. It has a handful of cafes and tavernas with tables facing the Acropolis, which is lit at night. The Thissio metro stop is on line 1.
It is calm, more relaxed than Monastiraki, though the cafe strip is busy at weekends. There are fewer hotels here than elsewhere, and fewer places to eat that aren't aimed at views. Monastiraki is about ten minutes on foot.
Good for
- Couples, and evening walks with the Acropolis lit up
- A calmer base that is still central
- The Ancient Agora on your doorstep
Think twice if
- You want plenty of hotels to choose from
- You want a big range of restaurants nearby
Kolonaki, for galleries and a smarter base
The city's upmarket hillside district, with boutiques, museums and cafes, and a longer walk to the Acropolis.
Kolonaki sits on the lower slope of Lycabettus hill, east of Syntagma. It has designer shops, art galleries, the Benaki and Cycladic museums and cafes where people linger over a frappe. It is calm, safe at night and well kept.
It is also further from the Acropolis: about half an hour on foot, or a short metro ride from Syntagma or Evangelismos. The streets climb, steeply in places, and prices for rooms and meals are higher than in Koukaki. It suits a quiet visit built around museums more than a short first trip.
Good for
- Museums, galleries and boutiques
- A safe, quiet base at night
- Climbing Lycabettus for the view at sunset
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the Acropolis
- You'd rather not climb hills
- You want a good-value stay
Pangrati, for a neighborhood where Athenians live
A residential district beside the Panathenaic Stadium, with cafes and bakeries and few tourists.
Pangrati is east of the National Garden, around the Panathenaic Stadium, the marble stadium of the first modern Olympics. It is a neighborhood of apartment blocks, tree-lined squares, bakeries, cafes and tavernas, where few visitors stay. Prices are lower than near the Acropolis.
The walk to the Acropolis is about thirty minutes, or a short tram or bus ride, and the nearest metro stop, Syntagma, is a twenty-minute walk. Hotels are few, so most stays are apartments. It rewards people who want a feel for ordinary Athens and don't mind a longer walk to the sights.
Good for
- A quiet, local feel at lower prices
- The Panathenaic Stadium and the National Garden on foot
- Cafes, bakeries and markets that aren't for tourists
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the Acropolis
- You'd like a choice of hotels
Omonia, the area to choose with care
Cheap beds and a metro hub, in the part of central Athens that is roughest after dark.
Omonia is the square north of Monastiraki and Psyrri where metro lines 1 and 2 meet. It has the cheapest central hotels, the Central Market on Athinas Street, and a lot of traffic. In the daytime it is a busy commercial district.
After dark the square and the streets around it can feel unsafe: drug use and street trade are visible, there are fewer people about, and some blocks are run-down. Most visitors are not harmed, but many dislike the walk back at night. If you book here, pick a hotel on a busier street, check recent reviews for the street, and take a taxi late.
Good for
- The lowest prices in the center
- The metro for the airport and the port
- The Central Market and the National Archaeological Museum
Think twice if
- You'll be walking back late at night
- You're traveling alone or with children
- You want an atmosphere you'd tell friends about
Where not to stay in Athens, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Athens. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room around Omonia Square, if you'll be out after dark
Cheap and well connected, and uneasy at night. Stay in Koukaki or Psyrri for a similar price with a safer walk home.
- A room facing a bar street in Plaka, Monastiraki or Psyrri, if you want to sleep
The music runs late, and weekend nights are the worst. Ask for an upper floor at the back, or stay in Koukaki.
- A hotel by the sea or near Piraeus, for a short city break
Piraeus is the port, not the beach, and the airport and sights are a long way off. Stay near the Acropolis and go by metro if you are catching a ferry.
- An Acropolis-view room that really means a distant glimpse
Many listings say view. Check the guest photos from the terrace, or choose a hotel with a rooftop where the view is the point.
- Anywhere on a steep street, if stairs and slopes are hard for you
Plaka and Kolonaki climb, and many older buildings have small lifts. Check the floor and the lift before booking.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Athens
Start with Koukaki or Makrygianni; Plaka if you want the postcard.
Families with children
Makrygianni for the museum, or Pangrati for calm streets.
Nightlife
Monastiraki and Psyrri.
Museums and galleries
Makrygianni for the Acropolis Museum, Kolonaki for the Benaki and Cycladic museums.
Arriving by metro from the airport
Monastiraki or Syntagma, both on line 3.
Before you book a room in Athens
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Athens makes a good stay.
- The climate resilience feeGreece charges a fee per room, apartment or rental unit per night, not per person, from April to October: about €2 for one- and two-star hotels, €5 for three-star, €10 for four-star and €15 for five-star. In winter it falls to between €0.50 and €4. It is usually paid at the hotel, and often isn't in the price the booking sites show.
- From the airport by metroMetro line 3 runs from Athens airport to Syntagma in about forty minutes, stopping at Monastiraki on the way. A single ticket is €9, and trains run roughly every half hour from early morning to about midnight.
- From the airport by busThe X95 express bus runs day and night between the airport and Syntagma Square. It takes about fifty minutes to an hour, longer in traffic, and costs €5.50.
- A taxi from the airportTaxis have a fixed fare to the center, higher at night. Ask for the price before you get in, or book through your hotel.
- Summer heatJuly and August regularly pass 35 degrees. Book a room with air conditioning that works, and go to the Acropolis at opening, when it is cooler.
- Lifts and stairsMany hotels are in older blocks with small lifts or none, and several areas climb. If stairs are hard for you, check the floor and the lift before booking.
Where to stay in Athens: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Athens for a first visit?
Koukaki or Makrygianni, just south of the Acropolis: a ten to fifteen minute walk to the rock, a metro stop on line 2, and quiet streets in the evening. Plaka is closer and prettier but more crowded.
Is Plaka a good place to stay?
For walking to the sights, yes: you can be at the Acropolis entrance in a few minutes. The cost is crowds, steps, souvenir shops and restaurants that cater to passing trade. Eat a street or two away from the main lanes, and ask for a quiet room.
Is Omonia safe?
In the daytime it is a busy commercial district. After dark, parts of the square and the streets around it feel unsafe, with visible drug use and few people about. Many visitors stay without trouble, but we would choose Koukaki or Psyrri for a similar price.
Where should I stay in Athens for nightlife?
Monastiraki and Psyrri, where bars, rooftops and tavernas run late. Both are loud, so ask for a room away from the street if you want to sleep.
Can I walk to the Acropolis from my hotel?
From Plaka, Makrygianni, Koukaki, Monastiraki and Thissio, yes, in about five to twenty minutes. From Kolonaki and Pangrati it takes about half an hour, or a short metro ride.
How do I get from the airport to the center?
Metro line 3 takes about forty minutes to Syntagma for €9. The X95 bus runs around the clock and costs €5.50, but takes up to an hour or more in traffic. Taxis charge a fixed fare.
Do I need to stay by the sea?
No. The center is inland, and the sea is a long way south, so a beach holiday and a city break are two separate trips. For a city break, stay near the Acropolis.
How much is the tourist fee in Athens?
The climate resilience fee is charged per room per night, from about €2 at a one- or two-star hotel up to €15 at a five-star between April and October, and less in winter. It is paid at the hotel and often isn't included in the online price.
