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More than 23 million people arrived in Greece between January and October 2023. Some 6 million of these people landed at the Athens International Airport, showing a 28.4 percent year-over-year growth in the country’s tourism. Yes, it was a record year for Athens, but really, the capital city has always been a travel favorite thanks to its fantastic historical sites, its drool-worthy food, and, of course, its hospitality — especially at its world-class hotels.
“Athens is a classic and timeless destination that offers visitors everything from the ancient culture to coastal beaches and a lively metropolitan experience,” said Liam Dunch, the Europe product manager for tour operator Abercrombie & Kent. “As the birthplace of democracy and one of the world’s ancient capitals, the history is rich, and there is a tremendous amount to learn about Greek civilization and mythology.”
It’s a spot I’ve grown more in love with after every visit. As a Greek American, I have a special connection to my ancestral home, so much so that I’ve made it my mission to return every year to discover something new — and share it with all of you. (Just check out my take on how to spend a perfect day in Athens here.)
Ready to plan a trip and see it all for yourself? Keep reading to discover the best hotels in Athens, including views of the Acropolis and the Mediterranean Sea.
Ken Seet / Four Seasons
Also available to book at Booking.com
The Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens was named the number one hotel in Athens by Travel + Leisure readers in the 2023 World’s Best Awards thanks in large part to its 75 pristine private acres, giving guests total privacy while still being just a short drive away from the city’s best attractions. Here, guests can indulge in the quiet side of the city by sitting on the water’s edge, taking a private boat tour, or lounging by their private pool by booking a sea-view terrace suite. When guests are ready to head into central Athens, they can do so with a private tour guide who can help them see places like the Acropolis from the eyes of a local.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Astir Beach and Vouliagmeni Lake
- Neighborhood: Vouliagmeni, Athens Riviera
- Distance From Airport: 15 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Included
- Parking: Valet parking available
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting around $1,500 per night
Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens
Also available to book at Booking.com
The Hotel Grande Bretagne was named the number two hotel in Athens by T+L readers in the 2023 World’s Best Awards, with readers calling out its fascinating history (it opened its doors way back in 1874) and its utterly awe-inspiring views. The hotel is pure luxury from corner to corner, from its opulent marble lobby to its rooms with gold leaf finishings, deep soaking tubs, and plush furnishing you may be hard-pressed to want to get off of. But, the city beckons right outside the window, with the Acropolis just a short walk away. Readers aren’t the only ones who feel this way.
“My all-time favorite is the Grande Bretagne, a landmark of Athens right at the heart of the city that celebrates 150 years of history this year,” said Christos Stergiou, a T+L A-List Advisor and founder of TrueTrips. “From its roof-top restaurant to the elegance of its lobby and rooms, it epitomizes class and culture.” Every guest must book at least one dinner at the hotel’s GB Roof Garden Restaurant. Here, guests can dine on authentic Greek cuisine while looking out at the Acropolis, lit up every night for your viewing pleasure.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Syntagma Square, Acropolis, and Plaka
- Neighborhood: Syntagma, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 20 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Valet parking available
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $721 per night
King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens
Also available to book at Expedia.com
The King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is another historic gem in the heart of Athens. And it’s another T+L reader favorite, coming in third in the 2023 World’s Best Awards. The hotel is home to meticulously refined rooms and suites, which all come with luxury bedding and oversized windows so guests can drink in the city views — though the best room in the hotel is most certainly its penthouse suite, which comes with a private pool that overlooks the Acropolis.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Parliament Building, National Garden, and Acropolis
- Neighborhood: Syntagma, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 20 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Valet parking available
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $550 per night
Vangelis Pateraks / Xenodocheio Milos
Also available to book at Booking.com
Food-loving travelers will find no better accommodation in Athens than the Xenodocheio Milos, a hotel that made its way onto T+L’s 2023 It List. The boutique hotel, located across from the old parliament building, centers itself around its world-class dining, an extension of the Milos restaurant philosophy. Focusing on fresh ingredients and classic Greek dishes, you’ll want to have every meal right here. Once you’re full, head to your room, which offers minimalistic charm — and if you’re somehow still feeling peckish, open the minibar to find Greek-inspired snacks.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, and Kolonaki Square
- Neighborhood: Kolonaki, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 20 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Only off-site parking
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $383 per night
Gatsby Athens
Gatsby Athens Hotel
Also available to book at Expedia.com
Find a little glitz, glamour, and fun at the Gatsby Athens, a boutique hotel outside the Plaka neighborhood. Rooms here are seductively cool, with all-white bedding offset by soft pastel furnishings and tiny pops of color on the walls. Guests looking for a funky touch can book the Cool Corner suite with a soaking tub in the middle of the room. The hotel is undoubtedly a place to socialize, especially at the Gatsby Bar, located on the lower level, or at Cloud 9, its rooftop bar ideal for a nighttime cocktail and a view.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Monastiraki Flea Market, Ancient Agora, and Acropolis
- Neighborhood: Monastiraki, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 20 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Only public parking
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $237 per night
The Dolli
Also available to book at Booking.com
The Dolli may be yet another hotel located in the midst of the city, but it’s entirely possible for guests to feel a world away within its walls. The hotel’s chic and clean aesthetic creates an elevated atmosphere, with sculptures in every corner and fine art adorning all the walls, including in its oversized suites. Guests also have their pick of fabulous dining options, including a rooftop restaurant looking out onto the Parthenon, and Le Bar Secret, a library bar with an expansive cocktail menu.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Acropolis Museum, Plaka, and Roman Agora
- Neighborhood: Plaka, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 21 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Only public parking
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $1,002 per night
The Modernist Athens
Also available to book at Booking.com
The Modernist Athens is a minimalist dream come true. The hotel, located in the Kolonaki neighborhood, comes with a simple aesthetic that allows guests to focus all their attention on the view outside instead. Rooms are decked out in natural wood and black furnishings to keep things simple, while its rooftop terrace overlooks a lush green garden outside. Head up to the roof for a sunset cocktail and look off in the distance straight to, you guessed it, the Acropolis.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: National Gallery, Mount Lycabettus, and Kolonaki Square
- Neighborhood: Kolonaki, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 20 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Private parking available for an additional fee
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $213 per night
Academias Hotel
Also available to book at Booking.com
The Academias Hotel, Autograph Collection, is a philosophically inspired space that is a tribute to some of Greece’s most brilliant academics throughout history. This includes the Plato Bar and Lounge, where guests can get a glass of Greek wine, and the Symposium restaurant, named after Plato’s work of the same name, which serves Mediterranean-style breakfasts. The only departure from the theme is the hotel’s NYX Rooftop Japanese Fusion Bar, where guests can have dinner and drinks long into the night.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Academy of Athens, National Library, and Kolonaki
- Neighborhood: Kolonaki, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 21 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Valet parking
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $655 per night
Ergon House Hotel
Also available to book at Booking.com
The Ergon House Hotel is the perfect home away from home for those who believe food is an integral part of the travel experience. It combines the comforts of luxury accommodation with the excitement of an Athenian food market, all under one roof. Inside the hotel, guests can peruse its market and restaurant that showcases the best local produce and cuisine, a perk Alys Colayera, lead travel expert for Greece at Black Tomato, adores. “The Ergon House Hotel is one of my favorites, boasting top-tier accommodations, a great cafe for a frappe, and a store to pick up tinned goods, bread, and dips,” she shared. The rooms are equally alluring, made with minimalistic designs but still with all the right high-end touches to make a stay feel special.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Acropolis, Monastiraki Square, and Ermou Street
- Neighborhood: Monastiraki, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 27 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Public parking available nearby
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $357 per night
One&Only Aesthesis
Also available to book at Booking.com
One&Only Aesthesis sits on the edge of the Athenian Riviera, giving guests a sublime view from every angle. The resort, which opened in late 2023, is an incredibly detailed space from entrance to exit. Here, guests can unwind in beachside bungalows offering direct water access, chic villas with private pools, and the bright and airy garden and ocean-view rooms with standalone tubs for the perfect added touch. The dining at the One&Only Aesthesis is also top-notch, thanks to menus created by world-class chefs Ettore Botrini and Paco Morales.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: Glyfada Beach, Vouliagmeni Lake, and Astir Marina
- Neighborhood: Glyfada, Athens Riviera
- Distance From Airport: About 14 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Accessible rooms available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: On-site parking available
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $1,756 per night
Shila
Also available to book at Booking.com
Shila stands out in the crowd in Athens thanks to its personalized ambiance. Every room has distinct decor elements, though all offer the perfect Bohemian feel. Each suite is more creative than the last, and they are all ideal for everyone, from solo travelers to couples and even small groups and families, as they can sleep up to four guests in each. There are also charming communal spaces, including a rooftop garden and library lounge.
The Details:
- Nearby Attractions: National Archaeological Museum, Mount Lycabettus, and Exarchia
- Neighborhood: Exarchia, central Athens
- Distance From Airport: About 20 miles from Athens International Airport
- Accessibility: Limited accessibility available
- WiFi: Free
- Parking: Self-service public parking
- Rates: Rates vary by season, but we found rooms starting at $334 per night
Know Before You Go
- Decide how important location is to you: The hotels and resorts on this list are sprinkled across the city and down onto the coastline. Before you book, consider what you’d prefer — beachside access or city views.
- Remember the high season: Greece’s high season runs over June, July, and August. This is when destinations tend to get rather crowded and when the city sees its highest temperatures of the year. If you hope to have a more personal experience, try the shoulder seasons from May to mid-June and September through October.
- Think about any amenities you can’t live without: Hotels in Athens range from charming boutique spots to over-the-top resorts. Before you book, consider what amenities (like a spa, on-site restaurants, or a gym) you need to have a spectacular stay.
How We Chose These Hotels
Picking the best of the best hotels in Athens is a challenging feat. The city is full of A-list properties for guests to explore. To help whittle down the choices, we considered hotels that have earned a spot in our annual World’s Best awards, chosen by the esteemed readers of T+L, and hotels that have made our editor-led It List.
In addition, the author of this article, Stacey Leasca, contributed her expertise choices. Leasca, who is proudly Greek American, has visited Athens numerous times for both personal and professional travel and also highlighted the city in her T+L show, “Well Spent.” She consulted other expert sources, seeking out hotels with high-quality visitor reviews, and chose hotels that would provide readers with varied choices regarding their personal tastes, needs, and wants for a vacation in Athens. Leasca has written about countless hotel and travel experience stories in her nearly decade of travel writing. And, with all our hotel roundups, editors ensure all hotel recommendations we make align with our core T+L Hotel Values.
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