-
Going to Athens for a wedding in July, looking for some recommendations on hotels. Modern (ish), city centre. Unless you think there is a much better part to stay in like the beach etc. Ideally 4-5 stars, open to an air bnb but never stayed in one before.
We recently stayed (for the 2nd time) at the Gem Society Boutique Hotel and Spa. Nice boutique hotel, friendly staff and quite central.
Stayed last Sept at the Intercontinental. Handy for the tram to the city centre, but service throughout was poor. Horrendously under-staffed.
Go to Athens for the night for the wedding, and spend the rest of the time on Hydra – about 45 mins on the fast cat from Piraeus.
Can I jump on this visiting Athens to meet a couple friends and do some sightseeing etc for 4 nights in early April
Any recommendations on area / hotel nothing too extravagant c200EUR per night
I’m assuming unless it’s heated any outdoor pool would still be cold but heated / indoor pool would be good but not essential.
Roptop bar/lounge/restaurant would be an added bonus.
“A for Athens” has a nice rooftop bar. Hotel Grande Bretagne has a smart but expensive rooftop bar. There is even a store called Public in Syntagma Square which has a rooftop cafe/restaurant for more basic experience.
The Hyatt is relatively new so at least you’d be getting a modern room. Near the InterCon IIRC.
Go to Athens for the night for the wedding, and spend the rest of the time on Hydra – about 45 mins on the fast cat from Piraeus.
Totally this. Or nearby Poros if Hydra is already all booked. Who in their right mind would linger in the Athens heat when the islands beckon?
We stayed in Poros for a couple of nights once. Beautiful island but the hotel we stayed in was awful. A complete disaster. It was the New Aegli Hotel.
I’d be interested to hear about good hotels on Poros.
Athens heat? Depends when you go. We went 2 weeks ago and the locals were wearing winter coats! Although it’s warmer than London so we were wearing hoodies!
@Philondon, the OP is travelling in July and may in time discover why I mentioned the heat.
As for Poros, I have visited several times but always by yacht, so have no experience of hotels. I’m sure that Google/TripAdvisor, etc would provide decent feedback, though, once some commonsense filters have been applied.
Athens heat? Depends when you go. We went 2 weeks ago and the locals were wearing winter coats! Although it’s warmer than London so we were wearing hoodies!
Currently in Athens. 20c sunshine during the day. Locals are in big puffy coats while I’m wondering around in shorts and a t-shirt!
I’ve tried most of the Marriott properties in Athens, and Grande Bretagne takes the crown in terms of city properties (as well as the adjacent King George). If that’s out of budget, there’s the Royal Olympic Hotel which I think is great value for what it is.
Athens Capital MGallery is a brand new property (and immediately opposite GB but with half the price tag).
I’m not a fan of Syggrou avenue where the -horribly outdated- Intercontinental is as well as the Hyatt. However if you are contemplating lodgings outside central Athens and more towards the sea, Marriott Athens at the lower (arguably better) end of Syggrou is a great property, very close to the coastal side of the city. Only downside is that there is no underground nearby, but they do run free shuttles to the city centre.
Airbnb is rife in Athens – literally every street has dozens. You’ll have the pick of the litter once you decide on your favourite area
Athens heat? Depends when you go. We went 2 weeks ago and the locals were wearing winter coats! Although it’s warmer than London so we were wearing hoodies!
Currently in Athens. 20c sunshine during the day. Locals are in big puffy coats while I’m wondering around in shorts and a t-shirt!
I’m here as well. North facing apartment so I only get the sun until 9am. Been wearing my hoody all week. Temps are dropping to 15 over the next few days, so I’ll be colder than at home where I’d have the heating on. (No heater at all in the apartment.
We stayed at Electra Metropolis this weekend which was about €250 a night booked as part of a a BA holiday – great hotel, virtually new, decent sized rooms and really helpful staff. Breakfast and bar is on 10th floor with great views of Acropolis – highly recommended. I’ll add something to the existing Athens thread when I have longer but as a hotel choice I couldn’t fault it.
Stayed at the Philia Boutique Hotel last summer and was very happy with it. Great location in the middle of everything and very nice, modern rooms. I don’t think we paid more than £100 per night.
Not a very big hotel so limited amenities apart from it’s bar/restaurant, but when on a city break the most important things for me are the location and the quality of the rooms anyway.
Resurrecting this – What are thoughts around staying in Glyfada instead of Athens? Or Glyfada instead of one of the nearer islands suggested above? I’ve potentially up to 6 nights
And I’m jumping in here too – if @YC doesn’t mind – as I have a night in late summer and am looking for options in Piraeus area probably. I want to be close enough to the Marina and my BA flight gets in to ATH at 02:10h so a 24 hour reception would be helpful. Quite happy not to have a multi-national. TIA.
@YC I’d consider 3 nights Hydra, 3 nights on the mainland.
If you want a cheaper Marriott than the Grande Bretagne then the Academias is a good option in a decent location. If you want a cheaper option then I found the Athens Key a decent option with a nice terrace though Omonia isn’t as good a location. Also second George Ks point that the IC and Hyatt options are in a rubbish part of the city. Glyfada is fine if you don’t have any intention of going in or out of the city but it’s too far otherwise to be worth it
Since my original post I visited Athens a few times and stayed at IC and Hyatt, while Hyatt is newer the IC is a better property for me and it’s about to start refurbishment, they’re doing the lounge right now and perhaps every finished and I believe will start on the rooms but in any case apart from the really old flat screen TV it was fine and even the base room is quite large. It’s really not that far from the centre maybe a further 10 mins walk or a few mins in a cab so if the price is right it’s a yes for me when I return.
Stayed in a few airbnbs in Koukaki, I really like this area of the city btw but actually the best property I had was near Victoria Square, but this part of the site is a little rougher.
Food was really good everywhere but some recs from me
This is Loco, great brunch and drinks
Piza Piza, cocktails
Onos Taverna
Scamp, bar
Lotte, cafe-bistrot
Tarantino Burgers
Six Dogs (cool venue great Thai)
Greek Stories, gluten free but great food regardless
Kuko’s Bar
Clumsies
Baba Au Rum
The bar infront of the barI’ll be back for sure just to walk around a stumble on some great food and drinks but if you pass any of these places be sure to pop in
+1 for the Hotel Grande Bretagne – amazing views at breakfast and good people watching at the rooftop pool
The COCO MAT hotels are very comfortable with excellent breakfast. I doubt you will get a better night’s sleep as their business is selling expensive beds in the shop under the hotel.
Resurrecting this – What are thoughts around staying in Glyfada instead of Athens? Or Glyfada instead of one of the nearer islands suggested above? I’ve potentially up to 6 nights
Glyfada is a nice place in Attica (not considered as city of Athens). There is connection via tram with central Athens and Lagonisi is also nearby (although quite expensive).
I would still prefer one of the nearby islands though instead of Athens/Peireus.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
