For the seekers of soul, sunlight, and something a little less expected
Athens feels alive in every sense, raw, radiant, and endlessly layered. Beneath its ancient ruins, a creative pulse moves through rooftop bars, open-air galleries, and modern hotels that echo the city’s evolving rhythm. This Athens travel guide shares where to stay in Athens, highlighting the best hotels, restaurants, and neighbourhoods that reflect its duality: historic yet forward-thinking, vibrant yet unhurried, rooted yet always reaching.
Mornings start slow as sunlight spills over marble and the scent of strong coffee drifts through narrow streets. Afternoons stretch into golden hours between museums and market stalls, and evenings hum with conversation, mezze, and music that lingers late into the night. Athens rewards the traveller who moves with intention; it is a city best felt, not rushed.
Our curated edit of the best hotels in Athens captures the city’s layered charm, creative, sunlit, and deeply soulful. From restored neoclassical mansions to modern design hideaways, each stay reflects the spirit of Athens itself: textured, expressive, and alive with local vision. These are places where thoughtful details meet real warmth, where rooftop views frame the Acropolis, and where a plate of something honest and local is never far away.
4 Star // 12 Rooms
Adrianou 77
Neoclassical elegance and Acropolis views meet serene, design-led suites in the heart of Plaka.
4 Star // 6 Rooms
Mantzarou 10
A poetic six-suite hideaway in Kolonaki, where vintage charm meets soulful, slow-living design.
4 Star // 38 Rooms
23, Mitropoleos Street
Part market, part hotel – a vibrant, design-forward stay for food lovers in the heart of Athens.
4 Star // 29 Rooms
27 Mitropoleos &, Patroou St
A soulful bakehouse rooted in tradition, serving hand-shaped loaves and slow pastries beside Ergon House.
4 Star // 38 Rooms
Ioannou Gennadiou 4
A design lover’s sanctuary in Kolonaki, where minimalism meets warmth and the Acropolis steals the view.
3 Star // 20 Rooms
Kakourgodikiou 4
A soulful stay in Psiri blending industrial textures, rooftop views, and creative community in perfect harmony.
5 Star // 21 Rooms
Voutadon 16,
A bold, design-first boutique stay near Syntagma, where personality and playfulness shape every detail.
4 Star // 9 Rooms
Kalamida 11
A neoclassical nine-suite hideaway in Plaka, where architectural beauty meets minimalist, modern serenity.
5 Star // 47 Rooms
2, Limpona Street
Design-forward and deeply local, Perianth is a serene modernist stay overlooking Agia Irini Square and the Acropolis.
5 Star // 21 Rooms
Dionysiou Areopagitou 5
Minimalist calm meets historic grandeur in this Acropolis-facing stay along Athens’ most iconic promenade.
Athens does not chase trends; it celebrates connection. Food here is generous and full of story, shared between friends, families, and strangers who quickly become both. From modern Greek bistros and rooftop terraces to hidden spots serving timeless meze and natural wine, we have selected the best restaurants in Athens that capture what dining here truly means. These are places where flavour meets atmosphere, hospitality feels effortless, and every plate reflects the city’s open heart. This is Athens, the Revel Stay way.
Irakleidon 10, Athens
Cinapos feels like Athens past and present in one breath. A quiet olive tree, open kitchen, and food that tastes like someone’s memory. Every space invites you to slow down and stay awhile.
Menaichmou 3B, Athens
In Neos Kosmos, Epta Martyres feels like a long night among friends. Marble, flowers, meze that moves with the wine. A neighbourhood bar where slow plates, good sound, and small stories come together.
Vissis 6, Athens
Tucked just off Vyssis Street, Wine is Fine is part Parisian nostalgia, part Athenian pulse. White cloths outside, natural wines inside, and food that feels curious, generous, and full of personality.
Falirou 68, Athens
In Koukaki, Materia Prima feels like conversation poured into a glass. Shelves of curious bottles, seasonal plates made to match, and people who know how to guide you without rushing the moment.
Athens is not always obvious, and that is part of its magic. It is a city of contrast and texture, where quiet courtyards sit beside lively markets, and history meets a thriving creative present. The true spirit of Athens lives in its neighbourhoods, where rhythm replaces rush and beauty hides in everyday gestures. Each district has its own pace and personality, from elegant hillsides to bohemian backstreets. This part of our Athens travel guide explores the areas that give the city its depth, warmth, and unmistakable soul.
Kolonaki is Athens at its most refined. Set along the slopes of Lycabettus Hill, it is where galleries, boutiques, and shaded cafés flow together in calm, stylish rhythm. Polished but never pretentious, locals linger over coffee, queue for souvlaki, and talk long into the afternoon. In spring or autumn, when the city breathes a little easier, Kolonaki feels timeless. It is one of those Athens neighbourhoods where walking without a plan is the best plan of all.
Plaka sits in the shadow of the Acropolis, wrapped in colour, scent, and light. Bougainvillea spills across balconies, stone steps lead to quiet courtyards, and the sound of church bells drifts through the air. While summer brings crowds, early mornings or late autumn afternoons reveal its gentler side. This is the old soul of Athens, a place to wander slowly, coffee in hand, where history still feels alive and close enough to touch.
Exarchia does not try to please; it simply exists, raw and real. Known for its creative and political energy, it is a neighbourhood alive with conversation, art, and community. Walls become canvases, cafés double as studios, and music drifts into the streets. It is honest and human, a reflection of Athens at its most authentic. Give it time, move at its pace, and you will find a beauty that stays with you long after you have left.
Crete feels expansive and deeply grounded, shaped by mountains, wind, and a coastline that never repeats itself. Villages sit among olive groves, meals follow the season, and days move at the land’s pace. Slow down here, and the island reveals its quiet strength.
You’ll love Rome if you want a city that lives inside its history rather than around it. Days unfold between espresso bars, markets, and long lunches, with beauty built into the everyday. It’s layered, generous, and deeply human, a place where wandering always leads somewhere meaningful.
Puglia is slow living in its purest form. Days follow the sun, not the clock. Olive groves stretch endlessly, meals come from nearby fields and seas, and time softens around long lunches, quiet villages, and stone homes built for lingering rather than rushing.
Lisbon moves on its own terms. Days stretch across hills, tiled streets, and sun-warmed terraces, shaped by seafood lunches and slow afternoons. There’s creativity everywhere, but it never feels forced. It’s warm, soulful, and easy to settle into without trying.
Athens shines year-round. Spring and autumn bring warm light and easy weather, perfect for walking and long terrace lunches. Summer hums with rooftop bars and open-air cinema, while winter feels intimate and local. Every season shows a different rhythm of the city.
Yes. The centre of Athens is made for walking, especially areas like Plaka, Psyrri, and Kolonaki. Streets are full of cafés, small shops, and street art. Exploring on foot lets you feel the city’s pulse and see how ancient and modern life blend naturally.
Stay near the centre to feel connected. Kolonaki offers elegance, Plaka brings heritage, and Exarchia shows Athens’ creative side. Each neighbourhood has its own rhythm but all share the same warmth and light.
Athens’ hotels blend history and heart. Many sit in restored neoclassical homes or modern spaces with Acropolis views. Expect textured design, rooftop bars, and the open hospitality Greece is known for.
Three days covers the highlights; five or more lets you linger. Slow mornings, market walks, and late dinners reveal the city’s quieter beauty. Athens rewards time and curiosity.
Because life here moves with ease. Mornings start with coffee and sunlight, afternoons drift through markets and galleries, and evenings end with wine and conversation. Athens teaches you to slow down and feel where you are.
Slow travel & City Escapes