Hotels in Athens, Greece

Although the many organised trips and tours currently on offer normally guarantee that you won’t miss out on anything, an increasing number of travellers –especially millennials- are resolving to travel independently and explore the city of Athens on their own. This slower and more flexible way of visiting the Greek capital and its ancient treasures is highly recommended regardless of the purpose of your trip, as it is relatively easy to walk to the different sites of interest, whether you have the whole day to roam the streets or just a few hours after business meetings and work.

If you stay in a hotel in central Athens, you will be within short walking distance of the large pedestrian area connecting the great majority of historical sites which are, in turn, encircled by a diversity of neighbourhoods that are home to commercial zones, museums, markets, night clubs, cafés, shops, restaurants and typical “tavernas”. As the sun sets, you may take strolls along the seaside or admire the beauty of Athens from the hills, since the metro trains and bus lines available also link the centre with these strategic points.

How to get to Zakynthos in Greece and recommended accommodation

If you are looking for centrally-located yet affordable accommodation in Greece, we have selected some good-value-for-money hotels in central Athens that will make your leisure or business stay all the more convenient.

The Athens Odeon Hotel

This 3-star accommodation in Greece is situated in one of the city’s main streets, with taxi ranks nearby and a short stroll from the nearest metro station and the National Theatre. The Acropolis stands only three kilometres away from the building, and so the upper floors feature mesmerising views of it. Provided that you will be travelling by air, know that a distance of twenty kilometres separate the hotel from Athens airport. Its well-appointed rooms include free wireless internet connection for guests to use, comfortable beds, air conditioning, soundproofed windows and cable TV. A complimentary daily breakfast is served, while you may also enjoy a cocktail and snacks at the onsite bar. Furthermore, with a view to catering to the needs of those visiting for work, this hotel in Athens city centre provides extra services such as laundry, ironing, the arrangement of meeting spaces, left-luggage and car rental.

Hotels in central Athens, Greece: the Dorian Inn

Undoubtedly, the greatest allure of this hotel that is also located in the very heart of the city is its rooftop swimming pool offering stunning views of the Acropolis. What is more, even when there is a wide array of dining options in the vicinity, if you decide to have lunch or dinner at the onsite Mediterranean restaurant on the 12^th floor, you will not only be delighted by the exquisite dishes but also by the scenery surrounding you. Their occupancy ranging from individual to family rooms, the units of this 3-star accommodation in central Athens have been fully equipped with private bathroom and fridge, and guests may choose to have breakfast in bed or enjoy the daily morning buffet at the restaurant. Besides, free WiFi all throughout, the fact that the premises are accessible for wheelchairs, the availability of tourist information at the front desk and its proximity to several metro stations are a plus.

The Fresh Hotel in Athens city centre

This 4-star accommodation in Greece is strategically located just a 5-minute walk from Athens City Hall and 5 minutes from Omonia Square and the Metropolis Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Most guest rooms feature a balcony as well as an innovative noise isolation system so that you can get the best-quality night sleep, TV with satellite channels, complimentary WiFi and private bathroom with toiletries. A sauna, an onsite gym, currency exchange services, safes to store valuable belongings and business facilities to hold meetings are also available for guests, but what really makes for a memorable stay in this hotel in central Athens is its outdoor seasonal pool with breathtaking views of the city skyline and the Parthenon, and the charming bar by it. A hearty and varied buffet breakfast is served every morning, which can be included in the nightly rate that you select during the reservation process.

Will you be visiting the Greek Islands too? If you dream of vacationing in a paradisiacal destination, take a look at our recommended beach hotels in Greece.

How to get to central Athens from the airport

Are you flying to the capital city of Greece soon and would like to find the best way to commute from the airport? Eleftherios Venizelos or Athens International airport, the main air passenger terminal in Greece, is not far away from the downtown; however, due to the presence of mountain ranges in between the two points, it may take a little longer to arrive for those choosing the road.

In case your hotel in Athens does not offer pick-up services for guests, there is a variety of transportation methods that you may choose in order to travel from Athens airport to the city centre and start enjoying the wonderful views of the Acropolis, the Parthenon temple and the ancient Agora, not forgetting the charming local cafés, restaurants and nightlife venues.

If you enjoy the independence of getting around with your own car and feel confident driving in a new city, know that you will get the chance to hire a vehicle at the rent a car offices situated on the Arrivals hall of Athens airport. Currently, four trusted international companies operate in this hub: Enterprise, Budget, Avis and Hertz. Uber suspended its Athens operations according to local legislation in early 2018, so even when you might still find services of this kind offered, we recommend taking an authorised taxi cab instead. You will find further details later on in this article.

Commuting by subway from Athens International airport

In Athens, Metro line 3 –handled by the OASA transport company- is the one running services between the airport station and the city centre. Two trains depart every hour (at 30-minute intervals) transporting arriving passengers to the Syntagma station, or to the Aghia Marina area if the wish to continue their journey beyond the downtown. It takes about 40 minutes and a one-way ticket costs 9 euros.

The cheapest way to go from Athens airport to the city

Thrifty travellers will like the idea of taking a bus to central Athens from the airport, even when it takes a little longer than one hour to complete the journey. The stands where bus lines X93, X95, X96 and X97 pick up passengers are located outside Arrivals exits 4 and 5. A single ticket costs only 5 euros and there is an average of 18 stops along the way.

The fastest way to get to Athens from the airport

Without a doubt and even when we have warned about the difficulties of travelling across the mountainous scenery between the airport and the city, the fastest means of transport when it comes to reach Athens city from Eleftherios Venizelos airport is the taxi. Your driver will help you with your bags near exit 3 of the arrivals hall and inform you about their flat rate before setting off. The price of a taxi from Athens airport will not vary once confirmed with the driver, and it is normally around 38 euros during the day and approximately 54 euros in the night time.

Suburban trains departing Eleftherios Venizelos airport in Greece

These trains are similar to the subway ones, are run hourly and take about 41 minutes to reach the Piraeus station in Athens city centre from the airport. The only difference is that each single journey costs 20 euros.

Travelling by limousine from Athens airport to the downtown

Is this trip a special occasion? Are you getting married or on a decisive business trip to find new customers in Greece? Then you might like to travel in a more stylish fashion. Upon arrival, you will find a limousine services office next to the taxi area, where you can book your own limo to commute to your hotel in the centre.

After visiting Athens, many travellers feel attracted by the holiday destinations in Greece. If you are a sea lover, we recommend you take a look at our selected beach hotels in the Greek islands.

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Flying to and from Athens International Airport in Greece

Is the city of Athens in your bucket list? Perhaps you dream of disconnecting under the sun in Santorini or Mykonos? If you are travelling to Greece soon, it is quite likely that your airplane will land in the ATH main passenger terminal. Read our post in order to find out more about Athens airport, the airline companies flying to it, how to spend your waiting time there and how to reach domestic destinations like most Greek islands from it.

The fact that it is located in the mainland makes Athens airport the most important and busiest one in the country, and as such it serves as operational base for Aegean Airlines in its national and international routes. Both Schengen and non-Schengen flights land and take off at the central terminal building, which also accommodates nearly 150 check-in desks and a dining area with views to the apron, although budget airline companies like Vueling, Easyjet, Ryanair and Eurowings have started using the satellite terminal for new and seasonal services.

Airlines flying from and to Athens International airport

All year round, Aegean Airlines operates direct flights from Athens to Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Budapest, Düsseldorf, London, Milan, Paris, Moscow, Rome, Stockholm, Madrid, Warsaw, Zurich and more European cities, whereas other destinations –namely Dublin, Helsinki, Lyon and Saint Petersburg- are connected to ATH on a seasonal basis only. New routes to Málaga, Turin and Vilnius are planned for 2018. Many international airlines have at least one direct route to Athens or operate flights via its main terminal, as is the case with Qatar Airways, Emirates, American Airlines, Iberia and Lufthansa.

Travelling from Athens to the Greek Islands

To make the most out of your trip to Greece, you are advised to book a domestic flight from Athens to any of its idyllic islands. For your information, Olympic Air connects ATH airport to Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu; Ryanair also offers flights between Athens and several islands; Volotea runs its own services from Athens to Santorini and Mykonos while Sky Express is exclusively dedicated to the Athens-Syros route.

Spending your layover in Athens

When having hours to spare before your scheduled boarding time, it is wise to spend them in a way that enables you to arrive at your destination refreshed and well-rested. To this purpose, you may enjoy the advantages provided by airport lounges or book a room at the Sofitel Athens airport hotel, especially if you need to stay overnight in the terminal to catch an early flight.

All airport lounges are located after security: the Swissport Executive Lounge, the Aegean Club and the Lufthansa Business Lounge. We recommend you contact your airline or frequent-traveller services provider in order to find out how to access these premium facilities.

The Sofitel hotel in Athens International airport is designated for passengers in transit yet located in a public area within short walking distance to the terminal building. If you are already preparing for your trip, you can book a hotel room to sleep in Athens airport. This luxury establishment has 345 units and 13 suites equipped with everything a business traveller or tourist may need. Besides, as a guest you will be able to swim in their indoor heated pool, have a good workout at the gym or relax in their Spa Centre.

Will you be staying for longer than one night? Find hotels in Athens.

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