As a Greek Athenian, I know how important it is to find the perfect place to stay when visiting Plaka, Athens.
If you’re looking for the best hotels within walking distance—or just one metro stop—from the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum, you’re in the right place.
Plaka is a great place to stay, especially if this is your first time in Athens, as most of the best sites are in the same area.
So let’s discover together some fantastic stays for your next trip to one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
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Athens Quick Links
- Top Hotel in Athens Center: Gatsby Athens.
- Best-rated Guided Tour for Acropolis, Parthenon & Acropolis Museum.
- YouTube Video: How to Walk from the Acropolis to the Ancient Agora in Athens.
Where to Stay in Plaka, Athens
Plaka in Athens is a mixture of neoclassic buildings, souvenir and art shopping, small cafes, and traditional Greek taverns, usually found under vines and trees and a maze of narrow, mainly car-free streets.
Read along if you are searching for where to stay in Plaka, Athens:
The Marble Suites
The Marble Suites (family-friendly, self-catering, can host up to 6 guests) are beautifully decorated in the center of Athens with impressive Acropolis views.
The suites are close to the metro, a lovely restaurant near Old Ithaki, the Acropolis, and the Monastiraki flea market.
You will love this very bright apartment with modern furniture, exceptionally well designed and with a fully-equipped kitchen. And in the evenings you can enjoy your drink with a lit Acropolis on the terrace.
For prices and availability, check Booking.com
Apollonos at Heart of Plaka
Apollonos at Heart of Plaka (family-friendly, self-catering, can host up to 4 guests) is in the heart of Athens, set within a short distance of Monastiraki Square and Ermou Street.
The rooms are very spacious, which is not always the case with Athens central apartments.
You will also love that all the important sites are conveniently close to the property, and before you sleep, you will enjoy the view of the Acropolis from your bed.
A77 Suites
A77 Suites (family-friendly, breakfast, can host up to 3 guests): If you are wondering where to stay in Plaka, Athens, in luxury and style, you will love this property.
The Suites are set in the quiet part of Plaka, in a gorgeous 19th-century neoclassical building.
The property has 12 soundproofed, stylishly decorated suites and an open terrace with inspiring views, a truly fantastic place to stay.
Check out availability and prices for A77 Suites on Booking.
Nearby sites:
- Monastiraki Square is always filled with all kinds of people, souvlaki and gyros taverns on one side, the flea market on the other side, and Adrianou Street overlooking the Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Library, and Tzisdarakis Mosque.
- The impressive Athens Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation was built in 1842.
Where to Stay in Plaka, Athens: Electra Metropolis Hotel
Electra Metropolis Hotel (family-friendly, breakfast, can host up to 3 guests per room): This is one of the best hotels in Plaka, Athens.
A high-quality 5-star hotel, located very close to Syntagma Square. It features 216 luxurious and fully equipped suites and rooms with marvelous views of the Acropolis and the old neighborhood of Plaka.
Do visit his roof garden on the 10th floor for a meal or a drink with a stunning 360° panoramic view of Athens and beyond. The hotel also has 2 pools, a superb Aegeo Spa, a gym, and three restaurants on site.
What else is around the Electra Metropolis Hotel? Right across the hotel, on the side road (5 Pentelis St) you can find the best souvlaki in Athens at Kostas. On the parallel street, Apollonos, you can find some of the best Japanese and Mexican food in Athens.
Check availability in Booking.
Ava Hotel & Suites
Ava Hotel and Suites (family-friendly, breakfast, can host up to 4 guests per room): a small luxury hotel, in a tiny Plaka street with balconies overlooking Hadrian’s Arch and its terrace to the Acropolis.
The Ava Hotel is sophisticated, emphasizing classy detail, and with king-size beds, you will have a memorable stay.
It is located in the very heart of Plaka, very close to almost everything:
Acropolis, Lysicrates monument, National and Zappeion Park, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, Evangelical Church, Saint Catherine’s old church, Museum of Modern Greek Culture, and Anafiotika area.
Check out prices and availability for the Ava Hotel and Suites on Booking.
Best Apartments in Athens
Living near the Acropolis by Sylvia Staikou
Living near Acropolis by Sylvia Staikou (family-friendly, self-catering, can host up to 3 guests per room) is one of the best apartments in Athens near the Acropolis.
The property is spotless, as the owner, Sylvia, takes care of everything with care and consideration. It is perfect for families as it is spacious and close to restaurants, cafes, archaeological sites, and the Metro.
Check availability and prices on Booking.
Where to Stay in Plaka: Hidesign Athens Plaka Apartment in Acropolis
Hidesign Athens Plaka Apartment is a cozy and welcoming option for couples and families who want to stay right below the Acropolis.
Located on a quiet Plaka street near Anafiotika, it offers a peaceful setting while being just steps from Athens’ main sights.
The apartment is bright, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed, with a small balcony for relaxed mornings or evenings. With its great location, warm atmosphere, and easy access to the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, and the National Garden, it’s ideal for a romantic city break or a family stay.
Check prices and availability for Hidesign Athens Plaka Apartment on Booking.
Top Luxury Hotel in Athens: Grande Bretagne
Grande Bretagne is the top luxury hotel in the center, on Syntagma Square, and the most luxurious hotel in Greece, built in 1842.
It has 320 rooms and suites, including a 400 square meter suite on the fifth floor, all the facilities you can think of, first-class service and cuisine, and a fantastic terrace overlooking the Acropolis.
Check out the availability and prices on Booking.
Nearby sites to the Grande Bretagne Hotel are:
- Syntagma Square, a historical spot and the beating heart of Athens
- the Greek Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the famous Change of the Guards occurs
- Kolonaki posh area for expensive fashion shopping, galleries, and fine cuisine
- Cycladic, Byzantine, Numismatic, and National Gallery Museums
Visit Anafiotika Plaka, Athens
Anafiotika is a tiny settlement within Plaka with small white houses and colorful, minuscule gardens that look more like a small Aegean island than Athens.
Anafiotika took its name from the Anafi island builders who came to Athens in the 19th century to work on the reconstruction of the city of Athens.
They were given the choice to build their own home in Plaka and they did so, building a small Anafi island in the heart of Plaka.
Anafiotika at times looks like a labyrinth; some spots may be covered in graffiti, but generally speaking, it is a stunningly beautiful and unique place to visit.
Find below a list of the most popular and significant landmarks in Plaka that you may want to visit:
- Athens University Museum: The collection includes the first Greek academic editions of books for Law, Medicine, and other sciences, manuscripts, antique scientific instruments, documents, portraits, and a large and rare photographic collection.
- Church of Agios Nicholas Ragavas: Built in the 11th century, this lovely church was part of the palace of the Ragavas family, who counted among them Michael I, emperor of Byzantium.
- The oldest Athenian House, Benizelos Mansion: The house works as a museum and it was built most likely in the first half of the 18th century, is the last surviving konaki in Athens.
- Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments: The museum aims to collect, conserve and exhibit folk musical instruments
- Frissiras Museum includes more than 3,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, and engravings of European artists
- Center for Asia Minor Studies: The Center has gathered a unique historical archive of 150,000 manuscript pages and documents, as well as a rich and rare photographic record of Greeks from Asia Minor.
- The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum: A 7.000 pieces art collection donated to the Greek state by the Canellopoulos family. Its main goal is to prove the continuity of Greek art through the eons, but also to claim the return of priceless stolen Greek artifacts
Athens Archaeological Sites
Some of the most important monuments in Athens are:
- Acropolis Hill, with Parthenon, Propylaea, Athena Nike, and Erechtheion Temples.
- Ancient Agora is the second most important archaeological site in Athens.
- Roman Agora with the Tower of the Winds, the Gate of Athens, and the Fethiye Mosque.
- Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch.
- Hadrian’s Library, at Monastiraki Square.
FAQ for first-time visitors to Athens
What’s a must-try local snack in Athens?
Try a koulouri, a round sesame-covered bread, along with a Greek coffee. It’s a simple, delicious way to start your day and feel like a local!
Besides the Acropolis Museum, what other museums should I visit?
The National Archaeological Museum is a must-see, as it’s Greece’s largest and is filled with ancient treasures.
Other great options include the National Museum of Contemporary Art (near Fix Metro Station) and the Goulandris Museum, which is a short walk from the Panathenaic Stadium.
What’s the best way to get around Athens?
If you’re staying in Plaka, most attractions are within walking distance.
Otherwise, use the Metro, but be mindful of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like Monastiraki and Syntagma stations.
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Athens Airport to Piraeus Port
- Bus: If you are arriving at Athens International Airport you can travel straight to the port by taking the X96 express bus (€5.5, children <6 yo, free entrance), which departs every 40 minutes and the average trip lasts 1 hour – runs 24/7. X93 will take you to Athens center.
- Metro: (€9) is easily found across airport arrivals (blue line – M3) going directly to Piraeus port. The average trip to Piraeus lasts 1 hour.
- Taxis are available in front of the airport (around €45 to Athens, €55 to Piraeus (depending on the traffic in Kifisos), and take up to 3 or 4 people with small luggage)
- Rent a car with Discover Cars for reliable, new cars at affordable prices
- You don’t like driving but love hassle-free solutions? Book a Private transfer with an English-speaking driver from Athens International Airport to Piraeus Ferries, or anywhere else in Greece.
Plan Your Next Trip to Greece With These Guides
- Greece Packing List – What to pack for a 10-day trip to Greece
- First Time to Greece – Most Important FAQ
- Mamma Mia Greece Locations – All the mainland and island shooting areas in Greece
- Athens Apartments Near Acropolis
- Best Athens Beach Hotels
My Favorite Travel Resources for Greece
- ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank You’ in Greek: “Ya sou” and “Efharisto”
- Booking.com: I use Booking.com mostly for Europe.
- All-Inclusive Resorts in Greece
- Rent an Affordable Car in Greece
- Athens Metro Website (timetables and ticket info)
- Trains (Hellenic Train)
- Public Buses KTEL
- Get Your Guide: For all your day or multi-day tours and city guide needs, I use Get Your Guide
- Emergency Numbers Anywhere in Greece: AMBULANCE 166 – FIRE 199 – POLICE 100– EMERGENCY NUMBER 112
Have never stayed overnight in this part of Athens but have wandered the area many times and it is wonderful. Especially the cats!
It is a wonderful area and one of Plaka’s many beauties is the well-fed, neutered and happy cats!