An Athenian's Guide to the Best Plaka Athens Hotels

Updated September 13th, 2021 by TraveltheGreekWay

Athens Acropolis Hill Parthenon and Propylaea — Western Side of Acropolis

Find in this post all about the best luxury Athens Plaka Hotels, their best characteristics, and the nearby Plaka sites that you can see!

Athens Greece is a large city of over 4 million people and has quite a few varying neighborhoods. One of the most famous areas in central Athens is Plaka, a uniquely beautiful place sitting around Greece’s most prominent Landmark: The Acropolis Hill!

Plaka is the oldest part of Athens and is actually built on top of the ancient city of Athens. Plaka is a great place to stay especially if this is your first time in Athens as most of the best boutique Plaka hotels can be found here.

small alley in Plaka Anafiotika Athens — Plaka Athens Greece

The hotels in Athens Plaka have the classical Greek neoclassic character, offering amazing views of the Acropolis Hill, the Parthenon, and the other ancient Temples. Quite a few of the Plaka Athens Hotels have got roof terraces that face Acropolis, and as you can imagine this is a fantastic way to have your dinner, an evening glass of wine, or a cocktail.

I was raised in Athens by my Greek parents and ever since I was a child, a stroll in Plaka and Acropolis was one of the most favorite things to do! I am certain that Plaka will become one of your favorite places to visit as well.

If you are wondering what are the best hotels in Athens Plaka near the Acropolis Museum, you will find a comprehensive list of luxury and boutique hotels in this post.

I also provide information about the close-by sites that you can visit and practical tips about how best to enjoy this beautiful and diverse city of Athens!

Tip: All the hotels presented below offer breakfast included in the price

*Some of the links below are affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you click and buy. The commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for more information*

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Where to stay in Athens Plaka – The Best Hotels

Best Luxury Hotel in Athens: Grande Bretagne

Grande Bretagne Hotel is the best luxury hotel in Athens center, on Syntagma Square and the most luxurious hotel in Greece. The impressive building was built in 1842 as a house for Antonis Dimitriou, a wealthy Greek businessman but by 1874 it had been purchased and turned into a luxurious hotel.

Grande Bretagne Hotel is a purely aristocratic and classy hotel, one of its kind in Greece. It has 320 rooms and suites, including a 400 square meter (4,305 sqf.) suite on the fifth floor, all the facilities you can think of, service and cuisine of first-class, and a fantastic terrace overlooking Acropolis.

Syntagma Square is the heart of Athens, easily accessible by metro, buses, taxis, and walking, an important historical place where in the past has played a considerable role in Greece’s political life. Right across from Grande Bretagne Hotel stand:

The beautiful neoclassical building of the Greek Parliament: Built as a royal palace in 1843, started housing Greek Democracy reps in 1935
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where the famous Change of the Guards occurs. They change guards every hour in a simple way but there is a great ceremony every Sunday at 11.00 am.
Kolonaki posh area for expensive fashion shopping, galleries and fine cuisine are 5 minutes walk from Grande Bretagne
Cycladic, Byzantine, Numismatic excellent Museums are in easy proximity by 1 metro station or on foot

The Palli Mansion, a retail store today under the trademark “Public” but back in 1944 the spot where the prime minister announced the liberation of Greece from the Germans (tip: go to Public’s top roof cafe for a drink or just to take in the great Athens view)
Athens Trilogy, 3 stunning neoclassic buildings, housing the Academy, the University, and the Library of Athens
Ermou St, a pedestrianised street connecting Syntagma with Monastiraki Square, great for low to mid-ranged priced fashion – Zara, HM, Sisley, Camper, Benetton
National Park and the Greek White House on Irodou Attikou st, at the back of the Park. There are police guarding outside the House but you can stroll by. At the end of Irodou Attikou, you will find the Panathenaic Stadium, the all-marble stadium that hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896

Check out Availability & Prices for Grande Bretagne Hotel at Booking

Boutique Hotels in Plaka Athens

The Plaka area is a mixture of neoclassic buildings, souvenir and art shopping, small cafes and Greek traditional taverns, usually found under vines and trees, a maze of narrow, mainly car-free streets, very busy at places in summer.

As you walk past small yard houses, small museums, galleries, and impressive ancient landmarks, you are taken aback by the diverse monuments from the very long history of Athens.

Is Plaka Athens Safe at night? Yes, the whole area of Plaka is safe at night. Avoid Omonia and Psiri areas in the dead of the night.

A77 Suites By Andronis

A77 Suites by Andronis: The Suites are set in the quiet part of Plaka, in a gorgeous 19th-century neo-classical building, still, in the very center of the dynamic atmosphere of Athens Plaka.

The A77 Suites by Andronis lobby is quite unique: you can be checking in and shop at the same time at the fashion boutique stocked with a collection of international Haute and Greek labels.

The hotel has 12 sound-proofed stylish decorated suites and an open terrace with inspiring views, a truly fantastic place to stay.

What else is close to A77 Suites by Andronis Hotel?

The impressive Athens Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation built in 1842. Next to the large Church stands the hidden gem of the Byzantine Church of Virgin Mary Gorgoepekoos and Saint Eleutherius (dates of construction are between 9-13th c AD) The church was built on top of the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Eileithyia and its walls are a mixture of old marble and byzantine building materials .
Ermou Street and shopping therapy!

Monastiraki boisterous central Square is always filled with all kinds of people: tourists, youngsters dancing or playing strange instruments, groups of religious or other interests, Metro travellers, modern philosophers and fruit sellers, busy businessmen on their way to their meetings, all mixed together. There are souvlaki and gyros taverns on one side, usually with loud Greek music and the entrance to the flea market on the other side. The picturesque Adrianou street with dozens of cafes and taverns overlooking the passing Athens train and Ancient Agora Archaeological site. Adrian’s Library is next to the closed Mosque across the metro. Words are not enough to describe again the “bombarding” of sensations on Monastiraki square.

Check out availability and prices for A77 Suites by Andronis on Booking

Electra Metropolis Hotel

Electra Metropolis Hotel: 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 boasts also 2 pools, a superb Aegeo Spa, and a gym.

What else is around Electra Metropolis Hotel?

Right across the hotel, on the side road (5 Pentelis st) you can find the best souvlaki in Athens at Kostas. The place looks humble and plain but the owner takes his time to prepare the best souvlaki! There is usually a queue outside the tiny shop.
On the parallel street, Apollonos st., you can find some of the best Japanese and Mexican food in Athens
Ermou street is a 1-minute walk far and closeby is one of the best ice-creams shops in Athens, the Le Greche
Eclectic wineries with some of the best Greek and International wines in Athens: Kiki de Grece & Oinoscent

Check out availability and prices for Electra Metropolis Hotel on Booking

Electra Palace Athens Hotel

Electra Palace Athens Hotel: Electra Palace is part of a well-established Greek chain of Hotels, just like Electra Metropolis Hotel. It is housed in a beautiful neoclassic building set on a quiet, upmarket- atmosphere street in Plaka.

Its terrace offers stunning Acropolis views and with facilities like marble bathrooms, Jacuzzi bathtubs, dark wooden floors and furnishings, luxuriant and elaborate Persian rugs, and soft bed linen you will have a superb hospitality experience. Do visit the indoor spa, pool, sauna, that offers top-notch massage and beauty therapies.

The hotel is located within easy walking distance of everything central in Athens.

What else is around Electra Palace Hotel?

5 minutes from Syntagma square, Ermou St., Parliament, and National Park
The Museum of Greek Children’s Art, exhibiting children’s art Website
The Jewish Museum, presenting the history of Greek Jewish Website (You may also find interesting a post on Jewish Monuments in Athens)
Traditional Restaurants in the area: O Psaras, The Scholarcheio & O Platanos

Check out availability and prices for Electra Palace Hotel on Booking

New Hotel

NEW Hotel: An award-winning 5-star design hotel, with extraordinary rooms, sophisticated design, and with jillion wellness, fitness, jet-lag aromatic therapy, and massage options in a fantastically decorated spa center (I would go just for the spa facilities!)

What else is around New Hotel? Absolutely everything!

Syntagma is 5 minutes walk towards the north
Right on the other side of Filellinon street is winery By the Glass
Plaka pedestrian main square with half a dozen taverns – a bit too touristic for my liking but good for a stroll
National Park and Zappeion Park
Temple of Olympian Zeus & Adrian’s Arch
Acropolis is about 15 minutes walk

Check out prices and availability for New Hotel on Booking

Kyria Boutique House

Kyria Boutique House: An 1863-Athenian historical building situated a few meters far from Acropolis Eastern Entrance and Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian.

With a roof garden facing the Acropolis, classic and elegant rooms that hint at its past with many small vintage details, and only 1 minute far from the Acropolis Metro, this is an ideal hotel to stay.

As this is definitely one of the most popular neighborhoods to stay in Acropolis, I would recommend booking early.

Acropolis - Parthenon-Athens-Greece — Dionysiou Areopagitou St.

What else is around Kyria Boutique House?

Acropolis Eastern Entrance
Acropolis Museum
Temple of Olympian Zeus and Adrian Arch: The construction of the Temple started in the 6th BC but it was completed in the 2nd c AD. It was devoted to Zeus and was one of the largest Temples in ancient times. Today only 15 of its pillars still stand.
Zappeion Park with Zappeion mansion
Panathenaic Stadium
Wine with Eleni, best, select and rare Greek wines in a cosy small Acropolis Park

Check out prices and availability for Kyria Boutique Hotels on Booking

AthensWas Design Hotel

AthensWas Design Hotel: Boasting an incredible location, the Athenswas Design is a great combination of a classic and modern luxury hotel. The hotel features leather armchairs, minimalist divans, sculptural chairs, a glass-fronted lobby, geometric black, and white marble floors, and electric blue sofas.

The facilities are minimal: a tiny fitness corner and a couple of computers for guests in the basement. However, the rooftop restaurant offers a fine Mediterranean cuisine option with spectacular Acropolis views.

2 minutes walk far is Acropolis Eastern Entrance & Acropolis Museum on Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian
Temple of Olympian Zeus and Adrian Arch
Zappeion Park and Panathenaic Stadium
Winepoint and Wine with Eleni Wineries
5-minute walk to the Lysicrates Monument & Diogeni Cafe
Cave of Acropolis tavern right under the Acropolis fortification
The NineLivesGreece neutered and protected cats strolling around the Acropolis fence

Check out prices and availability for AthensWas Design Hotel on Booking

Plaka Arch Suites

Plaka Arch Suites: Plaka Arch is housed in a lovely neoclassic building, the suites are bright, airy comfortable, and with views of Acropolis, this is a perfect accommodation. All 7 stylish rooms are fitted with balconies, feature flat-screen TVs, safes, hairdryers, slippers, and free toiletries.

Plaka Arch Suites is close to:

The Temple of Olympian Zeus, Adrian’s Arch, Zappeion Park, Panathenaic Stadium
Dionysiou Areopagitou, Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Lysicrates Monument
Numerous cafes, taverns, and bars in close proximity even a great gelato to cool down if the day is warm

Check out prices and availability for Plaka Arch Suites on Booking

Wisdom Residence Luxury Apartments

Wisdom Residence Luxury Apartments at Plaka: The Wisdom Apartments Hotel is a new place and one of the best of its kind. Very close to Acropolis, it is cozy, comfortable, with a hearty breakfast and facilities like a small kitchenette and laundry is ideal for a short or long stay in the very heart of Plaka.

What else is close by?

Acropolis, National and Zappeion Gardens, Adrian’s Arch and Temple of Olympian Zeus
St Paul Anglican Church
By the Glass Winery (highly recommended)

Check out prices and availability for Wisdom Residence Luxury Apartments on Booking

Ava Hotel & Suites

Ava Hotel and Suites: It is a small luxury hotel, in a tiny Plaka street with its balconies overlooking the Adrian’s Arch and its terrace the Acropolis. The Ava Hotel is sophisticated, with emphasis on 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 old church, Museum of Modern Greek Culture, and Anafiotika area

Check out prices and availability for Ava Hotel and Suites on Booking

Noble Suites

Noble Suites: A superior hotel in one of the old Athenian elegant and classy neoclassic buildings. Fine rooms, designed for both good rest and tasteful hospitality. Not exactly in Plaka but 5 minutes far from it.

What else is around Noble Suites?

Acropolis Hill Western Entrance & Odeon of Herodes Attikus
Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian, the loveliest pedestrian in Greece
Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum, the history of Greek Jewellery making from the word-famous Ilias Lalaounis
Acropolis Museum, one of the best museums in the world
Strofi Restaurant, excellent Greek cuisine with Acropolis Views
Wine with Eleni, rare and eclectic Greek wines only!

Check out prices and availability for Noble Suites on Booking

Anafiotika in Plaka Athens – What else to visit

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 in 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, is a stunningly beautiful and unique place to visit. On top of Anafiotika is the Acropolis fortification walls and on the bottom the rest of Athens.

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. Website
Church of Agios Nicholas Rangavas: Built in the 11th century, this lovely church was part of the palace of the Rangavas 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. Website
Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments: The museum aims to collect, conserve and exhibit folk musical instruments. Website
Frissiras Museum, includes more than 3 .000 paintings, drawings, sculptures and engravings of European artists. Website
Center for Asia Minor Studies: The Center has gathered a unique historic archive of 150.000 manuscript pages, documents, as well as a rich and rare photographic record on Greek coming from Asia Minor. Website
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 aeons, but also to claim the return of priceless stolen Greek artefacts Website

Plaka Archaeological Sites

Acropolis Hill, with Parthenon, Propylea, Athena Nike, and Erechteion Temples (some of the monuments on Acropolis)
Roman Agora includes: The Tower of the Winds and the Gate of Athens built in the 2nd c BC, The Fethiye Mosque, a 17th-century construction today operating as a Museum
Right outside Roman Agora is the Greek Orthodox Church Pammegiston Taxiarchon
Across the Tower of Winds and outside the site, see the remains of Madrasah Gate, a School for Muslim priests when Greece was under Turkish occupation
Towards Monastiraki Square, you will find Adrian’s Library
Towards Thissio is the very important site of Ancient Agora

Athens Tips – What not to miss

Try the koulouri, a small round piece of bread usually with sesame and a Greek coffee and you become instantly a Greek local!
If you are staying for more than a day in Athens buy the 30 euro combination ticket, valid for all the archaeological sites for 5 days
If you are not squeamish about blood or fish smell visit the famous Varvakios Market, on Athinas Street, a 10-minute walk from Monastiraki Square an indoor and outdoor food market. The vendors sell fresh meat, fish, fruit, spices, and products from around the country
If you have the time, besides the stunning Acropolis Museum, I highly recommend the National Archaeological Museum, the biggest Museum in Greece with ancient artifacts from all over the country. Website
Other significant Museums that I highly recommend are the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (1 metro station far from Acropolis, at Fix Station) Website and Goulandris Museum, 5 minutes far from Panathenaic Stadium Website
Across from the northern Acropolis exit, stands the Areopagus or Mars Hill where Apostle Paul preached
From your hotel in Plaka, everything is within walking distance. Alternatively, use the Metro to go around. Be careful in the metro for pickpocketing!

Acropolis Neutered Cats by NineLives Greece

A beautiful 9Lives Greece neutered and protected cat

Nine Lives Greece – Οι Εφτάψυχες, a registered NGO for the cats, helps cats now, through feeding and care, and for the future, by neutering and rehoming.

If you are walking around the Acropolis area, especially in the evening, you will see the volunteers going about feeding and adding fresh water for the little ones.

The Nine Lives Greece also rescues abused, abandoned, and injured cats from all over Athens and rehome as many cats as possible, in good, loving homes.

You can follow them on their Facebook Page or visit their website if you would like more info or to support their cause.

Are you a solo female travelling to Athens?

Are you contemplating venturing Athens Greece and the islands all alone or with a group of female friends and wondering if Greece is safe for solo female travelers?

Greece is a perfectly safe country for everyone regardless of age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. In addition to that, Greek people are gene-programmed to be hospitable and are always eager to offer directions to your destination or any other advice, so ask freely.

Naturally, common sense and gut feeling should always be trusted – avoid very dark isolated places as you would, in your own city – so if something looks suspicious or sketchy, go in the other direction.

These are some of my Favorite Travel Resources for Greece

All the archaeological sites in Greece can be found on the official Greek Ministry’s website here. If you are an EU member, you might be eligible in reduced or free entrance.
Map of Athens Metro here
Booking.com: I use Booking.com because I can get the best deals, have info on hotels and Airbnb’s alike, with breakfast or not, free cancellations, and great prices!
Ferries: Book your ferry transfer with FerryHopper, and get the best price in the market with no hidden fees
World Nomads Insurance: I feel insecure traveling to another country without having even the most basic of insurances. Insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellations
Best car rental prices – Guaranteed. RentalCars.com
iVisa: For any questions, you may have about your documents, passport if you need a visa, a new photo, or any visa-related matter, iVisa is your man (or woman!)
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