Best Luxury Hotels in Athens

The 16-room AVA Hotel Athens is a small and sophisticated boutique in the Plaka neighborhood of Athens. The location is particularly convenient -- it's near the Acropolis and is a three-minute walk from the Temple of Zeus. All rooms are suites that look more like elegant apartments than hotel rooms (though only the higher priced suites have Acropolis views from private balconies). There is an on-site snack bar, but no full restaurant and breakfast isn't free. Another option at a similar price point is the Electra Palace Hotel Athens -- unlike AVA, it has a pool, fitness center, and restaurant.

The 320-room Hotel Grand Bretagne, A Luxury Collection Hotel is a luxury property centrally located right across the street from the Parliament and within walking distance of many top sights like the Acropolis. There are a number of dining options on-site, including a chic cigar lounge and a rooftop restaurant with lovely Acropolis views, as well as two pools, a spa, and a fitness center. Elegant rooms feature chic, classic decor, marble bathrooms, and modern amenities like flat-screen TVs -- but they lack coffee- and tea-making facilities and minibars. As an alternative, travelers could check rates at Electra Palace Hotel Athens, which has a rooftop pool and rooms with minibars. 

Right by the Acropolis in the heart of Athens, the 2015-opened AthensWas is an upscale property in a stellar location. Panoramic city vistas on the smartly furnished roof terrace accompany gourmet drinking and dining, while free cooked-to-order breakfasts are served on the ground level. An elegant, artsy style reflects the property's Design Hotel status, and high-end decor extends to the 21 rooms. They have flat-screen TVs, robes, and gorgeous marble bathrooms, plus private balconies -- those with Acropolis views are worth the added price. Guests have access to a small modern gym, but there are no pool or spa facilities. Travelers looking for both should check out the Electra Metropolis Athens.

The 22-room upscale boutique O&B Athens Boutique Hotel is a youthful, contemporary spot ideally located within walking distance of the Acropolis and many other ancient historic sites and museums. Although it sits in a somewhat seedy neighborhood, the surroundings are lively and (usually) safe. The modern rooms are soundproofed, and the sheets and towels are high-quality. The O&B is a cool (air-conditioned) jewel in the center of hot, crowded Athens.

The King George is a historic and luxurious property with 102 rooms and suites, and enviable positioning in Athens' historic center. Neoclassical interiors and high-end grandeur are found throughout the swanky lobby, bar, and restaurant areas, and the latter two face the Acropolis. Traditionally elegant rooms have Nespresso machines, flat-screen TVs, and swish bathrooms with marble tubs, though some are noisy or lack natural daylight. Pool and spa facilities are free to use next door, while a gym and sauna are on-site. Solid meeting facilities draw well-heeled business travelers alongside tourists, but expect high prices for this impressive hotel. The Electra Palace Hotel Athens is less fancy, but it offers more affordable rates and a rooftop pool.

Still shimmering from its 2016 opening, the luxury Electra Metropolis Athens occupies a prime spot downtown, just a 10-minute walk from the Acropolis. Near sights, shopping, and business destinations, it draws a mix of leisure and corporate travelers, plus families. Plush interiors throughout are smartly accented, and sleek design extends to the 216 rooms. The rooms are stylish and elegant, outfitted with smart TVs, minibars, and AC, and upgrades include living areas and balconies with Acropolis views. Everyone can get a piece of the action at the rooftop pool and restaurant, which afford stunning Athenian panoramas. A swish spa has an indoor pool, and meeting rooms cater to business guests. For a classy stay that's lighter on the wallet, check out the Divani Acropolis Palace Hotel.

The 39-room Coco-Mat Hotel Athens is an upscale property, central to Athens' swanky Kolonaki neighborhood. Proximity to bars, restaurants, shops, and embassies draw leisure and corporate travelers, and nearby metros shorten 30-minute walks to the city's iconic sights. Trendy interiors center around the Coco-Mat lifestyle, and super-comfy beds in the rooms have endless configurations to suit even the fussiest sleeper. Like the linens, free breakfasts are organic, and an honesty bar is available 24-hour. A funky roof terrace has all-day dining and panoramic views, but there are no pool, gym, or spa facilities here. The Royal Olympic Hotel offers a pool and is in the historic center, but it's not nearly as stylish.

The Coco-Mat brand (formed in 1989) sells natural sleep products, such as innovative mattresses that do not need springs, and the Coco-Mat Hotel Nafsika was created to showcase its products. Guests should get a sound night’s sleep in the 22 sophisticated rooms at this luxury boutique hotel, which is located in Athen's ritzy Kifissia suburb. The healthy, airy Mediterranean restaurant with open kitchen and honesty bar is a highlight, and a gourmet breakfast is included in many rates. Though the hotel is not convenient for sightseeing, it is suited for business travelers who need access to the road system. 

The 63 guest rooms at the upscale Pallas Athena Grecotel are large, creatively designed, and modern -- most are suites. Much of the hotel looks and functions like an art gallery, with artwork swapped in and out of the public spaces and guest rooms, and art exhibits are held regularly in areas of the ground floor. While the artistic impulse can be overwhelming, it's also creates a fun vibe. The hotel has a lounge bar and restaurant, where a sumptuous breakfast buffet of hot and cold items is served in a room filled with light -- and art -- and a small, awkwardly arranged fitness room with a handful of cardio machines and free weights.

In a convenient location for sightseeing, the upscale Herodion Hotel is located within a 10-minute walk of the Acropolis and Parthenon. The hotel has a free breakfast buffet, a pretty atrium bar, a restaurant that specializes in Greek and Mediterranean cuisine, and rooftop terraces with amazing views of the Acropolis. There are also two terrace hot tubs and a rooftop restaurant/bar that's open in the summer. The 90 rooms are on the small side, and bathrooms have shower/tub combinations with hand showers. Guests looking for a hotel with a pool should check out Divani Acropolis Palace Hotel, a luxury hotel in a similar price range with a pretty outdoor pool area. 

The 79-room upscale New Hotel is an intricately designed boutique property, with walls of criss-crossed wood, shag carpets, and chairs of draped fabrics, in the heart of Athens. Standard and even Superior Rooms are a little cramped, but Suites offer much more space. The hotel has a well-regarded restaurant as well as the top-floor Art Lounge, which has views of the Acropolis from the south side. There is also a 24-hour fitness center and small spa on-site, and it's downtown location makes the New Hotel convenient to many tourist attractions, including the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Plaka. 

Electra Palace Hotel Athens is a beautiful luxury property with 150 rooms in the neighborhood of Plaka. The grounds and facilities are gorgeous, featuring an outdoor garden with manicured lawns and a pavilion where guests can enjoy the free breakfast. The rooftop restaurant, pool, and surrounding deck offer stunning views of the Acropolis. The hotel has a spa with a large indoor pool and hot tub as well as a fitness center. Rooms offer classic decor with crown molding, wooden floors, and area rugs. Guests looking for more modern accommodations may want to check out the less expensive New Hotel Athens, which is nearby.

The luxury 543-room InterContinental Athenaeum has a spa, 24-hour fitness and business centers, an outdoor pool, four restaurants and bars, and a shopping arcade. Catering to business travelers, there's beautiful club lounge bar, several meeting rooms, and IHG member-specific features, such as free in-room Internet and Wi-Fi. Rooms are tastefully decorated with large workspaces. The hotel is not within walking distance of any major sights -- it's about a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute drive to Syntagma Square -- and its surrounding neighborhood is a bit rundown. But there's periodic free shuttle service to downtown. As an alternative, the Classical King George Palace is a luxury property in the heart of the city.

The 51-room suburban Semiramis Hotel -- part of the YES chain -- is ultra-modern and decorated in lollipop colors. The design is extreme pop, with curves amid hot pink, lime-green, gold, aqua, and orange colors, with some industrial chic thrown in. The effect is young and playful, but the mix of colors, textures, and materials might not be for everyone. There's an outdoor pool (rooms include Poolside Bungalows), an all-day restaurant that morphs into a club-like lounge with a DJ at night, a 24- hour fitness center, business center, rotating art exhibitions, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Guest rooms mix colored concrete, neon signs, and rubber floors -- sometimes to the delight and sometimes to the chagrin of guests. Standard Rooms and even Superior Rooms, while efficiently compact, could do with more space. 

Melia Athens is an upscale property located near Omonia Square, and popular with business travelers and tourists. The rooftop (seasonal and unheated) swimming pool and whirlpool are widely popular, as is the Sky Lounge, which serves snacks and dinner. Breakfast is served buffet style, although it's not included in the room price, and the Cafe Mondo serves lunch and dinner. Rooms are sophisticated with neutral color palettes and have Play Station gaming systems. The fitness center, with a range of cardio machines, weight training equipment, a Turkish hamman, and massages available on appointment, is one of the best we've seen at this price point. Melia Athens also has a sauna.