As you guys see from my Instagram, I spend so much time in Athens with my family so I decided to put together a hotel guide for those of you planning on visiting my second home! Athens is an old magical city that is rich in history and culture and has an incredibly diverse cuisine. Today it is home to more than 4.5 million people and attracts tourists from across the globe. While there are a great number of hotels to choose from, it may seem like an overwhelming task selecting the right one for you. I am happy to recommend THREE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAV PLACES WHERE I PERSONALLY ENJOY STAYING.
Hotel Grande Bretagne – Located in the center of Athens, this is ideal for those who want to be in the middle of the city and explore museums or head to Acropolis. It is minutes away from Kolonaki, which is where all the locals go for dinner and drinks! I always find the staff at the hotel to be lovely and inviting, they make an effort to get to know individual guest names and personal preferences, giving us that oh so sweet small boutique hotel feeling.
Aside from its perfect location, another reason to love this hotel is for its sensational rooftop pool. It is the only hotel in Athens with an outdoor salt-water pool. This is by far my favorite feature. Who doesn’t love a pool without chlorine? 🙂 Weekdays at Hotel Grande Bretagne are usually quiet; on weekends you can expect to see families with children. Many guests make this hotel a stop before or after their visit to the Greek islands. The rooftop menu provides a wonderful opportunity to taste traditional Greek dishes that are also great “Healthy with Nedi” options. One of my top picks is the Green Salad topped with grilled chicken skewers and cherry tomatoes. Another delicious dish that is a must try is the Grilled meatballs with cumin and fresh goat cheese. Oh, and be sure to taste the Grilled sardines with ‘fava’ purée, you won’t believe your taste buds!
Don’t miss out on Astir Beach
If you are a lover of the waterside, I recommend visiting Astir Beach. Located in Vouliagméni, Four Seasons Astir Palace is a beautiful resort that is newly renovated. Over 100 million euros were spent on it’s design and it is the FIRST Four Seasons Hotel in Greece. It used to be Astir Palace and it has been undergoing renovation for almost two years. Now that Four Seasons took over, it will be one of the best (if not the best) hotels Greece has! It is due to open in March 2019. The hotel is a bit removed from the city center (about 30 minutes by car). It is set on a private peninsula in the heart of the Athenian Riviera, making it ideal for a relaxing and breathtaking get-away. The resort is family friendly and each guest room comes with fascinating views of the Aegean Sea. If you are not staying at the hotel, you can purchase a day pass to Astir Beach which is larger than the hotel’s beach and is completely separated from Astir Palace. I consider it to be one of the best private beaches in Athens.
When it comes to dining, Four Seasons Astir Palace offers the best Nobu Restaurant I have had the pleasure to dine in. Candle lit tables create a sexy and romantic ambience, intensified by the magnificent sunset and astonishing views of the Aegean Sea. Service, food, and atmosphere are always excellent. Most dishes are similar to all other Nobu restaurants. I recommend trying the Chicken tacos with anticucho sauce. It’s not something I would usually order at Nobu but since I tried them, they are now a staple to my order. Another delicious simple bite that I absolutely recommend is the Black cod butter lettuce. So yummmmy!
The Margi – The Margi is a beautiful hotel located on the Athens Riviera. They have a spectacular outdoor pool and Astir Beach is just a short walk away. They also offer wonderful outdoor spa services, so this is the perfect hotel for someone who is looking to spend time relaxing and lounging in the sun. They have several great restaurants which source from their own private 20,000 sq meter farm located in the countryside outside of Athens.
The Hilton Hotel – The Hilton is in a prime location just a few steps from Syntagma Square and a short walk from fashionable area Kolonaki (known for high end shops and the hottest restaurants). You also get a gorgeous view of the Acropolis and loads of delicious cocktails from their roof top bar, Galaxy. The staff is always so wonderful and the hotel is spotless! One of my favorite restaurants is in it – MILOS and they have the most gorgeous and largest outdoor pool in Athens. I highly recommend checking it out.
I hope this gives you an inside look into three very prominent lodging options in Athens. If you choose to stay at either of these sites you will not be disappointed! Feel free to share your own experiences with me.
Thank you for these suggestions. Do you rent or can you suggest a place to rent a home for two weeks? I recently air B &B in Loutso. I didn’t know what I was doing but it worked out.