The best accommodations Athens

Budget & Tips

Greece welcomes more than 26 million tourists every year, which is one of the main foreign exchange earners of the country. In Athens, the tourist infrastructure is obviously present everywhere: you will have no trouble finding accommodation that fits your budget. For a comfortable hotel, you should expect to pay around €90.

Prices can vary from double to triple in some areas, and are negotiable out of season. In high season, however, rooms are often scarce, and you will be happy to find one; bargaining becomes impossible. At this time of year, it is strongly advised to make reservations. Real scams are rare, but if something unexpected and unpleasant happens, don't hesitate to contact the Greek authorities or the tourist police to find out what your options are.

There are youth hostels in most of the tourist cities, but be aware that except for one in Athens, the others are not part of the International Youth Hostel Federation and therefore do not meet its standards. Nevertheless, they are often the cheapest way to spend the night and they do not impose a curfew. For young people, they are also one of the best places to make contact with foreign counterparts.

Bed and breakfast accommodation is much more common on the islands. In Athens, they are rarer, and take on the appearance of a small hotel. The domatia (plural of domatio, "room" in Greek), also renamed rooms to rent or rooms to let, are generally on the property of the inhabitant, but are independent of it. From a single room to a series of apartments to a complex of studios, the characteristics of homestays vary greatly. Usually open from April to October, this type of accommodation offers a more economical solution, halfway between camping and hotel rooms. The tourist has his own room with or without bathroom, with or without kitchenette, but always at reasonable prices. On the other hand, you will generally not be offered meals or breakfast. The owners often come and sell them to you at the bus stops or when you get off the ferries. Be careful, compare prices, get the exact location of the domatio and, if possible, look at pictures. But don't worry, generally speaking, the rooms are clean and functional, even if some rare renters are real swindlers. So, never pay more than one night in advance and don't hesitate to leave if you don't like it. However, this solution will sometimes allow you to make contacts with local people. Often, you can negotiate better prices if you stay several nights.

To be booked

During the high season, most of the accommodations in and around Athens are full and, more importantly, prices rise, so it is imperative to book before you leave. The booking period starts in many cases at the beginning of the year.

What's very local

Most of the campsites in Greece are privately owned, with those run by the EOT being the exception. Often reasonably priced, many of them are clean and quite pleasant to stay at. However, during the high season, some campsites have unpleasant surprises in store for those seeking a minimum of peace and quiet. Generally, they are open from May to October. After a series of abuses that threatened to damage the beaches much more than pollution, wild camping is in principle no longer allowed. In reality, it can still be practiced by choosing a secluded and discreet place, and by checking that no prohibition is posted. Be especially careful with fire: if you are the cause of a fire due to a badly extinguished barbecue, you will be held responsible, and the Greeks do not joke with this. For a list of campsites in Greece, contact the Greek tourist office.

Wilderness camping in Greece. Wild camping is forbidden everywhere in Greece, even on the islands or on the Athenian beaches. However, it is quite common to see young people pitching a tent in a small hidden cove or even in the more mountainous regions in summer, in the valleys or near rivers. In the countryside or near the sea, this sometimes amuses the locals, who are used to it, and may offer to help you out for a ride or a shower. However, others are more recalcitrant, especially the owners of hotels or other accommodations who will not hesitate to call the police - you will then incur a fine of 300 euros... Some of the beaches on the outskirts of Athens are accessible, but others close at night, as they are semi-private. Ask the regulars if you intend to go camping in Greece. Take your precautions, but keep in mind that this is one of the most used countries in Europe for this activity. Some islands like Aggistri (near Athens), Anafi and Samothraki are known to be islands full of wild campers in summer, all gathered on beautiful beaches.

There are five categories of hotels in Greece: categories L (luxury), A, B, C and D. But beware, these categories are different from those in other European countries and they only reflect a level of equipment, not the intrinsic quality of the hotel. For example, an excellent hotel that does not have a television in its rooms will be in category C, while another establishment, dirty and noisy, could be in category B. So don't blindly rely on these categories, nor do you expect the same comfort from a Greek 4-star as from a French counterpart. This guide does not mention the categories, but only describes the quality and a price range of the hotels. Many hotels obtained subsidies to renovate for the 2004 Olympic Games. So, in addition to a new facade and more modern facilities, most hotels have now equipped all their rooms with air conditioning and television.

You may be surprised by the number of hotels called Xenia or Filoxenia, terms that mean hospitality but do not indicate that the hotels belong to any chain. Rather, it is the owner of the hotel who lacked imagination in naming his establishment so! Greek hotel chains often have small establishments with a maximum of 20 hotels.

A little linguistic clarification: you will often be offered a suite(souita, the Greek word for suite). It does not always mean a luxurious room: in fact, it is sometimes a room equipped like a studio, often designed for several people, with kitchen and bathroom, and sometimes several rooms. If you are traveling with your family, this can be more economical.

For food lovers

For your breakfast, choose the rooftop of a hotel or the terrace of a café in Plaka, Monastiraki and Thissio overlooking the Acropolis or the archaeological sites.

Smokers

In general, smoking is allowed in all outdoor areas of various types of hotel accommodations, and sometimes even indoors. When it is forbidden, it is clearly indicated at the time of booking, or once there, in the rooms. However, in Greece, and especially in Athens, people live almost all year round in the open air, which is a delight for the hardcore smoker.