We were in Greece many years ago and will be returning in May 2022 for a cruise departing from Piraeus. Arriving in Athens at about 4:30 pm from long flights, we just need a comfortable, quiet hotel room where we can enjoy a short walk to the Acropolis for a sunset view before having dinner and crashing for the night. A room with a small refrigerator is a plus so we can get some fruit and yogurt to store for breakfast. A safe area is a given. We are ambitious enough to take the train from the airport but after long flights a taxi may be in order. Given all of the above, perhaps someone may have suggestions based on their experience. Thank you.
Posted by
Walnut Creek, CA
602 posts
We stayed at the Hotel Hera at Falirou 9,, which is a hotel that Rick steves uses for his best of Greece Tour. The hotel Hera suggested a company called "Welcome Pickups" to pick us up from the airport and bring us to the hotel. Cost was €45. Paid in advance
The hotel is in an excellent location, within walking distance of the Acropolis and our room had an Acropolis view. We walked to dinner on the pedestrian only street leading to the Plaka on one night and had dinner on the terrace of the Hotel Hera then next. Highly recommended.
We also used Welcome Pickups to bring us to the cruise port in Piraeus. cost was €27. Paid in advance.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11869 posts
This is the hotel used when we did the RS tour. A very nice breakfast was included.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
We liked the Herodion on the south side of the Acropolis. Its nearby sister hotel, the Philippos, is also supposed to be good.
Posted by
585 posts
Hotel Herodion is a 10 minute walk from the Acropolis. When I was there two years ago they offered a good complimentary cooked breakfast. The restaurant provided a good dinner and there are lots of other restaurants in the area (you might like to book dinner at the nearby Acropolis Museum terrace cafe, good food great view of the Acropolis).
Posted by
Northeast Ohio, USA
707 posts
The Arethusa Hotel (6-8 Mitropoleos St.) is nice; we've stayed there several times. No fridges in the rooms that I recall, but there is a really good buffet breakfast, including fruit and yogurt. Very close to the Plaka, without being noisy, at least in our experience (we always ask for a quiet room).
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
Another vote for Hotel Hera. We spent 4 nights. hotelhera.gr. Excellent, quiet location- Short walk to the Acropolis, complimentary buffet breakfast, lovely views from the rooftop. I would highly recommend Mani Mani Restaurant, just a few minutes from the hotel. We ate there 3 nights. Reservations were a must. Our favorite restaurant in Athens.
In our experience we felt safe in Athens. We took a taxi from the airport to the hotel & a taxi to Piraeus to visit the Cyclades following our RS Greece Tour.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7937 posts
For our Athens trip 3 years ago, we stayed at Peri’s Hotel. We also had long flights, and didn’t land until nighttime. Peri’s picked us up at the airport, and after we arrived at the hotel, they arranged for us to order dinner from a nearby restaurant just before they closed, which was delivered to the hotel. We were so hungry, we ordered too much, but were able to stash leftovers in the fridge in the room. Those were great the next morning! Peri’s took us to the airport in the morning so we could catch a bus to the port for our boat.
They're on the Athens east coast, so the hotel itself is possibly more a sunrise location than sunset. Also not a short walk to the Acropolis, but the Parthenon is closed before sunset, so if you want a high point sunset view, you may have to set Mars Hill as your destination, and not the top of the Acrop.
Posted by
Clrwtr, FL
169 posts
We stayed at the Acropolis View Hotel several times. Local owned and definitely not a chain (@ 25 rooms if that). I found it on Booking.com but booked direct. It's a bit further east of the Hotel Hera - but has a great rooftop with clear views of the Acropolis and Parthenon. No walking required! Could see the restoration activities from our small balcony. From the rooftop, DH took a magnificent time lapse of the lights coming up as sun set (Ain't cell phone cameras great?) .
Rooms are smallish (normal for Greece) but have 'fridge & safe. Our shower stall was very tight - but a few rooms had tub shower combos that were more spacious. Had a great breakfast (in '18 & 19[2X} ). Staff arranged for transfers wherever we needed and were very helpful with anything we could think to ask. There was a performance at the theater one night and we watched the lights and listened - so special.
Ate at GH Attikos Restaurant one evening - just around the block - it too has great views of the Acropolis. And was wonderful food. I'd suggest reservations (probably can make on the day) and check their opening nights. We missed the open nights on our first trip..
Posted by
Indiana
919 posts
Inn Athens has large, modern, extremely comfortable rooms and breakfast is included. Staff is warm and welcoming. From there it is a short walk to the Electra Metropolis Hotel where you can enjoy the sunset from their rooftop bar.