Athens

Search for hotels near Syntagma Square. You didn’t give a price range so difficult to make recommendations. We fled Electra Palace nearby, worst hotel stay ever.

Suki - thanks for your reply. I am also researching hotels.

I know different travelers have different reactions to hotels - my reviews and reactions have sometimes been at odds with a more general consensus on review boards. So, I am not doubting you at all, but the Electra Palace has generally good reviews on TripAdvisor, except perhaps for room size. Could you elaborate on your disappointment?

Of recent years, I alway s recommend looking just SOUTH of the Acropolis complex, in the area known as Makrigianni. look on this map -- http://www.orangesmile.com/destinations/img/athens-map-big.jpg (click & it gets huuuge; navigate w side-slides). As it shows, there's a lovely no-cars promenade all along the south edge.. this area also mainly lo-rise, plenty of trees, older apts, hotels, private residences. As u can see, VERY convenient; Acrop south entrance is #73, Acrop museum is #24. Among good hotels nearby: Hotel Hera, Hotel Herodion & its "sister hotel" Hotel Phillipos, plus Hotel Airotel Parthenon, and a new (and pricey) Athens Was. Also S of Acropolis is Athens Gate, but I do not recommend because it's right ON AMalias Avenue-Syngrou, 6 lanes of traffic 24/7.

If you are looking for a quiet area, and to avoid night noise, be careful, in the area around Syntagma Square you could have quiet pedestrian streets.

And noisy streets like:

Mitropoleos street, Adrianoy street, Ermou Street and Voulis street. Lots of traffic all the time (plus delivery service trucks and garbage collection). So noisy if you have a room facing these streets.
All these streets are west of Syntagma Square

Here are some other areas to avoid:

The immediate surroundings of Monastiraki Square, very lively until late in the evening:

https://goo.gl/maps/LjjkeFoVBnGgVkg39

The whole Psyri district which is excellent for going out in the evening but much less for sleeping:

https://goo.gl/maps/Jbwhgzse8o7dXG6p8

Like Janet I confirm: Avoid all hotels on Leoforos Andrea Siggrou avenue, a large avenue with lots of traffic 24/24,

Also avoid all areas around Omonia Square where prices are cheaper but the environment is really not great for a first visit to the city.

I never stay in hotels when I'm in Athens, but here are 2 examples of well located and not overpriced hotels close to the main sites:

Herodion Hotel (already mentioned by janet)

https://www.herodion.gr/en/

Acropolis Hill Hotel (be careful, sloping street)

https://www.acropolishill.gr/

We stayed at the Metropolis Hotel in Athens a few years ago and we've booked it again in two weeks! Some of the rooms and a rooftop terrace have an awesome view of the Acropolis and we booked a room for $99/night! We found the manager to be very friendly and helpful. We're hoping we'll have another great experience there especially since it's a block from the best gelato and close to public transportation!

Just got back from Athens. My hotel was one block from the Cathedral, one block from Monastriraka Square, 10 minutes to the Acropolis (all uphill) The view from the hotel rooftop bar and restaurant is priceless. Clean room and bathroom.
https://www.plakahotel.gr/
The shuttle bus from the cruise ship drops you off on the side of the road...aarrgg! Just wait for a taxi, no problem.

Great Answers thanks.
I am staying at the Kimon Athens Hotel Apollonos 27, 10556 Athens. Any thoughts or comments and this area? Is it quite close to walk to spots?
Thank you.

The Kimon hotel is well located, right between Syntagma Square and the Acropolis / Ancient Agora.
It is also a 12-minute walk from Monastiraki Square and its Flea Market. Don't worry, everything is flat, no slope in this area.

Apollonos Street is relatively quiet and you won't have too much traffic noise, apart from garbage collection. Going to the left out of the hotel, at the end of the street you will see Benizelos House, the oldest house in Athens.
There is a nice bar on the other side of the cathedral square, the Heteroclito bar. On the other hand, I do not recommend the 3 or 4 restaurants around the square.

Check the Omiros Hotel on Apollonos Street, just a few blocks away from Syntagma Sqare and also close to the Plaka. Apollonos Street is quiet.

Just returned from Athens and stayed in the New Hotel. Was wonderful. Right near the start of Rick's walking tour! https://www.yeshotels.gr/newhotel/

Thank you thank you allllll so much!!!