Sleeping in Athens Family of 5

The best neighborhoods to stay in Athens near the main attractions are Syngtama Square, Koukaki, and Plaka. You can look for an airbnb or a villa in those areas.

I found a really nice one in the Pangrati neighborhood, which I understand is a little far from the tourist area. I'm wondering if it would be quieter though.

It will be a little quieter there. How far is it from Athens city center and the major attractions ?

Have you looked on Booking.com rather than the airbnb app? Booking.com now has many apartments, not just hotels & hostels. If you check this booking.filter, it focusses on lodgings that are close to Acropolis (try not to be more than 1 mile away, closer is better). http://tinyurl.com/heq6edp By now you know the drill: put in yr dates & yr needs (5 adults; 2 rooms) and up pops a list. You go to the "MAP VIEW" box in upper RH corner, click on it & enlarge greatly. All available places that meet yr needs are shown as balloons, when u click on one, it shows price & click again & see details. In June, plenty of apts right near Acropolis rented by owners very near Acropolis, even in my fave neighborhood, Below acropolis near the charming pedestrianized promenade, and at GREAT prices -- I see for 3 nights, apts renting from 300 - 600€. The most convenient neighborhoods? look at this map for the names --- http://www.orangesmile.com/destinations/img/athens-map-big.jpg (click & it gets huuuge). • Plaka, & just below it (and often also called plaka) • Makrigiani (of that walkway I mentioned) • Koukaki ... Beyand the Ancient Agora is • MOnastiraki (noisy on its square but convenient to Piraeus Metro) A longer walk, north of the National Gardens, is Koukaki. Pangrati is at edge of map, beyond the Panathenic Stadium in lower RH. Avoid the Omonia area ... Psirri is gritty/lively a lot of late-night... and Avoid anything fronting right on Syngrou/Amalias Avenue... a major thorofare, 6 - 8 lanes traffic, busy 24 hrs a day.

We often stay in Pangrati. It’s a nice area with a lot of good restaurants. The area behind the Olympic Stadium is particularly pleasant.

It’s an easy walk across the National Gardens to Syntagma, the top of Plaka and the main sites. If you don’t want to walk then get somewhere nearer Evangelismos metro. You are one stop from Syntagma, two from Monistiraki for the Acropolis and on a direct line to the airport.

Alan

I booked an apartment on Veikou street in the Koukaki neighborhood near some of Rick Steves' recommendations for hotels. It's closer to the metro than the one in the Pangrati neighborhood and closer to the Acropolis, you can actually see it from the bedrooms. We stayed in the Marriott hotel about 20 years ago with an amazing view of the Acropolis, so I think my boys will really like that. I want them to be able to explore on their own if they want. One of them lived in Spain for two years and has traveled on his own to Europe a few times, so I know he will want to get out more than the rest of us and wander. The other one lived in Argentina for two years. They are very excited to connect with their Greek heritage (their grandparents are Greek). After 3 nights in Athens we are spending two weeks in the Peloponnese region and visiting the village their grandparents are from and their great uncle will be there. A few other cousins will be visiting the same time as us!