Where to stay in Athens

Stay around the Acropolis area, Hotel Herodian is well recommended and has rooms with Acropolis views. It’s in a more residential area but only a short walk to the main sites. The Plaka area is a bit more touristy but offers a variety of hotels and views.

The Acropolis is a must see, and then and the Acropolis Museum. If this is new to you, it is worth having a guide the first time round. Get hold of an Athens guidebook and see what else is of interest to you.

The National Archaeological Museum is one of the world’s great museums full of artefacts you see in books ….the bronze statues are particularly impressive as is the gold jewellery from the Minoan and Mycenean eras. If time permits take a tour outside the city…..I enjoyed a half-day trip to Ancient Corinth. A nice drive along the coastline, a quick stop at the Corinth Canal

See the official Athens guide for neighborhoods to stay in.

They are described below, especially the first ones on the list:

https://www.thisisathens.org/neighborhoods.

For easy walking access to the main attractions, Plaka and Acropolis are the most touristy. The Herodion Hotel mentioned by Lesley is in the Acropolis neighborhood (this neighborhood is also called Makriyanni).

Monastiraki and Psyri are also pretty good, but be careful if you prefer quieter surroundings. Note that these two are very lively places until late at night.

The Historic Center is pretty good either, very "traditional."

As we've been spending a lot of time in Athens for many years (we just returned from Athens yesterday), I would recommend Koukaki or Thissio, which are very nice, much quieter, and less crowded with tourists.

I can't recommend a hotel, we always stay in apartments.

The other neighborhoods on the list are further away, so I wouldn't recommend them for just two days.

You'll get lots of contrary advice on this. We personally like Plaka because its so close to the main tourist sites you're going to want to see. We stayed at Hotel Phaedra at the foot of the Acropolis. Basic, budget hotel, but nice enough for us. https://hotelphaedra.com/

I stayed at the Acropolis View Hotel last fall and loved it. The location was wonderful and the view amazing. It had been suggested on this forum.

When the taxi first pulled up, I was a bit surprised by an exterior that looked a little shabby and started to worry. Then I entered a clean and fully renovated hotel on the inside. The front desk was helpful not only at check in but throughout my stay. My room was modern and even had a view of the acropolis out my window. Breakfast is on the rooftop restaurant with fabulous views as well. I could walk the two blocks to the Acropolis entrance and about 7 minutes down a pedestrian only street to the Acropolis museum, many restaurants , and the Acropolis metro stop.

I would happily stay there again.

Has anyone stayed at Niche Hotel? If so, do you recommend?

Our go-to hotel in Athens is the Hotel Hera. We've stayed there twice now. Sometimes the RS tour stays there, but they also stay at the Acropolis View Hotel further down the street.
Both are in excellent walking distance to the Plaka, the Athens Metro, the acropolis and the Acropolis museum.