Hotels in Athens
Athens is not at first glance the most beautiful capital in the world. But the Olympic Committee doesn't award the Games to a country just because it invented them: they had faith in Athens and in 2004 the city had a chance to show the world just what it could offer.
And that, as it turns out, is a lot. Great nightlife, famous sights and lively festivals are all reasons for a tourist to consider turning a night's stopover in the city into a longer stay, and there are good hotels in all price ranges. If you're not booking through a travel agency, which should already be getting discounts, it's always worth asking if a 'special rate' can be arranged, particularly off season.
Being the cradle of western civilization and all that, Athens is a place with a lot of history. To get a sense of its more recent experiences, it's hard to beat a night or two at the Grande Bretagne in Syntagma. This elegant luxury hotel, the most famous in Athens, was built in 1862 for the Greek royal family. Subsequent occupants included both the Nazi invading forces and Winston Churchill. It was modernized in 2002 in preparation for the Olympics and is one of the city's major landmarks. At the other end of the historical spectrum is the much newer Ledra Marriott in Syngrou. Part of the well-known luxury chain, you can see the Acropolis from its hydrotherapy pool. Slightly cheaper but still expensive is the Athenian Inn in Charitos, one of writer Lawrence Durrell's old haunts.
Medium/low-budget hotels include the traditional-style Acropolis House in Plaka and the nearby Adonis hotel. Though the rooms in the Adonis may have small bathrooms, all rooms have balconies and there's a roof terrace where you can have breakfast looking at the Acropolis. The Art Gallery hotel, family-run with care, was once the studio of a local painter whose work decorates the interior.
At the economy end of the hotel scale is the Hotel Dioskouros in Plaka, which has the feel of a clean and well maintained hostel/guest house. It's basic but relaxing, situated as it is in a relatively peaceful part of the city and with a garden with lemon trees. The Nefeli Hotel, also in Plaka, combines good service with a handy but quiet(ish) location.
