So, you're planning your trip to Athens and you're unsure of where to stay! Let me help you! Staying in any one of these neighbourhoods, you will never need a cab. Their central locations will help you save time and money! However, each neighbourhood has a very different vibe, so make sure you read this guide before booking, so you can find the best neighbourhood most suited to you! I have decided against putting in a pros and cons list, as what may be a con for me, may be a must-have for you, and vice versa! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, if you've ever stayed in one of these neighbourhoods!
Monistiraki:
Monistiraki is one of the oldest neighbourhoods right in the centre of the city of Athens. Monistiraki is a famous meeting spot for both tourists and locals as it is filled with iconic landmarks such as Hadrians Library and the Ancient Agora, as well as numerous cafes, tavernas and bars perfect for socialising.
As this neighbourhood is one of the most famous spots in Athens, many of the restaurants, bars and even shops are open mid-morning til late in the night. The area is alot more suited towards tourism and socailising as compared to other places such as Thiseio and Makrygianni.
Monistiraki is also filled with busier, wider streets and has a lot less narrow alleys than the likes of Pysri. Whilst the butling narrow streets of Plaka are only a 30 second walk off of the main square, the majority of Monistiraki offers an open plan lay out, providing a much safer feel for solo travellers or women who are wary of walking the streets later at night!
The hustle and the bustle of the square is the perfect central location for a mixture of running errands and sitting back relaxing at a bar and people watching. There is always something to do in the square.
If the archelogical sites of athens are of interest to you, staying in Monistiraki might be the best place for you! With the Acropolis being only a 20 min walk away from the main square, on route you can also visit the likes of Hadrians Library and the Ancient Agora!
Right off of the square is a street filled with flea markets, with locals selling everything from bags, to clothes, antiques, and even local produce all at discounted prices. Whilst you may be better to buy your souveniers and gifts from Plaka, across the square, the flea market is definitely worth a visit and you never know what hidden gems you may find!
If you are staying in an Air Bnb or going self catering in a hotel, staying in Monistiraki may be the perfect place for you. With everything from super markets, to pet stores, make up stores and clothing stores right on your door step!
Monistiraki is filled with rooftop bars which of course, all have a view of the Acropolis. Tried and tested by yours truly, Athens 360 offers stunning views of the Acropolis (i recomend booking to visit at night!), and indulge in their delicious cocktails all named after the Greek islands.
If day time socialising is more your thing, monistiraki square is filled with great brunch places if you felt like having a slower start to your day. If sweet breakfasts are your thing, head over to The Brunch Factory and order the pancakes (!!!), or if savoury is more your thing, The Brunchers offer a massive menu of savoury deliciousness.
Its worth noting that as Monistiraki is a massive tourist attraction, it is always extremely busy. Whilst you may feel safer in numbers, there are definitely more opportunists around, so keep an eye on your belongings and stay vigilant at all times. It is a main hub for pick pockets so be careful of how you carry your belongings.
With that being said, it is of course expected than within busier areas, comes noise! Whilst you'd be hard to find any city break central hotel with a super quiet sleeping space, chances are you will be so tired from exploring the city all day, you'll sleep like a log regardless of whats going on outside. On the plus sides, restaraunts are required to turn off their music at middnight, so worst case scenario, you find yourself at a bar, indulding in a greek coffee and dessert, before heading off for a slightly later than usual night!
Last but not least, much like any city in the world, you will unfortuately come across quite a few homeless people, who start to settle down for the night, in the square. Whilst i didnt feel like my safety was ever compromised when out at night, if this is something that worries you, maybe staying in Monistiraki isnt the best option for you. With this being said, it is important to remember that you dont know anyones personal situations and so always be kind and helpful if and where you can.
BUY YOUR OWN SAFE TRAVEL BAG HERE!
Syntagma:
Located at the opposite end of the Main Street, about a 15 minute walk away, is Syntagma. This is the most important square in all of Athens due to is historical and political nature, and is at the heart of all commercial activity on the mainland.
Syntagma square is home to the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, where a changing of the guard ceremony happens every Sunday at 11am. This is free to watch, but as the already popular area does get very busy, and roads are closed an hour beforehand for preparations, be sure to get there early if you choose not to stay within walking distance.
Straight off of the square, is Ermou street, the main shopping hub of the city. With everything from local home wear stores to universal shops such as Bershaka and Zara, Ermou Street offers the perfect mix of tourism and local days out.
Because of the prime location, Syntagma has more glamouros and upscale hotels! (Think private cars, door men and bell boys!) Whilst you defintely don't have to spend an arm and a leg to stay in Syntagma, if fancier hotels are more your thing, a hotel in Syntagma may be more suitable for you.
Whilst Syntagma is your more built up, accomodating area, you should not be expecting any traditional greek experiences. It is a built up city, has a constant traffic flow of cars and pedestrians and feels just like being in London. With this being said, you are ore likely to find a mcdonalds or starbucks on the street corner than a traditional family run greek taverna. If a more traditional greek experience is your vibe, maybe consider the likes of some other neighbourhoods in this list!
City centre:
The city centre is the central hub where over half the population visit on a daily basis. The City centre leads all the way down from Syntagma to Monistiraki and covers everywhere in between. It is home to department stores such as the Condos Centre, Athens central market, open daily, and a street purely designated to delicious street food!
Located on Aiolou 19 street, is an array of different street food vendors with everything from traditional greek (such as gyros, feta fries, and Loukamades!), to chinese, mexican, and lebanese food! With so much more to choose from, there is even an irish bar on the corner! If you are a big foody, or want freshly cooked food on demand, without paying restaraunt premiums, staying in the city centre may be for you.
Due to its built up surroundings, there are nearly no hotels with a view of the acropolis and most rental accomodations are likely to be above shops or restaraunts off of the main streets. This could mean you are paying a premium price for the convenience of the location, without the premium experience.
Despite its busy nature, there is however quite a few narrow pedestrian only alleys and one way roads, limiting the traffic around the area. So whilst it is still a bustling neighbourhood at night time, the noise is kept more to a minimum due to a limited amount of traffic.
Psyri:
Psyri is a vibrant neighbourhood just off of Iron Square, with streets filled with eateries offering
meze and live music, as well as small artisan shops, known for their leather and clothing. With its old fashioned artisan workshops, popular bars and traditional restaurants, Psyri has something for everyone.
Psyri is only a 20 minute walk to the entrance of the Acropolis. As Athens most famous tourist attraction, it is the ideal location for anyone keen to make the visit. Take precautions if you are walking though, as there is quite a few steps and some very steep slopes! But not only is the view of the Acropolis great, the view of the city is breathtaking!
The neighbourhood is of Psyri is full of Mezesopoleia (little tavernas) where you can order freshly made meze. These are also cheaper than the restaraunts you will find on Monistiraki square. Make sure you head into one of these tavernas, even if you aren't staying in Psyri, as you are gauranteed to have a delicious, locally sourced, freshly made greek food.
Psyri is filled with mainly pedestrian areas, so all streets have little to no cars and are all paved well for walking. It is worth noting that due to the lack of roads, a 5 minute walk will quickly turn into a 40 minute drive, so if you can, always stick to walking, as a quicker and more cost-effective method of transport!
Due to its close proximity to the Acropolis, there are plenty of hotels to choose from, many of which have a rooftop view of the Acropolis! This is a great alternative to going out in the evening, booking a table and spending many euros on drinks for the view!
Speaking of hotels, Psyri offers some of the most affordable hotels in Athens. With a mixture of hotels and hostels, there is something for everyone, and each and every budget.
Last but not least, before heading back to your hotel and calling it a night, why not head out to one of the many bars the neighbourhood has to offer? Psyri has plenty of nightlife options to chose from, such as bars, clubs, and restaraunts open til late. With this being said, since Psyri has a busy nightlife, it can sometimes get a little loud, with live bands playing and both locals and tourist dancing and cheering in the streets, if you are a super light sleeper, it may be worth staying in a quieter neighbourhood. However, there still is a curfew that restaraunts and bars must stick to, and there is always noise to be expected in any city break!
Plaka:
Plaka is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Athens. Made up of a series of small alleys filled with shops selling local produce, it is a must visit destination when visiting the city. Located just at the bottom of the Acropolis hill, you'll find local tavernas, bars, restaurants and cafe's. When it comes to hotels, most are older buildings, so whilst they may not be as modern as some in and around Syntagma, they are more authentically Greek. This is a great option if you are looking for a more traditional style of accomodation. It is worth noting that Plaka is one of the most popular destinations in Athens, so the area does get very busy, and prices can be slightly more expensive. It's not generally a loud area, but it is filled with shops which stay open until late, so if you are a light sleeper, this may not be the area for you! If its a breath-taking view of the Acropolis you are after, then Plaka may not be the one. You will find that due to being located directly at the bottom of the hill, you won't have the best view of the Acropolis. Infact, you'll see more or less of the side of the Acropolis, as opposed to seeing it front facing. So whilst it still looks spectactular from any direction, it may not be the desired postcard picture you were looking for. This may not be a deal breaker for you though when you remember you are located near many roof top bars in the centre, all of which have stunning views of the Acropolis.
Thiseio:
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