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Where to Stay in Athens On Way to Crete

Athens Agora - ancient market near the Acropolis and Plaka

Where to Stay in Athens On Way to Crete - delightful small hotels with character located in the centre of the city. Our picks and tips for you to enjoy the capital with less fuss.

Choosing A Hotel

Small Hotels in Athens

Intro to Athens

Athens Tours

Athens Weather

Kifissia - North Athens

On to the Greek Islands

Flights to Athens

Transfer Hotels

Getting to Crete

Choosing a hotel for your Athens stopover

Where to Stay in Athens on Way to Crete - we suggest the relative quiet and charm of Plaka at the base of the Acropolis and central to Athens. Choosing this location will make such a difference to the quality of your stay in Athens.

Our tip is to choose smaller hotels this way:

in Plaka
with 30 or so rooms
with a rooftop terrace, where we can enjoy the view to the Acropolis
we also like hotels with atmosphere and beautiful architecture

This location is handy to explore the following sights on foot:

Plaka and Anafiotika
Ancient Agora- the ancient market of Athens
The Acropolis the the Parthenon
Monastiraki markets
Kolonaki
Acropolis Museum

Below you will find some budget hotel options, as well as some stylish inner city hotels. Of course in summer availability is a challenge, so we can’t emphasise enough to book ahead for July and August.

The Downside - we must remind you that Athens is a noisy, busy, big, modern, hustly-bustly city. The traffic, taxi drivers and noise can be an issue, and pickpockets, even if the famous smog nefos, is ancient history, excuse the pun, since the Olympic cleanup of 2004.

Athens Weather - what to expect in each season

Where to Stay in Athens On Way to Crete
Small Hotels

Where to Stay in Athens On Way to Crete - see all our selected hotels on the map below:

View of the Parthenon from Zillers Rooftop Restaurant Bar, Plaka

Zillers Boutique Hotel - see Athens in style from this funky hotel - centrally located yet very quiet, with views and ambience encapsulated at the modern rooftop restaurant.

Set in a restored neoclassical building in the characteristic streets of Monasteraki just next to Plaka, with attention to detail taken into every architectural detail, this hotel is an experience.

“Location was superb and all staff so friendly and helpful. The roof top restaurant is excellent with stunning views of the Acropolis.”

Check Availability at Zillers Boutique Hotel

View from my breakfast table

Athens - Hotel Adrian view from breakfast

Hotel Adrian - this small hotel is in Plaka and represents good value. It is a small hotel with only 34 rooms. Make sure you request a balcony with a view to the Acropolis, perfect for an Athens stopover. The terrace for breakfast has a wonderful view of the Acropolis and this starts off the day in a special way.

This hotel is 3-star and an excellent central location for exploring Plaka.

“Brilliant location, right near the main attractions and in the heart of the centre. Lots of amazing restaurants within a few minutes. Superb roof terrace for breakfast, and the staff were very friendly and helpful.”

Check Availability for Hotel Adrian

Metropolis Hotel - this small very centrally located hotel is near the Athena Cathedral in Plaka. Also near Ermou Street, a popular shopping street, it has only 21 rooms and lots of features for the discerning traveller, such as air conditioning and double glazed windows, which help with the noise of Athena.

“Location and value for money excellent. Love the view from my room and the breakfast balcony.”

Check Rates & Availability at Metropolis Hotel

This is the budget symbol on We Love Crete

Kimon Hotel Athens - this small hotel in Athens is located perfectly in Plaka, ideal for walking everywhere. This 1-star hotel is very affordable, offers a terrace with that view, wifi and air conditioning.

“Great location, very comfortable and great value :-)”

Check Rates & Availability at Kimon Hotel Athens

Intro to Athens

If you are travelling to Crete, with a stopover or a layover to stay in the ancient capital, we have put together this guide for you, to enjoy your Athens visit including:

Introduction to Athens
Tours
Museums
Kifissia
Flights to Athens
Pireaus Port
Books and Guides
Athens Festivals
Images
Videos

Αθήνα - the Ancient Agora or Marketplace - a green space at the base of the Acropolis

The Ancient Agora - at the base of the Acropolis next to Plaka

Where to Stay in Athens
Guided Tour Suggestions

Take a small group food tour of Athens

Day Tours - if you only have 2 or 3 days in Athens - take a short tour to get oriented and see the highlights of the city.

Where to Stay in Athens
Kifissia in the North

To the north of the city is Kifissia, a 30 minute ride on the metro and train line. It is a peaceful, leafy, green area, known for its cool temperatures and great shopping.

See our Kifissia page with modern hotels, cafes, shopping and tips for enjoying this relaxed northern suburb.

Getting to Crete

Colourful village home in Archanes, Crete

Getting to Crete - take a 1 hour flight from Athens to Heraklion with Aegean Airlines or Olympic Air, with many flights available per day.

Or take a 9.5 hour overnight ferry from Pireaus port of Athens to Heraklion port. More on flights and ferries below.

On to The Greek Islands

If you are travelling onwards to the Greek islands on the way to Crete, we have tips for some of the most beautiful islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Hydra - and those close to Crete such as Kythera and Karpathos.

Flights to Athens

Options for cheap flights to Athens Greece, get the best deals here.

Convenient Transfer Hotels

Where to Stay in Athens on Way to Crete - close to the airport and Rafina port for transfers after a long haul flight or after arriving from the Cyclades Islands on the ferry.

Sofitel Athens Airport for a very quick transfer

Sofitel Athens Airport is ideal for a very quick transfer

Sofitel Athens Airport - at the airport, make life easy on your way to or from Crete - stay at the airport at the Sofitel and rest those weary travellers bones.

With 5-star accommodation, bar, restaurant, free wifi, a beautician and indoor pool and sauna, you can pamper yourself before or after your Greek holiday.

This is a good option if you are flying the next day, because the airport is 25 km from Athens city centre and unless you are making a full day of it, perhaps it is best to rest.

Check Availability

Myrto Hotel near Rafina Port - relaxing pool and gardens

Myrto Hotel near Rafina Port - stylish interiors

Myrto Hotel - just 2.5 km from Rafina Port, this is an ideal transfer hotel if you have come in from the ferry from Mykonos or Syros or Amorgos, indeed any of the Cyclades islands.

Rafina is a smaller, more relaxed port than Pireaus and closer to the airport. If you want, skip Athens city altogether and enjoy a relaxing transfer before your long flight home.

With a pool, outdoor bar and relaxing gardens, unwind in style before taking a taxi 17 km to the airport, without rushing, with assistance of staff at the 24 hour reception.

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Plaka Athens

Where to Stay in Athens - below you can see why we choose to stay in Plaka in downtown Athens. It is so beautiful, full of history and really is part of the authentic experience of the capital, the monuments, sites, markets and thrum of city life.