Travel Guides

The Insider’s Luxury Athens Travel Guide

Our travel guide to Athens covers everything from where to stay to the finest restaurants and tavernas to dine at to must-see landmarks.

By 

Lindsay Cohn

 |  July 11, 2025

Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities, and it gives travelers plenty to do, whether you prefer sightseeing, savoring souvlaki, or swimming in the Aegean Sea.

Vacationers jetting off to sun-drenched Cyclades hotspots of Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini, or the low-key charms of Folegandros and Sifnos, often overlook Athens. Some travelers skip it entirely, only stepping foot inside the international airport, while others opt for a quick overnight at the beginning or end of a trip. While these itineraries certainly maximize time on the islands, it comes at the expense of cultural immersion. 

From the center of ancient civilization to a modern cultural hub, Greece’s capital is one of the most fascinating and vibrant places to visit in Europe. Famed for its surviving structures dating back to antiquity, the birthplace of Western civilization has millennia-old ruins and impressively preserved treasures. 

Beyond the world-famous sites (though the temples of the Acropolis are not to be missed if it’s your first time), Athens offers incredible restaurants — from timeworn tavernas to Michelin-starred fine dining — lively nightlife, great shopping, and high-style hotels. When the Aegean Sea calls, escape to the sandy beaches just 30 minutes from the city center.  Here is our ultimate travel guide to Athens. 

In This Article

• The Best Luxury Hotels in Athens 
• The Best Places to Eat in Athens 
• Where to Drink in Athens
• What to See in Athens
• Where to Shop in Athens 

The Best Luxury Hotels in Athens 

These hotels blend traditional Greek interiors with contemporary architecture and design.

Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Heritage is front and center at Hotel Grande Bretagne, an opulent Syntagma Square landmark dating back to 1874. Now part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection, the polished classic boasts a guestbook that’s etched in the scrolls of history. Royals, world leaders, and celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, have all checked in. That doesn’t even account for the star-studded RSVP lists of its lavish parties. 

Much of the magic of yesteryear remains on display today. Guests can even take a tour to see all the museum-worthy antiques and artwork. The rooms — including the 4,300-square-foot Royal Suite — continue the theme of classical resplendence with rich drapes, vintage wood furniture, and original art. Even the newer additions are in lockstep with the past, notably the rooftop pool, restaurant, and bar with marvelous views of the Acropolis and the Hellenic Parliament.

The Dolli at Acropolis 

If we were doling out superlatives, The Dolli, which occupies a 1925-built five-story neoclassical mansion facing the iconic Acropolis, would win the award for best views. It’s fair to say the stirring views are the star, but then again, everything about this well-appointed and luxurious hotel shines bright. Fashioned as a residential-style respite, it’s a beacon of quiet luxury with an all-day rooftop restaurant and infinity pool (yes, the panoramas are as jaw-dropping as you’d expect), an art-filled salon for tea and treats, and a glamorous library bar. Snoozing quarters range from bijou rooms (a chic choice for solo travelers) to grand apartments that accommodate up to eight adults in comfort and swish style. All the setups are outfitted with custom furnishings and marble bathrooms.

Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens

While staying in the city center is ideal for sightseeing and soaking in the buzz, travelers seeking a more relaxing seaside setting that still provides access to all the urban excitement should consider the Four Seasons Astir Palace hotel in Athens, a reimagining of three Athens Riviera resorts with a rich history spanning six decades. 

Spread across 75 acres, the sprawling five-star resort exudes seaside glamour and sophistication, features 303 rooms — including 42 suites and 61 private bungalows — eight restaurants, and a gorgeous spa. Guests can choose between relaxing in a serviced cabana by the pool or on the private beach. With a catalogue of exclusive experiences, no one would fault you for skipping the off-site historic tours in favor of on-property pottery making, weaving, olive oil tasting, wine tasting, and garden-to-bottle mixology classes. 

The Best Places to Eat in Athens 

Restaurants in Athens offer an unforgettable fine dining experience thanks to their culinary excellence and cultural ties to the city.

Delta

Set on the fourth floor of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC), Delta, helmed by Chef George Papazacharias, stands out as the only restaurant in Athens with two Michelin stars. The soaring dining room, crowned by art installations and floor-to-ceiling windows, is a spellbinding backdrop for savoring gastronomic tasting menus rooted in sustainability (ingredients come from the kitchen garden or local farms) and elevated to the next level by precise technique. 

Read More: The Best Luxury Sustainable Restaurants in New York City

Tudor Hall

It’s fair to say there are some things money can’t buy, but having a Black Card will get you an Acropolis-facing table at Tudor Hall, the excellent Michelin-starred rooftop restaurant at King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Grand with an old-world atmosphere, it’s a place that throws it back without taking its eye off the present. Dinner unfolds slowly — not due to the service, which is superb, but because a contemporary degustation menu complemented by the sommelier-selected wines should never be rushed. 

Makris Athens

For an elevated, gourmet experience that remains true to traditional Greek flavors, reserve a table at Makris Athens. Tucked inside a historic building at the doorstep of the Parthenon, the acclaimed restaurant, honoring the ancient name of the island of Corfu, celebrates the flavors and ingredients that are part of the cultural fabric of Greece while demonstrating a mastery of fine dining.

Cherchez la Femme

Cherchez la Femme is an all-day kafeneion (traditional Greek café) for the modern age. Overlooking the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral, it’s as good for breakfast as it is for dinner. If you’re stopping by in the morning hours, be sure to order the Sfakia pie made with Cretan honey. When the sun starts to fade, the cobbled terrace fills with a mix of locals and visitors enjoying tzatziki, baked Melichloro cheese from Limnos, and Greek wine.  

Oikonomou

To fully understand the soul of Athens, it’s essential to dine at a family-run taverna, and Oikonomou is one of the best. Giannis Oikonomou opened his eponymous eatery back in 1930. Almost a century later, the kitchen continues to cook up comforting classic dishes, such as fava beans, stewed gigante beans, and meatballs. The homey setting hasn’t changed much either (though the wine list continues to expand). The cozy dining room showcases retro tiled floors and a corner dedicated to Greek essayist Kostis Papagiorgis, a regular patron. 

Where to Drink in Athens

The best bars and lounges in Athens happen to also be some of the city’s oldest — cementing them as a part of the city’s history that live on in modern times. 

Baba Au Rum

You might be surprised to find a rum bar in the homeland of ouzo and Assyrtiko, but Baba Au Rum endeavors to push the boundaries. This convivial, Modernism-minded haunt pours tiki and tropical cocktails to the delight of all who walk through the door. Besides a wide range of sugarcane spirits, patrons can sip twists on classic tipples like the savory Bloody Baba and the smoky Beatnik Paloma. 

Read More: The 15 Best Rum Cocktails, From Classic to Contemporary, The 11 Best Rum Brands in the World

Line

A joint venture between Vasilis Kyritsis and Nikos Bakoulis (the duo behind The Clumsies Bar) and Dimitris Dafopoulos (one of the co-founders of Three Cents Artisanal Beverages), Line is a new-school drinking den where sustainability and self-described subversiveness are king. Bartenders concoct zero-waste cocktails and pour environmentally friendly house-made fruit wine from behind the sleek black bar. 

Galaxy Bar

The oldest continuously operating bar in Athens, Galaxy Bar has been a fixture of Stadiou Street since 1972. This isn’t the place to go for white-glove service and some molecular martini overlooking some larger-than-life landmark. A real local hangout, it’s renowned for its classic cocktails and timeless atmosphere that feels familiar even if it’s your first time. 

What to See in Athens

Whether it’s your first or umpteenth time visiting the ancient city, here are the most important stops you’ll want to consider taking while visiting Athens.

Acropolis

The Unesco-listed Acropolis is without question the most iconic landmark in Athens. The sprawling site comprises the ancient wonders of the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaia, and Temple of Athena Nike. Navigating such a perennially packed site, chock-full of history, comes with its own set of challenges (crowds and the volume of worthwhile things to see), so we recommend getting a guide. Pro tip: All the best luxury hotels in the city and the Athens Riviera will happily arrange a private tour for you. If you’re steadfast on striking out solo, at the very least, be sure to buy tickets in advance. 

Acropolis Museum 

The sleek Acropolis Museum is a bright, shiny, modern architectural marvel that exhibits an abundance of artifacts from archaeological excavations of the ancient site. Highlights include an Athenian tetradrachm (silver coin from the Classical period) an eye bead from the Classical-Hellenistic period, and a bronze stylus from the Late Roman period. Need to refuel mid-visit? There’s a lovely café on the second floor for sipping a coffee and soaking in spectacular views. 

Plaka

Located below the Acropolis, Plaka is a charming neighborhood (and tourist darling) that could easily pass for a well-preserved village rather than a metropolitan district. Much of its appeal lies in things unchanged. As one of the oldest sections of the city, it’s a warren of cobbled lanes, ceramic shops, and family-run tavernas that’s well worth a few hours of wandering after touring the ancient temples. 

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre 

For all its ancient appeal, Athens is also a mecca for modern art. Envisioned as multifunctional and (importantly) free space for education, art, sports, and recreation, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) — which includes the Greek National Opera, the National Library of Greece, and a 21-hectare green space — hosts a variety performances in its domed structure, exhibitions, and creativity-spurring workshops.  

Vouliagmeni

The Athens Riviera experienced its celebrity heyday in the 1960s. Back then, you were likely to see Jackie Onassis catching some rays or Brigitte Bardot emerging from the Aegean Sea in a tiny bikini. The seaside destination is having a major resurgence, transforming it into a see-and-be-seen playground for Athenian elites and in-the-know travelers. Astir Beach is a vibrant beach club that has become synonymous with the chic comeback. For travelers who can’t be bothered to lift more than a finger, the buttons to press for service are a welcome convenience. 

Where to Shop in Athens

Beyond luxurious hotels and a rich cultural scene, Athens offers a fabulous shopping experience, thanks to its niche brands and streets lined with boutiques. 

Anthologist

Tastemaker Andria Mitsakos combines her passion for globetrotting and artisanal craftsmanship into Anthologist. Tucked inside a restored 1912 Neoclassical building, the stunning store-meets-design showroom is a treasure trove of unique luxury pieces, from vintage Greek textiles (bedspreads, throw pillows, and table runners) and colorful handblown glass objects inspired by the Hellenistic period to the brand’s signature Chimera pendants and resort wear.   

Voukourestiou Street

Shopping tax-free is one of the many pleasures of a trip to Europe. In Athens, the designer shops are huddled around Voukourestiou Street, just above Syntagma Square. If you’re in the market for a handbag from Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or Prada, it’s the place to go. 

Sandra Sa

Notwithstanding the lack of space in your suitcase, it would be a mistake to leave Athens without at least popping into Sandra Sa. The retail shop near the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Kotsanas stocks everything from carved mango wood trays and fish-shaped candle holders to glazed pots and handblown wine goblets (admittedly, not the easiest momentos to bring back, but still). 

The Naxos Apothecary

The story of The Naxos Apothecary began in 1988 on the island of Naxos. Athenians fell in love with the homeopathic herbal remedies and cosmetics. And so, 30 years later, a location in the capital opened up. The Athens outpost is a sleek, wood-and-white-tile retail masterclass featuring shelves lined with handcrafted candles, creams, and perfumes made with Greek ingredients. The vessels are so beautiful, you’ll want to display them long after the elixirs have run out. 

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