Athens has plenty of luxury hotels but continue reading and we’ll share the 10 best luxury hotels in Athens Greece with you. Chances are most travelers aren’t coming to Athens for its beaches, but oh yes, they do have beautiful beaches. As capital of a country with world-famous islands, Athens is more known for its ancient ruins and busy cultural life rather than its sandy shores. But this is Greece after all! And the coast as well as several major ferry ports are just minutes away.
If you are looking for a quick swim or a bit of rest and relaxation, there are plenty of beaches to choose from on the Athens Riviera, aka the Apollo Coast – the coastline running south of Athens from Piraeus to Cape Sounion. You can hop on a boat to an island in the morning and returning in the twilight glow. Either way, the water awaits you.
Athens Weather – When to Visit
The best times to visit Athens are between March and May and from September to November. Weather during this spring and fall months is agreeable and sunshine is pretty much a guarantee. Not to mention, crowds are thinner, and hotel and airfare deals are easier to come by than in summer. But if you choose to visit between December and February (Athens’ winter season), don’t worry. Though chilly, Athens’ winters are relatively mild, thanks in part to Greece’s Mediterranean location. June through August, meanwhile, bring stifling heat (upper 80s to lower 90s) and hordes of tourists, so sightseeing can be a bit uncomfortable and quite a headache at this time.
Best Athens Area Beaches
Vouliagmeni Beach
Vouiagmeni Beach is one of the best-organized beaches offering all types of beach facilities. Tennis and volleyball courts, play area for children, water slide, individual cabins and a restaurant are some of the features that make the area quite famous among Athenians. It is located 23 km south of the city center and is easily accessed with local buses. In the wider region you will find seaside cafes and restaurants.
Legrena Beach
Explore the coves and inlets along the Legrena area, about 2 miles west of the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio. Devoid of the organized umbrellas and thumping sounds of the grand resorts of the rest of this coastline, this place is for the explorers. The currents keep these waters crisp and clean, and nearby tavernas dot the coast. It’s also the place to go if you care to sunbathe in the buff.
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Astir Beach
Silky sands and softly lapping seas are only the start of what Astir Beach is known for. It’s one of the most beloved of the see-and-be-seen organized beaches on the Athens Riviera. Astir is a land of high fashion, seafront chaises and cabanas, and luxury like Nobu Matsuhisa’s Athens outpost and the Four Seasons Astir Palace.
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Shinias Beach
Repeatedly recognized for its crystal-clear waters with Blue Flag ratings, Shinias Beach, about 28 miles northeast of Athens, offers a grand stretch of pristine white sand backed by pine trees. The shimmering waters near the town of Marathon are a favorite for swimming and windsurfing followed by lunch at one of the nearby seafood tavernas.
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Varkiza Beach
One of the southernmost beaches on the Athens Riviera, Varkiza is a favorite for its relative peace and quiet. Small sandy sweeps alternate with rock formations where you can hang out independently. Or pay for a chaise at the popular resort Varkiza Resort – Yabanaki Beach and join the fray of seaside umbrellas and restaurants.
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Best Athens Tours & Activities
Athens Scenic Bike Tour
Explore the ancient monuments and bustling energy of Athens on a fun and easy bike tour. Cover much more distance than walking while peddling along bike-friendly paths and streets, stopping to learn about the city’s long history and legends from a local guide. Cycle around the Acropolis and past other iconic ruins including the Ancient Agora, Roman Forum, and the Keramikos Cemetery. Book Your Athens Scenic Bike Tour Here
Private Gourmet Food Walking Tour in Athens
Indulge your inner foodie on this 4-hour gourmet tasting tour and sample the edible delights of Athens. Take to the streets for a walking tour of Athens’ cafés, markets, delicatessens and street food haunts. Enjoy the undivided attention of your private food-expert guide as you uncover the secrets of Greek cuisine and learn more about the city’s culinary heritage. Stop along the way to sample local treats like sweet donuts, Greek bread and regional cheeses, washed down with Greek wine and freshly brewed coffee. Book Your Private Gourmet Food Walking Tour in Athens Here
Athens Highlights: a Mythological Tour
Enhance your experience of Athens on a mythological tour of the ancient Greek city. Alongside an entertaining guide, visit major landmarks like the Acropolis and the Olympian Zeus Temple and listen to the captivating myths that surround each landmark. Hear tales that combine myth, legend and historical fact; and gain valuable insight into the culture of modern and ancient Greece on this educational tour. Book Your Athens Highlights Tour Here
Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Athens with Traditional Greek Meal and BBQ
Drink in the beautiful sights and seas of the Athens Riviera from a catamaran on this half-day, small-group cruise. While an experienced skipper and crew do the work, relax and revel in the sunshine and scenery. Step aboard your luxurious craft, sip a welcome drink, and enjoy the warm breezes as you sail along the picturesque coastline. Enjoy stops to swim or snorkel, stay refreshed with unlimited complimentary drinks, and savor a delicious Greek meal, including barbecue dishes, served by the crew. Choose a morning or sunset cruise when you book. Book Your Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Athens Here
Athens Full Day Private Tour
Explore the highlights of Athens in a private vehicle on this full-day tour. Depart from your hotel and make your way the the Acropolis, where you can stroll through the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of the Athena Nike, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum, and the Parthenon. Take in views from Lycabettus Hill and explore the neighborhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki. Book Your Athens Full Day Private Tour Here
Best Athens Restaurants
Hoocut Under $10
At Hoocut, an A-Team of famous chefs aims to elevate souvlaki, the iconic Greek street food, with the best possible ingredients. Set inside a neoclassical building of the interwar period, a bakery, a butcher shop, and a grocery store provide the raw materials for the final product, which emerges from the main grill area. Telephone: 30 21 0324 0026 Web: Hoocut
Feyrouz Under $10
Inspired by the Balkan food of Istanbul and broader Levantine traditions, the family utilizes local ingredients to make various types of lahmacun, peinirli, lots of soups (mahluta is a favorite with red lentils, fennel, pumpkin, and chicken broth), and many different salads. Telephone: 30 21 3031 8060 Web: HOME – Feyrouz Levantine Street Food
Lukumades Under $10
Lukumades are an easy, popular dessert throughout Greece, but this shop consistently ranks high among customers with sweet tooths. The fried dough balls are made with flour, dry yeast, water, and starch, and the simplest renditions are served with honey and cinnamon. Telephone: 30 21 0321 0880 Web: Lukumades
Peas Vegan & Raw Food Under $10
Everything is made in-house, including vegetable-based protein substitutes like seitan and tempeh. Among the most popular options, check out their take on the famous Greek souvlaki with seitan and mushrooms. For dessert, don’t miss the famous raw tart with avocado, cocoa, and banana. Telephone: 30 21 0921 8875 Web: Peas Vegan & Raw Food
Travolta $30 $ Up
Sea bream carpaccio, dusky grouper with okra, and roasted and skewered squid kontosouvli instantly transport Travolta diners to the sea. Owners Anestis Lampropoulos and brothers Spyros and Vangelis Liakos formed exclusive partnerships with three fishing boats, which provide the restaurant with everything from fresh octopus to cod to crayfish. Telephone: 30 21 0571 9222 Web: Travolta
Top 5 Clubs in Athens
Boiler Room
Boiler Room is one of the most popular nightclubs in Athens. It is situated in Gazi, an ideal destination for all those who love to party and enjoy music and drinks all night long. Boiler Room has a strict entrance policy and a chick and casual dress code. In order to enter Boiler Room, you should make a reservation first. Web: Athens – BOILER ROOM
Bolivar Beach Bar
The beautiful natural landscape combined with the impeccable service makes the Bolivar Beach Bar an attractive place for swimming, eating your meals, drinking refreshing cocktails, dancing at the parties and concerts until dawn. Telephone: 30 697 036 7684 Web: Bolivar Beach Bar
Dybbuk Club
Dybbuk is a dynamic combination of music and spectacle and has been described also as a ‘dance theater’. The space functions as a New York style after club with great house music which always impresses. The glamorous environment is ideal also for unforgettable parties. This club is closed during the summer months. Telephone: 30 694 790 7054 Web: Dybbuk Club
Lohan Club
Lohan Nightclub is a concept created by well-known businessman Dennis Papageorgiou and Hollywood superstar Lindsay Lohan as a means to revive the local Athenian clubbing scene and bring people together. Lohan has an industrial baroque aesthetic, a top-of-the-line sound and lighting system, and special DJ and lives acts. Telephone: 30 698 750 1825 Web: Lohan Club
Acro Club
Acro Club is an ideal destination for those who would love to experience a real Greek live music show. In a modern, recently renovated and welcoming place, Acro hosts famous Greek artists, who enjoy great popularity in Greece. Give yourself the chance to see live popular performers and feel modern Greek music to the most! Telephone: 30 21 0341 7300 Web: Acro Club
Best Athens Hotels
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Great web page. I love traveling. Though I’ve always traveled to other places in Europe, especially Spain, all along, I have had an eye on Gree for its very impressive historical landscape. Athens, the capital, it’s one place that also offers a lot of tourist attractions everybody would like to visit. Unfortunately, with Covid around, things are no longer the same as everybody is extra careful to embark on trips like that. I hope things will come to normal as soon as possible.
Me too Pedro. Thanks for stopping by.
Greece is one part of the world that I have not explored as of yet. Thanks for this information. Since I love the ocean and being near the sea this seems like an ideal place to visit. The beaches and other activities will definitely keep me busy. The food and restaurants sound great as well. Plenty of nightlife to enjoy and a good selection of accommodations from which to choose. The islands would be interesting to visit as well as Athens. This is definitely on my itinerary.
Great Joseph! I am glad you enjoyed, and yes doing a couple trips to the islands in the area is a great idea!
First – the good. Very informative about Athens beaches (especially since I didn’t visit a single one of them during my visit to Athens and now I know where to go on my next trip there) and snapshots of them too. Also, a lot of information on tours, activities and price accessible places to eat.
Now, where I thought it can be improved. The title of the page / blog is – 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Athens. We don’t get to see said hotels until we scroll almost all the way to the bottom, and then, they are simply hotel names with no description of them or why they would even be considered the best luxury hotels. The listing is more like a cut and paste from a reservation site who had already done its own work of selecting what they (that reservation site) thought were the 10 best luxury hotels.
I suggest that these hotels should be listed at the top, and they should be described in a way that it entice our curiosity to want to learn more about them. As they are posted right now, I would rather use a site like Trip Advisor to search for the best luxury hotels in Athens.
You have a good website. You just need to make it more appealing, especially for the people who are looking for luxury hotels.
I love Greece and I love to travel and I’ve been itching to get away again as we seem to be getting over the pandemic. However, I’m also still a little reticent to go to overcrowded or places that are too busy, so which beaches/resorts would you recommend for someone like me who likes a bit of peace and quiet and is not too worried about having lots of water sports or nightlife? I’d be happy lying on the beach looking up at the stars!
I would stay at the Seasabella Hotel near Athens. It’s quiet, and small. You will love it!
Hi Leahrae,
What an exciting and beautiful website you have created! I love travel, although it is a rarity for me at this time and I’ve only traveled internationally once so far. I did not know that Greece was a beach haven! There are so many beautiful sights to see and destinations to visit. Your website is absolutely necessary to open the eyes of novice travelers like myself. I can’t wait to explore more on your website. Thanks for sharing your experiences and suggesting these incredible beach destinations!
Terese
You are very welcome, Terese. I am glad you enjoyed 🙂
After watching so many Gladiator and other movies I was immediately attracted to this review on Greece’s 10 best luxury hotels. True I would be like the majority and not be travelling there for the beaches as I am from the Caribbean although if I had to select one I would choose Vouliagmeni Beach. If I were to stay then I would opt for the Hotel Grande Bretagne which appears from the pictures and reviews to cater to all my needs,As it relates to the history, culture and architecture, these are certainly high up on my to-do list. The tours that would take me to Acropolis and the Olympian Zeus Temple would certainly be favs.
Yes, I believe that Athens has something for everyone. History, culture, great food, and amazing beaches. You can enjoy some aspects or all. It’s an amazing place for a vacation for sure. I am glad you enjoyed the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Athens Greece. Thanks for stopping by.
Athens Greece is a beautiful place to visit too and it’s a popular travel destination among many recent travelers from what I have researched. I like that you have included the best beaches as well, saves me from having to explore other websites for my travel needs ad can get all from one website.
Glad you enjoyed your visit to beach travel destinations Jannette! Yes, I do try to provide everything you need to start planning!
Wow, Greece looks like an amazing country to visit. There is so much History, culture, & new food to discover and enjoy. It looks like there are a lot of great hotels near the city center which is great, I would love to visit someday.
Very Informative and Thank you for sharing.
You are very welcome, glad you enjoyed!
The more often I visit your site, the stronger my travel itch becomes.
The images/video of Athens are simply stunning. Who wouldn’t want to visit such a magnificient place?
Even if you are planning to see the rich history and ruins in the region, a beach day is just a bonus on any vacation.
If there is one thing I have learned browsing your site, it is that you have the inside knowledge. For example, I love knowing the time of year that provides for great weather and minimal other tourists.
My mum and her husband just went on a 2 week mexico beach vacation that turned into 4 weeks, as they came down with Covid 19 in Mexico and were not allowed reentry to the US until they produced negative tests. This is a major concern as I look at traveling overseas. Fingers crossed the rules relax soon.
I don’t know who would not want to visit Athens! I really feel there is something for everyone here. I think that no matter where you live, or where you go, Covid will be a concern. If you take the precautions you do at home, then you should stay well. Personally, I have been fully vaccinated and have the booster. This way when I travel to a beach destination, I feel somewhat safer. But that really is a personal choice.
There is much ancient history in Greece with lots of ancient monuments. It would be a fine destination for my bucket list, with so many sights to see. The pristine beaches would be great places to relax on a holiday. I would also love to enjoy the Greek food. With so many 9 star luxury hotels in the area, it would be a delight to visit any of those nearby beaches.
I agree Carolyn, it’s a win-win to visit Athens. You get history, culture, great food and awesome beaches. What’s not to love?
My wife has been dreaming about coming to Greece, so I decide to do some research. I want this trip to be super nice so as I have been looking for the best luxury hotels in Greece I came across your website.
I am so glad that there is no guarantee this time, I believe we’re going to make it happen.
What I find interesting is the Private Gourmet Food Walking Tour in Athens – I am sure she will love it.
I was not sure about the weather in Athens, but thank you for that information as well. It seems that April will be perfect.
Thanks again
M.
Yes, April will be perfect. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you. And thank you for visiting beach travel destinations.
After reading this Athens is definitely on my bucket list. my first wife was Greek and the parties and weddings we attended in Australia at that time were memorable because of the friendliness of the people. I always thought Athens was too expensive but with a bit of forward planning, I think I could do this. Now with travel opening up again, this is something to think about. I am a beachy type and by the look of the pictures, the water is pristine. I guess the tourist season gets lots of people? Also if I travel do I have to go into Covid quarantine or not?
Thanks for the comprehensive review on Athens.
Stephen.o
No Covid quarantine at this time, hopefully things will continue getting better. And yes, if you go during the summer, there will be some crowds. Personally, I prefer that time as everything is open, its warm, and there is an abundance of things to do. And you are right, the people are friendly!
Thank you for this summary! Greece has always been on my wife’s bucket list so this gives us some good ideas and starting points to plan a trip there. We like to travel in the non-tourist times as much as possible because everything just seems to be cheaper.
In your experience, if we were to travel to Athens in winter, would most of the attractions still be open? Or are there winter specific activities that we could participate in?
We live in South Dakota, USA so a Mediterranean winter sounds absolutely balmy compared to what we get!
Activities are open in the winter, and you can enjoy reduced rates on many things. If you don’t mind going in the winter, this is a great time to see the sights and have more in your pocketbook 🙂 Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you for the additional information Leahrae!
You are very welcome Dustin!