We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
ATHENS IS ONE of the oldest cities in the world. Here, you can walk the site where democracy was created in the 6th century BC or see the cave where Socrates drank hemlock in 399 BC. Most people stay at the Greek capital very briefly to tour the Acropolis on their way out to the islands. But, Athens has so much more to offer to visitors than the ancient archeological sites. In a span of a day in Athens, you can float in the hot spa waters of Lake Vouliagmeni, have a cocktail at a beach bar, explore an outstanding museum, watch a sunset over the Aegean sea, and dine out in Kerameikos, one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world. Our guide to local Airbnbs with unique stays in different parts of Athens will allow you to experience the best of the famous Greek hospitality and everything that this city has to offer.
Traditional four bedroom villa in the heart of Plaka
You can share this spacious villa with up to ten guests. Two full bathrooms, a large kitchen, a spacious living space, and a washing machine will offer all of the comforts you need for a long-term stay. Plaka is a historical neighborhood of Athens around the slopes of the Acropolis. Here, the archeological site of Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum are on your doorstep as well as numerous restaurants, small grocery stores, and gift shops. Most streets are closed to traffic and you will be able to enjoy the picturesque Plaka on foot undisturbed.
Ten guests, four bedroomsPrice: $174 per night
Matador's Newsletter
Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more!
Rooftop loft with panoramic views of Athens
Wake up to views of the Acropolis without having to get out of your bed. This penthouse loft features glass walls offering a panorama of Athens and a private rooftop deck with a pool. The space is complete with a well-equipped kitchen and a dedicated area for work. From this rental, you will be able to explore most of Athens on foot. Syntagma Square and the retail shops of Ermou Street are three minutes away. You can walk to the Acropolis in 10 minutes.
Two guests, one bedroomPrice: $122 per night
Chic apartment with a private terrace steps away from Plaka
Traveling alone or as a couple and want to stay in the heart of Athens? This impeccably furnished stay might be a good fit for you. Here you can enjoy a dinner with a sunset view on your outdoor terrace, soak in a clawfoot tub, or cozy up next to a fireplace. The apartment is located on a quiet residential street and is a short walk away from Plaka and the National Garden.
Three guests, one bedroomPrice: $83 per night
Hideaway villa in an island-like village on the slopes of the Acropolis
You will feel like you are on one of the Greek islands in this cozy villa on the slopes of the Acropolis. Anafiotika, where the villa is located, is a tiny hidden neighborhood within Plaka. The island-like feel is not accidental — Anafiotika was commissioned to be built by workers from the island of Anafi in the 1800s. Explore the narrow whitewashed residential lanes of Anafiotika to see the village’s original homes, two Byzantine churches, and the views of the Lycabettus Hill across from the Acropolis. The renovated villa will offer you a modern, fully-equipped stay with multiple outdoor spaces steps away from the shops and restaurants of Plaka and the Acropolis.
Three guests, one bedroomPrice: $128 per night
Eclectic villa with a roof terrace in Kerameikos
This colorful home is a creative masterpiece and is spacious enough to accommodate a larger group. Three separate bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a large living area with a film projector, and two outdoor terraces will offer plenty of room for up to six people. Here you will find yourself in the neighborhood of Kerameikos which takes its name after the word keramos or ceramics in English. Kerameikos used to house artisanal pottery workshops and is now one of the most important archeological sites in Athens. Today, the neighborhood is pedestrian heaven with well-preserved neoclassical buildings, an open-air farmer’s market, and numerous restaurants and bars. From here, you could walk to Plaka in 20 minutes or hop on the metro to commute to central Athens in minutes.
Six guests, three bedroomsPrice: $219 per night
Exotic loft steps away from Gazi Square
This Airbnb loft truly reflects the eclectic vibes of the surrounding neighborhood. Gazi is one of the most ethnically diverse areas of Athens and is known for its restaurants, bars, and music scene. The old gasworks complex in the neighborhood has been turned into an industrial museum and a cultural venue, Technopolis. The open-concept loft has an industrial aesthetic and is filled with unique hardwood pieces and would make a great home base for a solo traveler or a couple. The loft comes with a fully equipped kitchen, a washer, and a separate desk for work. The loft is located on a quieter residential street, but only five minutes away from a metro station that will take you to central Athens in two stops. The neighborhoods of Thisseio and Monastiraki are a short walk away.
Three guests, one bedroomPrice: $61 per night
Elegant apartment with a courtyard in Kolonaki
Kolonaki is the high-end neighborhood of Athens that’s tucked away from the typical tourist routes, but central enough that you could walk to all of the major attractions. Plaka is a 20-minute walk from Kolonaki; while the National Garden and the Syntagma Square are only 10 minutes away on foot. Kolonaki is filled with fashion boutiques, coffee houses, and upscale restaurants. The apartment is a bright oasis that opens up onto your own private courtyard. This Airbnb is newly renovated, fully equipped, and comes with its own fireplace. If you stay in Kolonaki, make sure to climb the Lycabettus Hill close to sunset for one of the best views of the Acropolis and the Aegean Sea.
Four guests, one bedroomPrice: $73 per night
19th-Century Athenian House with a courtyard in Exarchia
If you want to stay off the beaten path in Athens, this bohemian home in Exarchia is the space for you. Up to four people can share this rental with multiple levels and a unique courtyard. The Airbnb is centrally located — you will be able to walk to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and take a short metro ride to get to Plaka or the Acropolis. Exarchia has great coffee shops and restaurants, but you are not likely to see many tourists in this part of Athens.
Four guests, two bedroomsPrice: $67 per nightBook Now
Affordable mid-century modern apartment
If you are looking for a stay in Athens on a low budget, check out this apartment with a mid-century modern decor located a short metro ride away from the center of the city. The rental has an outdoor terrace that overlooks a courtyard with a Byzantine Church of Agios Nikolaos. The metro station of Agios Nikolaos is just around the block and is only four stops away from Monastiraki station in the heart of Plaka. The apartment comes with a washing machine and a full kitchen and would make a comfortable long-term lodging.
Three guests, one bedroom$30 per night
One-bedroom apartment in Marina Zeas
If you plan to take a ferry to one of the islands or do a yacht charter, this stay in Marina Zeas on the coast of Athens is the way to go. Located on a quiet residential street, the apartment is 10 minutes away on foot from the port of Piraeus. The Airbnb features a fully-equipped kitchen and a large covered patio. An Uber or a taxi ride will take you to central Athens in 15 minutes.
Four people, one bedroomPrice: $76 per night
Athenian Riviera apartment in Voula Beach
If you don’t have enough vacation time to both visit the city of Athens and travel to the Greek islands on a single trip stay in the Athenian Riviera and have the best of both worlds. Athenian Riviera is the 44-mile coastline that stretches from Piraeus to Sounion. This holiday rental in the Athenian suburb of Voula is a short walk from an organized beach, close to the seaside restaurants and nightlife of Glyfada, and is only a 20-minute drive from central Athens. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a 1.5-hour coastal tram ride from Syntagma Square to Voula.
Four people, one bedroomPrice: $79 per night
Penthouse studio in Kavouri Beach by Lake Vouliagmeni
Further along the coast, are the turquoise waters of the area called Vouliagmeni. Staying in this comfortable studio will give you access to a private rooftop with a panoramic view of the coast and a pine forest and access to a private beach within the vacation complex. If the Aegean sea is too cold for you, visit the nearby Lake Vouliagmeni with water that’s between 70-75 Fahrenheit year-round. Private beaches and seaside taverns are abundant in this area. Central Athens is a 30-minute drive away, but you may never want to leave Vouliagmeni!
Two guests, one bedroomPrice: $60 per night
Spacious villa with a pool in Sounion
70 km outside of Athens, Cape Sounion is the southernmost tip of the Attic Peninsula and is where the Athenian Riviera ends. Sounion is a popular day excursion from Athens because it houses an ancient archeological site with the eminent temple of Poseidon perched on the cliffs 60 meters above the sea. This spacious villa right on the coast is only 15 minutes away from the temple. Up to ten guests can stay comfortably on three levels of this home with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, additional sleeping spaces in the common areas, and a spacious well-equipped kitchen. The villa comes with a large private garden and multiple outdoor terraces that all overlook the sea. Enjoy your private pool or walk down the cliffs to a beach. You will need a car to drive to Athens in one hour or explore the shops and restaurants of the nearby town of Lavrio (or Laurium).
Ten guests, three bedroomsPrice: $335 per night