Where to stay in Athens

This vibrant area of Athens offers pavement cafes, tourist shops and a weekly flea market held every Sunday. Life centres around Monastiraki Square, and while there’s an ancient library and ancient-focused museums to take in, there’s also a Museum of Modern Greek Culture to bring things slightly more up to date. Monastiraki makes up part of the old bazaar area, and so its accommodation options are complete with period decor and furnishings, roof terrace bars and a la carte restaurants.

There’s not much to do in Omonia, but that’s part of its charm; this area is one of the least-touristy parts of Athens. You can reach here from Monastiraki via two thoroughfares (see above) which leads onto an excellent, buzzing central market. Once you’ve dropped your bags off at your hote, swing by the National Archaeological Museum, which displays one of the most prestigious items in the ancient Greek world: the gold burial mask of Agamemnon. Agamemnon was a 13th century-BC king who played a prominent part in the Trojan War, and even had his own Greek tragedy about his death covered by Aesychlus. There’s plenty more on display at this museum, spanning prehistory, sculpture and more; factor in a day here.

Syntagma boasts the Grande Bretange, a famous hotel which dates back to 1846. It served as German and British headquarters during World War II and Winston Churchill once stayed here; its high-profile status today is reflected in its ballroom, basement spa and outdoor pool garden. If you don’t want to stay in one of its 320 rooms, at least stop off for a drink at its hotel bar, the Alexander Bar. Fancy hotels aside, while you’re here you can go for a stroll around Platia Syndagmatos (Constitution Square) with its Parliament Building and Memorial of the Unknown Soldier. There’s an hourly changing of the guards (to the tomb) of evzones (traditionally dressed soldiers) which simply can’t be missed, wherever you are in Athens!