Athens is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Athens works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Athens, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 12 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 2 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Athens, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Athens starts at around €89 per night, with a typical rate near €213 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: COLORS Hotel Athens, 4-star, guest rating 9.6 from 3507 reviews, from €90 per night; Gatsby Athens, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 2147 reviews, from €283 per night; Electra Metropolis Athens, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 273 reviews, from €288 per night; Herodion Athens, 4-star, guest rating 9.4 from 183 reviews, from €177 per night; Elia Ermou Athens Hotel, 4-star, guest rating 9.4 from 5406 reviews, from €226 per night.
Day trips & routes: Aktion — about 168 km, 2h 58m drive; Araxos — about 257 km, 2h 56m drive. Fastest option is Aktion: 2h 58m by car.
Athens: what to know
Things to see: "The Greek Food Experience (Max 8 persons)", rated 5 from 196 reviews, from €108; "Athens Greek Cooking Class Pita Gyros from Scratch with a Local", rated 5 from 194 reviews, from €110; "Athens Old City Private Photoshoot Tour/ 3hours", rated 5 from 79 reviews, from €169; "Anavyssos Athens Riviera: Beginners' Guided Try Scuba Diving", rated 5 from 73 reviews, from €80; "Private Flavors of Athens Food Tour", rated 5 from 70 reviews, from €206.
Where to eat: "Thes "Greek Creative Cuisine"", Greek/Healthy, rated 4.9 (5053 reviews); "Hill Athens", Mediterranean/Greek, rated 4.6 (848 reviews); "Victory Cafe", Cafe/European, rated 4.9 (2588 reviews); "Cinque Wine & Deli Psirri"; "Bandiera". Top-rated: "Thes "Greek Creative Cuisine"" at 4.9.
Athens has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 2 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Athens is around €213, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Athens you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 2 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Greece, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
