Athens Holidays

Athens city breaks

If Athens aligned to a star sign we reckon it’d definitely lean towards Libra. Greece’s capital is super well-balanced – it’s one of the only places where you can follow up a high-end shopping spree with a wander around ancient ruins. Plus, it ticks the boxes for beach breaks, as well as the kind that have you gawping at Greek history for hours on end. You’ll find our hotels scattered right across Athens – from super-central spots that count the Acropolis as a neighbour, to coastal places that put you at about an hours’ drive from the centre.

Sights in the city

These days, Athens is a lively modern city, but it was once the centre of a powerful empire. Ancient temples, Byzantine churches and well-stocked museums go shoulder-to-shoulder with boutique stores, jazz bars and new-wave art galleries. The Acropolis has been part of the furniture in central Athens since the fifth century BC, and it’s stood the test of time. It watches over the city from its hillside plot –climb up to it to put Athens into aerial view.

A-class coastline

If you’re staying in the centre, you’re a 20-minute drive from the peaceful Athens Riviera. The area’s packed with scenic beaches that could give their famous Greek Island sibling Santorini a run for its money. If beachside breaks are more your bag, Glyfada’s got a long stretch of soft sand perfect for all-day lounging – and for upping your pulse on one of the jet-skis that buzz around the bay. Further south, Anavyssos is around an hours’ drive from Athens’ centre spot, it’s sand-and-pebble seafront boasts a Blue Flag and a list of waterside bars and eateries.

Purple quarter

Plaka, the oldest neighbourhood in the city, is criss-crossed with cobbled streets bursting with friendly, family-run cafés and souvenir shops. In spring, violet Jacaranda trees are in full bloom here – stroll along streets blanketed with hundreds of fallen petals.