Syngrou Avenue / Faliro

Athens Marriott Hotel

★★★★★

The Athens Marriott Hotel sits at 385 Syngrou Avenue, the broad boulevard that runs from the city centre down to the sea at Faliro, and it is a smart choice for travellers who want to combine city sightseeing with the Athens Riviera. The hotel is within walking distance of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and its huge free park, and of the seafront, so you can spend mornings at the Acropolis and afternoons by the water or on the SNFCC lawns. The airport is about 34 kilometres away. The facilities are those of a big international hotel. A seasonal outdoor pool opens from early May to the end of October, a real asset on hot days. Dining includes Made in Athens, a Mediterranean restaurant, a separate breakfast room, and e&o Athens, a Pan-Asian restaurant, while the Great Room Bar in the lobby is open all day and the e&o Athens Martini Bar on the rooftop is the place for a sunset cocktail. There is a newly refreshed fitness centre, free for guests, and a spa offering signature treatments. Babysitting is available, which makes it easier for parents to enjoy an evening out. Rooms and suites follow Marriott's comfortable, contemporary standard, generally larger than in the historic centre, which suits families and anyone staying for a week or more. For Marriott Bonvoy members, it is also a useful place to earn and redeem points in Athens at a lower price than the brand's grand hotels on Syntagma Square.

Who it suits: families who want a pool and bigger rooms, travellers who plan to split their time between sightseeing and the coast, Marriott loyalists, and visitors attending events at the SNFCC. It is less suited to travellers who want to walk out of the door into Plaka: the hotel is several kilometres from the historic centre, and it does not run a shuttle, so you will rely on taxis, buses or the tram for trips into town. Many guests find the trade-off worthwhile: quieter evenings, larger rooms and the sea within reach.

Getting around: a taxi to Syntagma or the Acropolis takes around fifteen to twenty minutes depending on traffic, and buses run along Syngrou Avenue. The tram and the free SNFCC shuttle to Syntagma, which leaves from the cultural centre, are other options. For the Riviera, the beaches, marinas and seafood tavernas of Faliro, Alimos and Glyfada are a short ride south, and Lake Vouliagmeni and Cape Sounion make easy outings by car or taxi.

Practicalities and value: the pool season runs roughly from May to October, so check the dates for shoulder-season trips. Rates are typically lower than at comparable hotels in the centre, and family-size rooms are easier to find. The climate resilience fee is charged per room per night, at the rate for the hotel's category.