Plaka

Electra Palace Athens

★★★★★

The Electra Palace is the hotel to choose if you want to stay inside Plaka, the old town beneath the Acropolis, without giving up the comforts of a big, full-service hotel. It stands at 18-20 Nikodimou Street, on a calm side street between Syntagma Square and the heart of Plaka, so you are a few minutes' walk from the Parliament and the metro in one direction and from the tavernas of Kydathineon Street and the Acropolis Museum in the other. The Acropolis itself is about a ten-minute walk away. The building has a classic, neoclassical-style facade, and the interiors lean toward traditional elegance rather than minimalist design: polished wood, marble, soft fabrics and attentive, old-school service. Some rooms have balconies, and those on the upper floors look over the rooftops of Plaka toward the Acropolis; it is worth asking for a high floor and paying extra for an Acropolis view if your budget allows. The real draw is upstairs. In summer an outdoor pool with a poolside bar sits high above Plaka, one of the most memorable places in central Athens for a swim, and the Electra Roof Garden restaurant serves contemporary Greek cuisine with stunning views of the Acropolis, floodlit after dark. The Duck Tail Bar adds a rooftop spot for cocktails. Downstairs, the Motivo restaurant handles the breakfast buffet and Mediterranean dining, and the wellness centre has a full-service spa with a jacuzzi, sauna and massages, which is welcome when the pool is closed outside the summer season. Babysitting can be arranged on request, which makes it easier for parents to enjoy a dinner on the roof.

Who it suits: families who want a pool and a central location, couples looking for a romantic rooftop dinner with the Acropolis in view, and first-time visitors who want to walk everywhere. It is less suited to travellers who prefer contemporary boutique design, and it is priced well above the simple family-run hotels of Plaka, but you are paying for space, facilities and one of the best locations in the city.

Choosing a room: standard rooms are comfortable but not huge, as usual in central Athens. For families, ask about larger rooms and suites or interconnecting options when you book. Rooms with an Acropolis view and a balcony are the ones to splurge on for a special trip. The pool is seasonal, typically open through the summer months, so if a swim is a priority check the dates before booking a spring or autumn stay. Reserve a table at the Roof Garden for your first or last night; sunset tables are the most popular.

Practicalities: Syntagma metro station, with direct trains to the airport and Piraeus, is a short walk away, as are Ermou Street for shopping and the National Garden for shade. Taxis can reach the hotel, though some Plaka streets are pedestrianised. Rates are highest from late spring to early autumn and drop in winter, when the spa and the Roof Garden come into their own. The climate resilience fee is charged per room per night on top of the room rate, as at all Greek hotels.