Some Athens hotels sell you a view; the Hera sells you a position. It stands on Falirou Street in the historic district below the Acropolis, about a seven-minute walk from the entrance to the rock and two minutes from the Acropolis Museum, so most of what you came to Athens to see is within a stroll. The hotel is classed four on its listing and describes itself as an upscale, family-friendly property in the city centre. The room list is straightforward: Economy and Standard rooms, a Standard Triple for families or three friends, and two options with the view that justifies the address, a Standard Room with Acropolis View and a Junior Suite with Acropolis View. Upstairs, the rooftop restaurant, Peacock, serves Mediterranean dinners, and guests praise the terrace and bar for their Acropolis outlook, which makes the evening at the hotel a plan in itself. Amenities are practical rather than flashy: air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a library, a terrace, a concierge, one meeting room, childcare services and an electric-vehicle charging station. Guests rate the hotel highly, at about nine out of ten on the page from more than a thousand reviews, and reviewers consistently single out the location, the staff and the rooftop.
Choosing a room
Pay the difference for an Acropolis-view room if you can, because it turns the arrival and the first coffee into a memory, and the premium is modest compared with hotels that sell similar views at higher classes. Economy rooms are a sensible choice for travellers who plan to spend their days out; the page lists buffet breakfast as a surcharge, so decide whether you prefer the hotel's breakfast or a bakery on Makrygianni. Request a higher floor and a quiet side if you are a light sleeper, since the streets around the Acropolis Museum are busy in the evenings.
Location and practicalities
Akropoli metro station is close, which gives you line access to the centre and to the airport via interchange, and the pedestrian promenade of Dionysiou Areopagitou is a short walk. Koukaki and Makrygianni offer many tavernas and cafes, and the hotel is easy to reach by taxi. Self-parking is available for a daily fee with limited spaces, so book ahead if you will drive; central Athens is better explored on foot. A concierge can help with timed Acropolis tickets, which are essential, and with early museum entries.
Who it suits
Couples, first-time visitors and families who want to walk to the major sights, and travellers who prefer a mid-sized hotel with a rooftop to a large chain. The compromises are those of an older central hotel: some rooms are compact, hotel facilities are modest next to a luxury property, and the Athens climate-resilience fee applies per room per night.
For the price class, the value lies in the position, the view and the service. If you want a pool or a full spa, look at the resort-style properties on the Riviera or at the larger five-class hotels in the city.
Why stay here
- ✓Rooftop restaurant and bar
- ✓Acropolis-view rooms
- ✓Two minutes to Acropolis Museum
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Library and terrace
- ✓Concierge
- ✓EV charging station
Good questions
How far is the Hera Hotel from the Acropolis?+
About a seven-minute walk to the Acropolis and a two-minute walk to the Acropolis Museum, according to the hotel's listing.
Does the Hera have a rooftop?+
Yes. The Mediterranean restaurant Peacock serves dinner, and guests praise the rooftop restaurant and bar for its Acropolis views.
Is parking available?+
Self-parking is offered for a daily fee, with limited spaces. Book ahead if you plan to drive, although the area is better explored on foot.
