When it comes to cities that are simply packed with history from end to end, it is hard to compete with a place like Athens. And rather than just being a small area that is packed with so much to see and do, this is a massive city. Which means that in order to check all the things off your to-do list that you really want to do, you will need to stay for a few days at least – and by staying in one of the cheap hotels in Athens you can make sure that you can afford to stay for as long as you need to.
Because Athens is such a huge city, it is difficult to search simply for cheap hotels in Athens without narrowing your search down to a certain district. Arguably the most popular is the Plaka, which is the center of most tourist activity in the city. Unfortunately, it is not where most of the bigger hotels in the city are! There are several smaller hotels right in the tourist center, which makes visiting this historic city even more pleasant.
In addition to the Plaka, which most people have heard of, the other central historic (and historically popular) areas in Athens are the Acropolis (which is topped by the magnificent temple to Athena), and the two districts which are right next to the Plaka – Monastiraki and Thissio. And while these areas might not be full of big chain hotels, they are full of charming shops and restaurants – not to mention amazing ancient ruins right next to beautiful buildings from the last couple of centuries (comparatively very modern!).
Some of the cheap hotels in Athens worth looking into are Cecil Hotel (in Monastiraki district, family-run hotel for 30 years, free breakfast, A/C, on-site cafe, roof terrace with Acropolis view), Athos Hotel (in Plaka district, A/C some rooms with Acropolis view, roof garden with Acropolis view, internet access in rooms), Hotel Tony (near Acropolis district, A/C, recommended in several guidebooks), Attalos Hotel (in Monastiraki district, 80 rooms, A/C, roof garden with Acropolis view, free WiFi & internet access, breakfast available), and Hotel Acropolis House (in Plaka district, 19 rooms, family-run since 1965, breakfast available, A/C, some rooms with balconies).