Our writers review hotels independently and feature tried and tested recommendations from our holiday forums. When you make a booking through a link on our site we may earn a commission.
Best family hotels in Athens: where to stay with kids in the Greek capital
A city of myths, legends and Ancient Greek relics, Athens is a wonderful place for a family city break. It’s also perfectly placed for beaches and Greek island hopping. Here’s where to stay if you’re heading there with kids.
By Katja Gaskell | Last updated May 29, 2024
Athens is an exciting city. The oldest of all European capitals, it’s been continuously inhabited for at least 5,000 years. It’s where democracy was born and where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896. Usurprisingly given its storied past, Athens is packed with things to see and do.
Of the many mind-boggling ancient sites, none can quite compete with the Parthenon, the 2,500-year-old temple that continues to dominate the city’s skyline. But it's far from the only historical sight worth seeing. The marble Temple of Poseidon, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus theatre built by the Romans, and the all-marble Panathiniac Stadium are also guaranteed to amaze.
But there's more to Athens than myths and legends. This buzzy city and its many colourful neighbourhoods are packed with excellent restaurants, lively food markets and hip cafes. Athens also has a sunny coastline where you can swim for at least half of the year.
If you’re wondering where to stay, then we can help. We’ve consulted ever-knowledgeable Mumsnetters on our holidays forum to select the best family hotels in Athens, whatever your budget.
St George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel
Central location in Kolonaki is fantastic for sightseeing
Excellent amenities include a rooftop pool, a cinema and yoga sessions
The Kid's Corner playroom is staffed by qualified nannies
There's not much that we don't like about this hotel!
One of the best luxury boutique hotels in Athens, stylish St George Lycabettus is also a wonderful place to stay for families.
Hotel highlights include a rooftop swimming pool with a view, kids’ movie and popcorn in the hotel's own cinema and the Kid's Corner playroom with activities led by experienced nannies. Regular Saturday Lunch and Play events are held as well as a weekly Sunday Family Brunch.
There are 154 guest rooms and 15 suites including an 'Eco-Chic' wing with sustainably designed rooms. Family rooms can sleep two adults and two children up to 10 years old; connecting rooms are available for families with older kids.
Nearest beach: Glyfada Beach (9 miles)
Nearest airport: Athens Airport (20 miles)
COCO-MAT Hotel Athens
Skyline views from the rooftop terrace are hard to beat
Insanely comfortable beds (a Coco-Mat signature)
Eco-friendly ethos
No dedicated family rooms, this may be a better option for families with older children and/or teens
The rooms are on the small side
Located in Kolonaki, a stay at COCO-MAT Athens puts you in the heart of one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Athens with views of the Acropolis. This is just one of four hotels owned by COCO-MAT, a Greek bedding and hospitality company committed to sustainability.
With this kind of pedigree, it's not surprising that the hotel has their own line of mattresses that some guests have called “the most comfortable in the world”. The light-filled double rooms aren’t huge, but they’re stylish and incredibly comfortable. There are no dedicated family rooms but there are a handful of interconnecting doubles.
The company's eco-ethos is in evidence at the COCO-MAT Athens; seasonal food is sourced locally, and excess produce is donated or reused, there are wooden COCO-MAT bikes to hire, and the hotel practices composting.
Nearest beach: Glyfada Beach (8 miles)
Nearest airport: Athens Airport, 21 miles
Athens Gate Hotel
Some family rooms have views over the Temple of Zeus
Free car parking (a rarity in Athens) but you will need to book a space in advance
No dedicated amenities for kids but the staff are incredibly welcoming
The hotel decor leans more towards business travel than Mediterranean break
Many family hotels in Athens talk a big game when it comes to views but the Athens Gate Hotel really delivers. It helps that this modern hotel is located within walking distance of Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Zeus. Plus, the Acropolis is just 20 minutes away by foot.
What this means for hotel guests are views from almost every angle. The eighth-floor restaurant enjoys one of the best panoramic scenes of both the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus, and the dedicated family rooms overlook the temple dedicated to the Greek god of sky and thunder. Interconnecting rooms are also an option; baby cots are free of charge and high chairs and children’s menus are available.
Nearest beach: Glyfada Beach (8 miles)
Nearest airport: Athens Airport (21 miles)
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel
The private beach is the perfect place to cool off after a busy day of sightseeing
The “Kids for All Seasons” programme is fantastic at keeping under 12s busy
If you want to be in the heart of historic Athens then this is not the hotel for you
A family holiday to Athens doesn't have to mean staying in the city centre. Instead, enjoy the best of the Greek capital and then retreat to the palatial Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel on a private pine-clad peninsula just 30 minutes away.
This luxury family-friendly hotel offers a wide range of family accommodation options including sea-facing Nafsika Rooms and Suites and beautiful Bungalows that come with private pools or spacious outdoor terraces.
The "Kids for All Seasons" programme keeps children under 12 busy and the hotel can organise almost any activity imaginable from guided tours of the Acropolis to sunset trips to the Temple of Poseidon. The hotel also has its own private beach and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Nearest beach: The hotel has its own private beach.
Nearest airport: Athens Airport (15 miles)
Ground floor food market plus communal kitchens on every floor, cooking classes, espresso on tap and an excellent hotel restaurant
Chic rooms have been designed in collaboration with local designers and artists
Central location is perfect for sightseeing
There’s no swimming pool
Food is at the heart of the hotel experience at Ergon House, a stylish and modern boutique property in the heart of Athens. Established by Thomas and George Douses, the brothers behind speciality food brand Ergon Foods, the entire ground floor is a dedicated market where local bakers, butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers sell their produce and provide ingredients for the hotel's bar-restaurant, Agora.
The modern, light-filled rooms have been designed by local designers and artists and come in four sizes. The largest, the dedicated Family Room, is made up of interconnecting Large and Small rooms, sleeping a maximum of four adults, a child and one infant.
Nearest beach: Glyfada Beach (10 miles)
Nearest airport: Athens Airport (21 miles)
Grecotel Pallas Athena
Art-led hotel rooms are one-of-a-kind
Family rooms are generously sized
Grecobaby equipment can be pre-ordered
The hotel doesn't have a swimming pool
Kids will love the rooms at the Grecotel Pallas Athena located near City Hall and the Central Market. Street artists were commissioned to decorate some of the 63 bedrooms and suites in this family-friendly art boutique hotel. The resulting "Graffiti Guestrooms" are fun, quirky and colourful. Family favourites include Spiderman and a Japanese kawaii character.
The Family Graffiti Guestroom can sleep two adults and two children. The Art Chic Suite "Octopus" has two separate bedrooms and a living room, and sleeps five. Families with babies can pre-order Greocobaby equipment and kids’ menus are available at the hotel's Greek-Mediterranean restaurant.
Nearest beach: Glyfada Beach (9 miles)
Nearest airport: Athens Airport (26 miles)
AVA Hotel & Suites
Location is ideal for seeing Athens’ main sights
Kitchenettes are handy if travelling with younger children
Plaka is one of our favourite neighbourhoods in Athens, a warren of narrow bougainvillaea-filled alleyways with dozens of great restaurants and cafes
There’s no hotel pool for cooling off post-sightseeing
As far as location goes, the family-friendly AVA Hotel & Suites can’t be beat. The hotel sits tucked away on a quiet street in Plaka, Athens’ oldest and most charismatic neighbourhood, at the foot of the Acropolis steps and just steps away from the Temple of Zeus.
The hotel's suites are some of the most spacious in Athens and come with fantastic views of the Acropolis, Adrian Arch and Zeus Temple. The Executive Suites are particularly well suited to families, sleeping four and with a fully equipped kitchenette. The AVA Grand Suite also comes with a spacious private terrace.
Nearest Beach: Glyfada Beach (9 miles)
Nearest airport: Athens Airport (21 miles)
Grand Resort Lagonissi
Beautiful location on the hotel’s very own peninsula
Many sandy coves and pebbly beaches to explore
The kids’ club is a great option for families with under 12s
There’s so much to do here you might have trouble dragging anyone out for sightseeing
One of the best family hotels in Athens must be the Grand Resort Lagonissi. This sprawling resort occupies an entire peninsula with 20 sandy coves and pebble beaches backed with pine trees and flowering gardens. There are 250 rooms, villas, suites and cabanas to choose from, and some come with private pools.
Families with children under 12 will love the Grand Family Zone, the hotel's kids’ club where interactive games and water sports take place daily (except Monday) from 10am to 5.30pm. You can even sign the kids up for swimming lessons. The hotel has an outdoor freshwater swimming pool, two lawn tennis courts, an open-air cinema and plenty more to keep everyone happy on their holidays including babysitting on request.
Nearest Beach: Direct access to its own beaches
Nearest airport: Athens Airport (13 miles)
What’s the best part of Athens to stay in for families?
The best neighbourhoods in Athens for families are the pedestrian-friendly areas of Plaka, Psirri, Monastiraki, Syntagma, Makriyanni, and the City Centre. Within easy distance of Athen’s most famous attractions, they make sightseeing a breeze. To combine a city break with a beach break, choose a hotel on the Athens Riviera, 30 minutes from the historic centre.
What are the best things to do with kids in Athens?
Top of the list of things to do with children in Athens is the Acropolis, the striking ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city. Make sure to visit early and avoid the crowds (the Acropolis Museum is also well worth a visit). Explore Greek treasures at the National Archaeological Museum and then immerse yourselves in creative play at the wonderful Children's Museum.
The National Gardens of Athens are perfect for letting off steam as are the city's very own beaches. Factor in some time to wander around the vibrant neighbourhood of Plaka. This pretty neighbourhood is the oldest corner of Athens, a maze of narrow alleys and pedestrianised streets with some great places to eat and drink.
What’s the best family-friendly hotel in Athens?
All the Athens family hotels listed above have something special, but we particularly love the St George Lycabettus for its Kid’s Corner playroom, its rooftop swimming pool and its weekly Sunday Family Brunch.
How we chose our recommendations
Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet holidays forum to find out what family hotels in Athens were being recommended.
We then did some research across the wider web, looking at what family hotels in Athens had won accolades or been featured in ‘best choice’ lists across websites, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best family hotels in Athens now.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.
About the author
Katja Gaskell is a freelance journalist and blogger with over 20 years of experience producing travel content including guidebooks for Lonely Planet, hotel reviews for Mr & Mrs Smith and feature articles for a range of publications including The Telegraph, Wanderlust Magazine and the Mail on Sunday. She's passionate about family travel and loves to explore new places with her husband and three kids, documenting their adventures on her blog, globetotting.com