Updated: June 22, 2026
Greece › Athens › Kid-Friendly Hotels
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com
Athens Hotels: My Picks for Families
- Best for First Timers:
Ava Hotel & Suites (Pedestrian zone in Plaka) - Best Kid-Friendly Vibe:
Grecotel Pallas Athena (Spacious family rooms) - Best Luxury Beach Resort:
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel (Athens Riviera) - Best for Early Ferries:
Port Square Hotel (Walk directly to your ship) - Best Aparthotel:
The Foundry Suites (Full kitchens, rooftop garden)
Family rooms at the Grecotel Pallas Athena in Athens.
Athens Family Hotels: My Advice
- For most families, stay in Plaka, Monastiraki, or Koukaki. Plaka is the easiest and prettiest base for a first visit: walkable, atmospheric, and close to the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, restaurants, and shops. Monastiraki is busier and noisier, but better for metro access, rooftop restaurants, and short stays before or after the islands. Koukaki is calmer, more residential, and often better value, with casual tavernas, wider sidewalks, and apartment-style hotels.
- Choose Syntagma for logistics, not charm. Syntagma is practical for families who want easy taxis, airport access, shopping, and larger full-service hotels. It is less atmospheric than Plaka and less relaxed than Koukaki, but it works well if you want everything to be straightforward.
- Be careful north of Monastiraki toward Omonia. Athens is generally safe, but the streets get grittier as you move toward Omonia, especially around the market and some blocks north of Sofokleous Street. This area can be fine for adults, but it is not where I would send families on a first Athens visit. For an easier family stay, choose Plaka, Koukaki, Syntagma, Kolonaki, or the better parts of Monastiraki and Psiri.
- Do not overpack your sightseeing days. Athens is great with kids, but heat, hills, marble steps, and crowds can wear everyone down. Plan one major ancient site per morning, then leave afternoons for the Acropolis Museum, a rooftop pool, a nap, or an easy wander through Plaka.
- For the Acropolis, go early and bring a carrier for small children. Strollers are not practical inside the Acropolis site, so use a baby carrier if you have a toddler. Acropolis tickets use timed entry, and visitors are advised to arrive before their assigned slot. The first morning slot is the best choice with kids, especially from May to September.
- For airport transfers, taxis are easier than the metro. A taxi from Athens Airport to central Athens has a fixed fare: €40 during the day and €55 at night. The airport metro is cheaper for one or two people, but with kids and luggage, a taxi is worth it. In the city, Uber and FREENOW work with licensed yellow taxis.
- For morning ferries, think carefully about Piraeus. If your ferry leaves before 9:00 a.m., staying in Piraeus can make the morning much easier with kids and luggage. The Port Square Hotel is right by the port and metro. For ferries after 9:00 a.m., I would stay in central Athens and take a taxi or direct metro from Monastiraki.
- My top family hotel in central Athens is Ava Hotel & Suites. It has large suites, kitchenettes, and a near-perfect Plaka location inside the pedestrian zone. Great for families who want space and sightseeing convenience, but it sells out early.
- For a stylish hotel with a pool, consider St. George Lycabettus. It is in quiet, upscale Kolonaki rather than the historic core, and the rooftop pool is a huge plus in July and August. The tradeoff is location: it is slightly removed from the main sightseeing zone, and the uphill setting can be a hassle with tired kids, strollers, or frequent trips back and forth to the hotel.
- For a resort-style family stay, choose the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel. It is on the Athens Riviera, about 30 minutes from central Athens, with beaches, pools, restaurants, and a true holiday feel. It is not the best base for daily sightseeing, but it is the best Athens-area hotel if you want luxury, swimming, and space for kids.
The Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Athens
1. Ava Hotel and Suites
Hotel phone: +30 21032 59000
Spacious suites include kitchenettes with a microwave, fridge, and stovetop. Offers the service and amenities of a 5-star hotel with the friendliness of a family-run B&B. The location is perfect on a quiet street in Plaka, close to the Akropoli metro station and Acropolis Museum. Includes a great breakfast.2. Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel
Hotel phone: +30 21089 01000
Stunning setting on a private peninsula on the Athens Riviera. Features a great beach, pool, restaurants, kids club, and extensive outdoor activities. Located 10 minutes from the shops and nightlife of Glyfada (accessible via hotel shuttle), 20 minutes to the airport, and 30 minutes to central Athens.3. St George Lycabettus
Hotel phone: +30 21074 16000
Five-star hotel with a seasonal rooftop pool, playroom (supervised on request), and private cinema. Sunday brunches feature a separate kids area with a nanny and activities like cooking classes. Rooms and suites sleep up to four; interconnecting suites sleep larger families. The quiet Kolonaki location, at the foot of Mt Lycabettus near the cable car, is upscale and relaxed, but slightly removed from the Acropolis, Plaka, and the main historic sights. Great if you want calm, views, and a pool; less ideal if you want easy walks back to the hotel between sightseeing stops.4. Grand Resort Lagonissi
Hotel phone: +30 22910 76000
Upscale beachfront resort set on sixteen sandy beaches. Amenities include two pools, a water sports center, outdoor cinema, and free kids club (ages 4-12). Seven restaurants offer a variety of cuisines for picky eaters. Sea view suites, bungalows, and villas sleep three to nine guests; family rooms have private pools. Located in a quiet enclave of the Athens Riviera; a car is recommended for exploring.5. Grecotel Pallas Athena
Hotel phone: +30 21032 50900
Unique rooms feature Spiderman or Smurf graffiti murals. A family-friendly 4-star hotel with a play area and connecting rooms. The Greek-Mediterranean restaurant offers kids menus and an excellent breakfast buffet. Located near the Central Market and Monastiraki Flea Market. Note: The immediate area toward Omonia can feel gritty at night; stick to the walk toward Kotzia Square.6. Vincci EverEden
Hotel phone: +30 22910 60031
Relaxed resort with a floating water park and private Blue Flag beach. Additional perks include a playground, water sports center, and two outdoor pools. Family Suites sleep up to four; residences add kitchenettes. Located in sleepy Anavyssos at the south end of the Athens Riviera (renting a car is a good idea here).7. Ergon House
Hotel phone: +30 21001 09090
The ground floor features a full-sized food market with a deli, bakery, vertical garden, and indoor ice cream truck. Upscale boutique hotel with a foodie focus, offering kid-friendly cooking classes and communal kitchens on every floor. Family Rooms sleep up to five. Outstanding breakfast included. Great location near Syntagma Square.8. Electra Palace Hotel
Hotel phone: +30 21033 70000
Classic luxury hotel in the heart of Plaka, with a rooftop pool, indoor pool, restaurant, and some rooms and suites with Acropolis views. The location is excellent for families who want to walk to the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, restaurants, and shops without relying much on taxis. Rooms are more traditional than trendy, but the combination of location, pool, service, and easy sightseeing is hard to beat.9. Athenian Riviera Hotel
Hotel phone: +30 21089 00000
Low-key boutique hotel with a pool, just a short walk to two beaches. The on-site restaurant serves crowd-pleasing Mediterranean dishes (kids menu available) poolside or via room service. All rooms have private balconies; some suites feature jacuzzis. Set in mellow Vouliagmeni, the best beach town on the Athens Riviera.10. The Gem Society
Hotel phone: +30 21022 07777
Affordable luxury in the City Center, near the National Historical Museum. Superior Suites sleep five to six guests with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a sunny terrace. The hotel features a gourmet, all-day bistro with breakfast, half board, and full board options.11. Ivis 4
Hotel phone: +30 21032 13340
Playful hotel with an all-day Greek restaurant and patio garden. Suites sleep up to four guests and feature private balconies and original graffiti murals. Family dining is fantastic here, with kids’ menus and hearty complimentary breakfast. Wonderful Psirri location near the Ancient Agora.12. The Foundry Suites
Hotel phone: +30 21118 24604
Rooftop picnic garden with wood-fired pizza and cocktails (May–Oct). Spacious self-catering apartments sleep up to four; all suites have fully equipped kitchens with dishwashers and ovens. Note that there are no TVs, but a rich substantial breakfast is included. Excellent location in Psirri.13. Palmyra Beach Hotel
Hotel phone: +30 21089 81183
Good value hotel with a nice pool. Two-bedroom family rooms sleep a family of 5. Close to shopping, restaurants, and Glyfada beach. The tram to central Athens (30 minutes) is just outside the hotel.14. A for Athens
Hotel phone: +30 21302 37244
Centrally located hotel with iconic Acropolis views. Affordable boutique hotel with Quadruple and Triple rooms. Located at the border of Psirri and Monastiraki, just steps from the metro – perfect for catching early-morning ferries from Piraeus.15. City Circus Athens Hostel
Hotel phone: +30 21302 37244
Nice budget hostel with large quadruple rooms perfect for families. Located within walking distance to Plaka.More Family-Friendly Hotels in Athens
- Athens Gate Hotel (large interconnecting double rooms)
- Plaka Hotel Athens (family room with interconnecting door)
- Athens Lotus Hotel (family rooms have three beds and two bathrooms)
- Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso (great beach resort, 30-minutes outside of Athens)
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