Best Hotels in Kolonaki, Athens

Greece › Athens › Kolonaki Hotels
Updated: September 30, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
Questions? dave@santorinidave.com

My Favorite Kolonaki Hotels

• Best Luxury: St. George Lycabettus Hotel • Academias Hotel
• Best Boutique: Periscope Hotel • Coco-Mat Hotel
• Best Views: St. George Lycabettus Hotel
• Best Value: Oniro City

Panoramic rooftop view from Coco-Mat Hotel in Kolonaki.

Staying in Kolonaki

• Kolonaki is one of the best areas in Athens for restaurants, cafes, museums, and shopping. It is central and upscale but feels less touristy than Plaka and Monastiraki. The Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, and Byzantine and Christian Museum are all nearby.
• It is not my first choice for a short first visit to Athens. Syntagma and the National Garden are close, but Plaka and Koukaki are more convenient for the Acropolis and Ancient Agora. I especially like Kolonaki for couples, repeat visitors, and anyone planning to spend time in Athens’ museums.
• Kolonaki is hilly. Lower Kolonaki near Syntagma and Vasilissis Sofias is easier for walking and transport. Hotels closer to Lycabettus are quieter and often have better views, but the uphill walks are noticeable. Lycabettus Hill itself has some of the best views in Athens.
• Hotels tend to be expensive. You are paying for the neighborhood, restaurants, shopping, and quieter setting rather than large rooms or resort-style facilities.

Kolonaki vs Plaka, Syntagma, Monastiraki, and Koukaki

Trendy Periscope Hotel on a quiet street in Kolonaki.

• Kolonaki vs Plaka: Plaka is prettier and better for first-time sightseeing. Kolonaki has better shopping, more museums, and fewer tourist crowds. For a first trip focused on ancient Athens, I would choose Plaka.
• Kolonaki vs Syntagma: Syntagma is better for airport transport, short stays, and getting around Athens. Kolonaki is better for restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and evenings out.
• Kolonaki vs Monastiraki: Monastiraki is busier, better for sightseeing, and livelier at night. Kolonaki is quieter and better for restaurants and wine bars than nightlife.
• Kolonaki vs Koukaki: Koukaki is better for the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, and Filopappou Hill. Kolonaki is better for shopping, museums, and a more upscale neighborhood.

Getting Around Kolonaki

• Walking: Lower Kolonaki is easy to explore on foot, but streets become noticeably steeper toward Lycabettus Hill.
• Metro: Evangelismos on Line 3 is best for eastern Kolonaki. Syntagma, on Lines 2 and 3, is convenient for lower Kolonaki.
• Airport: Metro Line 3 runs directly from Athens Airport to Evangelismos and Syntagma. Take a taxi if you have heavy luggage or are staying high on the Lycabettus side.
• Piraeus: Line 3 runs directly from Evangelismos and Syntagma to Piraeus. I would take a taxi or pre-booked transfer for an early ferry or with lots of luggage.

Best Hotels in Kolonaki

Lower Kolonaki is easier for Syntagma, the metro, and sightseeing. Hotels closer to Lycabettus are quieter and better for views, but expect steeper walks.

The seasonal rooftop pool at St. George Lycabettus Hotel in Kolonaki.

• St. George Lycabettus Hotel: The classic luxury hotel in upper Kolonaki, with a seasonal rooftop pool and some of the best hotel views in the neighborhood. Excellent for Lycabettus and Kolonaki restaurants, but noticeably uphill from Syntagma.
• Academias Hotel: My favorite full-service luxury option near the lower edge of Kolonaki. Spa, indoor pool, gym, rooftop restaurant, and an easier location for Syntagma and central Athens than hotels farther up the hill. Better facilities than the small boutique hotels.
• Coco-Mat Hotel: Stylish boutique hotel on Patriarchou Ioakeim in the heart of Kolonaki. Excellent Coco-Mat beds and a roof garden with wide Athens views. A very good choice if restaurants and shopping are priorities.
• Periscope Hotel: Small 22-room boutique hotel high in Kolonaki with minimalist rooms, contemporary art, and a quiet location. Limited facilities compared with St. George and Academias, but excellent for restaurants and cafes.
• The Modernist Athens: Contemporary boutique hotel near Evangelismos, just east of central Kolonaki. The metro is a couple of minutes away, and the Benaki, Cycladic, and Byzantine museums are close. Best choice here for easy metro access.
• Oniro City: Good-value boutique hotel on Omirou Street near the western edge of Kolonaki. Modern rooms, breakfast, and an easy walk to both Syntagma and Panepistimio. It lacks the views and facilities of the luxury hotels but is usually one of the better values in the area.
• Conrad Athens The Ilisian: Not technically in Kolonaki, but close enough that I consider it when choosing a hotel here. It sits just east of Kolonaki on Vasilissis Sofias, a short walk from the neighborhood, Lycabettus Hill, and several of Athens’ best museums. It is much more of an urban resort than the hotels above, with large rooms, extensive wellness facilities, restaurants and bars, and maybe my favorite outdoor pool in central Athens.

Me at Conrad Athens The Ilisian. The former Hilton Athens looks great after its complete refurbishment and 2026 reopening.

Kolonaki FAQ

Is Kolonaki good for first-time visitors?

Yes, especially if museums, restaurants, and shopping are important. If the Acropolis and ancient sites are your priorities, I prefer Plaka or Koukaki.

Is Kolonaki safe?

Yes. Kolonaki is one of the more comfortable areas of central Athens to walk around day and night. Normal precautions apply on crowded streets and the metro.

Is Kolonaki walkable?

Yes, but the neighborhood slopes uphill toward Lycabettus. Stay closer to Syntagma or Evangelismos if steep streets are a concern.

Can you walk from Kolonaki to the Acropolis?

Yes. Figure roughly 25 to 40 minutes depending on your hotel. Plaka and Koukaki are much more convenient if the Acropolis is a priority.

Is Kolonaki good for families?

Yes, particularly with older children. With toddlers or strollers, I prefer Plaka or Koukaki because Kolonaki’s hills and sidewalks can be awkward.

Is Kolonaki good for couples?

Yes. It is one of my favorite central neighborhoods for couples who care about restaurants, wine bars, museums, shopping, and good boutique hotels.

Is Kolonaki good for nightlife?

It is good for cocktails, wine bars, and late dinners, but not for clubs or a party vibe. Psiri, Monastiraki, and Gazi are better for that.

Which Kolonaki hotel is best for luxury?

The Conrad is my choice for full-service luxury, though it is technically just outside Kolonaki. Academias Hotel is smaller, more central, and puts you more squarely in the Kolonaki neighborhood and its restaurants, cafes, and shops. St. George Lycabettus Hotel is best for rooftop views.

Which Kolonaki hotel has the best views?

St. George Lycabettus Hotel. Its upper-Kolonaki location has excellent views across Athens.

Which Kolonaki hotel is best for a boutique stay?

Periscope Hotel is my favorite for minimalist design. Coco-Mat Hotel is better for its roof garden, beds, and central Kolonaki location.

Which Kolonaki hotel is best for museums?

The Modernist Athens is especially convenient for the Benaki Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art, and Byzantine and Christian Museum.

Is Kolonaki expensive?

Yes. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, and shops are relatively expensive by Athens standards.