Hermes Hotel

A clean, comfy and well-placed hotel on the edge of Plaka, perfect for a quick visit to the Acropolis

Plaka is the historic centre of Athens, a hotch-potch of neoclassical tiled houses that tumble down (and tumble is the word) below the Acropolis. Strict conservation laws make hotel conversions practically impossible, which means that you are obliged to stay in a modern purpose-built hotel on the edge of the pedestrian area. But that need not be a hardship: this one, like so many of its neighbours, received a total refurb in the run-up to the 2004 Olympics.

Its 45 twin bedrooms now sport a calm grey, brown and white trim: wooden floors and headboards, cream walls, all-marble bathrooms. In some, full-height sliding windows open onto tiny balconies looking down on narrow Apollonos street or up to the Acropolis; the higher the floor, the better the view. Air-con and soundproofing ensure you sleep well, while helpful staff ensure that your sightseeing is successful. It may not have ground-breaking design or historic charm, but it’s spotlessly clean, stylishly furnished and perfectly placed for a quick raid on the Acropolis and Plaka.

Highs

• Surprisingly peaceful for such a central location - on the edge of Plaka, and 3 blocks from Syntagma Square (metro and airport bus)
• Lovely roof terrace, and a stylish bar in the lobby
• Breakfasts are better than average - and plentiful
• Excellent low season rates (Nov-March)
• Sister hotel Plaka (below) is also a good mid-range option

Lows

• Most rooms are small, with little storage space
• The lift is even smaller - one person at a time
• Many so-called double rooms actually have twin beds pushed together
• Decor is beginning to look tired
• PLAKA HOTEL: If the Hermes is full, they will offer you a room at sister hotel 'Plaka', which has the same prices. It's a few blocks down the road on the other side of the cathedral and is a modern building with similarly smart but rather characterless decor in its 67 bedrooms