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.
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. Some of the 45 rooms have balconies looking down on narrow Apollonos street or up to the Acropolis. (The higher the floor, the better the view, of course.) Mini in-room refrigerators (so you can BYO drinks) and backgammon boards in the lounge are welcome touches. Air-con and soundproofing ensure you'll sleep well. The generous breakfast buffet is designed to fortify you for the sightseeing plan designed by the multilingual staff.
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
- Reasonable rates (Nov-March)
- 'PR' staff approach guests during breakfast each day to distribute city maps and help organise personalised sightseeing itineraries
Lows
- Most rooms are small, with little storage space, and double rooms have twin beds pushed together
- The lift is even smaller - one person at a time
- When we last revisited we felt the décor was looking a bit tired
Best time to go
The best times to visit Athens are either over Greek holidays when everyone is away (Greek Easter, Pentecost or any time in August if you can stand the heat); or in the winter when it is cool (sometimes downright cold) and tourist-free; January often has ‘halcyon’ days (mild weather when the kingfishers proverbially build their nests on the calm sea), February adds some carnival colour.
Our top tips
Look for the multilingual 'concierges' who make the rounds during breakfast. They'll mark up city maps for you, noting everything from hours of operation to ticket prices. If you miss them, check signs posted near the elevator for useful details.
- Boutique Hotel
- 45 rooms
- Breakfast only (restaurants nearby)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
Rooms
A tiny lift transports you to the guest bedrooms, which stretch up to the 6th floor. None are huge and some are extremely small, but all are cheerful, comfortable and clean, with chunky modern furniture, shiny hardwood floors and marble bathrooms. Some even have balconies looking down on narrow Apollonos street or up to the Acropolis. (The higher the floor, the better the view.)
Beds are dressed in crisp white with pomegranate spreads and wood headboards. Full-length mirrors and mini-fridges to store your own drinks and food are nice touches. You can set the air-con via remote control. If the weather is hot, ask for 2 key cards and leave one in the wall slot to keep the electricity on so you'll return to a cool room. On our last revisit, we discovered another benefit of the air con: it generates 'white noise', which made our room surprisingly peaceful at night, despite its central location.
Bathrooms are sleekly all-marble, most with showers and tubs. The hand-held showers and the half-screens may result in wet floors. Some rooms interconnect; the triple rooms are ideal for families. Non-smoking rooms are available on request.
Features include:
- Hairdryer
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
A breakfast buffet runs from 7am in a small dining room on the mezzanine. Fill up on breads, cheeses, cold meats, eggs, cakes, yoghurt and honey; not much fruit, but very decent coffee. (Hermes will arrange breakfast for guests with early flights.)
Complimentary coffee, tea and cookies are available in the lobby throughout the day and you can store snacks and beverages in the mini fridge in your room.
From this central location, you are steps from authentic Greek tavernas in the Plaka area. Platanos (4, Diogenous St.) has a nice patio and Thanassis in Monastiraki Square is known for its souvlaki. Geros tou Moria (27, Mnisikleous St.) features traditional Greek music. Dionyssos (43 Rovertou Galli St.) is pricier, but has a bigger menu and great view.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Restaurants nearby
- Room service
Activities
- Visit the world-famous Acropolis citadel (a 15-minute walk away), with its Parthenon, ancient fortifications, beautiful Caryatid statues and museum
- Explore the ancient theatres, ancient agora (marketplace and Byzantine chapels; stoas, Roman temples and monumental arches
- Wander through the pedestrian Plaka district (a 5-minute walk away) where you'll find flea markets, souvenirs, leather goods, pottery, tavernas, cafés
- Or buy herbs, honey, sweetmeats, nuts and wines from the food stores along Athinas street
- Spend a morning at the National Archaeological Museum, Greece’s most important collection of ancient statues, pottery and fragments
- Catch an evening concert at the Roman outdoor theatre of Herod Atticus (during Athens' Summer Festival) or at the excellent Megaron Concert Hall (all year)
- Walk up Filopappos Hill for excellent views over Athens and across to the Acropolis; or take the funicular train up Mount Lykavittos
- Take a taxi to Kaisariani or Daphne monasteries (both about 30 minutes away), on the slopes of Hymettus or Aigaleo respectively
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Shopping / markets
- Swimming
- Traditional cultures
Kids
Children of all ages are welcome, and there is a small playroom with some toys and a Wendy house. Baby cots can be provided for an extra cost.
Family friendly accommodation:
There's a dedicated Family room (2 adults and 2 children) made up of interconnecting rooms. You can also book a Triple room with 1 double and 1 single (some of these are rather cramped for anything longer than 1 night).
Cots Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting available by arrangement.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Hermes Hotel is a 5-minute walk from the buzzing, part-pedestrianised, super-central Plaka area of Athens.
By Air
There are various flights to Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport (20km away) from London and other European capitals, plus major North American and Asian hubs. Click on the links below for a list of airlines.
From the Airport
Intervening hills mean it's a 30km journey by road from the airport to the hotel and a taxi can take anything from 20 minutes at night to 60 minutes during rush hour. You can also take the metro or buses X93 and X95 to Syntagma Square, which is a 5-minute walk away from Hermes Hotel. For the Plaka Hotel, Monastiraki metro station is closer (a 5-minute walk).
Getting Around
The hotel's central location means you can walk to many of Athens' main sights. The metro is clean and efficient with regular trains, and there's also a tram network around the city.
Detailed directions to the hotel will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Greece and getting around
Airports:
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos 20.0 km ATH
Other:
- Beach 10.0 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 4 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape