Athens hotels — Expedia and Hotels.com

A long weekend covers the main archaeology — the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Plaka are all walkable from Syntagma or Monastiraki in 15 minutes. Plaka and Thissio offer the most atmospheric stays with rooftop Acropolis views; Koukaki and Pangrati to the south are quieter, cheaper, and still Metro-linked to the centre in 10 minutes. April–May and September–October deliver the comfortable walking sweet-spot; July–August brings heat over 35°C and cruise-ship crowds around the Acropolis ticket office. Athens remains one of Europe's best-value capitals — a central 4-star can drop below £70/night midweek outside summer. Athens International Airport connects to Syntagma in 40 minutes on Metro line 3 for €9; the X95 express bus is slower but runs 24 hours.

Typical nightly rate: £65–£200