While Greece has always held timeless appeal for vacationers, its popularity soared in the wake of the pandemic. Unlike other countries, it effectively and early on marketed itself as a safe and, in many cases, secluded fresh-air getaway. Additionally, a strong exchange rate for American tourists made this already sought-after spot even more attractive to those looking to stretch their dollars even further.
The downside? With affordability and attractive weather comes hordes of like-minded travelers. Though July and August are peak travel months in Greece, my Athens-based friends say now through the end of October is the best time to plan a vacation. The crowds have thinned out, the weather is mild, and hotel rates are lower.
Whether you’ve got a stopover in Athens en route to the Greek islands or are planting yourself in Athens, below are two hotels that showcase two different sides of Greece’s storied capital city.
Athens’ Best Boutique Hotel: Okupa
Opened in January in a sleepy pocket of the bohemian neighborhood of Psyrri near the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, Okupa offers a smart alternative to the city’s traditional stays. This boutique hotel is playful, dynamic, and expressly designed to meet the ever-evolving needs of today’s travelers. Taking inspiration from the Spanish word “ocupar” (to occupy), Okupa features a variety of spaces, including a ground-floor coworking and social hub, the library, a basement housing an ancient Hellenic tomb, a listening corner with curated vinyls, and a rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis. These spaces are inteneded to foster creativity and cross-cultural exchange between guests and locals. (In fact, co-founder Georges Batrouni and interior designer Nohad Bouez are from Beirut.)
Okupa’s 32 light-flooded rooms are spare and stylishly done up with timeless design pieces like Kartell’s Componibili, while the common areas are punched up with a funky 1970s palette and mismatched, mid-century pieces from Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer. The art throughout was specially commissioned from local creatives like Robert Seikon. Open for daily brunch through dinner, Okupa’s restaurant serves reasonably priced food that’s not defined by borders, such as eggs verde, mushroom gyoza, and cumin lamb skewers.
Athens’ Best Luxury Hotel: Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens
Credited with ushering a new era of luxury to the Athens Riviera (the coastal stretch spanning from the port of Piraeus to Cape Sounion) upon its opening in 2019, Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel evokes the nostalgic glamour of the 1960s, when celebrities like Brigitte Bardot and Frank Sinatra sunned on its golden shores. Today, it serves as a refined and versatile getaway for all kinds of discriminating travelers. Even better? Staying here feels like you’re on a secluded island, despite being a 30-minute drive from downtown Athens.
Guests can choose from rooms, suites, and private bungalows; some have private pools, and all feature a crisp, subtly nautical design. With countless dining and drinking options available, you won’t need (or want) to leave the resort after checking in. Savor an elegant supper at the Michelin-starred Mediterranean restaurant, Pelagos, or sip a sunset cocktail at Avra Bar—the bubbly and sprucey Pine is especially refreshing after a day in the sun.
The resort’s spa is a breezy wellness haven specializing in locally-inspired treatments, like the Storgi Ritual, a head-to-toe pampering session incorporating essential oils of hand-harvested botanicals. But no matter where you find yourself at Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens—whether it’s one of its three private beaches or feasting alfresco on freshly-caught sea bass at Taverna 37—you’ll be surrounded by unforgettable views of this veritable Grecian paradise.