Athens has plenty of boutique and luxury hotels, but you can still find lots of cheap city centre hotel rooms too. Athens is still one of the cheapest cities in Europe

The Greek capital Athens has always been one of Europe's cheapest cities, but it hasn't always been the most popular place for a city break holiday. It has a reputation for noisy traffic and blazingly hot summer temperatures. Both of these are true, as anyone who has ever tried to cross a busy street there in August will know. But Athens is also a city with great character, lots of historical monuments and museums, increasingly good food (three Michelin-star restaurants) and it still has some of the cheapest hotels in Europe.

One of the good things about the new Athens is how easy it is to get from the airport into the city centre, thanks to the new extended Athens metro system. From there, most of the main sights like the Acropolis and Parthenon can be easily reached on foot and there are plenty of cheap city centre hotels to choose from. The areas you want to look to be in include the Plaka, Monastiraki, and newer nightlife and restaurant districts like Psyrri and Gazi.

Shop around the internet for even cheaper deals, and here are a few hotel names to look out for. Remember that in Greece the street name comes before the house number. And in the Greek hotel rating system, a 'C' class hotel is still likely to be clean, simple and, most importantly, affordable.

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Acropolis House

Kodrou 6-8

In a pedestrianised side street in the popular Plaka district, this has been a good budget choice for years. If you go to Athens without booking a room, head for this street as there are several inexpensive but decent hotels here.

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Adonis

Kodrou 3

Near the Acropolis House and the Plaka, not far from Syntagma Square, the Adonis is yet another simple and inexpensive central Athens hotel, worth it for the rooftop breakfast with a view of the nearby Acropolis.

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Art Gallery Hotel

Erechthiou 5

Slightly arty but still simple place, as the name implies, it's close to the Acropolis in the Makriyanni area which isn't quite as touristy as some and has some excellent and very Greek eating places.

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Hotel Attalos

Athinas 29

Friendly and clean 'C' class hotel well-situated halfway between Omonia Square and the Monastiraki flea market area, beyond which is the touristy Plaka district. Right next to the newly hip nightlife area of Psyrri.

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Cecil Hotel

Athinas 39

Along from the Attalos but a little bit smarter (and pricier) is this renovated mansion, again well-located for city centre and Athens nightlife and restaurants.

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Hotel Tempi

Eolou 29

In a quiet bit of the lively Monastiraki area, and convenient for the Plaka, Psyrri and most of the main sights. The Tempi is very cheap, very basic, but has wonderfully friendly and helpful owners.

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There seem to be a huge number of Greek hotels beginning with the letter 'A'. Presumably this is an attempt to be near the top of any hotel listings and phone books!

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If you're more interested in Athens 5-star and boutique hotels, click here.

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