Check in: You’ll love coming home to this pretty neoclassical mansion that’s smack bang in the ancient playground of Plaka. Museums and monuments, restaurants and shops—they’re all at your fingertips. There are 16 light and airy rooms, decked out with faux antiques and all named after Greek poets. Expect some outside noise in the evenings; a few of the rooms face a lively square. But who wants to go to bed early in Athens anyway?

Check-out: Lucky you; guests get to breakfast right beneath the Acropolis on a swoony roof terrace to the tune of old Greek ballads cranked out by gramophone. Poetic indeed. Wind up your day with a cocktail up there too.

Check in: If you believe that budget shouldn’t mean boring, this “boutique hostel” in Psirri will be just your style. Inside this four-storey neoclassical townhouse, you’ll be surrounded by belle epoque lights, reclaimed vintage furniture, and bright murals referencing the feisty local street art scene. Take your pick of 25 rooms, from cheery doubles with en suites and balconies to stylish dormitories with wooden bunk beds. Hang out in the chatty communal living room, or ascend to the tiny roof garden to enjoy the Parthenon on a plate.

Check-out: Take an old-school selfie in the fancy-dress photo booth. Drop in on the jazzy Sunday brunch next door at Zampano—this Fellini-inspired bistro is part of the Circus package (and they do great Greek wines by the glass).

Check in: If you want to experience Athens with no filter and live like a local in eligible downtown neighbourhoods. Live in Athens is a dynamic quartet of Athenians who snaps up prime city properties and renovates them into appealing apartments with kitchens for the self-catering crowd. Picture yourself in a sunlit modern suite with private terrace and magazine-worthy rooftop in Plaka; or a stately landmarked building in beautiful Thissio, near the Acropolis Museum. Or perhaps a central base in groovy Psirri, a stone’s throw from old-school tavernas and funky bars, is more your speed. Every Live in Athens room has a different vibe. “We don’t do copy, paste,” says co-founder Varnavas.

Check out: Elevate your holiday cooking with chillies and fresh herbs from the small on-site garden at the main Psirri property; or pop around the corner for the legendary scrambled eggs at Spiti mas, the company’s quirky neighbourhood eaterie.

Check-in: for a fresh concept—the deconstructed hotel. This hive of 14 like-minded stays is scattered across Athens, but still offers traditional hotel services like airport transfers, breakfast goodies, toiletries, and in-room cleaning on request. The Heloni angle—it means tortoise—is to provide safe bases for urban safaris in smart, homey spaces, equipped with kitchens and laundry appliances. Bunker down in freshly-renovated 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, named after Greek Gods and Goddesses, in secure residential buildings, alongside regular Athenians (their bicycles in the entry will make you feel right at home). Décor is more friendly than fancy (picture stripy sofa throws and “Things to Do”chalkboards), making Heloni a savvy choice for families and pal groups. Stay in the thick of Plaka; choose cool Athenian neighbourhoods like Pangrati and Koukaki; or park yourself in Piraeus. “Every neighbourhood in Athens has its own soul,” says Heloni’s Konstantina Vogiatzidou.

Check-out: Handy “mates’ rates” at local shops and restaurants who’ve buddied up with Heloni; Apollo’s smashing roof terrace where you can dine or sunbathe with the Acropolis for company; Hadrian's unbeatable location, slap bang on Plaka’s Adrianou Street; and delightful Kleio with her plush dressing room and vintage rockers.

Check-in: A whimsical world awaits you at this quirky little charmer, located on a tranquil backstreet of Plaka. Better move fast though. There are only four rooms. The owner, a Greek-Irish architect, was inspired to create the bed and breakfast that his grandmother Alice had always dreamed of. He has decked out these old digs in her memory with film posters, classic novels and other endearing bric-a-brac (scout for your own at the nearby Monastiraki flea market). Perfect for lovers is the Betty Boop room with its shuttered windows and private patio. But the Harry Belafonte suite has the biggest advantage: a roof terrace with Acropolis views. Wake up to home-style breakfasts in the shady back garden or convivial kitchen-diner.

Check-out: Borrow one of the owner’s bicycles and explore this historic neighbourhood on two wheels. Or snuggle up in the sitting room with a book from the library.

Check-in: This relaxed micro-hotel has a modern, industrial mood that will appeal to younger couples seeking an affordably cool base that’s close—but not too close—to all the main museums and monuments. Tucked away on a residential side-street in sought-after Pangrati, you can choose from six spacious suites, some on their own floors. You’ll feel like a VIP in the top-floor family suite with its own private lift and glam Acropolis vistas. Shy types might blush using the open-plan bathrooms (the free-standing tubs are curtain-free). A small roof terrace faces the Parthenon, while free valet parking is a bonus at this price.

Check-out: The hotel’s lobby and facade are carved from the same marble as the world-famous Panathenaic Stadium, just a couple of blocks away. Go for an early morning jog around the stadium.