Villas in Athen
Athens works for city breaks on foot, with compact air-conditioned homes for two to four, all near the centre. Summer humidity is heavy, and the busiest streets are noisy and crowded with visitors.
- Villas
- 18
- From, per week
- £378
About Athen
Athens is a dense capital, not a resort, so a stay here is about walking and the metro. The Acropolis is open daily, 08:00 to 19:00 in summer and 08:00 to 17:00 in winter, and queues can top an hour, so buy tickets online and arrive early. Below it, Plaka has restored 19th-century neoclassical buildings, pedestrian streets and Roman-era ruins, and Anafiotika at its northern edge is quiet and green. Monastiraki is the district for antiques, with a Sunday flea market at Plateia Avissinia. The Acropolis Museum, opened in 2009, has a top floor laid out as the Parthenon. Our homes sit in and around the centre, mostly small, most with air conditioning. Evenings start late: dinner before 20:00 is uncommon and tavernas fill after 22:00. Pickpockets are a known problem on the metro, especially on airport trains.
Is Athen right for you?
- Best for
- First-time city breaks on foot and by metro
- Not for you if
- You want a pool or beach on the doorstep, because this is a dense, noisy capital where beaches need a tram ride.
Near Athen
Piraeus
The port, at the end of Metro Line 1, with ferries to Paros and the other islands.
Athens coast
Tram T5 links the centre with the coastal zone and southern suburbs, and T3 runs along the shore, for sea days away from the crowds.
Kerameikos
End of a mostly car-free archaeological walk linking Vasilisis Amalias Street, the Acropolis area, Thiseio and Ermou Street.
Getting to Athen
Athens International Airport is on Metro Line 3, which runs via Syntagma, with Suburban Railway services too. The metro runs from 05:00 to midnight. A car is unnecessary in the centre: three metro lines, buses and trams cover the city, and the Acropolis area is easy on foot.
When to go to Athen
Summer humidity is exhausting, and rare heatwaves can be extreme, so see the Acropolis early, carry water and use the National Garden for shade. Acropolis winter hours finish at 17:00. Tavernas are busiest after 22:00, and the metro stops at midnight, so plan late returns with taxis in mind.
Villas in Athen
1-Bedroom Home, Athen
Athen, Atene, Greece
2
1
0
MicrowaveWashing MachineFridge+4 more
from£125
per night
2-Bedroom Home, Athen
Athen, Atene, Greece
4
2
0
MicrowaveInternetFridge+3 more
from£87
per night
1-Bedroom Home, Athen
Athen, Atene, Greece
3
1
0
Air ConMicrowaveParking+7 more
from£64
per night
Apartment "Akropolis Boutique Suite"
Athen, Atene, Greece
6
2
0
Air ConTerraceInternet+7 more
from£72
per night
Athen villa holidays: questions answered
Do you need a car in Athens?
No. Three metro lines cover the main districts, one ticket allows transfers for 90 minutes across metro, trams, buses and trolleybuses, and the tram reaches the coast. Drivers are aggressive and parked cars near some sites risk damage.
Is Athens walkable?
Around the Acropolis, yes: Plaka and its upper streets are pleasant on foot, and a mostly car-free route links Thiseio, Ermou Street and Kerameikos. Outside tourist streets, traffic, crossings and noise make walking harder.
How do you get from Athens airport to the centre?
By Metro Line 3 via Syntagma, which shares track with the Suburban Railway between Doukissis Plakentias and the airport. Metro trains on that stretch are infrequent, up to one every 36 minutes, so check the timetable.
When should you visit the Acropolis from Athens?
Early in the day. It opens at 08:00, queues can exceed an hour later on, and summer heat builds. Hours run to 19:00 in summer and 17:00 in winter, so book timed tickets online.
Is Athens good for a beach break?
Not in the centre. The tram runs from Syntagma to the beaches in south Athens, so most visitors combine city days with an afternoon by the sea. Beachside cafés can charge a lot for food and drinks.
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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