Staying in Athens is all about fun and not about breaking your budget. Let’s face it: hotels are quite expensive for a student or any other budget traveler, hence hostels offer the best alternative.

What to expect…

Hostel life might not be for everyone. Since not all hostels offer private rooms, at one point you will have to consider sleeping in a room with a bunch of other people you don’t know and having to “withstand” their snoring or other “nocturnal habits”. I can’t help but remember Justine’s (Globe Trekker) experience in a hostel when she decided to wake up early because of one of the guy’s snoring.

The facilities offered by some hostels can be pretty basic, but I have a hunch you won’t spend too much time in the room anyway. However, a lot of chic hostels offer the same facilities as a 2 or 3 stars hotel, but for less money.

Obviously, it’s recommended to book well in advance because hostels tend to get really crowded in high season and by booking you know you have a place to stay when you arrive in Athens.

How Important is the Location ?

Although it might sound ironic, staying in a hostel located in the center of the city doesn’t have to be expensive. A lot of great hostels are located within walking distance of Acropolis. As in the case of hotels in Athens, some of the best neighborhoods to choose from are Plaka, Psirri and Monastiraki.

>>read more about The Neighborhoods of Athens

Worth Trying

Probably the best hostel in Athens is Athens Backpackers. It’s located at 2 min walk from the Acropolis and Plaka neighborhood. The rooms are clean, there is free breakfast included in the room price, while the coffee and tea are offered for free all day long. The huge kitchen is at your discretion, so if you want to save even more money, cook your own food. You don’t even have to go in town to look for a bar, because the hostel has a really chic roof top bar. The heating and air conditioning are also included in the room price. The hostel caters for couples and families, offering rooms with 2 or 3 beds. For 2008, during the high season, a 3 beds apartment costs €30/person/night. The shared rooms (dorms) –which can accommodate up to 12 persons- cost €27/person/night.

Hostel Aphrodite I is one of the oldest hostels in Athens, with a history of 30 years of catering to travelers all over the world, ranking in top 3 on online booking sites. There is a bar in the basement, free internet and a wide variety of rooms, both private and dormitories. The air conditioning and heating are included in the room price. You won’t have many problems exploring Athens, because the hostel is located near bus and train stations and within walking distance of the Archaeological Museum. For 2008, during high season, a double-bed room costs €21.20/person/night while a bed in a 8 bed mixed dorm costs €14.60/person/night.

Zeus Hotel is also a good choice. Located within a short walking distance of the Acropolis and Plaka neighborhood, the hostel is conveniently located near banks, markets, cafes, restaurants and rail and bus stations. There is free internet access (WiFi in lobby) and the air conditioning is included in the room price. For 2008, during high season, a double-bed room costs €17/person/night while a bed in a 4 bed mixed dorm costs €12/person/night.

>> read more about why you should add Athens to your RTW trip

Read more about:

>>Hostels near the Acropolis
>>Athens: Hostels near Syntagma Square
>>Athens: Hostels and budget hotels near the National Archaeological Museum