Where to Stay in Greece

Monastiraki Square anchors old Athens. Walk east along Adrianou Street and you reach Plaka, the oldest neighborhood, with tavernas spilling onto cobblestone lanes. Ermou Street connects you to Syntagma in 10 minutes. The Acropolis is visible from most rooftop bars here. Hotels on Apostolou Pavlou Street offer the best morning views of the Ancient Agora below. Ifestou Street flea market fills up on weekends and gets loud. Pick a side street off the main drag for the same walking distance at 20 to 30 percent lower prices. Budget $100 to $160 for solid mid-range.

Best for

First-time visitorshistory loversculture seekers on any budget

Walk times

Acropolis entrance (Dionysiou Areopagitou) 12 min
Ancient Agora entrance 4 min
Syntagma Square 14 min

Skip if: You need silence after 10pm or hate crowds year-round

Local tip: Book a hotel with a rooftop bar on Apostolou Pavlou Street. Watching sunset over the Acropolis costs nothing extra and beats every paid viewpoint in the city.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$90per night

Santorini: Fira Town

Caldera views without Oia prices

Mid-range $150-$600/night

Fira sits 300 meters above sea level on the caldera rim. The pedestrian cliff path, Ypapantis Walk, runs along the edge with unobstructed caldera and Aegean views. Hotels on Danezi Street and Agiou Mina Street are 2 minutes from the cable car down to the old port. Oia sits 11 kilometers north and charges 40 to 60 percent more for the same volcanic scenery. Fira gives you identical views at a fraction of the cost. April, May, and October cut peak-season prices by 40 to 50 percent. Peak July and August push caldera-view rooms to $400 to $800 per night.

Best for

Coupleshoneymoonssunset chasers who want value over hype

Walk times

Caldera viewing path (Ypapantis Walk) 2 min
Cable car to old port 8 min
Museum of Prehistoric Thera 5 min

Skip if: You need a beach within walking distance. Every good beach is 20 to 40 minutes by car.

Local tip: Oia sunsets are famous but Fira sunsets are just as good. Walk to the northern end of Ypapantis Walk at 7pm. Zero Instagram crowd.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$168per night

Crete: Chania Old Town

Venetian harbor, real neighborhood, best food on the island

Budget $70-$200/night

Chania Old Town circles a Venetian harbor built in the 14th century. The lighthouse at the harbor entrance is a 15-minute walk from most Old Town hotels. Zampeliou Street and Theotokopoulou Street are the two main lanes through the heart of it, lined with restored Venetian mansions converted to small boutique hotels. The covered Agora market on Chalidon Street sells local cheese, olive oil, and honey every morning. Lefka Ori mountains are visible from the waterfront on clear days. Cretan food here is legitimately the best in Greece: slow-roasted lamb, dakos salad, fresh seafood at the tavernas along Akti Enoseos.

Best for

Foodieshistory buffsslow travelers who want authenticity over resort life

Walk times

Venetian lighthouse 15 min
Municipal Agora market (Chalidon Street) 8 min
Chania Archaeological Museum 6 min

Skip if: You want a beach resort with a pool. Nearest decent beach (Nea Chora) is 20 minutes on foot.

Local tip: Stay on a side street off the waterfront. Waterfront hotels charge 30 to 50 percent more for the same caldera access you get by walking to the harbor in 2 minutes.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$78per night

Thessaloniki: City Center

Greece's best food city. Barely any tourists.

Budget $55-$150/night

Thessaloniki does not get enough credit. The waterfront promenade, Nikis Avenue, stretches 3 kilometers along the Thermaic Gulf. The White Tower sits at the eastern end and is free to enter on Sundays. Aristotelous Square connects the waterfront to the upper city, where Byzantine churches along Egnatia Street date to the 5th century. The Modiano and Kapani markets on Venizelou Street are the best food markets in the country. Hotels around Navarinou Square put you in the middle of the bar district. Prices run 50 to 60 percent less than Athens for equivalent quality. This is where Greeks actually vacation.

Best for

Food travelersrepeat Greece visitorsanyone who hates tourist crowds

Walk times

White Tower (Paralia waterfront) 10 min
Modiano Market (Venizelou Street) 6 min
Aristotelous Square 4 min

Skip if: You specifically want island scenery or beaches. This is a mainland city with no island feel.

Local tip: Eat at the tavernas inside Kapani Market on Venizelou Street. Tourists never find them. Lamb chops and local wine for under 15 euros per person.

Compare prices across providers

Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$62per night