In Plaka, the Electra Palace’s yellow neo-classical facade opens into a spacious marble lobby. The 122 rooms and suites all have wooden floors, Persian rugs, thick curtains and cotton duvets – the best ones offer a glimpse of the Acropolis. Up top, there’s a rooftop pool with wooden deck and sun beds, plus a small spa (pool, sauna, massage and gym) in the basement.

The refurbished Hilton Hotel is modern, smart and popular with business travellers. It has 517 rooms (guest rooms, accessible rooms, executive rooms and suites) all with wooden floors, minimalist furniture and balconies. A small supplement is payable for rooms with Acropolis views. The impressive facilities include four restaurants, three bars, an outdoor pool, a luxurious spa with an indoor pool, plus a business centre.

The Hotel Grande Bretagne is the city's oldest and most prestigious hotel, having opened in 1874 and hosted royalty, heads of state, film stars and rock gods. As you’d expect, the sophisticated rooms feature antiques and marble bathrooms, and suites include 24-hour butler service; there are 3 restaurants, one on the rooftop with an Acropolis view, plus a rooftop pool.

Opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus, this 4-star hotel is ideally located for sightseeing. It has 99 modern rooms with wooden floors, minimalist furnishing and a chic black, white, beige and lilac colour scheme. The roof garden bar and restaurant affords stunning Acropolis views and makes a fine venue for both breakfast and dinner.

Smack at the foot of the Acropolis and around the corner from the New Acropolis Museum, this classic hotel with a neoclassical façade is perfectly located for sightseeing. The rooms and suites are elegantly furnished, and the rooftop garden and restaurant gives unparalleled Acropolis views.

Fun and a little offbeat, this hotel is the artistic creation of Brazilian designers Humberto and Fernando Campana. The 79 rooms and suites have recycled furniture, bamboo wood floors, and slick bathrooms stocked with Kiehl's products. The all-day bar-restaurant does an excellent breakfast and the New Sense spa offers health and beauty treatments.

Housed in the former studio and gallery of Greek artist Dora Bouki, this old-fashioned hotel is ideally located in a quiet residential street in Koukaki, 10 minutes from Plaka. There are 21 rooms, all with wooden floors, ceiling fans and bathrooms; some also have Acropolis-view balconies. Colourful oil paintings by Bouki are on display throughout the building and the resident cat adds to the homely atmosphere.

Tucked into a small street north of Monastiraki's central square, this simple but stylish hostel has dorms, private rooms and studio apartments, some offering balconies with Acropolis views. An added bonus is the large lockers that can fit a big suitcase – ideal if you're planning to go island hopping and want to travel light. The rooftop bar has nightly happy hours.

Perfectly located between Syntagma and Plaka, Hermes is noted for its extremely friendly and helpful staff. The 45 rooms all have wooden floors and white marble bathrooms, and some but not all have balconies. A plentiful buffet breakfast is served daily and the lounge does all-day free tea and coffee. Wi-Fi throughout. Syntagma Metro station is a 2 minute walk away.