Electra Metropolis Athens

Rooms and decor

Walk into the lobby of Electra Metropolis Athens and the first thing you notice is that this is not the stiff, formal kind of 5-star — it is a modern downtown tower with warmth and taste. The hotel opened in 2016 inside a refreshed mid-rise building. Interiors run on warm browns, creams, and wood, set against contemporary Greek artwork hung along lobby walls, corridors, and even the lift — many guests describe the feeling as staying inside a small gallery rather than a typical chain hotel. All 208 rooms are calmly furnished, with firm mattresses, quality linens, and soundproofing that reviewers consistently praise — sleep here is unusually good for a central address. Categories run from standard rooms through suites with private balconies, and a handful of rooms in the right corner pull back the curtain to find the Parthenon staring straight back — a small moment guests reach for the camera for. If you like modern interiors with a quiet Greek accent, this place lands.

Food and amenities

The headline that every review keeps coming back to lives on the 10th-floor rooftop. Up here you find an infinity pool with a small waterfall pouring over the edge, plus M Bar, an open-air bar facing the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill with nothing in the way. As the sun drops behind the Parthenon, the old city goes orange-gold — reviews repeatedly call this one of the best sunset rooftops in Athens. A cold cocktail in hand and the evening breeze coming in is the moment many travelers rate the most memorable of the trip. Downstairs, breakfast is a wide buffet covering Greek staples — Greek yogurt with honey, feta, fresh pastries — and all the international standards. Reviews consistently praise the ingredient quality and range. There is a fitness room and spa treatment menu for downtime after a day of walking, and a 24-hour concierge for tour bookings, restaurant tips, and transport.

Location and getting there

Location is the other strong card. The hotel sits on the corner between Syntagma, Athens' lively central square, and Plaka, the old town of cobbled lanes, family tavernas, and quirky souvenir shops. From the door it is roughly 3 minutes on foot to Syntagma Square and Syntagma metro (lines M2/M3) — meaning you can jump on the metro to almost anywhere in the city in seconds. The killer detail: line M3 from this station runs direct to Athens International Airport with no transfer. The headline sights are walkable too — the Acropolis and the Parthenon are about 8 minutes on foot, and from the door you can wander into Plaka for dinner in the old alleys or up Ermou pedestrian street for shopping in just a few minutes. If your version of an Athens trip is waking up and walking everywhere of importance without relying on cars, this address scores a clean ten.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. The most common note in reviews is the busy rooftop. The Acropolis view here is well-known enough that non-guests come up to drink at the bar, so in high season and around sunset, edge loungers and the best view tables fill quickly — claim a spot early or be prepared to wait. The second thing to know before booking: not every room sees the Acropolis. The hotel has several categories, and standard rooms often face the city or the street with neighbouring buildings in view. If you specifically want the Parthenon from your room, you have to book a room explicitly tagged as Acropolis view and accept the upgrade. Finally, because this is a central downtown corner, lower floors and street-facing rooms can pick up traffic and evening street noise. Light sleepers should request a higher floor at booking for the quieter night.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real guest reviews, Electra Metropolis Athens stacks up as the hotel that bundles three things Athens travelers most want into a single building — a central address that walks to every major sight, a rooftop Acropolis view that has become quietly famous, and front-of-house service that reviews repeatedly call warmer than the price suggests. If your trip picture is wandering Plaka and the Acropolis all day, then floating in the rooftop pool at sunset behind the Parthenon with a cocktail, this is the cleanest fit. Just pick the room view category carefully and accept that the rooftop draws a crowd in high season. Overall we give it 9.2/10 — best suited to couples, families, and first-time Athens visitors who want a great view and walk-everywhere ease in one package.