Athens is the capital of Greece and gateway to the stunning Greek islands, but the city has plenty to offer in its own right. As one of the oldest cities in the world, Athens has an abundance of rich historic landmarks to explore.
Often, people think of Athens as a pit stop before hitting the iconic Greek Islands (which I must admit, was me before I visited). But to think of Athens as just a pit stop is WILD. It is so much more than just a stopover location.
That said, Athens is neither tiny nor easy to navigate, so, you may have a tough time deciding where to stay in Athens. There are certain Athens hostels that you’ll want to stay in for nightlife, local life, getting shit done, or somewhere you can fully chill out.
With my guide to the best hostels in Athens at your side, I want to help make your decision-making a hell of a lot easier. I’ll take you through the best Athens hostels and what each has to offer. So whether you want a social hostel, or private rooms, whether you’re visiting Athens for a good time or a long time, I got you.
Grab a gyro and let’s get into it!
Photo: @danielle_wyatt
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Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Athens
- Best Overall Hostel in Athens – Athens Hub Hostel
- Best Hostel in Athens for Solo Travelers – Athens Backpackers
- Best Cheap Hostel in Athens – Athens Hawks Hostel
- Best Party Hostel in Athens – Pagration Youth Hostel
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Athens – BedBox
The 5 Best Hostels in Athens
Okay, without further dalliance, I present my top picks for the most impressive/EPIC hostels in Athens. Perfect for smashing a great Athenian itinerary…
1. Athens Hub Hostel – Best Overall Hostel in Athens
- Dorm (mixed): From $43
- Address: Agias Eleousis 7, Athens, Greece
The Athens hub hostel sits in prime position in the city centre, one kilometre from the dominating Acropolis. With modern, spacious, and bright rooms (which I’m sure you value), this hostel is super well run, has a great hangout space, and a funky bar!
Evening entertainment runs in the evenings, and while this sounds suspiciously PG, I have heard that it is actually good. Never fear, there is a ton of nightlife straight out the front door regardless! There is also a subway station 2 minutes away (Monastiraki Metro Station), which makes it great for getting around the city too…
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Roof terrace hangout area
- Clean, modern and well-located
- Evening entertainment
Dorm rooms come in a ‘pod’ format, with privacy curtains, offering a little more personal space than your average Athenian hostel. Bathrooms are outstandingly clean and modern, and there are extra beanbags and chairs in most rooms to make them more social and homely. There’s free wifi too.
Just 200 metres from the Monastiraki Flea Market, the hostel boasts an excellent location. Centrally located within walking distance of the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and the ancient Agora of Athens.
With such a great atmosphere, this hostel is an ideal base for exploring one of Europe’s best party cities,. Staying at this social hostel you’ll likely meet some awesome people to do it with!
2. Athens Backpackers – Best Hostel in Athens for Solo Travelers
- Dorm (mixed): From $32
- Private Room: From $126
- Address: 12 Makri Street, 11742 Athens, Athens, Greece
This place deserves the title of one of the best Athens hostels and quite possibly the crown of top backpacker accommodation in Greece as a whole! Athens Backpackers is the place to stay for solo travellers looking to find a crew.
Having been renovated recently, the hostel now boasts a two-level rooftop bar, fast free wifi, and smart technology. Oh, and they’ve patented their fucking beds. This is next level steeze for budget travellers, an Athens hostel that will be hard to forget.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Social hostel
- Live music
- Location that would give a geographer an aneurysm (central location)
Located between the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis, it doesn’t get much better than this! Athens Backpackers has a happy hour every night offering free shots and crazy discounted cocktails.
The hostel even sees a crowd during the winter months and has super modern facilities. Lockers, chargers, curtains, and key-card privacy make this a super secure hostel too! So it’s an epic place to build relationship with and stash some things there if you decide to head out on a day trip from Athens.
3. Athens Hawks Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel in Athens
- Dorm (mixed): From $27
- Private Room: From $78
- Address: 25 Menandrou, Athens, Greece
Easily one of the best hostels in the city, the Athens Hawks Hostel offers beds at fantastic hostel prices. But that is certainly not all that you get! With daily drinking games at the rooftop bar, this is a social hub and solo travellers should have no trouble linking up with cool people.
And what better way to mark your arrival than a shot on the door, be it at four pm or 9.15 on Monday morning… That’s nice. Rooms are kept private by use of a keycard system, and the location is sensational!
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Drinks on the roof
- Just walk everywhere
- Friendly staff
The help desk is open 24/7 which is fantastic for early birds/ night owls looking for great places to visit! Rooms are cosy, and each bed comes with a privacy curtain. Private rooms and free wifi are available too.
The place is newly renovated too, so the place is spacious, clean and looks amazing. This is probably one you should book in the summer, however, as they can close the main bar during the off-season without telling anyone (classic). Apart from that though, this hostel rules!
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View on Osprey View on REI4. Pagration Youth Hostel – Best Party Hostel in Athens
- Dorm (mixed): From $19
- Address: 75 Damareos Str., Pagrati, Athens, Greece
Pagration is a great youth hostel in Athens if you want a calm and quiet stay in the Greek capital. Located in the charming, authentic Greek neighbourhood of Pagrati, a 15-minute walk away from the heart of the action, Syntagma Square.
If you are anti-gentrification of Athens Hostels (and hostels worldwide) you’ll love staying at Pagration Youth Hostel. This is a classic get-what-you-pay-for-and-don’t-pay-much hostel, the kind I love – home to the best people who inevitably love to party. Many hostels in Athens are family-run and this one is no different but that doesn’t mean you won’t find this to be a social hostel.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Very Social Hostel
- Walking Distance to the City Centre
- Cheap Hostels
In my experience, family-run hostels are the most fun, you get all the hot insider tips on the local nightlife. And, often you’ll get a little homemade sommin’ sommin’ to drink if you’re game! Budget travellers will love Pagration Youth Hostel, it has everything you want and nothing you don’t while you’re visiting Athens.
Pagration is super close to internet cafes (although WiFi is free throughout the building), a few supermarkets, and cheap pubs too, heaps of things to do. Pagration Youth Hostel has a decent selection of dorm rooms and a few female-only rooms too. The bus stop is one minute away so if a 15-minute walk doesn’t count as ‘within walking distance’ for you, get on that bus baby!
5. BedBox – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Athens
- Dorm (mixed): From $30
- Address: Poliklitou 11, Athens, Greece
Easily the best hostel for digital nomads in Athens is BedBox. Digital nomads have different needs and BedBox is the perfect fit. There’s a cool cafe and bar onsite, a massive guest kitchen and free WiFi throughout the building.
The downstairs cafe is the perfect place to work, and since the space is so ideal for it, you’re likely to find a host of others doing the same! There is a familiar feel to this hostel too, which is exactly what you want as a DN, as it makes you much more relaxed.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Cool bar and cafe
- Strong wifi
- Plug sockets
Simple, spacious and in the perfect spot, this stay is the best budget hostel for travellers backpacking Athens on a budget. Centrally located, you’re sure to meet fellow travellers to enjoy time with after work.
The staff are friendly and helpful and will help you with anything, from early check-in to baggage storage. The rooms are equipped with A/C too, which is a must for the city’s summer heat. You don’t want to be working in a bazillion degrees, and neither does your computer!
Digital nomads can work from the comfort of their bunk if they wish to do so, as each bed has its own plug. BedBox is stylish and clean-cut, but is also homely and laid back too. For digital nomads heading to Athens, BedBox is a win-win so boon in and start planning your Athens itinerary.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Epic Athens Hostels
Hanging around in Athens awhile before moving on to some other breathtakingly beautiful areas of Greece? Then you may want to consider these other choices of Athens’s best hostels as you float around the city.
6. Athens Quinta
- Dorm (mixed): From $35
- Private Room: From $87
- Address: 13 Methonis Street, Athens, Greece
If you’re travelling with your lover be sure to book a room at the Athens Quinta hostel. Offering spacious double rooms in their classic 20th-century Athens townhouse, this place overflows with charm and character. Located in Athens’ intellectual and artistic quarter, this hostel manages to stay weirdly social and vibey.
The outdoor space is pretty uncommon for places in Athens, and you’ll love soaking some rays in the morning! There is a definite hostel vibe here but no crazy party scene. It’s the perfect Athens backpackers hostel for couples looking to soak up the culture and make cosy memories together.
The Athens Quinta team are fabulous and always on hand to help guests find all the hidden gems Athens has to offer. If you are that couple who loves a night out, cool people are coming through this Athens hostel so you’ll be in good company.
7. City Circus
- Dorm (mixed): From $47
- Private Room: From $119
- Address: 16 Sarri street, Athens, Greece
The design hostel is a great way to break the ice with your fellow backpackers and for everyone to let loose and laugh. The dorms are spacious, and clean and have super comfy beds; City Circus Athens hostel is a highly recommended hostel in Athens.
The onsite bar is a super chilled little hangout spot and the ideal place to start drinking before you hit the nightclubs and live music venues of Athens!
8. Pella-Inn
- Dorm (mixed): From $25
- Address: Ermou 104, Athens, Greece
Pella-Inn is the definition of cheap and cheerful and was a close contender for the best budget hostel in Athens. The Pella-Inn team offers guests a free walking tour of Athens which is brilliant; a great way to explore the Greek capital and meet new friends!
Pella-Inn is in a great little spot, within easy walking distance of Athens’s major things to see like Monastiraki Square, Plaka, and the Acropolis. If you’re keen to make new travel buddies in Athens be sure to find your spot at the Pella-Inn bar. The best bit of the hostel some may say; is new friends and cold beers, bingo!
9. Safestay Athens
- Dorm (mixed): From $19
- Private Room: From $63
- Address: Agias Theklas 10, Monastiraki, Athens, Greece
Safestay (the hostel formerly known as Athenstyle) is the coolest hostel in Athens as you get an awesome view of the Acropolis from their rooftop bar. The Athenstyle team are super clued up about Athens and will happily customise your city map for you.
If you’re staying in Athens for a while perhaps think about booking one of the Athenstyle apartments. They’re great if you’re travelling as a group or for digital nomads who want a little more space to work in. Athenstyle are committed to recycling and making their hostel the most eco-friendly hostel in Athens.
10. Cosmopolit Hotel
- Dorm (mixed): From $19
- Private Room: From $42
- Address: Kotopouli 7, Athens, Greece
Hotel by name and name only, Cosmopolit Hotel is a great youth hostel in Athens for travellers looking for a touch of class. The breakfast room is far more luxurious than many other hostel breakfast halls. The Cosmopolit team offers guests a free walking tour of the city too, a great way to get to grips with the winding streets of Athens.
There’s definitely a more cosy, homely feel to Cosmopolit, if you’re looking for a wild night perhaps look elsewhere.
11. Athens Choice
- Private Room: From $59
- Address: Veranzerou 45, Athens, Greece
Athens Choice is a brilliant youth hostel in Athens with a tonne of freebies for backpackers. The free breakfast and free city walking tour is just the start of it, throw in free WiFi, free city maps and all your linen included in your bed rate and you’re onto a winner.
As one of the best hostels in Athens, Athens Choice has a 24-hour reception. Be sure to hang out at the Athens Choice bar if you’re keen to meet new people to hang out with, perhaps even tag along with too!
12. San Remo
- Dorm (mixed): From $21
- Private Room: From $43
- Address: No.8 Nissirou St., and T.Delligiani St.,, 104 38 Athens, Greece
San Remo is a top hostel in Athens tucked a little walk away from the hectic touristy centre. As quite a popular backpacker spot, so be sure to book your bed as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
The San Remo team have free city maps for every guest and are always more than happy to take the time to share directions. These and local tips on how best to explore Athens are so valuable, especially if you have a limited travel budget in Greece. The dorm rooms are simple, basic but the beds are comfy and the room clean, ideal really!
13. Dioskouros
- Dorm (mixed): From $27
- Address: 6 Pittakou Street Acropolis, Plaka, Athens, Greece
Dioskouros can be found in the charming and authentic Athens neighbourhood of Plaka and is next door to the Acropolis Museum. In terms of location, Dioskouros is an ideal Athens backpacker hostel.
Dioskouros is a small but spacious hostel, they can only house up to 50 people per night making it a fairly intimate affair. The private rooms even have little balconies that overlook Athens’ side streets, perfect for couples wanting a touch of romance in their Athens vacay.
14. Hostel Zeus
- Dorm (mixed): From $18
- Private Room: From $47
- Address: 27 Sofokleous St, Athens, Greece
One of the best cheap hostels in Athens is, without a doubt, Hostel Zeus. The hostel does offer guests free WiFi but it’s only accessible in the common areas.
In terms of location, Hostel Zeus is bang on, a one-minute walk from The Acropolis, near the neighbourhood of Anafiotika. The Monastiraki flea market is only five-minutes away on foot. You’re so close to all the best things to do in Athens, being at the heart of Athens doesn’t come cheaper, cleaner or more welcoming!
15. Athens Studios
- Private Room: From $130
- Address: 3A Veikou St, Makrigyianni, Athens, Greece
A top budget hostel in Athens, they not only have a free breakfast every morning but great discounts on booze at the bar too! The dorms are light, airy and spacious, at Athens Studios and the hostel is near perfection for travellers looking for a top-budget place.
They have 24-hour reception and check-in so you can rest assured that your super comfy bed will be ready and waiting. The dorms at Athens Studios also have air conditioning, much needed in the sweltering Greek summers.
16. Zorbas
Zorbas is a highly recommended hostel in Athens for backpackers in Greece on a budget. They offer free walking tours of the city which goes a long way in making Zorbas a hostel with great value for money in Athens.
The Zorbas team is on hand 24/7 to help guests and Zorbas has no lock-out and no curfew, great news for the night owls. On top of this, they can help you arrange flights, buses, and tours throughout Greece. Zorbas is a top Athens backpackers hostel for every style.
17. Students & Traveller’s Inn
The outdoor terrace is the best thing about Students and Traveller’s Inn, with a bar in the corner and vending machines for snacks! Major Athens landmarks like the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Syntagma Square are basically on your doorstep.
The doors of Students & Traveller’s Inn open out onto Kydathineon, Athens’ best shopping street. With its great reviews, it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best hostels in Athens. Maybe visit the Tower of the Winds while you’re here, it’s one of my faves in Athens.
18. SmallFunnyWorld
SmallFunnyWorld is a top hostel in Athens for backpackers on a budget looking for a mix of culture and party. SmallFunnyWorld is only a few minutes walk from Monastiraki Station and is easy to find. The team is on hand to help you make the best itinerary for your stay in Athens.
The free breakfast is an added bonus, just make sure you get up before nine am else you’ll go hungry. SmallFunnyWorld sits next door to a rocking pub so if you fancy partaking in tGreekeek drinking culture you don’t have too far to fall into bed!
Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Athens
Everyone needs good hostel travel insurance, get yours or be square, or whatever the saying is.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
FAQs About Hostels in Athens
Here’s what I’m usually asked about Athens hostels.
What to Pack for your Athens Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hostel Packing list for even more top hostel packing tips!
How much does a hostel cost in Athens??
It all depends on whether you prefer a private room with an ensuite bathroom or a bed in a shared dorm. Average hostel prices start at USD$16 for a bed in a shared dorm room, heading up to USD$20+ for a private room.
What are the best hostels in Athens for couples?
Athens Quinta is a charming hostel for couples in Athens. It’s comfy and has a courtyard, great for romancing your lover. Lean into your Romeo and Juliet era.
What is the best hostel near Athens International Airport?
The airport is quite far east of the city of Athens, so journey into the city to find a place to stay. Once you’re in the city, I’d recommend the Athens Hub Hostel. It is super modern, and offers a range of room types to fit any of your needs! it’s not too expensive either.
Final Thoughts on Athens’s Hostels
Hopefully, by now, you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Athens. It’s a pretty cool place, with cool people, and some murky depths to get fully stuck into. And some big rocks.
I get it though, my epic guide to the best hostels in Athens has been STACKED. I hope I’ve helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure! Athens is pretty damn dope, so make sure you soak it up, and if you’re still confused…
Book in at Athens Hub Hostel, my number one of Athens Hostels, this place is hot property. Centrally located, this is a social hostel where you’re sure to meet other travellers to enjoy Athens with.
If you want a cheaper option, hit Athens Hawks Hostel up. One of the best cheap hostels in Athens, this is my pick for budget travellers to stay at. With so many hostels to choose from, Athens can be a maze but get one booked, get it out of the way and enjoy the city!
Wherever you stay in Athens, I’m sure you’ll love it. There are private rooms if you find yourself needing space and so many epic things to do outside Athens Hostels.
If you think I’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit me up in the comments!
Photo: @danielle_wyatt
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Greece for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the best places to visit in Athens covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in Greece if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in Athens before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for Greece to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Europe backpacking guide.
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