A goldmine of historical wonders, a few days in Athens simply isn’t enough. And for those keen to spend more time here, there are a number of short-term rental properties available.
(Photo: Dario Sušanj via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
With architectural gems from the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods, Europe’s oldest capital is a delight even to those with only a fleeting interest in ancient history. Indeed, there’s so much to see here that it deserves much more than a mere day-trip or long weekend break. Luckily, the city offers plenty of short-term apartment rentals for those who agree. And despite Airbnb’s stranglehold over the Greek market, they aren’t the only game in town, as you’ll see below.
Booking.com
One of the largest international hotel booking platforms, Booking.com also has a large selection of short-term apartments in Athens and are our top pick for rentals of anything from 1 day to 2 weeks. On our selected dates, we found hundreds of furnished rentals from small studios at less than €50 per night to lavishly decorated apartments overlooking Athen’s famous Monastiraki Square. Luckily, you can quickly narrow down the large selection by toggling its numerous filters. Moreover, the platform is supported by an app that enables the guest and property owner to communicate freely. Finally, all bookings come with a Best Price Guarantee, entitling you to a refund equivalent to the price difference if you find your reservation cheaper on another website.
Blueground
Founded in 2013, Blueground provides for people looking to rent out fully-furnished apartments for one month or more. On our selected dates, the company had 50 available apartments in Athens, many of which are dotted in and around some of the city’s best neighbourhoods. Typical apartment amenities include balconies with city or sea views, while many of the apartments are pet-friendly and located close to parks and green spaces. Monthly rates start off at around €850 per month, with prices dropping on some apartments by as much as 10% if the rental is for several months or longer. The online booking process is straightforward, with fewer filters than most other accommodation websites, resulting in a wider selection of apartments appearing on the interactive map.
Spotahome
There are a number of similarities in the look and feel of Spotahome and Airbnb, but while the latter specialises in monthly rentals or weekly rentals, Spotahome is better for longer stays. When we looked at accommodation options in Athens, we discovered almost 80 properties scattered around the city centre, with prices starting at €190 per month for a room in shared accommodation, inclusive of bills. As well as being easy to use, the site features well-written and insightful neighbourhood guides, and provides a ‘Favourites’ folder to facilitate the often arduous task of finding the right place. Spotahome charges for its services with a one-off fee that varies according to the property type being reserved; however it doesn’t include any utility bills or additional fees such as cleaning, late hours check-in, overnight guests, etc.