The capital of Greece Athens lies at the cusp of Europe, Asia, and Africa, brimming with thousands of years of history. Remnants of Classical Greece, the Turkish Ottoman rule, and the Byzantine Empire are evident all over this historic city. Add to that year-round sunshine and a trailblazing culture, and you have one of the world’s finest cities. Undoubtedly, Athens’ creative charisma, drama, and mythology are magnetic to boot and leave you utterly enchanted. Athens, although conservative, also happens to be a fabulous LGBTQ destination. Gay travelers throng here for the wild, if somewhat obscure, LGBTQ nightlife. It’s also no surprise that the number of gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece only go up in number. They might not be exclusively gay, but they more than welcome LGBTQ travelers with open arms.
Despite the obscurity, Athens’ LGBTQ scene continues to thrive, finding its feet in the hip and happening Gazi. You’ll be surprised at how this lively this trendy neighborhood is, considering the absence of rainbow flags. It brims with stylish locals, gay stories about the ancient Greeks, and the city’s largest cluster of fabulous gay bars, clubs, and saunas. If you’re looking for beach fun, then the next best place is the lovely Glyfada, which is about 30 minutes south of Athens city center.
Clearly, gay Athens is a gem waiting to be discovered, what with Dionysus, the Greek God of Festivals, Pleasure, and Wine watching over! So, discover the city’s hedonistic side by staying at one of the top 11 gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece.
A for Athens
11
Sitting on almost all lists of the best gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece is A for Athens. This hotel is a mere 20-minute walk from Gazi. Additionally, it’s centrally located and boasts fabulous views of the city. It’s also close to the metro with direct connections to both the airport and Port of Piraeus. From here, you can take a ferry departing for the many Greek islands, like Mykonos and Crete.
Discerning gay travelers, especially couples, will love the earthy, romantic vibe of the hotel. Moreover, the hotel incorporates Greek design elements, lending it a thoroughly local aesthetic. The highlight is the rooftop bar, which is a favorite with locals for its sweeping views of the Acropolis. It’s also a great place for romantic meet-cutes over a glass of wine or a sundowner. Breakfast is a hearty affair with breakfast meats, eggs, juices, coffee, and more. Top it off with sensuous and decadent Greek-style cakes and pitas.
You can choose from 31 slick rooms, all with plush queen Coco-Mat beds dying to be tried out. The stand-up waterfall showers in the contemporary bathrooms have space for two. This is especially wonderful if you’re traveling with your partner. For sweeties looking to splurge, we’d suggest the Blue or Red Suite. The former has a bathtub and spectacular Acropolis views. The latter features an in-room hammam and even a terrace with a hot tub. Hence, it’s no surprise that this hotel is also one of the 11 Best Hotels In Athens.
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The Margi
10
No experience comes close to staying at the palm-fringed pristine coast of the Athens Riviera. And there’s no better gay friendly hotel in Athens on the Riviera than The Margi. It lies in one of Athens’ poshest seaside communities, hardly half-an-hour away from the city center. If you want to enjoy Greek’s stunning beaches to the fullest, then this hotel is amongst the very best.
The first thing that’ll catch your fancy is the decadent pool peppered with bougainvillea flowers and olive trees. The cushy loungers and daybeds seem to float mid-air, and you’ll find it truly difficult to leave. When you’re done with your lounge, head to the poolside treatment room of the spa. Pamper yourself with a range of organic spa and skincare products. The sumptuousness extends to the breakfast, as well as the gourmet restaurants. Enjoy a nightcap at the outdoor pool bar before retiring to your room. Live in the lap of luxury as concierge services hire everything from luxury cars for driving around to private yacht jaunts in the Myrtoan Sea.
Choose from a host of rooms and suites, of which room 405 offers a view of both the pool and the sea. Cloud-like mattresses, plush waterfall showers, and a slew of mod-cons make staying here extremely comfortable.
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Hotel Fresh
9
Hotel Fresh is one of the trendiest gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece. It’s famous amongst gay travelers for its ultra-hip rooftop restaurant/bar, complete with panoramic views of the Parthenon. What’s more, it’s a mere 20-minute walk to the thriving gay nightlife at Gazi. The cherry on top is that the area around the hotel offers a real slice of the local Athenian life.
Every detail about the hotel, right from the canary-yellow showers in the rooms to the oversized street lights in the lobby, is hip. If you’re single, then the gym, sauna, and morning yoga sessions are all great places to meet new people. If you make new friends, grab rental bikes, cycling maps, and packed lunches from the hotel and go exploring together. Couples can even go for in-room massages, but they need to be pre-booked. The rooftop garden is the heart and soul of the place. Enjoy a refreshing swim or a languorous lounge by the turquoise pool. Apart from a hearty breakfast, the highlight here is the intimate Air Lounge restaurant. It’s one of the best places in Athens to meet locals who come here for aperitifs during summer.
Splashes of bubble-gum pink, tangerine, and lime green lend a fun aesthetic to the rooms. The balconies, although small, are very cozy and primed for evening romance. If you want more space, go for an upper-floor suite, which also has larger patios.
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O&B Boutique Hotel
8
The O&B Boutique Hotel is perhaps the best gay friendly hotel in Athens, Greece that’s closest to Gazi. The hotel is a mere 10-minute walk from the neighborhood’s slew of gay clubs, bars, and saunas and is the perfect base for you to explore Athens’ wild nightlife. Moreover, the hotel mostly attracts a young crowd, allowing you to mingle and have a great time.
The service quality and levels you’ll receive here is a class apart. For one, you’re welcomed with not just a drink but an entire Greek meze platter! The minute you enter, the cozy spa lounge-like lobby immediately puts you in a vacation mood. The lobby bar which serves drinks is a great place to kick off an exciting evening. Breakfast is a hearty Greek affair with eggs, cakes, regional cheeses, halva. The standout is the innately-Greek dish of Kayana, which is scrambled eggs with feta, oregano, and tomato. The best bit? You can even have breakfast in bed if you’re not entirely over the revelries of the previous night.
The rooms here are as comfy and modern as can get, complete with soft beds that are a godsend after a night out. A pillow menu, plush bathrooms, and jaw-dropping views of the Parthenon are absolute perks. Some rooms even have incredible views of the Acropolis, so make sure to ask while booking.
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Hotel King George
7
If Greek-inspired opulence is what you seek, then you can do no better than Hotel King George. It’s one of the most luxurious, old-world gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece. The hotel sits bang in the historical and commercial heart of Athens overlooking Syntagma Square. Furthermore, it’s a stone’s throw from most major landmarks and a mere 6-minute metro ride to Gazi as well.
If you’re a Hollywood fanatic, you should know that the hotel has played host to countless stars from Madonna to Marilyn Monroe. You’ll feel like royalty right from the point you set foot into the gold-and-cream marble lobby. From Murano chandeliers and antique chairs to vintage maps and nautical prints, everything is as antique and heritage as it gets. The unflappable concierge will help you with everything, right from personal shopping to private museum tours. The lovely basement spa is the best place to soak off all jetlag. The indoor pool at the hotel next door, to which you have access, is perfect to lounge on a hot Greek afternoon. Finally, the fancy restaurant takes care of all meals, including an amazing array of wines.
Even entry-level rooms here are spacious and sumptuous with stately furnishings and plush beds. The highlight is the deep bathtubs in the bathrooms ideal for a long, romantic soak with your significant other.
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New Hotel
6
The New Hotel is one of the most unique and sought-after design hotels in the city. This trendy hotel is a real labor of love and is exceptionally gay-popular – and it’s easy to see why. It sits in a restructured modernist structure where salvaged materials are recast as living art. Besides, it’s a five-minute metro ride to the gayborhood of Gazi. Plus, it’s within walking distance of Athens’ best sights, as well as a couple of other great gay bars and saunas. Now, what more could you want?
The eclectic hotel showcases Athens’ hip culture through gorgeously modern and creative spaces. Everywhere, you can see a gamut of Greek themes, from postcards of Athens and ‘evil-eye’ ward-offs to Greek folklore. The rooftop Art Lounge restaurant-bar is a very popular place to meet locals, complete with impressive views of the Acropolis. A visit to the sleek gym will become necessary after the decadent breakfast spread that the place lays out. It features everything from Kayana to fresh fruit, granola, yogurt, and loads of pastries and breads. The highlight of the hotel is the spa where you can choose from a range of luxurious treatments.
Despite five room categories, there some mainstays in all, including high-tech mod-cons and Heavenly Bed mattresses which you’ll need after exploring Athens. If you have the urge to splurge, the bohemian Penthouse that has an outdoor bed with views of the city will make you never want to leave.
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Jason Inn
5
If all you want to do in Athens is dive headfirst into its nightlife, then the budget Jason Inn is perfect. This highly gay-popular place is a budget hotel in every sense of the term, with a location that’s pretty much unbeatable. Firstly, it’s a five-minute stroll to Gazi and its lively gay nightlife. Since it’s open 24/7, you can stumble back to bed at all unearthly times and it won’t be a problem. Also, it’s within walking distance of some of Athens’ best attractions. So, even if you wake up late from the previous night’s shenanigans, you can explore the town.
Plus, it has a fabulous rooftop that looks out to the Acropolis. For a budget hotel, this is a real bonus. This place is also a bar, where drinking a sundowner is the best way to begin an evening of revelries. Here’s also where the hotel serves a nice breakfast with cold cuts, cheeses, yogurts, jams, toast, eggs, and boiled sausages.
The rooms are small but delightfully peachy with comfy beds that’ll allow you to sleep till late. They also have the comfort of ensuite bathrooms and even a few extras like minibars. All-in-all, it’s one of the best value-for-money budget gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece that you can stay at.
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The Foundry Hotel
4
Are you looking to stay in town for a while? You might just fall in love with the quirky and utterly good-looking Foundry Hotel. The best part is that it lies right across from Gazi, where lie some of the best gay bars and saunas of Athens. So, whether you’re here to explore or work, your evenings can be spent bar and club-hopping or relaxing in Gazi. Additionally, the Top 10 Things To Do In Athens are all nearby, making it the perfect gay friendly base in the city.
The 1930-built hotel has a storied past as a stable, a Greek foundry, as well as a theatre. Its facade of exposed stone walls peppered with lush vertical gardens is one-of-a-kind. Today, original elements like tropical wallpapers, handmade ceramic lights, floor-to-ceiling windows, and exposed brick ceilings make their way into the design. Since the hotel is specifically meant for long stays, the amenity highlight is the spectacular rooftop terrace. With blossoming trellises, sun loungers, and even a bar and pizza oven, it’s the perfect place to meet cute fellow travelers or simply lounge. Since there’s no restaurant, the hotel serves offbeat meals like breakfast baskets and drinks – what more is needed, anyway?
The spacious apartments are well-designed, considering that the idea was that you’ll spend most of your time here. The beds are tucked into dreamy alcoves, and the open-plan kitchens make for some steamy cooking encounters.
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AthensWas Hotel
3
Sexy is the name of the game at the AthensWas Hotel, one of the sleekest gay friendly hotels in Athens. The hotel lies on one of the city’s prettiest and serene streets. So, if you and your sweetheart are looking for tranquility rather than hubbub, then this contemporary digs with an archaic touch are perfect. Even then, it’s a mere 15-minute metro ride into Gazi, if you wanted to explore the city’s nightlife too.
The hotel’s lovely surroundings lend it a historic-romantic vibe that is hard to shake off. The pedestrian thoroughfare the hotel lies on runs along the Acropolis perimeter, making you feel like you’re walking the lanes of ancient Athens. On the inside, the hotel is modernity at its best and packs a punch with the glass black-and-white lobby and designer furniture. Vibrant drapes, mottled marble walls, and prints of ancient Greek sculptures add to the sensuous undertones. Even though facilities are minimal, there’s a small gym and even in-room massages. Breakfast is a solid affair though, with everything from pancakes and French toast to Greek omelets. Finally, the garden rooftop terrace offers superb panoramas of the city.
The rooms are the absolute standout here. They’re all decked out in dark tones, whether its the grey sheer drapes leading out to the patio of the blue-grey wallpaper. Grey/black marble bathrooms have the same sultry feel, complete with decadent walk-in rain-showers large enough for two. Marble balconies grace every room, where you can enjoy breakfast too.
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Coco-Mat Hotel Athens
2
Are you on your honeymoon and looking for an avant-garde place to stay? We’d highly recommend the Coco-Mat Hotel, one of the most bohemian yet contemporary gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece. After all, this quirky hotel’s motto is “Home is where the bed is” – and what better motto to have on your honeymoon!
If sightseeing is also on your gay-genda, then you couldn’t be in a better location. The hotel boasts eye-popping views of the Acropolis from almost where, making for a heady yet marvelous meld of modern and ancient. A drink and dinner at the rooftop bar with nighttime views of the Parthenon is the perfect way to kick off your honeymoon. Even if you sleep in late, the Greek-themed breakfast will kick you into high gear. The standout here is the rooftop pool where you can enjoy a swim or lounge while staring at mesmerizing ancient Greek sights. Before heading out in the evening, enjoy a cuppa together in the hotel’s lush green herbal garden.
The Coco-mat mattresses are the highlight of the rooms here, which ensure a sound night’s sleep, among other things. If you can splash, check out the Acropolis-view rooms/suites, which have sprawling balconies and patios. If you’re here for your honeymoon, we’d highly recommend the stunning Nafsika Suite.
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Electra Metropolis
1
Romance is rife at the Electra Metropolis, one of the most romantic and luxurious gay friendly hotels in Athens, Greece. Located smack dab in the heart of the city, the hotel is a short walk to both Gazi as well as a bunch of Athens landmarks. It’s also a mere 10-minute walk to Flex, one of the city’s best gay saunas, and the vibrant, gay friendly Rooster bar.
If you love the retro-chic vibe, then the hotel with its mid-century design and vintage photos of Athens will win you over. That said, the art installations, the gleaming marble lobby, and the geometric facade give it an innately modern feel. The rooftop pool, albeit small, is a welcome respite from the sun-kissed environs of the city. After a swim, head down to the decadent basement spa with your significant other. You can even go for a couple’s massage or steam up together in the hammam. Begin your day on a high note with a sumptuous breakfast spread on the 10-floor terrace. Besides a bevy of classic Greek dishes, it comes with stunning views of the Acropolis.
From the nine types of rooms, we’d recommend the Acropolis suites that come with striking private patios and terraces. Besides a slew of high-tech amenities, you’ll like the immaculate marble bathrooms.
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Just So You Know:
- Colorful Planet is Athens’ only LGBTQ+ bookshop and the first LGBTQ bookstore/publishing house in entire Greece.
Get Some Culture in Athens:
- Athens Pride – Homosexuality is still a bit of a taboo in many areas of the country due to the presence of the Greek Orthodox Church. Athens Pride is a fabulous week-long celebration for demanding acceptance for the LGBTQ community in Greece. It also celebrates Athens’ fascinating same-sex history and features everything from a flashy parade and awareness programs to epic parties!
- Gaily Tour in Athens – Explore the historic capital of Greece with a gay/lesbian-friendly driver and/or tour guide.
Best Gay Bars / Clubs in Athens:
- BIG Bar – This is the very first dedicated bear bar for wolves, otters, cubs, bears, and their admirers.
- Rooster – This buzzy, all-day gay hangout is perfect for munching on food and watching people.
- Noiz – This fabulous gay nightclub in Gazi boasts a great DJ and tons of beautiful people.
Best Gay Saunas in Athens:
- Alexander Sauna – Athens’ best gay sauna which lies in the heart of Gazi. This four-storied sauna has a steam and sling labyrinth playroom, two saunas, private cabins with TVs, among others. It even has an X-Action Area and the biggest (and steamiest) darkroom in Athens.
- FLEX Sauna – This city center gay sauna is popular with visitors and locals both. It usually sees an older crowd, has glory holes and dark spaces, and is Athens’ longest-operating gay sauna.
