The only Hyatt hotel in this classic city, this towering hotel is located just off Andreea Syngrou Avenue (the main road connecting the city center to the beach) and offers guests a variety of rooms and amenities. With 548 guest rooms and suites, three restaurants, three swimming pools (including one in the hotel’s spa), and nearly 22,000 square feet of event space, it’s easy to stay.
While my sense of direction (or lack thereof) didn’t improve during my stay, it did help me see everything this hotel has to offer. Here’s what you need to know before you move in.
The Grand Hyatt Athens is one of two hotels in Athens that can be booked with World of Hyatt points. The other is the A77 Suites by Andronis, which partners with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The Grand Hyatt Athens attracts all types of travelers, from business travelers to tourists of all ages. It is especially popular with cruise ship enthusiasts, as it is just 20 minutes from the port of Piraeus, where all major cruise ships and ferries to the Aegean islands depart.
A 15-minute drive from central Athens will take you to the city streets to the north and the beaches to the south, with free buses and walking paths to the Acropolis and Parthenon. The Athenian Riviera, the city’s coastal suburb, is also just 20 minutes away, so you can enjoy both the city’s ancient ruins and its beautiful beaches in one day.
This Grand Hyatt is a Category 3 hotel and is best booked through the Hyatt website as it cannot be booked through any credit card portal.
Based on TPG’s valuation of World of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents per point, using 9,000 World of Hyatt points per night could save you a few dollars. However, when I booked a two-night stay, there was no award rate, so I paid $561.
The standard room I stayed in was over 322 square feet and had a king-size bed, which felt large, especially by European standards. However, if you need more space, you can choose rooms up to 2,583 square feet.
I pushed the heavy door open, and as soon as I entered the room, I was struck by its spacious layout. The room had two closets, a large bathroom and work area, and a sleeping area with plenty of space on either side of the bed. My standard room overlooked the parking lot, but you can book a room with a view of the Acropolis, with two single beds or one double bed, starting at $206 per night.
Although my first impression of the room was good, I soon became disappointed. Although the interior decoration and artwork looked high-class, not everything lived up to expectations.
The air conditioning dropped the temperature by only two degrees during my stay (probably because Greece was experiencing a heat wave at the time), and despite having eight outlets and two USB ports, it took me about an hour to charge my phone to 10 percent. While I could receive calls on my in-room phone, I couldn’t make calls, so I had to go downstairs several times to get food, contact the front desk, and order room service.
The bathroom continued to have problems. I liked the marble design of the shower, but the handle fell off twice during my first use. Also, water was leaking from the half-glass door, which, judging by the water stains on the door, was a common occurrence.
However, I appreciate Eau de Magnolia toiletries and their eco-friendly products, such as toilet paper made from recycled materials.
Since it was hot during my visit to Greece in late July, I was eager to enjoy the hotel pool. I was immediately drawn to the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Acropolis.
The pool is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from May to October. There’s a bar with a variety of cocktails and snacks starting at $14, and plenty of seating, including lounge chairs, tables, and cabanas. Be warned, though, that you’ll want to get there early to secure a spot, as the Saturday I visited was completely full by 3 p.m.
I was disappointed that the cabanas had very little shade and no umbrellas, so if you want a break from the sun you might want to look elsewhere. However, this pool is a great place for sun worshippers. It’s lively but kid-friendly, and will appeal to families and adults who want a drink but don’t want to party.
If you want more privacy while you swim, spend a little extra for a pool room or suite. These upgraded rooms feature a private plunge pool on the balcony, where you can cool off without other guests.
Currently, the Grand Hyatt Athens only has one restaurant available, a lobby lounge, room service, and a makeshift breakfast room in the hotel’s ballroom, which is open while the hotel renovates its eighth-floor restaurant.
During my stay, I decided to dine at The Grand by Interni, a Mediterranean-Asian fusion restaurant located by the rooftop pool that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Since food is not allowed in the restaurant, I decided to dine in the restaurant.
Arriving between lunch and dinner, my friend and I were the only people in the restaurant, but we had to ask the waiter to clear our table and then wait 30 minutes before our order was taken. There were no napkins or cutlery provided, so we had to grab some from the next table.
We opted for the lunchtime snack, which included chips for $11 and seasonal fruit for $15. The food was tasty, but not worth the service issues we encountered.
My experience was much better when I ordered room service. When I placed my order at 8:43 p.m., I confirmed that my selections—Greek salad ($20), pasta ($23), and octopus with mashed potatoes ($25)—would likely be gluten- and dairy-free, and the server said it would take 45 minutes to arrive. At 9:01 p.m., the staff called back to check for allergies, and then all the food arrived ahead of schedule, at 9:16 p.m.
I really enjoyed the food here, it was the same as the Aphrodite lobby lounge on the ground floor. I was particularly impressed by the addition of gluten-free carob bread to the salad (instead of the traditional croutons).
The fitness center is open 24 hours a day and is equipped with exercise bikes, treadmills, and Technogym ellipticals, as well as a variety of free weights. When I went to the gym, there were clean towels, but no mats for Pilates, stretching, etc.
After my workout, I went to the Aegeo Spa at a nearby hotel for a soak. Although I didn’t take advantage of the spa services (which include massages, facials, and anti-aging treatments), I was impressed by the spa treatments I saw. The shower water was high quality, and the Eau de Magnolia kept my hair looking great even after a day in the sun with a hat and sunscreen, as well as some time in the rooftop pool.
If you have time for a treatment during your stay, be sure to visit the spa’s wet area. In addition to the sauna and steam room, there’s also an 82-foot-long heated indoor pool, perfect for swimming.
READ MORE: From urban sanctuaries to desert resorts, the best luxury spa hotels for every type of traveler
The hotel is very accessible to guests with disabilities. The entrance and lobby are flat-plan with automatic doors and no stairs, making them wheelchair accessible. The hotel also offers a porter service for guests who require additional assistance.
Next to the elevator, you will notice that the call button is located low and easy to reach in a wheelchair. The waiting area is also spacious enough to accommodate several guests in wheelchairs waiting for the elevator to arrive. Braille signs are also available.
As for the rooms, the living areas are wide and some rooms have low beds, toilets and sinks for the convenience of people with disabilities. Please note that accessible rooms cannot be booked online, so you will need to contact the hotel after booking to request an accessible room.
If you’re not a regular Hyatt customer but want to use points to book a room in Athens, you’re in luck as there are several other hotels nearby that accept points.
IHG One Rewards members can use them toward stays at the InterContinental Athenaeum Athens starting at $170 per night or 22,000 IHG ​​One Rewards points. Like the Grand Hyatt Athens, this hotel also offers upgraded rooms with Acropolis views, as well as an outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness center.
For guests who prefer to stay at Marriott hotels, the brand offers a total of five options (plus several Marriott-branded design hotels).
Among Marriott properties, two Luxury Collection hotels—the Grand Hôtel de Bretagne and the King George—are the most exclusive, offering elegant decor (think traditional furnishings, marble bathrooms, and crystal chandeliers) and stunning views of the Acropolis. Cash rates start at $283 and $292 per night, respectively, and you’ll need 50,000 and 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, respectively, to earn the bonus.
If you’re looking to save on your stay, consider the Moxy Athens City, which can be booked for just $80 per night or 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Although the hotel was a little busier than I expected (except for my 3:30am checkout), the Grand Hyatt Athens was a good choice for a two-night stay. The rooms are nice (if a little shabby in places) and the food is good (if a little slow at times).
If you want to stay in a larger hotel with more amenities while visiting Athens, this might be the perfect choice for you. But if you’re like me and prefer a more private stay (and better service), you’ll be better off staying elsewhere.
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