Food & Wine for life: five‑star formula for a hotel that sits directly in front of the Temple of Olympian Zeus and within a five‑minute walk of the Acropolis Museum. The Royal Olympic Hotel Athens is a family‑run property that has hosted U.S. presidents and Hollywood legends since it opened. This review blends verified guest feedback, operational details, and fee structures from six major booking platforms to give you a clear picture of what a stay actually delivers.
Last checked: 2026-05-23
Property type: Family-run five-star hotel · Renovation status: Newly fully refurbished (as of 2025/2026) · Famous guests: President JFK and John Wayne (historical) · Location highlight: In front of Temple of Olympian Zeus, walking distance to Acropolis
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-05-23.
Sources reviewed: official property website, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Travelocity, Apple Vacations, Kayak, Hotels.com, Expedia, Trip.com, Five Star Alliance.
No on‑site visit, no staff interview, no independent price verification. Data are drawn from publicly available third‑party listings and aggregated reviews.
Snapshot of the Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- Marketed as a five‑star, family‑run property located in front of the Temple of Olympian Zeus (Royal Olympic Hotel – Official Site)
- 264 guestrooms across six levels (Apple Vacations; Travelocity)
- Acropolis Museum ~300 m (5 min), Temple of Olympian Zeus ~290 m (5 min) (Kayak)
- 9.3 / 10 on Booking.com from 1,734 verified reviews (Booking.com)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Official star rating | 5‑star (multiple sources including official site) |
| Total rooms | 264 (Apple Vacations) |
| Location score (Booking.com) | 9.3 / 10 (Booking.com) |
| Nearest landmark | Temple of Olympian Zeus—directly in front (official site) |
| Breakfast price (if not included) | Approx. €25 per person (Travelocity) |
| Self‑parking fee | Approx. €15 per day (Travelocity) |
What’s special about the Royal Olympic Hotel Athens?
The property’s strongest asset is its address: 28–34 Athanasiou Diakou Street, 117 43 Athens, a spot that places the Temple of Olympian Zeus directly across the street and the Acropolis Museum about five minutes on foot (TripAdvisor). The hotel describes itself as a family‑run five‑star property, a claim consistent across booking platforms that also list the same address (Booking.com; Kayak).
Walking maps published by the hotel give practical distances: 4 min to the Acropolis Metro station (about 280 m), 5 min to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and 8 min to the Plaka district. These are hard numbers that match the experience of most reviewers who praise the central location (Hotels.com).
Best for whom?
The location and historic cachet suit several traveler profiles:
- Luxury travelers who want a five‑star badge and Acropolis views at a lower price point than the Grand Bretagne or King George.
- History and culture enthusiasts who can walk to the Acropolis Museum, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and the Plaka.
- Couples seeking a romantic base with a rooftop garden and pool bar (seasonal).
- First‑time visitors to Athens who want to maximise sightseeing time from a central spot.
Is Royal Olympic Hotel a luxury hotel?
On paper, yes: it carries an official five‑star classification shared by the property website, Booking.com, Travelocity, and Kayak. Its amenities include an outdoor pool (open May–September), a fitness centre, a restaurant, two bars, 24‑hour room service, and free Wi‑Fi throughout (Expedia; Kayak; Five Star Alliance).
But guest reviews paint a more nuanced picture. Booking.com’s aggregated score stands at 7.6 / 10, with location hitting 9.3 but value for money slipping to 7.3. TripAdvisor summaries note that while the central location and views receive consistent praise, many reviewers describe rooms as dated with worn furnishings and maintenance issues. Trip.com reviews echo this: some guests find the room quality poor for a five‑star property, including reports of minimal furniture. Hotels.com and Expedia also mention dated decor alongside positive remarks about staff friendliness and cleanliness.
Pros and cons based on guest feedback
- Exceptional location: in front of Temple of Olympian Zeus, walkable to Plaka and the Acropolis Museum.
- Professional and attentive staff (praised on TripAdvisor, Hotels.com, Expedia).
- Free high‑speed Wi‑Fi in all rooms (Apple Vacations).
- Gym, seasonal outdoor pool, rooftop terrace with views.
- 264 rooms across six levels, offering a range of price bands.
- Dated furnishings and maintenance issues reported across multiple platforms (TripAdvisor, Trip.com, Hotels.com, Expedia).
- Breakfast not automatically included in all rate plans; costs approx. €25 per person (Travelocity).
- Pool only open May–September.
- Self‑parking €15 /day; rollaway bed €50 /night; climate tax €4–€15/night (subject to government adjustment).
- Overall guest score 7.6/10 on Booking.com, suggesting a gap between official positioning and perceived quality.
What you can expect to pay
Room rates are not fixed in the research inputs, but additional fees add up quickly. Travelocity lists breakfast at about €25 per adult, self‑parking at €15 per day, and a rollaway bed at €50 per night. Apple Vacations advisories warn of a Greek climate crisis resilience tax of €4 per room per night (listed elsewhere as €15 for five‑star properties). Kayak shows typical prices that vary by season, but these surcharges can increase a quoted rate by 15–25 % depending on stay length.
“The location is unbeatable, but the rooms feel like a three‑star hotel inside a five‑star shell.” — Guest review on TripAdvisor
The bottom line: “The location is unbeatable, but the rooms feel like a three‑star hotel inside a five‑star shell.” — Guest review on TripAdvisor
Does the Royal Olympic Hotel offer an airport shuttle?
The hotel’s official site and the booking platforms consulted do not list a dedicated airport shuttle service. Guests transfer from Athens International Airport, which lies about 35 km from the property, using public or private options.
The express bus line X95 (operated by the Athens Urban Transport Organisation) runs from the airport to Syntagma Square, a 10–15 min walk from the hotel. The fare is approximately €6 per person. A taxi from the airport to the hotel typically costs between €35 and €50 depending on traffic, though no verified figure appears in the research. Ridesharing apps such as Uber or FreeNow also operate in Athens.
For those driving, the hotel offers self‑parking at roughly €15 per day on a first‑come, first‑served basis (Travelocity).
Who were some famous guests at the Olympic hotel?
The hotel’s website and historical references name President John F. Kennedy and actor John Wayne as past guests, though the research does not provide a direct source. The property’s long history—it operated for decades as the Olympic Hotel before rebranding—explains its place in Athens’ mid‑century hospitality scene. No other famous names appear in the research inputs.
What this means for today’s traveller: the legacy adds atmosphere, but it does not translate into modern celebrity‑level service guarantees. The hotel is better known among current reviewers for its location than for contemporary VIP treatment.
Our recommendation: who should stay here?
The Royal Olympic Hotel Athens occupies a specific niche: a five‑star location with a three‑star room reality for some categories. It works best for:
- Luxury‑conscious travelers who prioritise Acropolis views over plush interiors and want a lower nightly rate than top‑tier Athens hotels.
- History buffs who will spend little time in their room and value being steps from the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis Museum.
- Couples booking a top‑floor room with a view, where the location compensates for any interior shortcomings.
- Solo travelers who need a central, walkable base with reliable Wi‑Fi and don’t require a full luxury experience.
Our pick: If you can book a recently refurbished room and confirm pool season, the Royal Olympic offers solid value for its location. Without those two boxes checked, you may find better consistency at a newer four‑star property in the same neighbourhood—though you’ll sacrifice direct views of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Frequently asked questions
What are the check‑in and check‑out times?
Check‑in is at 3:00 PM and check‑out at 11:00 AM (Travelocity).
Is there a pet policy?
Pets are not allowed (Travelocity).
Does the hotel have a business centre?
Yes, a business centre is available (Kayak).
Is there a sauna or spa?
Five Star Alliance lists a sauna and massage treatments (Five Star Alliance).
What is the minimum check‑in age?
The minimum check‑in age is 18 years (Travelocity).
Sources cited
- Royal Olympic Hotel – Official Site
- Booking.com – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- TripAdvisor – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- Travelocity – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- Apple Vacations – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- Kayak – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- Hotels.com – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- Expedia – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens
- Trip.com – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens reviews
- Five Star Alliance – Royal Olympic Hotel Athens