Athens: where antiquity meets modernity.

(and it’s worth staying right here – at NYX Esperia Palace Athens)

Athens is a city where the sun illuminates the marble of the Acropolis just as it did two thousand years ago, and the air still carries the scent of jasmine, coffee and the morning sea.

Every time I return here, I feel: Athens is more than just a capital. It's a state of mind. A city where history lives at every step, but life flows easily, beautifully, almost Italian-style, with a Greek accent.

✦ Where to stay

For a balance between ancient and modern, stay at NYX Esperia Palace Athens , one of the most stylish Leonardo Hotels in Greece.

This is not just a hotel, but a kind of art space with a view of the Acropolis . A terrace with a pool, an interior inspired by the new Greek aesthetic, and an unforgettable view – Athens in the soft evening light.

In the morning, you can visit the National Archaeological Museum or the Panathenaic Stadium, or stroll along the quiet alleys of the National Garden, where it's cool even in summer. And in the evening, enjoy a coffee at the hotel's rooftop bar, overlooking the illuminated ancient ruins.

✦ What to see

— The Acropolis is the heart of the city and the symbol of Greece.— Plaka is the old district with mosaic roofs and the clinking of glasses on the terraces.— Monastiraki is a flea market where you can find everything from old books to olive oil.— Panathenaic Stadium is the place where the idea of the modern Olympic Games was born.

Athens doesn't require rushing. It's a city best experienced at dawn, when the first rays of light fall on the white walls and the entire city breathes history, maintaining its eternal, somewhat elusive rhythm.

Book a hotel:

NYX Esperia Palace Athens – Leonardo Hotels