Royal Olympic Hotel

About Royal Olympic Hotel

Royal Olympic is a family-run hotel on Athanasiou Diakou Street, directly opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the National Garden, just below the Acropolis. After a full renovation completed in 2009, it reopened as an art hotel with elegant interiors, a garden pool and a roof garden facing the city's monuments. Room rates include breakfast and free Wi-Fi. The reception desk is open 24 hours, with room service and babysitting on request.

Rooms and suites

The hotel does not publish room sizes, so ask reservations if floor space matters to you. Executive Rooms are bright, with elegant furniture and views over the pool garden, and come with a bathtub. De Luxe Rooms are spacious and quiet, finished in marble and fine fabrics. Both come in versions for three guests, with a double or twin beds plus an extra bed, which suits small families.

For a view, book an Athenian Panorama Room. These face the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Lycabettus Hill and the National Garden, with a partial view of the Acropolis, and include bathrobes, a sitting area, a writing desk and a balcony when available. Junior Suites have their own small library and look over the garden and pool. The Apollo, Venus and Estia Suites are apartment-style, each with a double bed and a balcony for sunbathing or a private dinner. Budget travellers can choose an Internal Double or Single Room: these are quiet but have no window, and they are not available for children.

Garden pool and breakfast

The outdoor pool sits in a garden full of trees and flowers, with sunbeds, umbrellas, towels and a Pool Bar for snacks and cocktails. The Lounge Bar, with armchairs and a library bar, looks over the pool garden and is an easy spot for coffee, wine or a cocktail. The gym is free for guests and open from early morning until late evening.

Breakfast is a homemade buffet of traditional Greek recipes that change daily, served in the Roof Garden Restaurant with views over the city. In the evening, Ioannis Gourmet Restaurant on the Roof Garden serves creative dishes based on forgotten traditional Greek recipes, with an extensive wine list. From its tables you can see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Acropolis, the Panathenaic Stadium, Hadrian's Arch and Lycabettus Hill. Ioannis Bar, also on the roof, is open from 5pm to 1am with homemade snacks and sweets.

Location and getting around

Akropoli metro station is about 300 m away (4 minutes on foot) along Athanasiou Diakou Street. On foot, the Temple of Olympian Zeus is about 500 m (7 minutes), the Acropolis Museum about 680 m (9 minutes), Plaka about 740 m (10 minutes) and the Panathenaic Stadium about 1.1 km (14 minutes). From the airport, take the metro to Syntagma and change to the line towards Elliniko, then get off at the first stop, Akropoli. The hotel can also arrange a taxi with an English-speaking driver for EUR 80 one way between 6am and 11pm, or EUR 90 at night.

Good to know

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 11am. Children up to 2 years old stay free in their parents' room, children aged 2 to 12 pay a supplement, and guests over 12 pay the adult rate. You must show photo ID and the card used for the booking at check-in.