What's the best neighborhood to stay in Athens?

Stay in Koukaki for your base. It sits directly south of the Acropolis, walkable to the main sites in under fifteen minutes, and has enough good tavernas and coffee shops on Drakou and Veikou streets to keep you fed without hunting. Prices run noticeably lower than Monastiraki or Plaka, and the streets are quieter at night. Monastiraki is convenient and puts you inside the flea-market energy of central Athens, but the noise and tourist density make it a poor choice for anything longer than two nights. Plaka is charming to walk through and nearly unbearable to sleep in during summer. Exarchia draws a certain crowd and rewards people who want independent bookshops and late-night bars over sightseeing logistics. For most travelers on a standard Athens trip of three to five days, Koukaki gives the best ratio of access, price, and livability, and the Acropolis Museum is essentially at the end of the block.

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