Hotel
Hotel Grande Bretagne
The grande dame of Athens hotels, on Syntagma Square since 1874, with 320 rooms, a celebrated roof garden facing the Acropolis and a spa.
City Circus Athens
A design hostel in two restored 19th-century buildings in Psirri, with dorms, vintage-furnished private rooms, a rooftop terrace and its own Greek restaurant.
At a glance
- Type
- Design hostel
- Area
- Psirri, Athens, Greece
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- citycircus.gr
Good to know
- Dorms and private rooms
- Rooftop terrace
- Restaurant Zampanó
- 24-hour reception
- Movie nights
- Organised tours
Why we recommend it
City Circus is a hostel with a strong sense of style, set in two late 19th-century buildings in Psirri that are listed as historical monuments. The buildings stood largely unused from 1970 until 2011, and after a year of restoration and redesign the hostel opened in the summer of 2012. It has since become one of the best-known budget places to stay in central Athens.
Accommodation ranges from dormitories with four, six or eight beds, including mixed, female-only and ensuite options, to a variety of private rooms. Dorms have air conditioning, private bathrooms and wooden bunk beds. Private rooms are furnished with original vintage furniture and artwork, and include deluxe doubles and twins, budget doubles on a lower level, which can be noisier, a superior double with an Acropolis view, a four-bed room and a loft double with a kitchenette and outdoor seating.
The hostel's restaurant, Zampanó, named after the lead character of Fellini's film La Strada, serves modern versions of traditional Greek dishes made with seasonal ingredients, and breakfast is served daily. There is no bar on the roof, but guests can buy drinks at reception and take them up to the rooftop terrace, which has city views and is open from early morning until late evening. The common lobby has a large projector for movie nights, there is a photo booth, and twice-weekly free wine socials help guests meet each other.
City Circus suits solo travellers, couples on a budget and friends travelling together who want more character than a standard hostel. The 24-hour reception organises day trips to Delphi, to Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio, and cruises to the Saronic islands, as well as a bar crawl. Psirri's bars and restaurants are on the doorstep, so expect some evening noise in the neighbourhood.
The hostel is about 300 metres from the nearest metro and train station, making arrival from the airport straightforward, and Monastiraki Square, the flea market, the Ancient Agora and the Varvakios Central Market are all within a few minutes' walk. The Acropolis is around 20 minutes on foot. The rooftop terrace is open from 07:00 to 23:30, which makes it a good spot for an early coffee as well as an evening drink.
City Circus Athens FAQs
What kind of rooms are there?
Four-, six- and eight-bed dorms, including female-only and ensuite options, plus a range of private rooms.
When did City Circus open?
In the summer of 2012, after the restoration of two 19th-century buildings.
Is there a restaurant?
Yes, Zampanó, serving modern Greek dishes and breakfast daily.
Is there a rooftop?
Yes, a rooftop terrace with city views; drinks can be bought at reception.
Does the hostel organise tours?
Yes, including day trips to Delphi, Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio, a Saronic cruise and a bar crawl.
Is reception open all night?
Yes, reception is open 24 hours.
How close is the metro?
About 300 metres away.