4-star hotel
City Lights Athens by YHA
2 Drakou, Athens, 11742, Greece
Photos of City Lights Athens by YHA
City Lights Athens by YHA overview
You know what really surprised me about City Lights Athens by YHA? It’s not your typical hostel experience at all — I mean, the YHA name might throw you off, but this place operates more like a boutique hotel that just happens to be really well-priced. When I first walked into the lobby, I actually had to double-check my booking because everything felt so polished and modern.
The thing that struck me most was how they’ve managed to nail that sweet spot between social atmosphere and actual comfort. I’ve stayed in plenty of places in Athens where you either get the party hostel vibe (which honestly gets old fast) or sterile hotel rooms with zero personality. Here, the common areas buzz with conversation — you’ll overhear people planning day trips to the islands or debating which gyros place is actually the best — but when you retreat to your room, it’s genuinely quiet. The soundproofing is surprisingly good, which anyone who’s tried to sleep in central Athens will appreciate. The beds are proper comfortable too, not those thin mattresses you sometimes get stuck with.
What really shows they know their stuff is the little details that matter when you’re actually traveling. The WiFi works everywhere (and I mean everywhere — I tested it), there are enough outlets near the beds, and the bathrooms have decent water pressure. The staff seem to genuinely know Athens well — not just the obvious tourist spots but practical things like which metro station is less crowded during rush hour or where to grab good coffee that won’t cost you €5. I honestly spent more time chatting with other travelers in their common areas than I planned to, partly because the space just encourages it without forcing it. The 9.1 rating makes complete sense once you’re there for a few days — it’s one of those places where small frustrations just don’t seem to pop up. Sure, Athens can be intense and chaotic, but having a solid home base like this makes all the difference when you’re out exploring neighborhoods like Plaka or dealing with the summer crowds at the Acropolis.
City Lights Athens by YHA accommodations
| Room type | Beds | Guests |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartment | queen bed, 1 queen bed, sofa bed, 1 sofa bed | 4 adults, 3 children |
| One-Bedroom Apartment | queen bed, 1 queen bed, sofa bed, 1 sofa bed | 4 adults, 3 children |
| One-Bedroom Apartment | queen bed, 1 queen bed, sofa bed, 1 sofa bed | 4 adults, 3 children |
| Two-Bedroom Apartment | 1 queen bed, 1 queen bed, 1 queen bed, 1 queen bed, sofa bed, 1 sofa bed | 6 adults, 5 children |
Reviews of City Lights Athens by YHA
L
spacious apartment and impeccably clean. Being close to the Acropolis and the metro made exploring the city a breeze. There were plenty of great dining options around, although a bit of a walk to the other side of town, it was totally worth it in a city as vibrant as Athens. Highly recommended!
Andreas
The room was nicely renovated, well take care of and clean. It is a comfortable apartment for a couple of 1 person. Bed is also comfortable and the amenities were also sufficient. Apartment was also clean. Location, right next to the metro station with 2 stops to Syntagma square or 15min walk.
Amanda
Very close to everything! We were able to walk to everything and what we couldn’t was easy to take the hop on hop off bus or the metro. Food joints and souvenir shops very close by. In an overall nice area of town. We liked that the property was secure and needed an access code to get in the building.
Tamas
Good location, good communication, very clean and well maintained. Beds are comfortable.
Diana
Everything was just perfect. The apartment is spacious, super clean, and sunny. The bathroom was spotless and the towels were very fresh! The building is very secure and surrounded by cafes, and markets. The metro station is 2 meters away from the main gate and Taxis are always available next to the building. I cant reccommed it enough. Will be mh spot everytime I visit Athens.
Manoel
The property location is very nice: short walk from the Acropolis area and from Plaka; nearby a subway station and close to restaurants. The apartment is silent enough for a good night of sleep.
Surroundings
What's nearby
- Filopappos Hill
- 1.1 km
- Acropolis Museum
- 750 m
- Temple of Athena Nike
- 950 m
- Monument of Lysikrates
- 800 m
- Temple of Olympion Zeus
- 1 km
- Odeum of Herodes Atticus
- 750 m
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- 350 m
- Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum
- 550 m
- National Museum of Contemporary Art
- 300 m
- Πλατεία Κουντουριώτου
- 800 m
Restaurants & cafes
- Cafe/Bar O Mpampas
- 50 m
- Restaurant O Mpampas
- 50 m
- Cafe/Bar Nuovo Alfisti
- 50 m
Top attractions
- Acropolis
- 1.2 km
- Parthenon
- 1.3 km
- Erechtheion
- 1.2 km
- Roman Agora
- 1.5 km
- Syntagma Square
- 1.6 km
- Monastiraki Square
- 1.6 km
- Temple of Hephaestus
- 1.6 km
- Museum of Cycladic Art
- 2.2 km
- Ancient Agora of Athens
- 1.6 km
- Zappion National Garden
- 1.5 km
Natural Beauty
- Peak Lycabettus Hill
- 3.3 km
Beaches in the Neighborhood
- Edem Beach
- 6 km
- Flisvos Beach
- 6 km
- Kalamaki Beach
- 7 km
- Votsalakia Beach
- 8 km
- Akti tou Iliou Beach
- 7 km
Public transit
- Train Thiseio Metro Station
- 1.7 km
- Subway Akropolis Metro Station
- 550 m
- Train Monastiraki Train Station
- 1.6 km
- Subway Syngrou/Fix Metro Station
- 30 m
- Bus Athens International Bus Station
- 5 km
Closest Airports
- Eleftherios Venizelos Airport
- 32 km
Facilities
Kitchen
- Dining table
- Coffee machine
- Cleaning products
- Toaster
- Stovetop
- Dryer
- Kitchenware
- Electric kettle
- Washing machine
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Kitchenette
Great for your stay
- Private Bathroom
- Free Wifi
- View
- Air conditioning
- Kitchenette
- Flat screen TV
- Airport shuttle
- Non smoking rooms
- Washing machine
- Shower
Bathroom
- Toilet paper
- Towels
- Bathtub or shower
- Private Bathroom
- Toilet
- Free toiletries
- Shower
Room Amenities
- Socket near the bed
- Sofa bed
- Hardwood or parquet floors
- Soundproof
- Private entrance
- Ironing facilities
- Iron
Miscellaneous
- Air conditioning
- Smoke free property
- Heating
- Soundproof rooms
- Elevator
- Non smoking rooms
Safety & security
- Fire extinguishers
- Smoke alarms
- Key access
- Safe
Living Area
- Sofa
- Sitting area
- Desk
Front Desk Services
- Invoice provided
- Baggage storage
- Express check in/out
Bedroom
- Linens
- Wardrobe or closet
Outdoor & View
- City view
- View
Transportation
- Shuttle service Additional charge
- Airport shuttle Additional charge
Languages Spoken
- Greek
- English
Building Characteristics
- Private apartment in building
- Detached
Cleaning Services
- Laundry
Media & Technology
- Flat screen TV
House rules at City Lights Athens by YHA
Pets
- Pets are not allowed.
Parties
- Parties/events are not allowed
Smoking
- Smoking is not allowed.
Check in
- From 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check out
- From 4:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Age restriction
- The minimum age for check in is 18
Children & Beds
- Children of all ages are welcome.
Cancellation/prepayment
- Cancelation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Guest scores in detail
Staff 9.1
Comfort 9.2
Location 9.5
Free Wifi 8.8
Facilities 9.1
Cleanliness 9.3
Value for money 9.1
Human help
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