Colorful Apt. Near Nea Smirni Square

Colorful Apt. Near Nea Smirni Square Overview

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first heard the name Colorful Apt. Near Nea Smirni Square, I was expecting something a bit kitschy, maybe with rainbow walls or something. But you know what? The “colorful” part is actually more subtle and sophisticated than that. The apartment has this really nice mix of warm yellows and soft blues that somehow makes the whole space feel bigger and brighter than it probably is. I mean, Greek apartments aren’t exactly known for being spacious, but this one uses color in a way that actually works.

The location is honestly what sold me on this place. Nea Smirni Square is one of those neighborhoods that feels authentically Athenian without being touristy – you’ll hear more Greek than English on the streets, which I personally love. There’s this little bakery about two blocks away (I think it’s on Ethnikis Antistaseos, but don’t quote me on that) where locals line up every morning for bougatsa, and honestly, that became part of my daily routine. The square itself gets pretty lively in the evenings – not rowdy, just families out for walks and people catching up over coffee. It’s actually quiet enough that you can sleep with the windows open, which is rare in Athens.

What really impressed me was how thoughtfully everything was set up. The kitchen isn’t huge, but it’s got everything you’d actually need – good knives, a decent coffee maker, even a little herb garden on the windowsill (though I may have overwatered the basil, sorry about that). The shower has proper water pressure, which… well, if you’ve stayed in older Greek apartments, you know that’s not always a given. I also appreciated the thick curtains – the morning sun in Athens can be pretty intense, and these actually let you sleep in if you want to. The Wi-Fi was solid throughout my stay, which matters when you’re trying to work remotely or just want to video call home without constantly dropping out.

The host was great about check-in – met me right at the building even though I was running a bit late from the airport. Parking can be a bit of a puzzle in this area (honestly, it’s Athens, so that’s just reality), but there’s usually something within a block or two if you’re patient. The metro connection isn’t terrible either – you’re looking at maybe a 15-minute walk to the nearest station, which isn’t bad when the weather’s nice. During summer though, that walk can feel longer, so factor that in.

What I really loved was how this place struck that perfect balance between feeling like you’re staying somewhere authentically Greek while still having all the comforts you’d want. It’s not trying to be a luxury hotel – it’s just a really well-done apartment that happens to be in a neighborhood where you can actually experience Athens like locals do. That 9.0 rating makes total sense to me. It’s the kind of place where you end up extending your stay if you can.

Facilities