Athens’ historic center remains the capital’s leading destination for tourists, according to new municipal data that shows visitor activity expanding into nearby residential neighborhoods.
Tourism remains most concentrated in the Commercial Center and the districts of Monastiraki-Plaka, Psyrri-Koumoundourou, Makrygianni, and Thissio. Agios Konstantinos and Vathi Square, Kallirrois Avenue, Dourgouti in Neos Kosmos, and the area around Plastira Square in Pangrati also record substantial visitor traffic.
The findings are included in an update to the City of Athens Tourism Carrying Capacity Study, which examines changes between 2018 and 2025. Rather than simply ranking neighborhoods by visitor numbers, tourist movement was tracked in addition to accommodation capacity and tourism intensity across the capital.
Historic Athens remains city’s tourism hub
Nearly sixty percent of all tourist beds in the Municipality of Athens are located in the 1st Municipal District, which covers much of the historic and commercial center. The district includes Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki, Psyrri, Kolonaki, and Exarchia. It also contains many of the capital’s best-known archaeological sites, museums, shopping streets, and entertainment venues, making it Athens’ largest tourism hub.
The area surrounding the Acropolis remains central to the visitor experience. Monastiraki and Plaka offer direct access to major landmarks, restaurants, stores, and public transportation, while Psyrri and Thissio draw tourists with their nightlife, pedestrian streets, and views of ancient Athens.
Makrygianni, next to the Acropolis Museum and the southern entrance to the archaeological site, also has a high concentration of hotels and short-term rental properties.
Tourists exploring other Athens neighborhoods
Although the historic center continues to dominate, tourism is extending beyond its traditional boundaries. The number of short-term rental units in the Commercial Center nearly tripled between 2018 and 2025. Koukaki and Exarchia also recorded significant growth, indicating that more tourists are staying in neighborhoods adjacent to the established visitor zone.
Koukaki has become increasingly popular because of its proximity to the Acropolis and its mix of restaurants, cafes, and residential streets. Exarchia offers an alternative urban experience, known for its independent cultural scene, bookstores, and nightlife. Tourist activity has also expanded toward Pangrati and Neos Kosmos. Both neighborhoods provide access to local businesses and everyday Athenian life in the vicinity of the city center.
The trend reflects Athens’ evolution from a destination associated primarily with ancient monuments into a broader city-break destination. Visitors increasingly explore the capital’s food, contemporary culture, nightlife, and neighborhood character alongside its classical heritage.
Short-term rentals rise 33 percent
Athens had 18,769 short-term rental units in 2025, representing a 33.5 percent increase from 2018. The total was also almost sixty percent higher than in 2021, when the market was still affected by the pandemic. The accommodation sector expanded over the same period. A total of 19,071 tourist accommodation units operated within the municipality in 2025, compared with 14,288 in 2018.
The number of available tourist beds exceeded 105,000, an increase of 24.3 percent over eight years. The number of hotels also rose by 29.1 percent. Altogether, the figures indicate that tourism in Athens has moved well beyond pre-pandemic levels, supported by growth in both hotels and short-term rental properties.
More tourists visit Athens as accommodation growth lags behind
The study’s tourism-intensity indicators point to an even sharper rise in visitor activity. Overnight stays per Athens resident increased by 183.7 percent between 2018 and 2025, meaning they nearly tripled during the period. The number of tourists per resident rose by 142.2 percent.
Both rates greatly exceeded the 24.3 percent increase in available beds. This suggests that existing accommodations are being utilized more intensively as increasing numbers of tourists visit and stay in the city. The trend is most apparent in central Athens, where hotels, short-term rentals, attractions, and tourism-related businesses are concentrated within a relatively compact area.
Restrictions slow rental growth in central Athens
The updated study also provides an early assessment of restrictions on new short-term rental registrations in Athens’ 1st, 2nd, and 3rd municipal districts. Short-term rentals in those districts increased by approximately eighteen to twenty percent between 2023 and 2024.
Growth then slowed to between 1.7 and 5.4 percent from 2024 to 2025. The decline indicates that the suspension has limited the addition of new properties. However, previously registered accommodations remain active, meaning the overall supply has stabilized rather than decreased.
The data therefore shows two developments unfolding at the same time. Athens’ historic center continues to attract the greatest share of tourists, while visitor traffic is gradually spreading into neighboring areas. Meanwhile, the slower growth of short-term rentals suggests that the registration restrictions are beginning to reshape the pace of expansion in central Athens.
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