Review: Grand Hyatt Athens

What we loved: Service, cuisine, and amenities.

What we didn’t love: Bed comfort.

How to book on points: This hotel is part of Hyatt’s World of Hyatt program as a Category 3 property. You can expect to redeem 12,000 points per night during standard periods, 9,000 points during off-peak periods, and 15,000 points during peak periods.

Grand Hyatt Athens – About the Property

The Grand Hyatt Athens opened in August 2018 and is the only five-star property in the capital of Greece with four swimming pools and a rooftop restaurant. Plus, it showcases stunning views overlooking the Acropolis.

This property participates in the World of Hyatt’s preferred partner program, Hyatt Privé, that you can access through our in-house travel agency, Prince Collection.

By booking through us, you’ll pay the same amount you’d otherwise pay (and sometimes even less), plus you’ll get access to a handful of exclusive benefits, such as a welcome gift, a free upgrade (depending on availability), complimentary breakfast, and more.

Location

The Grand Hyatt Athens is located in Neos Kosmos, an inner-city suburb 15 minutes away from Plaka, Athens’s most popular neighborhood among travellers.

There are a few ways to get there, with the fastest (and priciest) way being by taxi. Alternative options for getting there include the metro and the bus. These options are significantly cheaper, but they take longer to reach the destination.

For my trip in late summer 2024, I paid €43 for a taxi from Athens International Airport (ATH) to the hotel. While this was the more expensive option, I didn’t mind paying the hefty cost for convenience since I was travelling solo with luggage.

The Grand Hyatt Athens is located near some notable attractions, including the Odeum of Herodes Atticus, Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis Museum, and Kolonaki Square.

Booking

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Athens for one night on my arrival day from New York City, and for this stay I used 24,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned on my Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which I then transferred to World of Hyatt at a rate of 1:1.

For this trip, I booked directly into a Premier Corner Suite for 24,000 points.

Grand Hyatt Athens – The Check-In Experience

From the moment I left the taxi and stepped foot on the property, there were staff present to help me.

I was immediately greeted and given assistance bringing my luggage inside to the check-in counter. When I first walked in, I felt the luxurious and sophisticated atmosphere that one feels when staying at a five-star property.

One of the kind employees who checked me in offered complimentary breakfast, which I appreciated. Additionally, I was given a complimentary upgrade to the Acropolis Suite on arrival.

The Acropolis Suite costs roughly $1,680 (USD) per night, so I certainly appreciated the upgrade, especially since although I’m a member of the World of Hyatt program, I don’t yet have status.

The customer service experience throughout my stay at the Grand Hyatt Athens was top notch, and the staff provided me with a welcome gift that featured a mini bottle of mastiha liqueur and lokum (a local sweet treat), along with a card from the general manager.

Grand Hyatt Athens – The Acropolis Suite

The Acropolis Suite interiors were sleek and spacious with an open floor plan totalling 100 square metres (1,076 square feet).

The suite features 1.5 bathrooms, a dining area, a living area with a couch, a 55-inch flatscreen TV, a work space, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a large private balcony with views of the Acropolis.

During my stay, I particularly loved how spacious the room was. There was plenty of space to move around and the private balcony was the cherry on top!

The bathroom features were lovely as well and the amenity kits, plush robes, and branded slippers were nice touches.

However, unfortunately I found that the bed’s mattress and pillows weren’t super comfortable, and I had some trouble sleeping at night.

Grand Hyatt Athens – Food & Drink

The hotel’s breakfast spread, which was served in the rooftop restaurant The Grand by Interni, offered many different options for all appetites. There’s your typical eggs (made in a variety of ways), bacon, and juices, plus there were also desserts, cereals, and traditional Greek staples like spinach and cheese pie.

In terms of dining options, the hotel has one rooftop restaurant and two lounges.

The rooftop restaurant, The Grand by Interni, spans two floors, and offers an upscale interior design with an elevated Greek menu and great views overlooking the Acropolis. It’s perfect for dinner with a significant other, friends, or solo.

They also have an outdoor area where you can dine and have a drink overlooking the iconic views of Athens’s most famous landmark.

There’s two lounges at the Grand Hyatt Athens are the Aphrodite Lobby Bar and the Grand Club Lounge, though the Grand Club Lounge is exclusive to guests booking suites and rooms with Club Access.

During my stay, I had lunch at the Aphrodite Lobby Bar and the service was superb. The menu here differs from The Grand by Interni, offering a bigger selection of snacks and dishes to choose from, making this a good crowd-pleaser choice.

I ordered the wild mushroom risotto with goat cheese and sundried tomato cream. I was pleasantly surprised to see fresh shaved truffle in the dish! This was a delicious touch, and the price point of €23 was great.

Grand Hyatt Athens – Other Facilities

The property has numerous amenities including four pools, a fitness centre, a spa, and laundry services.

I enjoyed the outdoor rooftop with views of the Acropolis and two separate pools on the same level, with dozens of sun chairs available for guests looking to relax and soak in the ambience.

The rooftop pool also offers a great vantage point for catching the sunset.

Of the hotel’s four pools, there are two large separate pools on the rooftop and two more in the spa. The two rooftop pools have a poolside menu featuring light bites, salads, cocktails, and other refreshments.

I took advantage of this service and ordered a frozen strawberry mocktail to cool off from the summer heat.

Conclusion

Overall, my experience at the Grand Hyatt Athens was wonderful. It’s a great property to stay at for a night or two when arriving in the city.

However, the hotel’s not particularly close to some of the most popular attractions in Athens, such as the Acropolis, Plaka neighborhood, and local shops. To reach these areas, you would need to drive, or take public transportation or a taxi, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing during your stay

This property can be booked using World of Hyatt points, which can be earned a number of ways, including by transferring them from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

If you’d like to stay at this property and receive more perks, consider booking through Prince Collection for exclusive deals that you may not get with World of Hyatt.