Athens Gay Travel
wolfyy’s Athens gay travel guide to hotels, things to do, restaurants, gay bars & saunas.
The Gay Travel Experience: Athens, Greece
I never imagined that Athens would have such a lively gay scene! My memories of having dinner in the gay neighborhood, meeting a friendly gay local, and dancing all night at the city’s best LGBT nightclub are all so vivid.
With a dense mix of gay tourists and locals, meeting other LGBT people is easy—whether it’s on a tour or at a gay bar. I actually made friends with a fellow gay traveler right on the steps of the Acropolis!
Common Opinions About Athens
Many people perceive Athens as a dirty, unappealing city. But most likely, that’s because they just haven’t visited the right spots!
Some parts of Athens are definitely on the gritty side. Describing a few of the neighborhoods north of the city center as “gross” wouldn’t be so wrong! But, other areas are stunningly beautiful.
In this guide, I’ll tell you exactly where to find these spots, along with everything else you’ll need to know for a successful adventure.
Gay Athens: Hotels & Where to Stay
Plaka and Monastiraki are the overall most popular neighborhoods. Gay travelers tend to choose accommodations located here, and I think you should, too!
Hotels in Plaka are great for cozy boutique vibes, while Monastiraki hotels offer the most central location you can get.
Gazi is the city’s gay neighborhood, naturally making hotels in Gazi another popular choice for LGBT travelers. The neighborhood is located to the west of the city center and is packed with restaurants, local gay bars, clubs, and saunas.
Apartment rentals in Gazi are also a great option, not to mention affordable. They tend to be modern, many with perks that’ll put a smile on your face—like terraces and views of the Acropolis.
While Athens certainly has LGBT-friendly accommodations, like the ones mentioned below, the city doesn’t have many outwardly gay hotels as you’d find in many other European cities.
Alexander Apartments
Alexander Apartments is the only true gay hotel in Athens. Even though they only have three apartment units, they’re still worth checking out!
The hotel is connected to the Alexander Men’s Club gay sauna, so anyone with big plans for cruising might find Alexander Apartments to be ideal!
If you want more of a traditional hotel experience, then you’ll be better off with one of the gay-friendly hotels below.
NEW Hotel
NEW Hotel was by far the best local hotel I stayed in. The design is fun and modern, the rooms include well-kept terraces, and their air conditioning is strong.
Located on the eastern side of the Plaka neighborhood, it’s easy to walk to the adorable nearby areas for shopping, restaurants, and exploring the most beautiful old neighborhoods.
Hotel Fresh
Hotel Fresh is a more affordable gay-friendly option that still comes with a boutique hotel feel. I stayed here for a night and while it’s not the fanciest place in the world, they have an epic rooftop bar.
O&B Athens Boutique Hotel
O&B Athens Boutique Hotel is a budget hotel that offers a lot for the price. I enjoyed staying here at the end of my trip. The rooms are clean, the bathrooms are large, and the service is incredibly friendly.
Their location in the Psyri neighborhood is unbeatable. It’s only a short drive from Gazi, too.
More Athens Hotels I Recommend
Here are a few other fantastic hotels for gay travelers that are highly rated and located in the most popular neighborhoods of the city.
Prefer Hostels? I suggest checking out Hostelworld’s recommended hostels in Athens.
Athens Gay Travel Experiences
First-time travelers surely have to start with all the classic attractions. The Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, and the Roman Forum are all staples.
Below are some more recommendations that you may not have known about.
Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic Stadium was the site of the first modern Olympic games. I highly recommend a visit! It’s also the only stadium in the world that’s built entirely of Marble.
You can grab an Uber (which is extremely cheap in Athens) or take the tram to the Záppeio stop.
Explore Plaka
Experience the gorgeous, restaurant-lined paths along the southwestern end of the Plaka neighborhood. One of the best parts of my adventure was wandering these beautiful mountainside pathways.
The Plaka Stairs are the most notable spot in this area. You’ll find restaurants perched all along the street, which are most popular for epic sunset views. In my opinion, this area is way better than the rest of Plaka!
Walking tours of Plaka that also include visits to Anafiotika (which I’ll discuss next) and other lesser-known spots around the Acropolis are fantastic if you don’t feel like exploring alone.
Visit Anafiotika
Most tourists don’t know about Anafiotika. You absolutely cannot miss this spot! Here you’ll get some of the best views of the city while navigating some beautiful winding staircases.
I found out about Anafiotika from a local Greek guy who offered to take a photo of me on the street in Plaka. Continue walking up the hillside until you reach a lookout point that sits just below the walled mountainside of the Acropolis viewing point.
The Acropolis Museum
The ultra-modern Acropolis Museum is pretty well-known, but I still want to mention how amazing it is! About a 15-minute walk from the base of the Acropolis, you can see some of Greece’s most prized artifacts.
If you’re visiting during summer, the Acropolis Museum is an amazingly air-conditioned, comfortable place to spend a hot afternoon. Their café space has indoor and outdoor seating with a clear view of the Acropolis.
Don’t miss the ancient ruin excavation area underneath the museum! There’s a separate entrance around the side of the building.
Athens Gay Sailing Trips
Greece’s Saronic Islands are easy to get to from Athens. Consider joining a group of gay travelers for an epic gay sailing trip with Pride Sailing Holidays.
I’ve done several of these 7-day trips, one of which departed from Athens in August 2021. These trips are always life-changing and I highly recommend joining one!
If you’re only looking for a sailing day trip, consider one of these 5-hour catamaran tours of the Athens Riviera.
The main port area in Athens is Piraeus Harbour, which is about a 25-minute drive from the city center, so it’s easy to get to and from any sailing or cruise expedition.
Restaurants in Athens
Brunch at the fabulously pink-themed ELLYZ Athens is a neighborhood favorite. Fashionable tourists and local Greeks are both always here.
ELLYZ is an all-day brunch restaurant and cocktail bar through the evening. Both the restaurant and the food are incredibly instagrammable!
Don’t miss a sunset dinner at one of the picturesque restaurants along the mountainside steps of Plaka.
Elaia is a gorgeous rooftop restaurant with beautiful views. You can also browse a bunch of other restaurants along the cobblestone stairways nearby.
Stop at Μπιρμπίλω (Mpirmpilo) for lunch while exploring the Kolonaki neighborhood. I really enjoyed this spot. The salads, seafood, and local wine were superb.
Dialogos (Διάλογος) was a delicious seafood restaurant in the convenient and popular area of Monastiraki. The service was fast and ordering was simple.
Dialogos (as well as the many other nearby restaurants) are quite well-known to tourists, so it’s an easy option for first-timers who want good food!
I loved The Place by COCO-MAT, a restaurant in the Gazi neighborhood. The Place is perfect for dinner/drinks before heading to gay bars.
Their tropical-feeling rear lounge area is trendy and fun. A gay local showed me The Place, which is one of his favorite spots. You’ll likely run into other gay travelers or locals here since it’s so close to the gay bars.
Athens Gay Bars & Clubs
Most of the city’s energetic gay bars are in the Gazi gay area. This is where you’ll hear clubs blaring music and people clamoring in the streets. The center of nightlife in general is around the Kerameikos Metro stop.
I had a blast dancing and meeting other travelers at the local gay nightlife venues. These are all the bars and clubs you need to know about!
Shamone Club
Shamone is by far the best gay bar in Athens. I loved the music here, which was a mix of the most popular international hits mixed by a live DJ. With a bit of a club feel, Shamone is an awesome place to dance.
During the warmer months, everyone takes advantage of Shamone’s large outdoor bar and seating area. Plenty of streetside tables make for a great place to meet new people.
Sodade2
Sodade2 is a smaller gay bar, also in Gazi. I’d say it’s the next best choice after Shamone.
They play some pretty loud music and have a bit of space for dancing. I enjoyed the colorful, dim lighting.
The tricky thing about Sodade2 is that it’s difficult to tell how busy the club is from the street. The entrance is a small vestibule with a double door so you can’t easily see inside. It’s best to ask around outside or on your preferred gay dating app.
S-Cape
S-Cape is third among the trio of crowd-favorite local gay bars. It’s especially popular among younger guys. It’s a two-level venue with a fun pedestal cage in the middle of the dance floor.
Drinks are cheap and the music tends to be more on the European side. Expect to pay a small cover at the door, which should include a free drink.
Del Sol Café
Del Sol Café is a gay-friendly café during the day but has a relaxed gay bar vibe in the evening. It’s the perfect place to sit down for cocktails before heading to other bars nearby.
Throughout the evening, you’ll hear all the gay-favorite songs playing at Del Sol Café. Lots of guys sit here to people-watch since the outdoor patio is directly in front of the Kerameikos Metro stop area.
Noiz Club
Noiz Club is the local go-to Lesbian bar, located in the heart of Gazi. I didn’t visit, but I’d love to know what you think. The interior looks beautiful!
Athens Gay Saunas & Cruising
Alexander Sauna
Alexander Sauna is a fantastic cruising venue I recommend checking out. This place is enormous, and includes a full bar, garden lounge, wet and dry saunas, private cabins, and a labyrinth area.
They offer all the essentials including towels, lockers, flip-flops, and showers. The busiest hours are typically from 10 PM to 1 AM, so don’t go too late!
Attraxx Gay Cruising
Attraxx is a better option if you’re interested in a cruising without the sauna. They have a bunch of individual dark rooms and movie areas.
After opening at noon, you can find guys here all afternoon. Attraxx steadily gets busier as the day progresses, and you can even expect a bit of a crowd after 4 PM.
Before you go cruising, make sure you have a pair of sexy underwear or jockstrap to wear!
Athens Travel Tips
The Typical Morning Greeting
Greet everyone by saying “Yasas” in the morning—this is the informal (but still polite) way to say hello. You’ll hear this everywhere. And once you start listening for it, I bet you won’t be able to stop!
Need a Laundromat?
Especially while enduring the brutal summer temperatures, you might need to wash your clothes sooner than you think. If you need to do some laundry, head to Easywash, a super cheap self-service laundromat.
Avoid EuroNet ATMs
I recommend avoiding EuroNet ATMs for cash at all costs. They charge absurd fees by offering poor exchange rates and charging you an additional commission.
It can be difficult because these ATMs are everywhere and in all the most convenient locations, but you can instead go to an iBank ATM or a National Bank of Greece location.
Taxis from Athens Airport
Grabbing an Athens airport taxi is super easy. The price to travel into the city center is fixed, so you won’t need to stress about overpaying.
Note that the nighttime rate (midnight to 5 AM) is decently higher. Make sure to bring Euros as well. Taxis in Athens do not accept credit cards.
Taxis show up constantly at the airport too, so even if there’s a long line, it will move quickly. The drive into the city center isn’t quick though. Without traffic, it takes roughly 40 minutes.
Using Uber in Athens
Once you’re in the city center, you can use your Uber app to request local taxis, a service called Uber Taxi.
To clarify what you may read elsewhere online, Uber is not necessarily banned in Athens. It’s just that Uber drivers must be official taxis.
Athens Gay Life & LGBT Rights in Greece
Generally, Greece is a gay-friendly country, and Athens is particularly liberal. LGBT rights in Greece are notably among the best in southeastern Europe, though not as robust as in most Western European countries.
Anti-discrimination laws have been strengthened over the past decade, and the government legalized same-sex marriage in February 2024! Progress has thankfully continued, with a court ruling in 2025 that gay marriage and same-sex adoption are constitutional.
You might be surprised though, that gay locals tend to be private with their sexual orientation outside of the LGBT community.
While people in Greece have become increasingly accepting of LGBT individuals in recent years, older generations are still quite conservative.
It’s rare to find same-sex couples kissing or even holding hands in public around Athens. But that doesn’t prevent locals from visiting the city’s LGBT safe spaces!
Gay tourists and ex-pats in Athens rarely encounter discrimination. Especially in the gay neighborhood, the LGBT community truly shines.
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