Royal Olympic Hotel Athens: Reviews, Location & Amenities

Sitting directly opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens describes itself as a family-run five-star property. This review brings together verified details from the hotel’s own website and multiple booking platforms to help you research whether it fits your Athens stay.

Last checked: 2026-07-04

Hotel Name: Royal Olympic Hotel · Location: Opposite Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens city center · Rating: 5-star · Key Feature: Family-run, recently refurbished, outdoor pool

What is special about the Royal Olympic Hotel Athens?

The Royal Olympic Hotel’s most striking attribute is its setting. Across the street lies the vast Temple of Olympian Zeus, one of Greece’s largest ancient temples. The hotel also sits within a five‑minute walk of the Acropolis Museum and roughly 280 metres from Acropolis metro station (Royal Olympic – Official site). This density of archaeological sites makes it a practical base for sightseers.

Key features

The property is a six‑story hotel and convention centre, according to Travel Weekly (Travel Weekly – Hotel profile). Its rooftop restaurant, Ioannis, serves breakfast and dinner while offering panoramic views over the Temple and the Acropolis (Expedia). Travel Photo Discovery noted the hotel has two bars and a quiet outdoor pool where guests relax after sightseeing (Travel Photo Discovery – Review).

For business travellers, the hotel promotes its own sales and banquet departments (Royal Olympic – Conference page). Trivago reports that the hotel can host events in up to 18 state‑of‑the‑art meeting rooms, accommodating as many as 700 guests (Trivago). That dual focus on leisure and MICE sets it apart from smaller boutique properties.

Location advantages

Classic Vacations describes the hotel as “just steps from the Temple of Olympian Zeus and within a 5‑minute walk of the Acropolis Museum” (Classic Vacations – Property overview). The historic Plaka district is also reachable on foot. Guest reviews on Trip.com emphasise that the hotel is “directly opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus and within 5-10 minutes’ walk of the Acropolis and metro” (Trip.com – Guest reviews).

Is breakfast included at the Royal Olympic Hotel?

None of the official or third‑party sources we reviewed explicitly state that breakfast is included in the room rate. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant Ioannis serves breakfast, but whether it is complimentary depends on the booking plan. A TripAdvisor reviewer who gave the title “Beautiful view of the temple of Olympian Zeus” described a terrace breakfast overlooking the Temple, implying it was part of their experience (TripAdvisor – User review). However, the hotel’s contact page does not mention any inclusive‑breakfast policy.

The bottom line — Check with the hotel or your booking agent before arrival. Breakfast is available on site, but you may need to pay separately unless your rate specifies otherwise.

How far is the Royal Olympic Hotel from the airport?

The distance from Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) to the city centre is roughly 35 km. The hotel is in the historic centre, so a taxi or ride‑share takes about 35–50 minutes depending on traffic. The metro is a cheaper option: take Line 3 from the airport to Syntagma Square, then change to Line 2 towards Elliniko and get off at Acropolis station. From that station the hotel is about a three‑minute walk. Direct bus service (X95) also runs from the airport to Syntagma, from where the hotel is a 10‑minute walk or short taxi ride.

What do guest reviews say about the Royal Olympic Hotel?

We analysed reviews from Booking.com, Trip.com, TripAdvisor, and third‑party summaries to draw a balanced picture.

Positive feedback

Location is the most frequently praised aspect. A Booking.com reviewer called the location “brilliant” for its proximity to the Acropolis and metro. On Trip.com, guests highlighted being “directly opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus and within 5–10 minutes’ walk of the Acropolis” (Trip.com – Reviews). The rooftop terrace and pool are also popular. Travel Photo Discovery noted that guests “use the quiet outdoor pool to relax after sightseeing” (Travel Photo Discovery). Multiple reviewers on TripAdvisor mention the spectacular Acropolis views from the roof garden.

Areas for improvement

Room size and value for money attract criticism. One Booking.com guest noted “small room size and perceived overpricing relative to facilities” (Booking.com – Reviews). On Trip.com, a reviewer described a room with “minimal furniture and generally poor quality relative to the hotel’s five‑star claim” (Trip.com – Review). These comments suggest a gap between the hotel’s official classification and some guests’ expectations of physical condition.

Pros and Cons