Royal Olympic Hotel

What our travelers say

The Royal Olympic Hotel earns its reputation on two fronts: a location that places ancient Athens practically at the doorstep, and a rooftop breakfast experience that group leaders consistently describe as a genuine highlight of the trip. The seventh-floor dining space looks out over the Temple of Zeus and the Acropolis, and more than one group leader has noted that watching the sunrise over the hill on a clear morning is the kind of moment students don't forget. The grand lobby makes a strong first impression — our travelers have described arriving to find a majestic space and a staff ready to welcome a tired group, even on late-night check-ins. The hotel's familiarity with large groups shows: check-in tends to move efficiently, the team is accommodating with early breakfast departures, and practical touches like laundry service have come in handy for groups managing a packed itinerary across multiple destinations. A few things are worth knowing before you arrive. Rooms are clean and functional, but the décor leans traditional rather than modern, and electrical outlets are limited — a real consideration when students are traveling with multiple devices. Temperature control has also come up across a few groups, with some finding the rooms warmer than ideal, so it's worth setting expectations. Beds in twin configurations can be closely arranged. None of these are dealbreakers, but they're the honest picture of what to expect. On the upside, the hotel has been known to extend thoughtful gestures to group leaders, and that kind of attentiveness to the people organizing these trips does not go unnoticed. The Royal Olympic is a strong fit for school and student groups looking for a central Athens base with walkable access to the Plaka District and Acropolis Hill. It handles volume well, making it particularly suited to larger programs that need consistent logistics and a staff experienced in group dynamics. For a group experiencing Athens for the first time, the views alone — from both the breakfast room and select guest rooms — do a lot of the work of bringing the ancient city to life before the day's touring even begins.