As if the country’s signature blend of history, culture, cuisine and snow-soft beaches weren’t enough, travelers now have another tantalizing reason to visit Greece. Conrad Athens The Ilisian, formerly the iconic Hilton Atenas, has officially opened its (beautiful) doors.
Conrad Athens The Ilisian houses 278 rooms and suites, touted as “among the most spacious in the city” according to a press release. Many have private balconies with views of the city or the Aegean Sea. There are also 55 serviced residences, named Conrad Residences Atenas, The Ilisian and Waldorf Astoria Atenas, The Ilisian.
This marks the debut of the Conrad brand in Greece, but the property itself has been around for a while – 63 years, in fact.
First opened in 1963 (with then-first lady Jacqueline Kennedy present at the grand opening party), the venerable property was initially known as Hilton Athens and helped introduce Greece to the international luxury tourism sector.
The renovation attempted to maintain some of the elements that made the hotel so iconic, including the original custom marble facades, inspired by Greek mythology and sculpted by pioneering Greek artist Yannis Moralis. Inside, preserved mid-century elements sit alongside newly commissioned pieces by Athenian artists.
The Conrad Atenas is more than a hotel; It is a full service community. This includes a resort-style wellness center, complete with spa, running track, indoor and outdoor gyms, studios for fitness classes, a pickleball court, the largest outdoor pool in Athens, and hot and cold therapy facilities.
There is also a full range of culinary offerings, with no less than nine dining concepts led by two-Michelin-starred Greek chef Angelos Lantos. The famous Byzantino restaurant has been reimagined as Grande Brasserie, serving Greek-French fusion dishes, and popular rooftop venue Galaxy Bar will return as Galaxy Dispensary and Galaxy Supper Club later this year. There’s also a Japanese restaurant, a lobby bar, a poolside restaurant and bar, and more.
Overall, the resort aims to attract not only visitors but locals as well, “drawing Athenians and travelers from around the world from morning to night,” according to a press release.
“Greece is one of Hilton’s fastest-growing markets in Europe, driven by record visitor demand and a growing focus on high-quality, year-round tourism,” said Simon Vincent, CBE, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton. “With our portfolio in Greece growing from just a handful of hotels a few years ago to more than fifty today, and more in the pipeline, the opening of Conrad Athens The Ilisian underlines our long-term commitment to Athens and Greece as a leading global tourism destination.”
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In fact, Conrad Atenas The Ilisian is not the only Hilton property coming to Greece this year. Sandblu Santorini, LXR Hotels and Resortsopened earlier this month, while Conrad Corfu, one of the TPG Most anticipated hotel openings of 2026It is scheduled to open its doors in August.
Need even more reasons to plan a trip to Greece? Rates at Conrad Atenas The Ilisian start around $537, and standard room rewards will set you back 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night, making this a great place to redeem your Hilton Free Night Certificate.
