Zeus Hostel

If you choose the Zeus Hostel as your place of residence, you need to know that it may be one of the most barebones hostels in Europe. However, if all you want is a safe, centrally-located place to crash at the end of the day, then this is definitely one of the least-expensive in Athens.

Zeus's 34 rooms are primarily dorm-style, designed to accommodate four people with two bunk beds and a desk. The simple wooden beds and bare white walls are reminiscent of a college dormitory. Double rooms come in the same bare "style."

All bathrooms are shared, and, like the bedrooms, they're about as bare as bathrooms can get. There's only a toilet, sink, shower, and peeling paint job.

Despite the fact that there is zero charm at the Zeus, it does have some perks. First, there's the central location, near the famous meat and fish market, Omonia Square, Monastiraki, and Psiri. And if you haven't gotten enough exercise walking about town, you will get some exercise climbing the steep flights of stairs to your room. Second , there’s the friendly staff, followed by the communal bar and Internet stations.

At €10 a night for a mixed-gender room and €11 a night for a room with only female roommates, the price cannot be beaten (although if you pay with a credit card you will incur a surcharge on top of the room rate).