Hotel Attalos is a good tourist value. A relaxed throwback to the 1970s, it's less shiny than it is dependable.

The hotel's 50 rooms are very plain, yet there's something restrained and even elegant about these rooms, in a simple, institutional 1970s aesthetic way.

Hotel Kimon's comfortable, even stylish rooms are some of the most affordable in heavily touristed Plaka.

Metropolis's extremely clean rooms have beige walls, run-of-the-mill beds, wardrobes, bedspreads, and desks, all of which serve their utilitarian purposes without bothering themselves with style.

The Orion vibe is very relaxed. If you're a European university kid in Athens for a few nights, this is a great place to crash.

Jason Inn's 56 rooms are both adequate and a good value, particularly in the off-season. Its location, near Keramikos, is a real plus.

Located down a little alleyway in the relaxed 'hood of Koukaki, Marble House provides an exceptionally quiet budget bed.

You can use one of the Marina's 81 clean and comfortable rooms as your base for exploring Athens, just don't expect to luxuriate there.

While the Phaedra doesn't have some of the modern amenities that most budget hotels in Athens now proffer, its reasonable rates, superb location, and compassionate staff are its big selling points.

Situated in a relatively non-descript neighborhood, the Rio is a 10-minute walk from the National Archaeological Museum and equally close to the trendy Psiri and Thisseio neighborhoods.

Tempi Hotel's affordable rates, bare-bones rooms, and friendly staff combine to make it both a great deal and a welcoming budget guesthouse.

The Student and Travellers Inn's bright rooms are clean and comfortable, decked out in vibrant yellow and blue.

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 places in Athens.