A major return that carries the history of several…decades, while simultaneously being a brand-new destination aimed at both Athenians and visitors to the city.

In 1963, when the Athens Hilton first opened on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, its symbolism was twofold: the construction of this new landmark represented both a tangible example of Athens’ transformation through extensive reconstruction, urban development, and the new lifestyle reflected in modern apartment buildings of the time, and the country’s entry—and that of its capital—into the global tourism market through an international 5-star brand like Hilton, which over the years ultimately lent its name to the entire area.

Now, more than six decades later, the return of this iconic property seeks to connect its historic legacy with the character of modern Athens through The Ilisian, a new multi-dimensional destination and experience ecosystem that will include hospitality, residences, dining, retail, and a members’ club. The Ilisian comes at a time when the “Greece” brand itself is firmly in the top 10 of the world’s strongest tourist destinations, with Athens in particular experiencing the largest tourism boom—this year even surpassing the country’s top island destinations.

While the club, known as the House of NYNN, was the first to open within the new destination during the summer, last July, for its registered members, the second opening—which will simultaneously mark the public launch of the destination—will take place next month.

In November, the first of the nine dining venues that The Ilisian will host is set to open. Early in 2026 (exact date not yet set), the impressive new hotel Conrad Athens The Ilisian will follow, replacing the old Athens Hilton under the prestigious Conrad brand of the American group, named after founder Conrad Hilton. Alongside the hotel, the dining areas and retail stores of the destination will gradually open, all accessible to both visitors and Athenians. Also, in 2026, residences will start being delivered to their owners.

“The Most Beautiful Hilton in the World”

At this stage, work across all fronts within the new destination is intensive, as part of the large-scale redevelopment of the property being carried out by the owners of Ionian Hotels (TEMES S.A., with the participation of the Konstantakopoulos and Olayan groups). The total investment will exceed €340 million, including the initial purchase of the building.

The major transformation will be marked at the beginning of the new year, possibly within the first two months (January–February), with the hotel’s operation referencing the old heritage of this landmark for the capital. Incidentally, Conrad Hilton himself, in 1963, at the opening ceremony of the then Athens Hilton, famously said: “I agree with those who believe that the Hilton Athens is the most beautiful Hilton in the world.”

This is precisely why the property owners had to go through a “trial by fire,” dealing with approvals, licensing, and delays, as part of the highly demanding redevelopment to both preserve and restore iconic architectural elements of the building while implementing modern sustainable practices—e.g., improving energy efficiency to achieve LEED Gold environmental certification.

It is worth noting that the historic Athens Hilton closed in January 2022 to allow for the complete reconstruction. One of the highlights of the redevelopment is the preservation and enhancement of all the property’s iconic features, including the façades designed by Yiannis Moralis.

At this point, Hilton has already started accepting the first bookings in its systems for early June 2026. However, the new Conrad Athens – The Ilisian hotel will welcome its first visitors even earlier, with bookings gradually opening month by month prior to June to ensure the new destination is fully ready. Recruitment for staffing the new hotel has already begun.

Regarding prices, for the first weekend of June 2026, a standard double room will start at an average of €774 per night and increase depending on the room. Suites with Acropolis views average €1,665 per night, while the two top suites—the Presidential and Royal—average €3,619 and €6,870 per night, respectively.

It should be noted that Hilton, a publicly traded group, has a portfolio of 25 international brands, 9,000 properties, and over 1.3 million rooms across 139 countries, having welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history.

As for the Athens flagship, the new 15-story hotel will feature 307 rooms and suites. Beyond other facilities (indoor and outdoor pools, gym, spa, dining areas, etc.), it will also have 19 meeting and event spaces totaling 2,035 m², placing equal emphasis on both leisure tourism and business travel.

For events and exceptional VVIP stays (an extension of VIP, meaning Very Very Important Person), there will be a unique 400 m² space with its own outdoor pool and unparalleled views of all of Athens—on the site that once housed the Galaxy for guests of the old Athens Hilton—under the umbrella of the Conrad hotel.

The hotel opening will also mark the launch of two additional dining venues: Vyzantino, in its historic location, and the lobby café bar (Lobby Lounge Café Bar).

Even before that, and very soon, in November, the Japanese restaurant in the newly constructed wing will open to the general public. This wing has an entrance from Michalakopoulou Street and overlooks the pool area. The restaurant is a well-known brand already present in Greece. Notably, this new wing was part of the original 1963 architectural plan and will represent the second opening for the destination.

The first opening was the members’ club House of NYNN, which has been operating since last July with a significant number of registered members. The club covers approximately 5,500 m² indoors and 3,000 m² outdoors, organized into four distinct but interconnected zones:

– the interaction and entertainment area (Living Room),

– the Forum with flexible office and business meeting spaces,

– the wellness floor, and

– the outdoor Oasis around the pool.

With the hotel’s opening around the same period, the destination’s retail zone around the central lobby will also launch, featuring a larger concept store with various fashion brands from both Greek and international designers, along with smaller shops—florist, jewelry store, cigar shop, hair salon, authentic barber shop, etc.

All retail outlets will cater to both visitors and Athenians, just like the dining areas (nine in total upon full operation of The Ilisian), except for the members’ club restaurant, which is exclusive to members.

The Residences

A distinct and very special part of the new destination is the residences, which will also be delivered to their owners in 2026. There will be 55 private residences in total, “introducing a new residential experience in central Athens, offering not only stunning views of the Acropolis but also exceptional amenities such as the largest outdoor pool in the city center and an elevated garden with an outdoor fitness area.”

The private branded residences on the upper floors will include:

– 18 Conrad Residences, and

– 37 Waldorf Astoria Residences, the first for these two brands in Greece, ranging from 60 m² upwards, spanning floors 7 to 12.

The key difference is that the Conrad Residences fall under the hotel umbrella, meaning they can be booked via the hotel reservation system for longer stays while enjoying the comforts of home. In contrast, the Waldorf Astoria Residences are entirely private homes—they adhere to Waldorf Astoria residential standards but are not part of the hotel and have no hotel services.