Visitors will find some the best hotels near the Roman Forum in lively Plaka and around Monastiraki, within a short stroll of its ancient columns. The Romans founded this marketplace – also called the Roman Agora – in the first century AD, and it remained the busy heart of the city all through the centuries of Byzantine and the centuries of Turkish rule. There are relics of many imperial eras here – Julius Caesar and his successor Augustus built its main gateway. The Emperor Hadrian commissioned the nearby Hadrian's Library in 131AD, while the emperors Vespasain and Titus are honoured with their own temple.
Flickr user Ava Babili
The Fetiye Mosque, built in 1456 on the north side of the Forum, is a monument to the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. The Forum's best known landmark is the eight-sided 'Tower of the Winds', a 1st-century water-clock fed by a natural spring, which set the official time for the city.
You'll also find some of the best places to stay near the Roman Forum around Syntagma, less than 10 minutes' walk from the site.
Best hotels near the Roman Forum
For a rooftop bar
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- 360 Degrees overlooks the bustle of Monastiraki Square, just steps from the Roman Forum. Rooms are individually designed and the rooftop bar has great views, and doubles start from only €120 per night including breakfast.
- A for Athens offers simple, stylish rooms on Monastiraki Square. Its rooftop bar is a hip rendezvous for young Athenians.
For luxury
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- The Zillers is a stylish base, just half a dozen blocks from Roman Forum. Designer rooms and suites nod to local style and the roof garden is a super place to relax after a day's sightseeing.