Conrad Athens The Ilisian Review: A Landmark Hilton in Greece

The author stayed as an invited guest of Hilton and Conrad Athens The Ilisian. All opinions are the author’s own and neither Hilton nor the hotel had any input in this article.

After a whirlwind 2 nights on the Greek island of Crete, I spent 2 nights at Conrad Athens The Ilisian in September 2026. The hotel had opened just 5 months earlier, and I was excited to see it.

I knew it would be a beautiful hotel, but I didn’t understand the history of the Hilton name in Athens before my visit. This location was originally the Hilton Athens, a landmark hotel and the only Hilton in Greece for decades.

After a multiple-year closure, Conrad Athens debuted in April 2026 as an urban retreat for visitors and locals alike. This review shares the highlights of this hotel, including the stylish guest rooms, resort-like pool area, delicious restaurants, and, of course, how to book it with Hilton Honors points.

How To Book Conrad Athens The Ilisian

You can book Conrad Athens The Ilisian starting at $400 or 115,000 Hilton points per night in winter or around $870 or 120,000 points per night in peak summer.

I found availability for a balcony king room in summer for 120,000 points. The cash cost was more than $1,000, yielding a redemption value of about 0.9 cents per point — well above our Hilton Honors points valuation of about 0.5 cents each.

If you’re short on points, you can earn more by spending on a Hilton-branded credit card, transferring points at a 1:2 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards, or buying points.

If you’re booking with cash, use a card that earns Hilton Honors points, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, which earns 14x points at Hilton properties (plus bonus points as a Hilton Diamond elite member).

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.

200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,000

Annual Fee

$550

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com, car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550 (rates & fees)

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Card Highlights

• Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status with your Card. Diamond status gives you a 100% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, executive lounge access at select properties, and more.
• Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
• Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
• $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
• $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com, or through the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
• CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster at 60+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $219 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
• Earn up to 3 Free Night Rewards with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Receive one complimentary Free Night Reward each membership year. Earn a second Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 or more on purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Earn a third Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
• $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria^® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad^® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
• Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
• $550 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card earns 12x points and has a quarterly credit of up to $50 at Hilton properties.

Additionally, Conrad Athens is bookable through Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts, so you could use the Platinum Card^® from American Express to get up to $300 in semiannual prepaid hotel credits.

Location of Conrad Athens The Ilisian

Conrad Athens is near Lycabettus Hill in the Ilisia neighborhood. The Megaro Moussikis and Evangelismos Metro stations are within a few minutes’ walking distance. The Acropolis is about 2 miles away, or a 20-minute Metro ride.

History of Conrad Athens The Ilisian

The building that houses Conrad Athens hotel has a long history in the Athens community. I sat down for lunch with Eva Batzaki, the hotel’s commercial director, who shared the story behind this building.

The original Hilton Athens opened in 1963 and remained Greece’s only Hilton hotel for decades. The hotel was a landmark in Athens, embraced by locals as the place to celebrate important events.

Hilton Athens closed in 2022 for extensive renovations and a rebranding. Conrad Athens The Ilisian opened its doors on April 23, 2026, 63 years to the day after the original Hilton Athens opened, and that date wasn’t a coincidence. It was important for the new Conrad to honor and embrace the building’s history and Hilton’s legacy in this spot.

Conrad Athens was one of the brand’s most anticipated openings of the year, according to Hilton Honors Vice President Brad Anderson, so I was especially excited for this trip. Check out my interview with Anderson in episode 58 of “The Upgraded Points Podcast.”

The hotel includes 278 rooms and suites as well as 55 Conrad and Waldorf Astoria residences. That’s a significant reduction from the original Hilton Athens’ 506 guest rooms, so each room now has more space. Even the smallest guest room measures over 300 square feet.

The lobby of the new Conrad Athens features original furniture from the Hilton Athens, as well as a display of artifacts honoring the hotel’s legacy.

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Modern elements are mixed with original midcentury pieces in the hotel's lobby.

Highlights of Conrad Athens The Ilisian

While exploring Athens might be your primary reason for visiting, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the hotel during downtime.

Pools and Wellness Facilities

Find time for a morning or afternoon to relax around the resort-style pool at the center of the property. There’s also an indoor pool if you’d rather stay out of the sun. Plus, hotel guests have access to wellness facilities, including a fully equipped gym, group fitness classes, a yoga studio, a Pilates studio, and a spinning studio through a partnership with House of NYNN, a private members club within the hotel. There’s also a spa, with a sauna, cold plunge, and steam room.

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The pool is surrounded by the hotel, so it's easy to forget you're in the middle of the city.

Dining

Next to the pool, Ancora Un Po’ is an Italian restaurant open only to hotel guests and House of NYNN members, serving leisurely meals throughout the day.

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Ancora Un Po' is an open-air poolside restaurant.

Byzantino Grande Brasserie, a restaurant with a focus on French and Greek cuisine, was where I dined on my first night. It was a delightful experience, with an abundance of dishes to sample. One of the highlights of the meal was the first thing that came out to the table: dueling bread! Soft French bread was served with butter and sea salt, and crunchy Greek bread with olive oil and olives. It was simple but delicious.

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Greek bread served with olive oil, olives, and pickled vegetables.

The Athenian Lounge was an inviting spot, located just off the lobby, for guests and locals to mingle. Food and drinks were served throughout the day.

My Bedroom Suite

I spent 2 nights in a King Deluxe 1-Bedroom Suite with Balcony, and I could have easily stayed 2 weeks. My spacious room included a separate sitting area, dining table, and an extra half bathroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out onto the balcony and the city beyond.

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I loved the separate sitting and dining areas.

The king-sized bed was ridiculously comfortable. Outlets, light switches, and reading lights were on both sides. There was also a small bench and table next to the bed. It was a convenient spot to check emails with a cup of coffee in the mornings. I also enjoyed the small gifts left on my bed during turndown service, including a lavender sachet and hand lotion.

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The bed was so comfortable.

Bathroom

The chic bathroom had a big stand-up shower and a separate tub. The toilet also had a privacy door. Double sinks and ample counter space made the space both functional and beautiful. There were fluffy robes and plush slippers, too. Byredo Mojave Ghost products were in the shower, by the bathtub, and on the sink.

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The bathroom was functional and beautiful.

Final Thoughts

I spent 2 nights at Conrad Athens in September 2026, just months after it opened. This landmark Hilton hotel offers guests a luxurious retreat in the middle of the city. Highlights include the resort-style pool, wellness facilities, and stylish guest rooms — some with views of the Acropolis. If you have Hilton points or a Hilton free night certificate burning a hole in your pocket, you’ll get excellent value using it at Conrad Athens.