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Kolonaki
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Nation / PlaceGR

Kolonaki

Affluent Athens residential neighbourhood; under STR ban since 2024, part of Law 5275/2026 zones.

Kolonaki would stay closed to new short-let registrations until 31 December 2027 under an extension Greece's prime minister announced on 5 September for central Athens, a year beyond the current freeze.

Last refreshed: 3 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Is Athens' upmarket Kolonaki neighbourhood covered by the Airbnb registration ban?

Timeline for Kolonaki

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Background

Kolonaki is an affluent residential and commercial neighbourhood of central Athens on the lower slopes of Lycabettus Hill, known for its boutiques, embassies and CAFés.

It lies inside the zone where Greece first froze new short-let registrations in 2024, together with the historic tourist core of Plaka and Monastiraki and the central districts of Syntagma, Omonia and Exarcheia. Its inclusion matters because Kolonaki is an established residential district rather than a tourist quarter, so the freeze there protects housing supply rather than Heritage streets alone.

Law 5275/2026 kept the suspension and removed the automatic transfer of licences on sale, which bears directly on resale values for apartment owners WHO had run short-stay lets and on returns for long-term property investors.

Key Issues
Rental freeze

Kolonaki's short-let freeze gains a proposed extension

Kolonaki has sat inside Athens' central short-let registration suspension since 2024, alongside Plaka, Monastiraki, Syntagma, Omonia and Exarcheia. Law 5275/2026, from March 2026, kept the suspension and ended automatic transfer of short-let licences on sale or inheritance, so a Kolonaki flat that earned holiday-let income now sells without that right.

On 5 September 2026 prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that new registrations in Athens' central districts stay suspended until 31 December 2027, against a freeze due to end with 2026. As of that date no ministerial decision gave the extension force. If one follows, no new Kolonaki host can register before 2028.

Common Questions
Is Kolonaki in Athens included in the short-term rental ban?
Yes. Kolonaki is one of six central Athens zones under the STR registration suspension since 2024.Source: GTP Headlines
What kind of neighbourhood is Kolonaki in Athens?
Kolonaki is Athens's affluent upmarket district, home to embassies, high-end boutiques, and art galleries; it sits on the lower slopes of Lycabettus Hill and has historically attracted diplomatic and professional residents.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context
Are rents in Kolonaki affordable for digital nomads in Athens?
Kolonaki commands the highest residential rents in Athens, typically €1,500–€2,500 per month for a one-bedroom flat; it is not recommended for budget-conscious nomads, though its CAFé infrastructure and broadband are excellent.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context
How has the influx of wealthy foreigners affected housing in Kolonaki?
Kolonaki has seen accelerated gentrification as golden visa holders and high-income remote workers compete for a limited stock of prestige apartments, further elevating rents and reducing availability for Greek professional households.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context