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Plaka
Nation / PlaceGR

Plaka

Athens' historic tourist core; under STR registration ban since 2024, extended under Law 5275/2026.

Last refreshed: 8 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can you still list a Plaka flat on Airbnb in 2026 or is the registration ban still in place?

Timeline for Plaka

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Common Questions
Is the Airbnb ban in Plaka Athens still in place in 2026?
Yes. The STR registration suspension covering Plaka has been in place since 2024 and was maintained under Law 5275/2026.Source: GTP Headlines
What is the Plaka neighbourhood in Athens?
Plaka is the oldest inhabited neighbourhood of Athens, nestled beneath the Acropolis; it is a maze of neoclassical and Byzantine-era streets and is one of the most tourist-visited and short-term-rental-dense areas in Greece.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context
Can you rent a flat long-term in Plaka, Athens?
Long-term rental availability in Plaka is severely limited; the majority of residential properties have been converted to Airbnb-style short-term lets, making it one of the hardest central Athens neighbourhoods for locals to rent in.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context

Background

Plaka is Athens' oldest and most visited neighbourhood, a dense historic quarter of neoclassical houses and Byzantine churches spread across the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis. Since 2024 it has been one of the original six central Athens areas covered by the STR (short-term rental) registration suspension that blocks new Airbnb permits, alongside Monastiraki, Syntagma, Omonia, Kolonaki and Exarcheia. Law 5275/2026 maintained that suspension and extended the model to Thessaloniki.

Under the 2026 amendments, STR licences in Plaka no longer transfer with property sale or inheritance. A flat that has been earning Airbnb income for years now sells without its registration; the buyer cannot relist without a new application, yet the suspension blocks any new permit. This effectively removes the STR premium from resale prices in the neighbourhood without any additional legislative act.

Plaka's central location makes it one of the highest-demand STR zones in Athens, historically commanding premium nightly rates. The suspension is intended to convert short-stay stock back into long-term residential supply.

More questions
How has Plaka changed because of tourism and short-term rentals?
Plaka's permanent population has nearly halved since 2010 as rental conversions have displaced residents; the neighbourhood now functions primarily as a tourist zone, with few working-class or family households remaining.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context