For style-conscious travelers, a hotel like the Semiramis is a bigger draw than the destination city itself. When he decided to renovate his property in Kefalari, Kifissia's ritziest neighborhood, Dakis Ioannou, a noted collector of avant-garde art, gave designer Karim Rashid the room to let his imagination run wild. The result: a techie's playground rendered in a palette of 1960s pinks, oranges, and yellows. Gadgets galore, from fast Internet connections and plasma TVs to remote-controlled curtains and digital locks, combine with the artsy ambience to create a haven for the incurably cool. Even if you don't book a room, you can mingle with fashionable Athenians at the lounge bar—one of Kifissia's hottest meeting places.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip