Hotels in Greece
From minimalist havens to dramatic clifftop retreats, these 10 polished properties await you in Greece.
Discover the world’s latest and greatest luxe lodgings in issue 8 of Travel + Luxury magazine.
With buoyant forecasts for a bumper summer, Greece kicked off its holiday season earlier than ever this year. After a record 33 million arrivals in 2019, the Greek tourism industry (which accounts for a fifth of jobs in the country) slumped to 7 million visitors at the height of the pandemic in 2020, but now it’s bouncing back.
A flurry of exciting hotel openings all over the country are creating fresh incentives to revisit popular destinations like Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete, but also to discover under-the-radar islands such as Sifnos and Spetses.
We’ve singled out the following new arrivals for their distinctive style and personality. Add these polished idylls to your wishlist.
1. Acro Suites, Crete
Carved into a rocky peninsula with cliff-hanging pools jutting above the sea, Acro Suites has a high-octane setting that belies the low-key ambience. Acro means “on the edge” in Greek, and this wellness retreat is both literally and metaphorically removed from the tourist fray on Crete’s north coast. Loft, wave, or cave suites each have their own saltwater pool. Interiors reflect the dramatic scenery, with rough-hewn marble, exposed stone walls, untreated wood, and organic textiles. Enjoy a “floating breakfast” in your pool after yoga in the circular bamboo shala, or before a Biologique facial in the Byzantine- style Bath House. Cremnos restaurant elevates the wholesome Cretan diet into refined fare such as a Greek gazpacho with soft katiki cheese and olive oil, and grouper fricassée with steamed greens, roasted fennel root, and local herbs.
Rates: From around $615 a night.
Best for: Wellness aficionados who appreciate daily yoga and nutritious fare.
2. Aristide, Syros
On stately Syros, nine-suite Aristide stands near the waterfront of the capital, Hermoupolis. Sisters Jasmin and Oana Aristide fell in love with the island and launched the hotel of their dreams. Although Oana, an economist and novelist who manages the hotel, calls herself “an accidental hotelier”, the Aristide is a game-changer. The daring design – vibrant painted stucco ceilings, giant bathrooms clad in Greek marble, designer furniture and contemporary art – doesn’t overwhelm the building’s heritage. Guests get the inside track on the local culture, with the likes of art talks and tours of historic estates. Food is ethically sourced but sumptuous: from Champagne breakfast to the superb rooftop restaurant. Top marks for sustainability, too, with thermal insulation, solar panels, a rainwater tank and biodegradable slippers.
Rates: From around $350 a night (including breakfast).
Best for: Art lovers, history buffs and design fans.
3. Casa Cook, Mykonos
Laid-back luxe is the mood at Casa Cook, a clutch of hotels for the young and the restless scattered across the Greek islands and Egypt. Adults-only Casa Cook Mykonos overlooks Ornos Bay, one of the liveliest beaches on Greece’s glitziest island. The whitewashed cubes, clustered around a pool, are blessed with both sunrise and sunset views. The day-to-night scene celebrates this privileged position, with salutations to the sun in the yoga shala, DJ sets at dusk, and dinners at Ble restaurant. As Mykonos shakes off its party reputation, this haven is a good place to tap into its other side.
Rates: From around $880 a night.
Best for: Those seeking a relaxed alternative to Mykonian hedonism. casacook.com
4. Xenodocheio Milos, Athens
From Montreal, where he opened his first Milos restaurant in 1979, chef Costas Spiliadis has created an empire dedicated to Greek seafood, with outposts from London to Las Vegas. Spiliadis’s first hotel, in Athens’ historic centre, straddles two Neoclassical buildings connected by a glass extension. Rooms have subtle nautical touches – curved headboards inspired by billowing sails, oak panelling, and Dionysos marble bathrooms. It’s all smart without being stuffy, polished without being pretentious, just like Spiliadis’s food. Simplicity is an art and provenance is everything for Spiliadis, whose signature dishes – ceviche with feta and tomato, a loup de mer baked in Kythira rock salt – distil the flavours of Greece to their purest essence.
Rates: From around $550 per night.
Best for: Those who travel for culinary adventures.
5. On Residence, Thessaloniki
This waterfront landmark in Greece’s second city and culinary capital was recently revamped for a cool €20 million. Built in 1926, the listed building is typical of Thessaloniki’s interwar eclecticism, with elements of the Belle Époque and Neoclassicism. Many original features – from the patterned floor tiles to the sweeping marble staircase — have been preserved, and five new floors of rooms stacked on top. Contemporary rooms have retro touches, such as vintage photos and patterned wallpaper, and some have glorious sea views. The local buzz is all about the reopening of its Olympos Naoussa restaurant, the heart of Thessaloniki’s dining scene for decades. The updated Art Deco interior, reminiscent of a grand Parisian brasserie, brings back the glamour. More than a hotel, On Residence ushers in a new era for the city’s waterfront.
Rates: From around $250 per night.
Best for: Those interested in tapping into Thessaloniki’s glorious cultural history.
6. W Costa Navarino, Peloponnese
Costa Navarino, the most ambitious tourism development in Greece, has transformed the overlooked Messinia region with a growing collection of branded resorts and golf courses. The latest addition, opening this month, is Greece’s first W hotel. Just steps from a long, white-sand beach, the 246-key resort will be the centrepiece of a new seafront area, featuring a beach club, water-sports centre, and Culinary Square, an upscale take on a food market. With a vibrant Living Room, Sunset Bar, and 24-hour Whatever/Whenever concierge service, it promises the high-energy vibe that is the hallmark of W hotels. With Greece’s first Mandarin Oriental arriving at Costa Navarino in 2023, this unspoiled stretch of the Peloponnesian coastline is fast becoming Greece’s most upscale resort destination.
Rates: From about $560 per night.
Best for: Buzz seekers and fans of integrated resorts.
7. Nos, Sifnos
The less-is-more vibe at Nós chimes with the sophisticated simplicity of Sifnos. Set above Faros Bay, this hideaway fades into the terraced landscape. Fashioned from local stone and pressed plaster, the 18 rooms pay homage to the island’s tradition of craftsmanship. Ceramic basins and pendant lights, for instance, take in the island’s pottery industry. Life at Nos is enjoyed outdoors. The spa, gym, restaurant and generously sized verandas are all open to the elements. Its restaurant’s menu is devised by Athinagoras Kostakos, the chef behind red-hot Noema and Scorpios on Mykonos. Standouts include baked beetroot with labneh and walnut pesto, and sautéed squid with fava purée and salsa verde.
Rates: From around $430 per night.
Best for: Reformed partygoers seeking tranquil Cycladic digs.
8. Mandraki Beach Resort, Hydra
Car-free Hydra has many things going for it – immaculate architecture, stunning hiking trails, a lively art scene, sophisticated restaurants. Sandy beaches? Not so much. The only sandy bay, Mandraki, is the setting for the island’s first five-star beachfront hotel. Originally, the 200-year-old property was the home of Admiral Miaoulis, who led Hydra’s formidable fleet into battle during the Greek War of Independence. Fortified Mandraki Bay was the base for Hydra’s navy, and in the early 19th century battle ships were even built on the beach. Now plush sunbeds line the shallow bay, and you can eat sushi while you sunbathe. The 17 serene suites, a paean to minimalist neutrals with high-beamed ceilings, arched windows, stone walls and soft lighting, are adults-only. The atmosphere is as tranquil as the calm bay. It’s only a three-minute boat ride or a 20-minute coastal stroll from the animated café life of Hydra’s harbour, but it feels a world away.
Rates: Suites from around $1,200 (including breakfast).
Best for: Dreamers who prefer car-free islands, a lively arts scene and beach lounging.
9. Yayaki, Spetses
This charming hotel is “the third child” of Karl Hindi and Hannah Beraud, who lived fast-paced lives in London and Paris before moving to chic Saronic island Spetses. Halfway between a boutique hotel and a guesthouse, Yayaki offers genuinely personalised service. Instead of a reception, guests are welcomed into an airy living room-cum-library. Shady nooks with hammocks and butterfly chairs abound, light-filled rooms have a natural elegance and ease. On a quiet back-alley in Spetses town, where cars are banned and bougainvillea cascades over the garden walls, Yayaki embodies low-key sophistication. They serve delicious plant-based food, much of it sourced from the lush gardens surrounding the pretty terraces and pool.
Rates: From around $220 per night.
Best for: Romantics, introverts and well-being devotees.
10. Nous, Santorini
Six newsworthy hotels are opening on Santorini this season, but Nous is set to make the biggest splash. It will be Santorini’s largest resort, and space and privacy, rarities on this island, are a given. Set in landscaped gardens dotted with palm trees, over half the 121 rooms, bungalows, and suites have individual pools. Rather than rounded cave-houses, the low-rise structures have angular, interlocking forms. Instead of dazzling white, the base note is warm terracotta, a nod to the volcanic landscape. Edgy interiors feature original works by Greek artists alongside furniture by modern designers. Facilities include a lap pool, a wine cellar stocked with every vintage produced on Santorini, and a Korres spa.
Rates: From around $840 per night.
Best for: There’s plenty to pamper honeymooners, but, unlike the competition, Nous is also a great base for active holidays and a social scene.
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