Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.
Today: Top 10 best luxury hotels & resorts in Greece
Home to Apollo, Zeus and Aphrodite, ancient Greece was the birthplace of Western civilization about 4000 years ago. Today, you can still trace the fingerprints of Greek history in the dozens of archaeological sites and museum collections that are scattered throughout the country. But Greece offers so much more than history. Its magnificent coastline is fringed by dazzling beaches while its mountainous interior offers untamed wilderness. Yet perhaps its greatest riches are the famous islands, where traditional Greek architecture intermingles with delicious cuisine, a colorful lifestyle, and spectacular scenery. Greece is also home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels & resorts, and here’s my breakdown of the most exclusive places to stay in this wonderful Southern European nation.
There is more information below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Share your favorite hotel or resort in Greece in the comments section.
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10. CAVO TAGOO MYKONOS
Blending cosmopolitan sophistication and barefoot island chic, 5-star Cavo Tagoo is a trendy hotel located on the outskirts of Mykonos Town on the idyllic Greek island of Mykonos. Comprehensively renovated in 2018, this sumptuous and super-trendy hotel features a fabulous infinity pool, a surreal aquarium bar, spectacular sunset views, a world-class fine dining restaurant, and an intimate spa offering a host of superb relaxing and therapeutic treatments. Gently tumbling down a hill to the Aegean Sea, the property offers a wide range of 83 luxury rooms and suites, furnished in the chic white and minimalist style that the Cycladic Islands are famous for. You can also book a suite with a heart-shaped pool for that special romantic getaway, and almost all the deluxe accommodations have a terrace or balcony, with options for sea views, private pool and/or jacuzzi. Cavo Tagoo Mykonos is the world’s most followed hotel on Instagram (2 million followers).
- Hotel website: Cavo Tagoo Mykonos
- Other accolades: Cavo Tagoo Mykonos also features in my top 10 lists of the most popular hotels on Instagram and the best hotels in Mykonos.
- Review: read my review of Cavo Tagoo Mykonos here.
9. ELOUNDA BEACH HOTEL & VILLAS, CRETE
The first fully-fledged five-star hotel in Greece, Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas put the sleepy fishing village of Elounda in northeast Crete on the map in 1971. Since then half a dozen pretenders have squeezed into Mirabello bay, jostling for a sea-view slot, but Elounda Beach will always have the prime position. The property includes several mini-resort-like clusters, like the Yachting Club, whose state-of-the-art bungalows have electric sliding glass doors and retractable television screens, and the Ambassador’s Bungalows, with private gyms. There are also multi-room villa options for families. Guests can enjoy the peace and quiet of two private beaches, a treatment at the acclaimed spa Espace Vitalité Chenot, or a delicious meal at one of seven world-class restaurants. Crete’s cultural offerings are nearby but many guests hardly leave the property after entering the oasis of this exclusive resort.
- Hotel website: Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas
- Other accolades: Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas also features in my top 10 list of the most exclusive hotels and resorts in Crete.
- Review: read my review of Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas here.
8. GRACE SANTORINI
Grace Santorini is an exclusive boutique hotel in Santorini, perched 363 meters (1190 ft) above Santorini’s world-famous caldera, offering breathtaking views. Crisp, minimalist and simply marvelous, the hotel skips the ornamentation for vast swatches of pristine white and sea views that stretch to infinity. The 21 innovatively refurbished rooms and suites showcase a contemporary style, combining cutting edge, bespoke design alongside traditional handcrafted pieces whilst the luxurious bathrooms offer double vanity units with marble carved basins and spacious rain showers with mosaic feature walls. All rooms and suites offer 180 degree unobstructed views of the Caldera and the famous Santorini sunset. Most rooms also feature outdoor plunge pools while the 400 square meters (4.300 square feet) villa offers a private heated pool and spa. The hotel’s infinity pool is truly spectacular and one of the most photographed swimming pools in the world.
- Hotel website: Grace Santorini
- Other accolades: Grace Santorini features in my top 10 lists of the most beautiful hotel pools in the world, the world’s best honeymoon resorts, the world’s best hotel breakfasts, the best hotels in Santorini, and swimming pools with stunning views.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, one-way private airport transfers, and one private yoga class for up to two people).
- Review: read my review of Grace Santorini here.
7. CANAVES OIA SUITES, SANTORINI
On the northwest tip of the Greek island of Santorini, one discovers the welcoming Canaves Oia Suites hotel in the picturesque village of Oia Santorini. This breathtaking hotel is carved into the cliffside and offers its guests a majestic view of the caldera and the Aegean Sea, creating the ideal setting for a perfect Instagram shot. Canaves Oia Hotel provides tastefully designed facilities and services to ensure a comfortable, fairytale like stay in Greece. Freshly renovated luxury suites offer the ultimate in modern facilities, with spacious living areas and private plunge pools. Blending spectacular vistas with over the top accommodation and impeccable service, these luxury suites will charm even the most eclectic guests. Canaves Oia Suites has two other sister properties in Oia, which offer an even higher degree of luxury and privacy: Canaves Oia Sunday Suites and the phenomenal Canaves Oia Epitome.
- Hotel website: Canaves Oia Suites
- Other accolades: Canaves Oia Suites features in my top 10 lists of the most Instagrammable hotels in the world and the best hotels in Santorini.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
- Review: read my review of Canaves Oia Suites here and my review of Canaves Oia Epitiome here.
6. PORTO ZANTE VILLAS & SPA, ZAKYNTHOS
Standing majestically on a private sandy beach of a secluded bay, on the island of Zakynthos, just west of Greece’s mainland and famous for its turquoise waters and Venetian villages, Porto Zante Villas & Spa is a boutique luxury hotel comprising world class luxury villas on the beach, all with private pools, exquisite Greek & Mediterranean cuisine at the Club House restaurant, a luxury Asian fusion restaurant offering delicious fresh Sushi, Sashimi and Thai options, a fabulous waterfront spa, 24-hour five-star hotel services, and an array of unique activities & experiences for families and couples alike. The luxury villas at Porto Zante are decorated and furnished with selected pieces of Armani Casa & Gervasoni, paintings of prominent Greek artists and are equipped with some of the best exclusive amenities including Christofle Paris cutlery & glasses, Bernardaud design porcelain & BVLGARI guest amenities.
- Hotel website: Porto Zante Villas & Spa
- Other accolades: Porto Zante Villas & Spa also features in my top 10 list of the best hotels in Zakynthos.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, one 50-minute massage for up to two people, one lunch or dinner for up to two people, and VIP lounge access in all major European airports).
5. CALILO, IOS
The mission of Calilo is to offer a product where architecture and art are used to uplift the lives of guests by providing them with a joyful, positive, carefree, and playfully quaint physical and emotional environment to relax, let their guard down, think less, and feel more. Rising out of, and carved from, the native rock, Calilo is cradled by 1,000 acres of protected land and fringed by a beautiful golden sand beach, lapped by a cerulean sea. In a remote corner of unspoilt Ios, in the heart of the Cyclades, and just a pebble’s throw from party islands Mykonos and Santorini, this 30-suite sanctuary offers an escape from the crowds. Think sun-drenched seclusion surrounded by an ancient olive-pricked landscape – nature and art at its heart. From its architecture and interior design to the striking artworks and installations, Calilo – an acronym for “create a life you can fall in love with” – is the creation the Michalopoulos family whose aim is to preserve, protect and nurture this tantalizing land and to share the island’s mesmerizing magic.
- Hotel website: Calilo Resort
- Other accolades: Calilo features in my top 10 lists of the best beach resorts in Europe and the most stunning hotel suites I’ve ever stayed in.
- Review: read my review of Calilo here.
4. ONE&ONLY AESTHESIS, ATHENS, GREECE
One&Only’s debut resort in Greece is situated in the cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Glyfada, ensconced within a serene 21-hectare beach and forest reserve. Overlooking the sapphire waters of the Aegean Sea, the hotel evokes the essence of a private island, just 30 minutes from the ancient marvels of Athens. The resort boasts a collection of rooms, bungalows, suites, residences and villas that redefine the concept of al fresco living. Expansive outdoor living spaces offer unparalleled peace and seclusion, featuring private pools, fragrant gardens, and atmospheric showers and fireplaces. Bathed in sunlight, the architecture pays homage to mid-century design with local marble, native timbers, woven leather details and muted tones. One&Only Aesthesis blends historic treasures, world-class culinary experiences, and transformative wellness in an elegant beachfront setting. The glittering coastal hideaway recalls the 60’s vibrant Hollywood Grecian era, that Glyfada is most known for.
- Hotel website: One&Only Aesthesis
- Other accolades: One&Only Aesthesis features in my list of the best new luxury hotels of 2023.
3. MANDARIN ORIENTAL COSTA NAVARINO, GREECE
Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino is located on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese, one of the most unspoiled and breath-taking landscapes in the Mediterranean, and 45 minutes’ drive from Kalamata International Airport. The beachfront resort is part of Costa Navarino, a well-established upscale tourism destination. The ultra-luxe property comprises 99 guest rooms, including 48 pool villas, all with outdoor terraces and sea views, along with five restaurants and bars. The wellness facilities include a stunning indoor-outdoor pool with magnificent bay views. The Mandarin Oriental’s first property in Greece offers a back-to-nature experience with mesmerizing views of the surrounding countryside, the azure sea, and dramatic sunsets, as well as easy access the destination’s leisure activities, water sports, biking and rock-climbing, as well as four signature golf courses designed by Bernhard Langer, Robert Trent Jones II and José María Olazábal.
- Hotel website: Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, and $100 USD resort credit).
- Other accolades: Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino features in my list of the best new luxury hotels of 2023.
2. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ASTRO PALACE, ATHENS
On the sophisticated Athens Riviera, at the tip of a pine-clad peninsula, Four Seasons Hotel Astir Palace offers the best of both worlds: a laid-back seaside escape just 30 minutes from the historical city center. Guests can discover the wonders of ancient civilization at the Acropolis, then return to Four Seasons to unwind and relax. Astir Palace came to life in the 1960s, as the area gained pace as a seaside resort, drawing a crowd that spanned from Greek royalty, to Hollywood glitterati and elite jetsetters, and reopened as a Four Seasons property in 2019 following a $700 million USD renovation. Consisting of two different buildings, the fabulous property features eight restaurants and bars, three pools, a spa center with 10 treatment rooms, a fitness center and an expansive shoreline comprising three private beaches. Astir Palace ranks among the best Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts I’ve ever stayed at.
- Hotel website: Four Seasons Hotel Astir Palace
- Other accolades: Four Seasons Hotel Astir Palace features in my top 10 list of the best Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in the world.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, and one lunch for 2).
- Review: read my review of Four Seasons Hotel Astir Palace here.
1. AMANZOE, PELOPONNESOS
Amanzoe – Greece’s most exclusive hotel – is a hilltop property, laying amongst centuries old olive groves. Located within easy reach of a wealth of archaeological sites and the cosmopolitan island of Spetses, the resort boasts panoramic views of the Peloponnese countryside, the glittering tranquil sea, the neighboring vineyards, and the awe-inspiring mountains. Designed by quintessential Aman architect Ed Tuttle, this exclusive haven of unsurpassed beauty has quickly become the Mediterranean playground of those in the know. Classically inspired yet sleekly contemporary, Amanzoe’s Pavilions and Villas open to expansive private terraces, creating a seamless extension of the airy interiors and an unrivaled sense of space and seclusion. A stone’s throw away, the Amanzoe beach club comes with two lap pools and two children’s pools and provides fun and games in total privacy by the water.
- Hotel website: Amanzoe
- Other accolades: Amanzoe also features in my top 10 lists of Europe’s most astonishing beach retreats and my favorite Aman resorts in the world.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, daily breakfast, and $100 USD resort credit).
- Review: read my review of Amanzoe here.
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