Picture Greece, and one immediately imagines dazzling boutique hotels set on the edge of rocky bluffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. With their palatial decor, white-washed facades, and stunning views, Greek hotels not only pamper their guests, but make them feel like deities. Whether booking a stay on one of the many Greek Islands or planning a check-in at the luxury suites that await you in Athens, these are the seven best hotels to stay in when visiting Greece.
Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens
Image courtesy of Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens
The Hotel Grande Bretagne might be as close as you’ll get to living like a Greek God on Mount Olympus. This 5-star Marriott hotel is located in Athens and offers stellar views overlooking the ancient Acropolis, lush Lycabettus Hill and regal Syntagma Square. Here, the rooms are made to look and feel like royalty, with sumptuous fabrics, gold-accented decor offering a royal touch and personalized butler service for suite options. Whatever you do, don’t skip on having dinner at the on-site GB Roof Garden Restaurant, where an award-winning Mediterranean menu is paired with uninterrupted views of the Acropolis illuminated in the distance.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Amanzoe, Peloponnese
Image courtesy of Amanzoe
While most travelers know to visit Santorini and Mykonos, few are aware of the beauty to be found in the Peloponnese. This peninsula in Southern Greece juts out into the sparkling Aegean Sea, combining incredible views with the feel of a seaside town and the storied history of the ancient Greeks. Sitting on the east coast of this oft-overlooked gem is Amanzoe, a luxury hotel and beach resort described as a modern-day acropolis. Expect dazzling white facades with regal columns set against the pale blue waters of swimming pools and the Aegean Sea beyond. Private villas offer infinity pools, while cabanas give you steller sea views and access to the surrounding gardens. Take advantage of the boats provided by the hotel, which stand at the ready to whisk you away on an excursion to the nearby Greek islands.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort
Image courtesy of Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort
To picture Mykonos is to imagine white-washed buildings standing in stark contrast to the deep blue sea and cloudless sky of the Mediterranean. Described as a cosmopolitan paradise, Mykonos is devastatingly beautiful and a go-to for chic summer party-goers flaunting the latest designer beachwear. To stay here, look no further than the Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort, which sits on Agios Ioannis Beach, facing the island of Delos. Of the many traits attributed to the Greek God, Apollo—such as beauty, poetry, art and music—it is the act of healing that is honored at the hotel’s on-site Althea Spa Retreat, which faces Delos, a sacred island known as the deity’s birthplace. The spa is bathed in sunshine and boasts views of the Aegean Sea from its semi-caved private pool and massage rooms.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
$60 daily breakfast credit for two guests per bedroom.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Bill & Coo, Mykonos
Image courtesy of Bill & Coo
Some luxury resorts on the Greek islands sit on a private beach, away from the hustle and bustle of the main town, but at Bill & Coo, you get the best of both worlds. Positioned on the edge of Mykonos town, this boutique hotel pairs local fine dining with painfully gorgeous sunsets seen from its luxury suites, infinity pool and on-site restaurant. While Bill & Coo is a family-friendly getaway, notably, it opened a sister property called Bill & Coo Coast Suite, just seven minutes away by car, nestled on the sandy beach of Agios Ioannis.
Fora Perks:
$100 resort credit for spa / bar.
Daily breakfast.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Kalesma Mykonos
Image courtesy of Salva Lopez & Kalesma Mykonos
Another stand-out Mykonos luxury resort, Kalesma is a 5-star property whose name translates to “inviting” in Greek. The name fits as Kalesma is, indeed, an inviting luxury hotel spread out over 5-acres with panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. Rooms at Kalesma are intentionally designed to blend the line between indoors and outdoors, with an open-air concept that pairs an earth tone palette with a Cycladic aesthetic. The overall effect is one that makes this Greek hotel seemingly one with its surroundings. Through the hotel, you can book bespoke experiences to truly get a feel for Mykonos, including guided tours of Delos and Chora, Mediterranean food adventures and shopping excursions. Or, you can always kick back and enjoy the plunge pools, sea views and room service that Kalesma offers.
Fora Perks:
Daily breakfast.
Extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Welcome bottle of wine and fruits.
Complimentary four-course dinner per person with stays over five nights.
Canaves Oia Epitome, Santorini
Image courtesy of Canaves Oia Epitome
Part of Canaves Oia Luxury Resorts, Canaves Oia can be found outside town, above the quiet fishing village of Ammoudi. Here, you’ll discover 49 vacation rentals — each a luxury villa with a private plunge or swimming pool. Consider this the quintessential honeymoon stay, replete with king-size beds, sprawling living rooms boasting sea views, and a simplistic decor that refuses to distract from the surrounding beauty. Of the many stand-out experiences the hotel can arrange for you, don’t skip on having a sunset wine-tasting. Other destinations in Europe might snag the title of wine capital, but Santorini happens to be the most famous wine region in all of Greece, with a wine-making history extending back 3,000 years.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Daily breakfast.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Grace Hotel, Santorini
Image courtesy of Grace Hotel
Whether you’ve set foot in Santorini or not, chances are you can already picture its cliffs adorned with white-washed homes seemingly rolling into the Aegean Sea below. The Grace Hotel is a cliff-top retreat that is what Santorini-fueled dreams are made of. This boutique hotel is set up in what can only be described as layers, with dazzling white stairs leading to various levels, each with enticing swimming pools and restaurants jutting out from the cliffs and hanging over the sea below. As if that’s not enough to sway you, all of the rooms, suites and villas come with their own heated plunge pools and uninterrupted views of Santorini’s famous Caldera.
Fora Perks:
Daily breakfast.
1 champagne cocktail and canapes for two people.
Upgrade and extended check-In / out whenever possible.