The Best Hotels in Greece

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When many travelers imagine vacationing in Greece, they often picture two things: the Parthenon and blue-and-white buildings on a cliffside. Grace Santorini brings that second vision to life, with 21 accommodations ranging from standard rooms to a sprawling villa set above Santorini’s famous caldera in the village of Imerovigli. The minimalist decor is mostly white with tinges of blue and brown accents, allowing for the focus to be placed on the beautiful views.

Beyond the entry-level rooms, each accommodation has a private plunge pool or whirlpool. But the most impressive pool is the infinity-edge span on the terrace, where there’s also a restaurant serving classic Mediterranean Greek cuisine. Guests often congregate on that terrace, as well as at the 363 Champagne Lounge. The hotel is ideal for vacationing couples, though families with older children can stay in the villa (guests must be 14 or over). Rounding out the facilities is a small gym with a yoga studio and a spa.

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Yes, there are miles of coastlines in Greece, and the views of the Aegean are not to be missed, but there are also gems of destinations inland. Take, for instance, the charming village of Dilofo on the mainland. Located near the Albanian border, you’ll find the delightful Gaia Guesthouse, a budget-friendly property housed in a stone building that was constructed in 1886. The seven cozy rooms are individually designed with updated takes on traditional decor, though all feature rustic stone walls, wood floors, and old fireplaces that indicate the history of the space. But there are plenty of modern amenities like air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi.

Though there’s no formal restaurant at the guesthouse, free breakfast is served daily and includes everything from homemade bread served with honey and marmalade to fresh eggs to ham and cheese. The village has a handful of restaurants, though—that the hosts are certainly able to point guests in the right direction.

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On the north coast of Crete is the Creta Maris Beach Resort, an all-inclusive property full of activities for all ages. As a sprawling area with 680 rooms, there’s even a designated room-type specifically for families, plus a two-bedroom pool villa that’s also ideal for families. Rooms are well-appointed with simple, mostly white or neutral-hued decor, but guests tend to spend much of their time elsewhere at the resort.

There’s a private beach lined with loungers and umbrellas (there are also watersports for a fee), a whopping 16 pools, a waterpark for kids, a mini-golf course, a full-service spa and fitness center, tennis courts, and a mini soccer field. Other entertainment spots include table tennis, a game room with arcade machines and billiards, and a children’s club.

When hunger strikes or you're looking for some libations, there are seven restaurants and 10 bars, including one nightclub for adults and another for teens. Plus, there are also activations like sheep shearing, wheat threshing and Greek dancing lessons that give insight into the local way of life. 

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When it comes to picture-perfect beaches in Greece, you’ll find many of them on Mykonos—but you’ll also find a ton of partiers there. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, consider a stay at the luxurious Myconian Villa Collection. Guests have access to a private area on Elia Beach that’s much quieter than the beaches in Mykonos Town, which is only a 30-minute rental-car or chauffer-driven ride away, should you want to partake in the party scene.

The hotel has 45 all-white rooms and villas, each featuring a private outdoor space with a plunge pool or hot tub (or both, if you’re lucky). There is also a shared saltwater infinity pool, a spa, a fitness center, and a restaurant serving local cuisine. The clientele here are the jetsetter types—many come in on private yachts or via helicopter—and the service is certainly up to snuff, with staff anticipating your every need.

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Set on a hillside near Lindos on Rhodes, this ultra-luxe, adults-only hotel takes the blue-and-white scheme from Santorini and modernizes it completely. There are 70 accommodations, from rooms and suites to villas and maisonettes with private pools and hot tubs; some of the other rooms have their own hot tubs, while others share plunge pools.

The property is set over multiple levels that cascade down the hillside to the beach, where you’ll find loungers and waiter service for food and drink. Plus, there are elevators to bring you up and down a majority of the way, though you’ll still come across some stairs here and there.

In the public areas, guests have access to the wellness facilities: including a spa, sauna, hammam, and a fitness center, two outdoor pools, a tennis court, a jewelry shop, a lounge, a restaurant, and a poolside bar. Be sure to make a stop at the free yoga classes, too.

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If you’re going to Greece for your honeymoon, Santorini is probably the most romantic destination in the country. While many hotels on the island are charming and perfect for couples, the 27-room Astra Suites, located two miles from Fira, is our favorite for a getaway with a loved one. Skip on the entry-level rooms and splurge on one of the Luxury Suites—make sure you get one with a hot tub on a private terrace (though the suite with the indoor plunge pool is also a solid pick). For the ultimate romantic retreat, book the villa, which is set apart from the other rooms for total privacy.

But no matter which you choose, each accommodation features traditional, white Cycladic architecture and has great views, so you’re certainly in for a treat. Amenities at the hotel include a restaurant (though breakfast is usually served on the private terrace in your room), a spa, and an infinity pool with loungers.

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Forget Ibiza. All the party people are now heading to Mykonos, where you’ll find a party raging on 24 hours a day, in either a nightclub or a beach club. While there are dozens of hotels to choose from, our favorite is Mykonos Theoxenia, a 52-room property with a pedigree: Jackie Kennedy loved to stay here in the 1960s. Today the hotel retains its vintage flair with retro furnishings, but it does so with contemporary taste; it is, after all, a member of Design Hotels.

While the hotel itself isn’t necessarily a hotspot for the most raucous parties—it does have two bars, though—it’s just a five-minute walk away from the center of town, where you’ll find all the music, dancing, and booze your heart desires. Mykonos Theoxenia actually serves as a great respite from the fun, as you can relax in the comfort of the pool, hot tub, or spa.

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Athens’ grande dame, the Hotel Grand Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is without a doubt the place to stay if you’re looking for an urban vacation in Greece. Set on Syntagma Square overlooking the National Gardens and Parliament, the 320-room hotel was established in 1874, though its structure was built as a private home in 1842. While the hotel has retained much of its Old World decadence, it’s been thoroughly updated through about $100 million worth of restorations and renovations since the turn of the 21st century.

From a destination spa to an outdoor pool, the Grande Bretagne has all the amenities a guest could ever desire, but one of the highlights of the hotel is the view of the Parthenon and the Acropolis from the rooftop garden, where breakfast and dinner are served. Be sure to partake in afternoon tea in the Winter Garden, and enjoy a smoke and a drink in Alexander’s Cigar Lounge.

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If you ever wanted to pretend you’re a Greek god or goddess for a day, Amanzoe is the place to do it. This Acropolis-like hotel is the pinnacle of luxury in the Greek isles. Guests are flown by helicopter from Athens to its breathtaking hilltop setting among olive trees in the Peloponnese, then whisked away to one of 38 utterly luxurious, yet totally understated (at least in terms of decor, thanks to the Aman brand’s go-to designer Ed Tuttle) private villas.

Since each has spacious living quarters, a terrace, a garden, and a pool, there’s truly no need to spend time elsewhere at the property. But for those guests that do venture out, there are several pools, two tennis courts, a beach club, a gym with Pilates and yoga studios, a fine-dining restaurant, a casual poolside restaurant, and a lounge. The highlight of the property, however, is the Aman Spa, which features treatments using local honey, aquatic massages, and even sound therapy.