The white houses of Oia, Santorini, at dusk
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Greece

From the Athens Riviera to the resorts of the Peloponnese and the islands of the Cyclades: Greece at its finest on the Mediterranean, chosen by one rule: first class or not at all.

Oia, Santorini, at duskPhotograph: Pretty Pink

Ο πολιτισμός

The Acropolis, the islands and the long Greek summer

Greece gave the Mediterranean one of its first great civilisations: the Acropolis of Athens, the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, the Olympic games at Olympia and the theatre at Epidaurus, still used for drama and music every summer. Its ideas of democracy, philosophy and the stage still shape the world.

The islands are the country's other face: the white villages of the Cyclades, the volcanic caldera of Santorini, the beaches of Mykonos and the long history of Crete, home of the Minoan palace at Knossos. Inland, the monasteries of Meteora stand on their pillars of rock, and the stone villages of Zagori sit above the Vikos Gorge.

Greek hospitality has a word of its own, philoxenia, the love of the stranger. This guide brings together only the first class: the finest resorts and hotels, the great tables of Athens, the beach clubs of Mykonos and the islands at their best by yacht.

A few words of Greek
EnglishGreekSay it
HelloΓεια σαςYAH-sas
PleaseΠαρακαλώpa-ra-ka-LO
Thank youΕυχαριστώef-ha-ri-STO
Good eveningΚαλησπέραka-li-SPE-ra
The bill, pleaseΤον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώton lo-ghar-yaz-MO, pa-ra-ka-LO
The white houses and windmills of Oia on the cliffs of Santorini above a deep blue Aegean
Oia, Santorini

Where to go

The best places to visit in Greece

Mykonos, Santorini, the Athens Riviera, the Peloponnese and Crete: the best time to visit, the one best hotel, restaurant and beach club, and how to arrive by private jet, helicopter or yacht.

Mykonos

Best time to visitJune and September are best: the island is fully open, the sea is warm and the meltemi wind is gentler than in July and August, when crowds and prices also peak.

  • Stay
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Dine
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Beach
    Nammos

    On Psarou beach since 2002, it is the yacht crowd's favourite and the island's most established daytime address.

Arrive privately
By private jet
Mykonos Airport (JMK / LGMK), about 10 minutes by car to Mykonos Town. Athens International Airport (ATH / LGAV) is the alternative and the usual place to park aircraft in summer.
By helicopter
A common option: from Athens Airport or the Koropi heliport the flight takes about 40 to 45 minutes, and helicopters also shuttle guests between yachts, the airport and nearby islands.
By sea
The Old Port at Chora, in Mykonos Town itself, is reserved for motor yachts over 25 metres; berths are booked online through the Mykonos Port Fund. Smaller yachts use Tourlos, the new port.
Good to know
In summer (usually May to September, and sometimes into October), Mykonos Airport offers no parking for private jets and a maximum of 40 minutes on the ground, so jets drop off and reposition, usually to Athens; slots and prior permission are required.

The full Mykonos guide ›

Santorini

Best time to visitLate May to June and September are ideal: a warming sea, hot dry days and fewer people than July and August. October is still warm and much quieter.

  • Stay
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Dine
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Santorini Airport (JTR / LGSR), about 20 to 30 minutes by car to Fira, depending on summer traffic.
By helicopter
Helicopter transfers from Athens can be chartered; there is no regular service.
By sea
No superyacht marina here yet meets our standard. Vlychada Marina on the south coast takes yachts only up to about 20 metres, so larger yachts anchor offshore and come ashore by tender; about 20 minutes by car from Vlychada to Fira.

The full Santorini guide ›

Athens Riviera

Best time to visitLate May to June and September to early October are ideal: warm sea, dry days and none of the 32°C (90°F) heat of July and August.

  • Stay
    Four Seasons Astir Palacethree MICHELIN Keys

    Set on its own pine-covered peninsula at Vouliagmeni with three private beaches, Greece's only three-Key hotel.

  • Dine
    Delta

    At the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center on the Faliro waterfront, where the Riviera begins, it is Greece's only two-MICHELIN-star restaurant, a short drive from central Athens.

  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Athens International Airport (ATH / LGAV), about 25 to 30 minutes by car to Vouliagmeni. Business aviation uses the airport's General Aviation Facilities building, where ExecuJet lists an FBO.
By helicopter
The Four Seasons Astir Palace in Vouliagmeni has its own helipad, about 15 minutes by helicopter from Athens Airport.
By sea
Astir Marina, Vouliagmeni, 59 berths for superyachts, with the largest taking yachts over 70 metres, at the Four Seasons Astir Palace itself. Flisvos Marina, Athens, takes yachts of 15 to 110 metres, about 30 minutes by car from Vouliagmeni.

The full Athens guide ›

The Peloponnese

Best time to visitLate May to June and September to October are ideal: a warm sea, dry days and none of the 31°C (88°F) heat of July and August. Temperatures are for Kalamata, about 45 minutes from Costa Navarino.

  • Stay
    Amanzoeone of the 25 Finest Resorts

    Crowning a hilltop above Porto Heli like a modern acropolis, with Ed Tuttle's colonnades, a private pool for every pavilion and villa, and a private beach club on the shore below; Athens is about 25 minutes away by helicopter.

  • Dine
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
For Costa Navarino, Kalamata International (KLX / LGKL), about 40 to 45 minutes by car. For Amanzoe at Porto Heli, Athens International Airport (ATH / LGAV), about 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes by car; Kalamata is about three hours away.
By helicopter
Costa Navarino has its own helipad, and the resort arranges helicopters and private jets for its guests. Amanzoe is about 25 minutes by helicopter from Athens Airport.
By sea
No superyacht marina here yet meets our standard. At Costa Navarino, the marina at Pylos and the Bay of Navarino offer safe anchorage for private yachts.

The full Costa Navarino guide ›

Crete

Best time to visitLate May to June and September to mid-October are ideal: the sea is warm, the days are long and dry, and the island is calmer than in July and August.

  • Stay
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Dine
    None that meets our standard yet.
  • Beach
    None that meets our standard yet.
Arrive privately
By private jet
Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER / LGIR), about 1 hour 10 minutes by car to Elounda, the island's luxury resort area. For western Crete, Chania International Airport (CHQ / LGSA) is the usual choice, about 30 minutes by car to Chania.
By helicopter
Not a regular option.
By sea
Agios Nikolaos Marina, taking yachts up to 70 metres; about 20 minutes by car to Elounda.

The full Crete guide ›

Beyond the coast

Delphi, Meteora, Olympia and the mainland

Meteora

A group of sandstone pillars in Thessaly topped by Orthodox monasteries, where monks settled from the 11th century onward. Meteora was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.

Best time to visitApril to June, September and October.

  • Stay
    No hotel here yet meets our standard; visit as a day trip from Zagori.

Delphi

The sanctuary of Apollo on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, home of the oracle and of the Pythian Games, which the ancient Greeks regarded as the centre of the world. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

Best time to visitApril, May, September and October.

  • Stay
    No hotel here yet meets our standard; visit as a day trip from Athens.

Zagori

Stone villages, arched stone bridges and the Vikos Gorge on the western slopes of the northern Pindus mountains. The Zagori Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

Best time to visitMay to October.

  • Stay
    Aristi Mountain Resort

    A stone-built resort in the village of Aristi facing the Vikos Gorge and Mount Tymfi, holding two MICHELIN Keys.

Olympia

The sanctuary of Zeus in a river valley of the western Peloponnese, where the Olympic Games were held from 776 BC for more than a thousand years. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.

Best time to visitApril, May, September and October.

  • Stay
    No hotel here yet meets our standard; visit as a day trip from Costa Navarino.

Mystras

The ruined Byzantine city on a hill near Sparta, founded as a fortress in 1249 and later the seat of the Despotate of Morea, with churches and palaces of the late Byzantine period. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.

Best time to visitApril, May, September and October.

  • Stay
    No hotel here yet meets our standard; visit as a day trip from Costa Navarino.
A smiling couple at a candlelit dinner table with glasses of red wine
Dinner for two

Stay

Luxury hotels and resorts in Greece

Amanzoe, Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino and the Four Seasons Astir Palace are among the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean; the hotels below each hold Forbes Five-Star or two or three MICHELIN Keys.

Porto Heli, Peloponnese

Amanzoe

Amanzoe crowns a hilltop above Porto Heli like a modern acropolis. Its colonnades were designed by Ed Tuttle and open to views of olive groves and the Aegean in every direction.

Visit website ↗
Messinia, Peloponnese

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino

On Navarino Bay on the Peloponnese's west coast, within the Costa Navarino estate, Mandarin Oriental's Greek resort spreads its villas and suites, most with private pools, down a hillside of olive trees to the sea.

Visit website ↗
Athens Riviera

Four Seasons Astir Palace

The Astir Palace was the glamorous heart of the Athens Riviera in the 1960s. Four Seasons reopened it in 2019 on its own pine-covered peninsula at Vouliagmeni, 30 minutes from central Athens.

Visit website ↗

The finest hotels

Each rated Forbes Five-Star or holding two or three MICHELIN Keys.

Private villas and estates

  • BlueVillasAthens and Mykonos

    A Greek villa specialist, licensed by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, with offices in Athens and Mykonos and more than 150 villas on Mykonos alone, plus homes on Santorini, Paros, Antiparos, Crete and the Ionian islands. Visit website ↗

Two glasses of sparkling rosé raised on the beach at sunset, the sea behind
Rosé on the beach at sunset

Dine

The best restaurants in Greece

Greece's finest restaurants on our list and the most celebrated beach clubs.

Two MICHELIN stars

Beach clubs

Private chefs and catering

For a villa, a yacht or a wedding.

  • Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel AthensOff-Site Catering, Athens Riviera

    The resort at Vouliagmeni offers off-site catering from its own kitchens for private villas, yachts and events away from the hotel. Visit website ↗

Superyachts at anchor in a turquoise bay near Tolo in the Peloponnese
Yachts at anchor near Tolo, the Peloponnese

Sail

Yacht charter in Greece

The superyacht marinas, the brokers with offices in Athens, and a seven-day route from Athens through the Cyclades to Mykonos.

Superyacht marinas

A week at sea

The Cyclades: seven days from Athens through the islands to Mykonos, with the anchorages, restaurants and beach clubs reached by tender.

Read the itinerary

Superyacht charter brokers with an office here

Cruises

Greece by sea

The cruise ports of Greece, and where the luxury lines call.

Piraeus is Greece's great cruise port and the start of most island voyages; the ships call at Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu and Crete, and the small ships at Hydra, Patmos and the quieter islands.

Where the luxury lines call

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise LinesSuites at Sea

Shop

Luxury shopping in Greece

The shopping streets of Athens and Mykonos, the Greek jewellers, and the ateliers.

The great shopping streets

  • Voukourestiou StreetKolonaki, Athens

    The pedestrianised street known as the Bond Street of Athens, climbing from Stadiou Street towards Kolonaki, with Hermès on the corner of Stadiou, Cartier at No. 7 and Louis Vuitton at No. 19, alongside Dior, Prada and Bulgari. Visit website ↗

Jewellers and watchmakers

  • LALAoUNISPanepistimiou and Voukourestiou, Athens

    The house of Ilias Lalaounis, known for gold jewellery drawn from ancient Greek and Byzantine art, with its Athens flagship, boutiques in Mykonos and Santorini, and its own jewellery museum below the Acropolis. Visit website ↗

  • ZolotasAthens

    An Athenian house making gold and silver jewellery since 1895, with collections drawn from Greek and Byzantine forms. Visit website ↗

Artisan ateliers

  • Melissinos ArtMakrygianni, Athens

    A family sandal maker working since 1920, now in its third generation under Pantelis Melissinos, handcrafting bespoke leather sandals drawn from ancient Greek models near the Acropolis. Visit website ↗

Art galleries

The great marques

Official showrooms, most by appointment.

The Great Marques: showrooms, factories and cars to hire ›

The shipwreck on the white beach of Navagio, Zakynthos, between tall limestone cliffs above turquoise water
Navagio, Zakynthos

Experience

Events and things to do in Greece

The Greek year: the great events, month by month; each event's own website gives this year's dates.

The great museums

  • Acropolis MuseumAthens

    At the foot of the Acropolis since 2009, with the Parthenon sculptures in a glass gallery facing the temple itself. Visit website ↗

  • National Archaeological MuseumAthens

    The world's richest collection of ancient Greek art, from the Mask of Agamemnon to the Antikythera mechanism. Visit website ↗

  • Heraklion Archaeological MuseumCrete

    The world's finest collection of Minoan art, with finds from Knossos and Phaistos, including the Phaistos Disc. Visit website ↗

  • Benaki MuseumAthens

    Founded in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in his family's mansion facing the National Garden, a survey of Greek art and culture from prehistory to the 20th century.

  • Delphi Archaeological MuseumDelphi

    The museum of Apollo's sanctuary, opened in 1903, home of the bronze Charioteer of Delphi from around 475 BC and the Sphinx of Naxos. Visit website ↗

Opera houses, concert halls and festivals

Private access

Doors that open by arrangement.

  • The Acropolis ExperienceAthens

    A private visit to the Acropolis outside public hours, at sunrise or sunset, for up to five people, run by the Ministry of Culture and the Hellenic Organisation of Cultural Resources Development, with proceeds going to heritage conservation.

Wine estates that receive visitors

Golf

Health spas

  • Euphoria RetreatMystras near Sparta

    A holistic retreat in its own forest at the foot of Mount Taygetus. Visit website ↗

  • Anazoe SpaCosta Navarino

    A 4,000-square-metre spa in Messinia inspired by Hippocrates' approach to health, with hydrotherapy pools among herb and olive gardens; named on The Times and The Sunday Times list of the world's 50 best spas in 2025. Visit website ↗

Weddings and celebrations

  • Stella & MoschaSantorini and Athens

    Planning weddings in Greece since 1993, with work across Santorini, Crete, Paros and the Athens Riviera. It is a founding member of the Greek Destination Planners Association. Visit website ↗

Live

Luxury real estate in Greece

A home in Greece: the agencies and advisers at our standard, for the purchase and for life after it.

Prime real estate

  • Greece Sotheby's International RealtyAthens

    The Sotheby's affiliate for Greece, with a head office in Athens and a branch in Corfu, covering the Athens Riviera, Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, Crete and the Ionian islands. Visit website ↗

  • Ploumis SotiropoulosAthens

    Long-established Greek agency with property records going back to 1930 and the exclusive Christie's International Real Estate affiliate in Greece, covering the Athens Riviera, the Cyclades and the Ionian and Dodecanese islands. Visit website ↗

Branded residences and new developments

  • Riviera Tower, The EllinikonAthens

    Lamda Development's 50-storey, 200-metre seafront tower by Foster + Partners, Greece's first skyscraper, holds about 170 apartments and penthouses (one to five bedrooms); it reached full height in 2026, and owners are due to move in from summer 2027. Visit website ↗

  • Amanzoe VillasPorto Heli

    Aman offers privately owned villas above the Peloponnese coast, with classical colonnaded architecture, large pools and full access to Amanzoe's spa, beach club and dining. Visit website ↗

  • One&Only Kéa Island Private HomesKéa

    Opened in 2024 on a 65-hectare stretch of Kéa's west coast, the resort was billed as Greece's first freehold branded residences, with private villas of two to five bedrooms, each with an infinity pool.

  • Navarino ResidencesCosta Navarino, Messinia

    TEMES's 1,000-hectare destination offers privately owned luxury villas within the resort, alongside its Mandarin Oriental hotel and signature golf courses. Visit website ↗

Residency

  • Greece Golden VisaGreece

    A five-year, renewable residence permit for non-EU property buyers and their families, with no minimum-stay requirement.

Architects and designers

  • K-StudioAthens, Greece

    Designers of Kalesma in Mykonos and the Dexamenes seaside hotel, with private work that includes the ANAMESA residence on Mykonos and the Villa Infinity finca renovation in Ibiza. Visit website ↗

  • Block722Athens, Greece

    An architecture and interiors studio working on villas and hotels, best known for its private houses on Mykonos, including the award-winning Villa Mykonos I. Visit website ↗

Private banks and advisers

Private healthcare

  • HygeiaAthens

    A private hospital in the Hellenic Healthcare Group and the first hospital in Greece to earn Joint Commission International accreditation. Visit website ↗

  • Metropolitan HospitalNeo Faliro (Athens)

    A private hospital in the Hellenic Healthcare Group with more than 50 departments and several robotic surgery systems; it reports performing the largest number of robotic urology operations in Europe each year. Visit website ↗

International schools

  • ACS Athens (American Community Schools of Athens)Halandri (Athens)

    Founded in 1945, it offers the American diploma, the IB Diploma and AP courses to students from 56 nationalities, and is accredited by the Middle States Association. Visit website ↗

  • Campion SchoolPallini (Athens)

    Founded in 1970, this COBIS-member school teaches a British curriculum through IGCSE and has offered the IB Diploma since 2002. Visit website ↗

A superyacht at anchor on a silver sea under a golden sunset sky
A superyacht at sunset

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Greece and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

When is the best time to visit Greece?

Mykonos: June and September are best: the island is fully open, the sea is warm and the meltemi wind is gentler than in July and August, when crowds and prices also peak.

Santorini: Late May to June and September are ideal: a warming sea, hot dry days and fewer people than July and August. October is still warm and much quieter.

Athens Riviera: Late May to June and September to early October are ideal: warm sea, dry days and none of the 32°C (90°F) heat of July and August.

The Peloponnese: Late May to June and September to October are ideal: a warm sea, dry days and none of the 31°C (88°F) heat of July and August. Temperatures are for Kalamata, about 45 minutes from Costa Navarino.

Crete: Late May to June and September to mid-October are ideal: the sea is warm, the days are long and dry, and the island is calmer than in July and August.

Where are the best luxury hotels in Greece?

Athens Riviera: Four Seasons Astir Palace (three MICHELIN Keys).

The Peloponnese: Amanzoe (one of the 25 Finest Resorts).

Greece has one of the 25 Finest Resorts of the Mediterranean: Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino.

How do you arrive in Greece by private jet?

Mykonos: Mykonos Airport (JMK / LGMK), about 10 minutes by car to Mykonos Town.

Santorini: Santorini Airport (JTR / LGSR), about 20 to 30 minutes by car to Fira, depending on summer traffic.

Athens Riviera: Athens International Airport (ATH / LGAV), about 25 to 30 minutes by car to Vouliagmeni.

The Peloponnese: For Costa Navarino, Kalamata International (KLX / LGKL), about 40 to 45 minutes by car.

Crete: Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport (HER / LGIR), about 1 hour 10 minutes by car to Elounda, the island's luxury resort area.

Which are the best restaurants in Greece?

The finest table on our list: Delta (Athens).

Do you tip in Greece?

Service is generally included in the price, but leaving 5–10% for good service is customary. Round up taxi fares, or add 5–10% for longer journeys. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day.

What should you wear in Greece?

Dress modestly at churches and monasteries: women cover their shoulders and knees, and men wear long trousers and sleeved tops. At the great monasteries, such as Meteora, wraps are provided at the entrance and men in shorts are turned away. No hard-soled shoes on yacht decks. Fine dining is smart-casual, and Athens and Mykonos can be dressier.

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A fire on a sandy spit below granite rocks under a sky of star trails
A fire on the beach under the stars

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in Greece

How Greece does things.

Language
Greek is the official language. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and anywhere that serves visitors.
Greetings
A firm handshake with eye contact on first meeting is usual. Friends typically greet with a hug or two cheek kisses. Address people as Kyrie (Mr) or Kyria (Mrs/Ms) with their surname until invited otherwise.
Dress
Dress modestly at churches and monasteries: women cover their shoulders and knees, and men wear long trousers and sleeved tops. At the great monasteries, such as Meteora, wraps are provided at the entrance and men in shorts are turned away. No hard-soled shoes on yacht decks. Fine dining is smart-casual, and Athens and Mykonos can be dressier.
Dining
Greeks eat late. Lunch is usually taken by about 3 pm, and dinner rarely starts before 9 pm, often 10 pm or later in summer. Reservations are essential at the top restaurants in Athens and on the islands in high season. Sharing plates is the custom.
Tipping
Service is generally included in the price, but leaving 5–10% for good service is customary. Round up taxi fares, or add 5–10% for longer journeys. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day.
Good to know
Avoid the open-palm "stop" gesture towards someone, because in Greece it is an insult (the moutza). It is illegal to approach, photograph or film military installations, vehicles or buildings, and offenders can be arrested; take the same care in border areas.
Tourist tax
Hotels add a climate resilience fee per room per night, €15 at five-star hotels from April to October; cruise passengers landing on Santorini or Mykonos pay €20 a visit in summer.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

The Mediterranean Season Letter

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Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.