Six stunning new Greek hotels to book now

Economic Times

29-04-2025

Beach House
Avali
Greece is the hot destination for travelers this summer, according to Henley Vazquez, co-founder of travel agency Fora. 'Last summer it was Saint-Tropez, the summer before that was the Amalfi Coast,' she says. 'People are booking Greece left, right and center now.' And it's no secret why: Visitors flock to the country for its pristine beaches, the iconic blue-and-white Cycladic towns, ancient historical sights and, of course, that always-fresh culinary scene.The demand has been so extraordinary as to make airlines shift their schedules, yielding an all-time high of 28.2 million scheduled international seats on flights to Greece this summer. The Greek Tourism Confederation, which supplied the data on flights, says it's seeing sustained momentum from key markets such as the US and UK, even in the face of global economic uncertainty. Both Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are expanding capacity to Athens, even as they adjust outlooks for the year, predicting slower demand than previously forecast. For those booking tickets, or considering it, there's also a growing number of fabulous places to stay. This summer's new and newly renovated resorts include a cliffside retreat on Santorini and a seaside getaway under an hour's drive from the Athens city center. Here are the six most compelling openings to prioritize.A 45-minute drive southeast of the Athens city center, this beloved hotel is on one end of the trendy Athens Riviera , a hot destination that offers laid-back island charm without the ferry commute. Since its inception, Cape Sounio has claimed stellar views of the Temple of Poseidon, a marble structure on a hillside that dates to the fifth century BC. And because the resort was feeling a bit dated too, it just underwent a top-to-bottom renovation that makes it as glorious for contemporary travelers as it was decades ago. Now it has 139 bungalows, suites and villas scattered around a pine forest reserve that leads to the sea—in airy open-plan styles and many with their own pools. The property is family friendly, with a separate kids pool, a kids club and activities for youngsters like cooking classes and laser tag. For everyone else, there's loads to do in and around the Aegean, from scuba diving to snorkeling and private after-hours tours of the neighboring temple, which is dedicated, appropriately, to the god of the sea. Rooms from about $455), open now.Four Seasons' expansion to the Cyclades has been highly anticipated—its debut property in Athens is one of the best places to stay in the country—and this is poised to be no different. It's for guests who want the serenity of Mykonos—the pebbled beaches, the sugar cube buildings and the bougainvillea-lined streets—without the thump-thump-thump of its world-class nightlife. The new 94-room resort will offer just that combination from a location on the less developed southwest side of the island, with an infinity pool overlooking the Aegean and a modern interpretation of a traditional Mykonian kafenio (cafe). We're betting on gussied-up freddo cappuccinos—iced, blended and frothed—plus calamari and spanakopita aplenty. Opening date and prices TBD.The adults-only cliffside hotel is popular for its best-of-both-worlds location, walkable to the blue-domed town of Oia and also perfectly primed for sunset views over the island's volcanic caldera. To make its draws accessible to more guests, it's now being expanded via a merger with its sister property next door, Alta Mare. To unify them, the owners are introducing a design scheme that leans heavily into the white-and-tan tones of traditional Cycladic buildings, both in the room interiors and on the buildings' facades. And distinguishing them from the island's five-star competition, all of the suites will feature private hot tubs or private pools facing the sea when the hotel reopens in May. Rooms from about €800.The Rooster has quickly become the hottest spot on Antiparos since opening in 2021, putting the tiny island on the map for luxury travelers. Now, the hotel's stylish owner Athanasia Comninos—a shipping heiress who's worked at Vogue Greece and in interior design—has taken over an eight-bedroom guesthouse on a secluded clove on the southern side of the island too. Come June, it will reopen with a new look that's true to Comninos' signature rustic-chic style. For a hotel so diminutive, there will be an outsize slate of amenities, including an outpost of lauded Athenian restaurant Cookoovaya, a beach bar, a small spa and a playground for children hidden among the olive groves. Rooms from about €470.The Cycladic island of Paros has been undergoing a hotel renaissance in recent years, though it's still relatively less popular and less expensive than neighboring Mykonos and Santorini. (The arrival of an international airport next year is poised to change all that.) Parilio, a 10-minute drive from the popular white stone village of Nauousa is getting an upgrade too, going from 33 accommodations to 46 in June. New suites will have plunge pools and spacious terraces. When you need a break from the solitude, there's a built-in scene at the hotel's cross-shaped pool, which draws an artistic power crowd to its loungers and terraced bar. Rooms from €700.On 1,000 feet of Ionian frontage that stretches across the laid-back southeastern side of Corfu, Avali will offer an intimate version of the all-inclusive resort when it opens in August. It will have just 76 rooms—decorated in cool tones, some with daybeds and private pools—plus two restaurants and three bars, several of them alfresco and facing the namesake feature. (Avali means 'small bay' in the local Corfiot dialect.) The bay's calm waters should make for either a relaxing backdrop or an active vacation; the spa will have outdoor cabins, and a water sports center is set to offer paddleboards and kayaks. Of course, you can always opt for a little of both. Rooms from €289.