UK Edition
40 of the best Greek island hotels for 2023
Gaze upon glittering sea views, seek out local tavernas for long, lazy lunches and soak up the sunshine at these island retreats
All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating.
Imagine golden beaches lapped by a balmy turquoise sea, feet-in-the-water tavernas where you can sup on Ouzo and tiny traditional villages where daily life is serenaded by the click of komboloi worry beads or the chirp of crickets, and you’ll understand why Greece’s sun-dazzled islands are a magnet for UK travellers. From family favourite Corfu or Crete to sultry Santorini’s sugar-white villages teetering above that celebrated volcanic caldera, to traffic-free Hydra’s art galleries and boho vibe, each Greek island (and there are 227 inhabited ones) has its own unique charm. And with each comes blissful places to stay, too, whether that's a mountain-top hideaway, gourmet bolthole or family-friendly resort. We've picked the ones that are a cut above the rest; here are the best Greek island hotels to check into now.
How we review
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.
Corfu
From Italianate villas and ornate palaces to Byzantine and Venetian architecture, the lovely lush island where Odysseus was shipwrecked is a glorious hotchpotch of different cultural influences, including those of the British who occupied the island from 1814 to 1864. The Ionian island where the Durrells once lived is also renowned for its beautiful beaches: with its swathes of fine sand framed by sandstone bluffs, Sidari is the most popular; for less crowded sun-lazing head out on a day trip to Corfu’s uninhabited Diapontia islands.
Where to stay
Ikos’ second opening on the island (Ikos Dassia is just down the road), all-inclusive Odisia is an achingly beautiful resort hugging the sandy shoreline of east coast Corfu. Ultra low-rise buildings are nuzzled between pine trees and citrus groves topped off with mind-blowing sea views from five of its six excellent restaurants. The resort has been extremely well thought out and was built to work alongside the beaches, coves and peninsula it occupies. As opposed to other properties that look plonked along the shore with several storeys jutting into the skyline, Odisia and its low-slung buildings seem to dissolve into the landscape, giving a genuine feel of space.
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The original Ikos on the island, Dassia elevated the all-inclusive scene on Corfu when it opened in 2018 and continues to deliver excellent service, high-end food and drink and a true fuss-free experience for families. Other than the multitude of things to do on site: seven swimming pools (with kids splash zone), two Anne Semonin spas, 10 different bars, a daily sunset cruise, two tennis courts, a large crescent of Blue Flag beach with drinks ferried to your lounger – the list goes on – the hotel really encourages guests to get out and explore the island. You can do this with a complimentary Tesla for the day (car seats supplied) or by choosing one of the ‘dine out’ options; the hotel has partnerships with a few local restaurants and tavernas in Corfu Town.
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Domes Miramare Corfu is the Ionian isle’s gold standard. This fabulous, five-star, adults-only hideaway sits on its own beach in peaceful Moraitika, southeast of Corfu Town. Charismatic yet unpretentious, the spirit of former owners the Onassis family is palpable. The interior design reinterprets Sixties style with contemporary flair in shades of white, grey and teal. Centuries-old olive trees stand proud amid palms and lawns fronting a 400-metre long beach.
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£
164
per night
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This stunning spa and beach resort offers a unique combination of Asian and Greek hospitality. Built around Corfu's biggest infinity pool, the main building and the individual pool villas have incredible views of the Ionian Sea and mainland Greece. Luxurious yet relaxed, the Angsana is perfect for couples and families. Chic without trying too hard, the resort is modern in design but with plenty of comfortable corners to lounge. Original art, sculpture and beautiful rugs add to the tasteful vibe.
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£
173
per night
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Crete
With its varied landscapes, sumptuous food and stunning seascapes Greece’s largest island – stretching from Chania’s Venetian harbour in the west to Sitia’s near-deserted beaches in the east – is a concentrated dose of everything that the country does best. From visiting the Minoan palace of Knossos or hopping on a boat from Elounda to visit Spinalonga (the leper island of Victoria Hislop’s best-selling novel) there’s plenty to thrill culture lovers. Get stuck into nature and hike Samaria, Europe’s longest gorge.
Where to stay
Nana Princess's spectacular ‘space age’ spa is probably the most luxurious in Crete. Along with the usual steam room, saunas and pools there are high-tech Nuvola treatment beds, aromatherapy showers, beautiful treatment rooms and relaxation areas, plus a solarium. Two pools are found near the seafront, there's a play pool in the kids’ club and a sheltered, coarse sand beach with a good sprinkling of sunbeds.
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£
324
per night
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Once upon a time this hamlet of stone-built, flat-roofed cottages was seasonally inhabited by the residents of Péfki village during the olive-picking season. Now self-catering accommodation, the cottages are all clean-lined and rustic: think whitewashed stone and varnished cypress-wood trunks. It’s almost troglodytic in style, with natural rock outcrops left in situ to be incorporated into a cottage's floor plan.
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Fronting Chania’s glorious Venetian harbour, this impeccably smart three-star hotel is close to the area's main sights and a 15-minute walk from a sandy strip of beach. Interiors are a canny blend of modern and cosy, with lots of thoughtful touches, including a machine to polish shoes. Breakfast here is fabulous, served in a delightful little dining room with striking views over the harbour.
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£
116
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This sleek and classy Cycladic-style resort is elegantly minimalist: low white buildings, reflected in lagoon-like water features and pools, tumble down a slope to the sea, and huge glass walls give endless sea vistas. Multiple pools include a vast infinity pool with daybeds and wet beds, a smaller pool for children, and a heated indoor spa pool. The Elemis spa has a steam room, sauna, beauty salon and gym. Plenty of sun beds can be found at the strip of sandy beach.
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£
248
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• The best Crete nightlife
An adults-only water wonderland with a tropical 'Love Island' vibe and generous, friendly service. The stylish resort, all white with lots of blonde wood, canvas and bamboo, is built around one of Europe's largest lagoon pools (inflatable giant flamingos are a nice extra touch). Guests can also use the organised beach and other facilities of neighbouring sister property Stella Village.
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£
249
per night
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• The best hotels in Chania
A monastery by name and by nature. Striking original features include stone arches, high stone walls and a large chunk of the city’s original Roman walls, which can be seen through glass floors on several levels. There is a small jetted pool, relaxation area and a cramped (but atmospheric) original stone-built Turkish hammam. The Cretan-style cuisine at the hotel's Mon.Es restaurant is inventive and generous.
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£
142
per night
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This luxurious resort, on the outskirts of Chania, is close to a strip of shingle beach in the town of Kolymvari. The main focus of the resort is a large glass-walled pool, flanked by rooms on three floors and several restaurants fringed with small lawns, water features and banks of carefully tended plants. Furniture is simple and sturdy and colours are soothing (beige, charcoal, cream).
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£
181
per night
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This beautifully renovated cluster of stone village houses, which once belonged to Arkadi monastery, is a blast from Crete’s rural past, but with plenty of modern trimmings. It's surrounded by mature gardens and centred around a good-sized pool. There’s also a restaurant serving organic offerings.
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£
176
per night
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Rhodes
Rhodes’ Unesco heritage-classed old town – with its fortress walls built by the Knights Templar and narrow cobbled streets lined with medieval inns – is truly unique (it was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Further afield you’ll find narrow winding roads leading to lush valleys and tiny mountain villages (including dazzling white Lindos topped by its 4th-century acropolis) along with a string of sandy beaches where tavernas serve chickpea, tomato and onion fritter pitaroudia and other local delights.
Where to stay
For a mega dose of Greek fun, this quirky, retro-styled guesthouse, situated above a lively Greek taverna in Rhodes’ new town, really hits the spot with its liberally strewn antiques and whimsical, cuckoo-themed décor. With its stone façade, wooden balconies and cuckoo clocks, it almost looks like a rustic Alpine chalet, but Greek pop songs blare from speakers when you step inside. The hotel walks the thin line between retro and cheesy, and it works.
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£
110
per night
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Found on a quiet residential lane in Rhodes' old town, Kókkini Porta Rossa is a stylish boutique hotel. It offers an exclusive ambiance, impeccable decoration, and fine dining, together with personalised service from the Greek owners. Their carefully curated personal collection of Greek antiques and Rhodian artefacts enhance the authentic charm of the property.
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£
389
per night
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Arguably the most atmospheric of the Old Town’s hotels. Bohemian flair, laughter and warmth run through this former Ottoman official’s residence, creating an atmosphere more akin to a favourite uncle’s house than a boutique b&b. Straight from the pages of a Taschen tome, Marco Polo’s style is an eclectic mélange of Bavarian rugs, Indian wall-hangings, Turkish carpets and dark-wood furniture, brilliantly illumined by boldly coloured lime-washed walls.
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From
£
73
per night
Santorini
Famed for its blue-domed churches, black-sand beaches and glittering villages spilling like white lava over the rim of that spectacular volcanic caldera, sultry Santorini has a lot more to offer than ‘just’ breathtaking sunsets. Once you’ve explored Oia’s boutique-lined pedestrian streets, seek out the Minoan ruins of Akrotiri, and then head inland to discover a string of tiny villages where traditional tavernas serve domatokeftedes (tomato fritters) and other local delights made with the vegetables that flourish in Santorini’s fertile soil.
Where to stay
The hotel that put Oia on the map and spawned countless imitators, Perivolas is in a league of its own. Minimalist suites carved from the cliffs are almost as dazzling as the sea views. The infinity pool is the stuff of honeymoon dreams. Black stone paths bursting with bright geraniums tumble down to the poolside restaurant and spa. Le Corbusier couldn’t have designed it better.
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£
449
per night
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This tranquil cliff-side hideaway with caldera views comprises a trio of villas, all with gorgeous minimalist design and next-level service. It’s a perfect base to explore the island, utterly private and away from the crowds.
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£
385
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Privacy, peace and near-perfect service are on the menu at this chic property with two good-sized pools and a restaurant serving inventive Greek cuisine. It teeters above the caldera at Imerovigli, the island’s highest point, so sunset views are spectacular – get a room with a terrace to enjoy them.
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£
418
per night
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• The best hotels in Santorini
This five-star complex of dug-out cave houses are among the best of several in this village. Eleven pre-1956 dwellings or fish-net warehouses have been artfully converted to accommodation in descending tiers at the caldera edge, with sweeping views. Think assiduous but low-key service, and minimalist rooms. Some of the suites have private spa tubs, and there's a nice pool.
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£
263
per night
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Canaves Oia Epitome overlooks Ammoudi Bay and is within strolling distance of viewing Oia’s famed sunsets. There’s a whiff of exclusivity as you enter, past high volcanic black stone walls lined with flowering shrubs and into the light-filled glass-walled reception. All rooms are sunset facing with full or partial sea views, and have heated pools or plunge pools, and terraces.
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£
463
per night
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Mykonos
Cinderella of the Cyclades, Mykonos was once one of Greece’s poorest islands until it was ‘discovered’ in the 1960’s by shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis and his wife, former First Lady Jackie Kennedy. Li Lo may have ditched her beach club, but Greece’s very own LGBTQ-friendly version of Ibiza still attracts a modern jetset who come here to pay £200 a pop for cocktails at Nammos, cultivate their perfect tan on Psarou’s golden sand beach or snap selfies as they explore the sea captain’s enclave of Little Venice.
Where to stay
The Belvedere offers a secluded location and spectacular views over Chora. Superb service combined with five-star facilities – including an outdoor sushi bar, a Six Senses spa and a sapphire-hued pool – make for an indulgent and relaxing stay. Rooms and suites are dotted around seven buildings in a maze-like design, invoking the feel of a small Greek village. The décor echoes the rest of the hotel with immaculate white walls, warm wooden furniture, softly curved surfaces, and marble bathrooms.
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£
252
per night
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The Grace Mykonos has made a name for itself with its accommodation, attentive service and excellent food (think expertly rendered seafood, creative desserts and a strong wine list). Inside, it’s all about understated luxury and ultra-clean lines. A neutral colour palette prevails, with the only bright accents being art in the lobby. The pool is a highlight, and there's a small spa and well-equipped gym.
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£
187
per night
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Many of the whitewashed, airy rooms, suites and villas at this hotel come with their own infinity pools or hot tubs. Each benefits from a real private and exclusive feel, with five-star hotel service. You probably won’t feel the need to go anywhere, with rooms and terraces made for lingering, a beautiful infinity pool and a complimentary shuttle bus to the nearby private beach.
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£
289
per night
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Santa Marina is built like a secluded private village on a hillside in the southernmost corner of beautiful Ornos Bay, affording sea views of the region. Exteriors are in tune with the simple cubist architecture native to the Cyclades, such as stacked stonework and whitewashed walls. Top-level services, such as a helipad and private pier, are available. At the Ginkgo Spa, water freely flows underneath raised floor tiles to create a zen-like welcome upon entering.
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£
488
per night
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This taupe-hued, reed-fringed breezy little jewel on the south-east coast of Mykonos mixes earthy tones, natural textures and organic shapes to create a stylish escape where slow living is king. The private beach, cliff-cascading sushi restaurant and dreamy infinity pool area elevate the elegance.
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£
274
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A white-on-white spot that allies an upbeat character with a casual atmosphere. Look forward to modern interiors, excellent cocktails and a glamorous infinity pool designed for basking in the Mykonos sun while taking in the good-looking views of yacht-dotted Ornos Bay. It’s also just 10 minutes’ drive from the town.
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£
291
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Hydra
Peace is guaranteed on this pretty island an hour’s ferry ride from Piraeus port where cars and motorbikes are banned. A long-time hangout for artists and other creatives – ranging from Lawrence Durrell to Patrick Leigh-Fermor – it was Leonard Cohen (he lived here from 1960 to 1967) who really put Hydra on the map. Today Greece’s answer to Porto Fino is home to the spectacular DESTE Foundation (housed in a sombre stone building that was once the island’s slaughterhouse) and other world-class art galleries.
Where to stay
Possessing possibly the best views of Hydra's cosmopolitan town from up high, this inviting hotel retains many features of a typical Hydriot neoclassical residence. Its 11 contemporary minimalist rooms, tended to by discreet caretakers, are named after artists like Leonard Cohen who found inspiration on the island.
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£
57
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• The best hotels in Hydra
Hotel Miranda is a Hydriot gem, set in an old sea captain’s mansion that has been declared a National Heritage Monument. Built in the early 19th century for a Captain Danavasis, it has been operating as a hotel since 1961. A stay here is like stepping back in time, in the best possible way. Scattered throughout the hotel are old wooden sea chests and glass cabinets containing seafaring antiques. Black and white photographs and nautical engravings line the walls.
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£
114
per night
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This exquisite boutique hotel was originally built in 1810, then acquired and modified by a local sponge magnate in 1901 and has been in the same family ever since. High perimeter walls disclose nothing of the splendour inside. There are seven rooms in total, we like 'Pigeons', where doves were once kept, it features a coffee table fashioned from part of an old cart, and a secluded patio with a hydro-massage/whirpool tub set in planked decking; this room proves popular with honeymooners.
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£
196
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• The best hotels in Greece
Syros
Dominated by its twin hilltop settlements topped by two churches (one Catholic, one Orthodox) Syros, capital of the Cyclades, is one of the region’s most intriguing cultural gems. The local sea captains (whose wealth made Syros richer than Piraeus in the 19th century) built countless sumptuous mansions along the waterfront and had an opera house (modelled on Milan’s La Scala) erected on the island’s marble-paved main square. Syros is also renowned for its gastronomy: must-not-miss dishes include atherinopita fishpie and smoke-cured pork louza.
Where to stay
Expect a laid-back vibe, lashings of comfort and eco-friendly facilities at these stone-built villas, which are located in an olive grove overlooking one of Syros’ prettiest bays. Don’t fear isolation though: this rural idyll is close to sandy beaches and the tavern-lined resort of Poseidonia. This is the wildest side of the island, so expect lots of olive groves, small hiking paths, unspoilt bays and near-deserted beaches.
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£
140
per night
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• The best hotels in Patmos
Boutique chic is the hallmark of this adults-only hotel in a great location opposite Hermoupolis’ historic Apollon theatre and a short hike from the breathtakingly pretty Vaporia waterfront. There are five double rooms. The standard double is poky, but the four superior and deluxe rooms are probably among the most comfortable (and certainly larger than most) in Syros, where modern hotels are thin on the ground.
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56
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Sifnos
Cyclades sizzler Sifnos has been a haven for foodies ever since local-born Nicholas Tselementes wrote the first Greek cookbook here in 1926. Work up an appetite by visiting the island’s tsikaladia pottery workshops (they’ve been producing distinctive brown and white skepastaria earthenware here since 3000 BC) or hike out to visit the mysterious Venetian citadel of kastro, before pulling up a blue caned chair in a local taverna and supping on red wine-marinated mastello lamb and other culinary delights.
Where to stay
This serene, seven-suite retreat has mesmerising views, with the infinity pool bleeding into a blue horizon. Surrounded by fragrant gardens, its stand-alone cottages, offering sea view terraces, are beautifully understated, while its seductive secluded cliff-top setting is instantly calming. The only sounds you’ll hear are the gentle jangle of goat bells, the thrum of cicadas and the whistling wind.
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£
194
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• The best hotels in Paros
Kamarotí combines a cosmopolitan vibe with an authentic sense of place, its boxy Cycladic suites clustered amphitheatrically around a pale green pool, surrounded by ancient olive trees and Mediterranean gardens. The setting exudes instant calm: a secluded valley with soothing views across the hills and out to sea, the white smudge of Kastro village winking in the distance. A footpath leads to Artemonas, the island’s grandest and prettiest village, whose maze of whitewashed lanes connects to Apollonia, the lively island ‘capital’.
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This family-friendly hideaway set back from a sandy bay is a Cycladic classic, with cool white interiors, breezy verandas shaded by brilliant bougainvillea, and a pool framed by olive trees. Charming, cheerful staff will make you feel right at home. You don’t get sea views, but you only have to skip across the road to dive into the sea. There are water sports, beach bars, and tavernas aplenty on Platis Gialos, the island’s busiest (but still chilled) beach. Just a few sandy steps away are Omega 3, a knockout ‘fish bar’, or Water and Salt, a tasty farm-to-table taverna.
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£
147
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Naxos
Naxos is often overlooked for glitzy sisters Santorini and Mykonos, but this island famed for its massive kouroi statues has plenty to offer: from the golden sands of lively resort Agios Prokopios to dune-studded Mikri Vigla’s breeze-buffeted bay the Cyclades’ largest island has some of Greece’s best beaches. When the sun sets scarlet over those dusky sands head for mountain villages like Apeiranthos (whose marble-clad streets are lined with traditional tavernas) or Halki, where they’ve been making the island’s iconic citrus liqueur Kitro since 1896.
Where to stay
The definition of barefoot luxury. This peaceful hilltop collection of chic, minimalist villas houses a friendly and elegant hotel with a simple but top-notch restaurant. Striking views over a lagoon and Naxos Town give an excellent sense of place – and the beach is just a walk away. Everything from the sculptures carved from the island’s own marble to the impeccable service is designed to make you feel at home.
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£
234
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The Kavos Hotel Naxos, just above Ágios Prokópios resort, is an ocean-view establishment offering stone-clad cottages, neutral interiors and excellent food. Built in 1990 but updated regularly since, the Kavos was among the first developments here, snaffling a prime position, 10 minutes’ walk from the nearest beach.
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123
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Imagine a French Atlantic-style coastline with a silk-sand beach, lapped by limpid turquoise waves and overlooked by a cluster of comfortable marble-clad suites – that’s Ammothines. The hotel’s family-run restaurant serves a Turkish-inspired menu, and there is a pretty L-shaped swimming pool.
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130
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Skiathos
The Lush and lovely backdrop for hit musical Mamma Mia, the northern Sporades island of Skiathos abounds in stunning silk sand beaches fringed by bottle-green pine forests and lapped by glass-clear waters including pick-of-the-crop Lalaria, a hidden cove that can only be reached by boat. If you’re feeling active, hike out along one of the islands 26 well-signposted walking calderimi trails or explore the main town’s cobbled streets. Finish your stay with a sunset cocktail on Bourtzi, the capital’s strikingly picturesque peninsula, complete with bijou Venetian castle.
Where to stay
This small-scale Skiathos Town hotel ticks all the right boxes with its chic suites, rooftop views and attentive service. The clincher? It’s also got a swimming pool. Tucked away at the edge of town, it manages to not only be close to the action – the bars, shops and restaurants of the harbour and Papadiamantis Street are a walkable third of a mile away (600 metres) – but tranquil, too.
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128
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• The best hotels in Skiathos
With pink sunsets, shady pine trees and views for miles, hotel settings don’t come more striking than this. Step out of the art-filled lobby onto the sweeping terrace and you’ll get the measure of the place instantly: stylish without being soulless, slick but serene. If you’re looking for elegant details, smooth service and seriously Instagrammable backdrops, Elivi Skiathos is the place to be.
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£
214
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Skiathos isn't short of beach hotels but few are blessed with a swathe of sand as impressive as this, and despite its rep as the island's favourite five-star, the Princess is still a family-run labour of love and one of the best Greek island hotels around. You might already be sold on the beach-front location, there's plenty more where that came from, including spot-on service, family-friendly activities and stylish interiors.
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98
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Contributions by Helena de Bertodano, Catherine Cooper, Marc Dublin, Heidi Fuller-Love, Emma Howarth, Rachel Howard, Helen Iatrou, Nicola Leigh Stewart, Emma Love, Marissa Tejada, Richard Waters
The best hotels in Greece
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Originally a 14th-century knight's abode, Kókkini Porta Rossa is the most fascinating place to st... Read expert review -
Perivolas, the hotel that put Oia on the map and spawned countless imitators, is in a league of i... Read expert review -
This delightful art deco-inspired hotel, a homage to the owner’s favourite novel, has come roarin... Read expert review