Last summer, everyone from Elon Musk to footballer Mo Salah was spotted in Mykonos, enjoying the sun, Aegean sea and the island’s famous nightlife. Greece’s tourism industry, which accounts for 25% of the country’s gross domestic product, is booming, gradually doubling or tripling during the peak season. “Now when we talk about holidays we’re not just referring to the three months of summer,” Tourism Minister Vassilis Kykilias said recently on Greek television. “This year passengers started arriving on direct flights from the beginning of March – Americans, Canadians, Australians, Chinese, Middle Easterners and all Europeans – and this will continue until the end of the year.” This is a trend that started with the Covid Recovery Strategy in 2022.
With the long season comes more spectacular luxury hotels and resorts catering to visitors, from hidden island getaways to beaches just a short drive from Athens’ historic center. Here are some of the most exciting new openings and buzzy hotels set to open their doors this year.
Domes Norouz Kassandra, Halkidiki opens on April 28
Looking to party the night away? This 182-room adults-only beach club can be your base for exploring the vibrant nightlife of this coastal region of northern Greece. Norouz has a swimming pool complete with a fire pit that stays open late for midnight swims. The canteen on the beach specializes in pita sandwiches, while psistes (grill masters) prepare gyros, souvlaki and other favorites. After partying into the early hours, you can head to the hotel’s open-air gym, which offers sunrise yoga sessions. Rooms from €182 ($202).
Eliamos Villa Hotel & Spa, Kefalonia opens May 1st
On the southern coast of Kefalonia, an island known for its turquoise-blue waters, Eliamos is a family-friendly retreat with 12 villas and maisonettes, all overlooking the sparkling sea or the neighboring olive grove. Wellness offerings include professional yoga, Pilates sessions at the outdoor gym and nutritious meals made with local ingredients. A secluded beach is a short walk from the property and a 20-minute drive away, the island’s capital Argostoli has seaside shops and restaurants.
Elsewhere, Ainos National Park is worth a visit for stargazing without the light pollution. Snorkelers can also spot the island’s famous loggerhead turtles in their natural habitat, and you won’t want to miss the famous Melissani Cave. If you’re not feeling up for adventure, the hotel’s saltwater infinity pool is perfect for while away the sunny days. Rooms from €430
Cali Mykonos, Mykonos opens May 10
Located in one of the most secluded parts of the island, 8 miles from the old port, Kali Mykonos Resort sits above its own private beach. There is also a 110-metre-long cliffside infinity pool with stellar views. Getting to the party-heavy side of Mykonos—or neighboring islands like Tinos and Paros—is easy and attractive, thanks to a private fleet of boats and yachts available for charter.
Some of the hotel’s unique features are things you can’t see: a self-sufficient water system that doesn’t strain the island’s local water supply and an array of solar panels that make your stay eco-friendly. Rooms from €900
Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, Messinia opens on August 15
Mandarin Oriental’s hotly anticipated Greek debut will offer rugged coastal landscapes in a less crowded part of the country. The beachfront resort Costa Navarino will have 99 rooms, including 48 pool villas, some with two or three bedrooms perfect for families. Built on a hilly terrain, the villas offer a sense of seclusion in addition to private immersion. All rooms have outdoor terraces and sea views, as well as decor that evokes the nearby historic sites of the Peloponnese.
Five restaurants and bars, an indoor-outdoor pool with views of the bay, access to four golf courses and a top-class spa outside the facilities. Walking distance from the sprawling resort is a contemporary village with a food market and an open-air movie theater. Room rates will be announced.
Santo Mine Oia Suites, Santorini Opens Summer 2023
This adults-only retreat in Santorini has 37 standalone suites, each with its own private pool or Jacuzzi where you can watch the island’s famous sunsets. The hotel is carved into the cliffs and an 11-minute walk from the heart of the picturesque town of Oia, with its blue-domed buildings. With warm color tones and raw stone from local suppliers, minimalist interiors nod to rugged Cycladic landscapes—the property gets its name from the former mine that sits above it. Rooms from $895
The one and only Esthesis, Athens opens early autumn
The One&Only luxury brand is launching its first property in Greece on the chic Athenian Riviera, 30 minutes from the Acropolis. With equal access to the beach and the city, guests can start their day with a dip in the natural springs of the Aegean or nearby Lake Voliagemeni and head to the ancient Agora before lunch. The resort is built on nearly a mile of private beach – one of the two beaches is designated adults only. There will also be a bar and beach club with poolside cabanas for chilling out by the Saronic Gulf. Rooms from €1,800
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