Mykonos for the parties and the beach clubs, Santorini for the view, Paros and Antiparos for the new discreet money, Corfu and the Ionian for the villas and the sailing, the Athens Riviera for a new luxury coast twenty minutes from the Acropolis. Greece has become the Mediterranean’s value play.
Stay
- Amanzoe, Porto Heli
- Four Seasons Astir Palace, Athens Riviera
- Kalesma and Cali, Mykonos
- Canaves Oia and Katikies, Santorini; Domes and Grecotel, Corfu
Shop
- Kolonaki, Athens
- Nammos Village, Mykonos
- Island ateliers for sandals, ceramics and jewelry
- Antiques and icons in Athens’ Monastiraki
Dine
- Spondi, Athens
- Nammos and Scorpios, Mykonos
- Oia’s cliffside terraces at sunset
- Any taverna by the water with grilled fish and a view
Gavalia’s rules
- The Golden Visa remains available at 800,000 euros in Attica, the islands and the big cities, 400,000 elsewhere.
- Charter a yacht for a week in the Cyclades or the Ionian: it is the best way to see the islands and cheaper than the Riviera.
- Purchase costs are low (3 percent transfer tax plus fees); check the title, the forestry maps and the building permits carefully, as irregularities are common.
The Cyclades
Mykonos is the party island of the Mediterranean, with beach clubs (Nammos, Scorpios), hotels (Kalesma, Cali, the Belvedere) and villas that rent for Riviera prices in August. Santorini is the view: Oia at sunset, the caldera hotels, the wineries. Paros and Antiparos are where the money has moved for quiet: Tom Hanks’ neighbours, Cycladic villas behind stone walls, a restaurant scene that arrived in the last five years.
The Ionian and the Peloponnese
Corfu is the Venetian island: green, elegant, with estates on the north-east coast (Kassiopi, Agios Stefanos) held by the same families for generations. Porto Heli and the Argolida coast are home to Amanzoe and a discreet Athenian summer set. Costa Navarino on the west of the Peloponnese has built a golf and resort destination from nothing.
The Athens Riviera
From Glyfada to Vouliagmeni and Cape Sounion, the Athens Riviera has become a luxury destination in its own right: the Four Seasons Astir Palace, the One&Only Aesthesis, the Ellinikon development on the old airport, marinas and beach clubs twenty minutes from the Acropolis. Property prices have doubled since 2018 and remain a fraction of the French coast.
The practicalities
June and September are the months: warm sea, open everything, no meltemi wind at its worst. August is when Greece itself is on holiday. Island hopping is easiest by yacht or by the small airlines; the ferries are for those with time. Buying is straightforward with a good lawyer and slow without one.
The property market
Mykonos villas 8,000 to 15,000 euros per square metre; Athens Riviera 6,000 to 15,000; Paros and Antiparos 5,000 to 10,000; Corfu and Porto Heli estates from 3 million. Golden Visa from 800,000 euros in prime areas.
Try it yourself
Destination MatcherMonth, mood and budget: the three countries or regions that fit, with the season and the hotels.Villa Cost CalculatorPurchase price and country: taxes, fees, annual running costs and the ten-year total, with rental income if you let it.Questions people ask
Which Greek island is the most luxurious?
Mykonos for hotels, beach clubs and nightlife; Paros and Antiparos for discreet villas; Corfu for estates; Santorini for the view.
Does Greece still have a Golden Visa?
Yes. A property purchase of 800,000 euros in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands above 3,100 inhabitants, or 400,000 elsewhere, qualifies for residency.
When is the best time to visit the Greek islands?
June and September for warm sea and open restaurants without the August crowds and wind. May and October are quiet and cooler.
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