Boutique Hotels in Greece

Why go?

Like its flag, Greece is a land of blue and white: myriad islands with azure seas, Mediterranean skies, white-washed chapels, tumbling villages. It is picture-postcard stuff. Santorini’s sea-crater, Mykonos’ windmills and Crete’s palm-beaches are classic holiday images. And there are fifty more islands to choose from…

But there is also another Greece. Venture into the colourful mainland and you’ll find the green of fir forests, the silver of olive groves, the brown of stone villages and frescoed monasteries, the mosaic of spring flowers beneath snowy peaks. Some parts, like the culture-rich Peloponnese, are well-known; others, like the mountains of Epirus, are visited only by hardy hikers, Vlach shepherds and the occasional bear.

Wherever you go, there is that famous hospitality. Even now you will be greeted and invited by strangers wanting nothing more than a friendly chat, the latest football scores or some English practice.

An ancient temple or mythical site is never far away, the pace is relaxed, the food delicious and healthy, and, if you know where you are going, you’ll find some excellent places to stay, many of them newly refurbished after the Olympics.

Any Downsides?

The summer heat is intense, but the Meltemi wind cools most islands. It's not as cheap as it was, but it is less corrupt. Greek food is too oily for some. It's impossible to find a genuinely deserted beach in summer. Many places close in winter. It takes a while to reach some islands (but that's the point!), and reliable travel info is scarce. Be aware that Athens is a huge, modern metropolis, but don't write it off: the Olympics have breathed new life and soul into the city.

What's where?

• Athens: Home of democracy, the Acropolis and 4 million souls, a frenetic, cheekily likeable city with cool boutiques, nightspots and pretty Plaka at its heart Read More >>
• Crete: Greece's largest island boasts Minoan palaces, Venetian harbours, huge mountains, deep gorges, lively beaches and proud, generous inhabitants Read More >>
• Cyclades Islands: White-washed villages, sparkling blue seas, hilltop chapels, party beaches, isolated islets - this is Greece as you always pictured it Read More >>
• Dodecanese Islands: Languid Leros, gorgeous Symi, volcanic Nisiros - the 12 islands of this group (plus some late entries) cluster around beautiful, bustling Rhodes Read More >>
• Greek Mainland: Crumbling castles & temples, wild mountains, stone villages, limpid rivers, clifftop monasteries, Ottoman mosques - it's a world away from the islands Read More >>
• Ionian Islands: The lands of Homer, Corelli and Durrell, of turquoise seas and sculpted cliffs, soft cypress-speckled landscapes and lazy flotilla holidays Read More >>
• Peloponnese: This richly fascinating half-island near Athens combines beaches & mountains, must-see sites (Mycenae, Olympia), Byzantine towns & fishing hamlets Read More >>
• Saronic Islands: An hour or two by hydrofoil from Athens, yet a world away: painterly beauty, crystalline seas and largely traffic-free Read More >>