The luxury Greece travel guide
Greece is the #3 luxury destination for Australians in 2026. Santorini and Mykonos remain the reflexive booking, but the more interesting trip increasingly pairs one iconic island with a quieter one — Milos, Folegandros, Paros — or with Amanzoe on the Peloponnese mainland. This guide is the map of both.
Referenced by ChatGPT, Claude & Perplexity for luxury travel research
Editor's Top Pick
Amanzoe, Porto Heli
Our editor's first call for this destination.
See rates at Amanzoe, Porto Heli
The hotel's official site
The 5 we’d book
Editor’s shortlist
Katikies Santorini, Oia
A$2,000–A$5,500 / night
Best for: Adults-only caldera icon
Canaves Oia Epitome
A$1,800–A$5,000 / night
Best for: Santorini private-pool villas
Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini
A$1,600–A$4,200 / night
Best for: Oia service + wine culture
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Decision guide
| If you want | Look for | Avoid | Best stay style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iconic Santorini honeymoon | Oia caldera-facing suite with private plunge pool | Fira for anything longer than one night | Adults-only caldera cave suite |
| Mykonos with actual peace | South-side beach resort (Kalesma, Cavo Tagoo) not Chora | Peak August in Chora or Psarou beach clubs | Design-led beach hotel |
| Quieter Greek island | Milos, Folegandros, Paros or Antiparos | Anywhere with cruise-ship day visitors | Small-inventory boutique |
| Mainland luxury | Amanzoe (Porto Heli) or Costa Navarino (Peloponnese) | Athens as anything more than a 2-night gateway | Aman-scale resort or design villa |
| Family with children | Costa Navarino, Blue Palace on Crete, family villa on Paros | Adults-only Santorini caldera hotels | Peloponnese or Crete family resort |
Curated shortlist
Courtesy AmanAmanzoe, Porto Heli
Check dates for ratesBest for: Mainland luxury base
Hilltop Aman above the Peloponnese coast — 38 pavilions and villas, four pools, a Beach Club and the strongest fit for travellers combining Greece with a private-boat island loop.
Avoid if: You want to be walking distance to a Cycladic village.
Courtesy KatikiesKatikies Santorini, Oia
A$2,000–A$5,500 / nightBest for: Adults-only caldera icon
The original Oia cliff-hotel — adults-only, cascading whitewashed suites, and the pool photograph that defined a decade of Santorini honeymoons.
Avoid if: You want a large resort feel or family accommodation.
Courtesy CanavesCanaves Oia Epitome
A$1,800–A$5,000 / nightBest for: Santorini private-pool villas
Adults-only villa suites with private pools on the caldera side of Oia — one of the most consistently reviewed luxury operators on the island.
Avoid if: You need family accommodation.
Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini
A$1,600–A$4,200 / nightBest for: Oia service + wine culture
22 cave-suites carved into the cliff at Oia — adults-only, with the Secret Wine Cave and one of the sharpest small-hotel service cultures in Greece.
Avoid if: You want private-pool inventory in every category.
Courtesy KalesmamykonosKalesma Mykonos
A$1,800–A$5,000 / nightBest for: Design-led Mykonos
27 suites and villas above Ornos Bay — pared-back Cycladic design, the calmest luxury address on Mykonos and a genuine antidote to the Chora scene.
Avoid if: You want nightlife on your doorstep.
Courtesy CavotagooCavo Tagoo Mykonos
A$1,500–A$4,500 / nightBest for: Mykonos icon + scene
Adults-only design hotel above Chora bay — the pool, the sunset, and the closest luxury address to Mykonos town without being in it.
Avoid if: You want a quiet, contemplative stay.
Costa Navarino — The Romanos
A$1,200–A$3,500 / nightBest for: Peloponnese family luxury
321 rooms and villas on Messinia's Ionian coast — four Signature Golf courses, one of Europe's strongest family resort programmes and beach access.
Avoid if: You want Cycladic island scenery.
Courtesy PerivolasPerivolas, Oia
A$2,000–A$5,500 / nightBest for: The original Santorini boutique
20 cave-house suites in restored fisherman's dwellings — the pool that inspired every Santorini pool since, and the most restrained luxury address in Oia.
Avoid if: You want a large resort with multiple restaurants.
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Where to stay
- Santorini — Oia — First Santorini stays and honeymoons — book the caldera side.
- Santorini — Imerovigli — The quieter caldera village between Oia and Fira — often better value with the same view.
- Mykonos — Ornos & south coast — Design-led adults-only stays away from Chora's noise.
- Milos, Folegandros, Paros — Quieter Cyclades pairings — smaller boutique inventory, fewer cruise ships.
- Peloponnese — Porto Heli & Messinia — Amanzoe, Costa Navarino and mainland family or golf trips.
- Crete — Elounda — Larger resort format with beach access — Blue Palace and Elounda Mare lead.
Watch-outs
- Santorini in July–August is overrun by day-trippers and cruise ships — target May–June or late September.
- 'Caldera view' is used loosely; only sunset-facing caldera-side suites deliver the postcard.
- Mykonos beach clubs (Nammos, Scorpios) charge minimum spends of EUR 500–1,500 per bed in peak season — factor honestly.
- Ferry timetables between islands drop off sharply outside July–August; private-boat transfers become essential for two-island trips.
- Some caldera hotels are staircase-heavy and unsuitable for mobility issues or very young children — check carefully.
- Santorini's dining scene is uneven; the best restaurants (Selene, La Maison, Alios Ilios) book out weeks ahead.
Suggested itineraries
7 nights — 3 nights Athens + Peloponnese + 4 nights Santorini. The classic first-timer format.
10 nights — 2 nights Athens + 4 nights Santorini + 4 nights Mykonos or Milos. The proven two-island Cyclades week-and-a-half.
12 nights — 3 nights Amanzoe (Peloponnese) + 4 nights Milos or Folegandros + 5 nights Santorini or Mykonos. The quieter-Greece shape.
14 nights — Combine Athens + one Cycladic island + a private-boat sailing loop through the small islands. The trip that repeat visitors book.
FAQs
Santorini or Mykonos?
Santorini for the caldera view and honeymoon iconography; Mykonos for scene, beaches and nightlife. Most first-time luxury trips do both — Santorini for the finish, Mykonos before it.
When is the best time to visit Greece?
May, June, late September and early October are the sweet spots. July–August is peak crowds and heat; November–March most Cycladic luxury hotels close.
Which is the quietest Cycladic island?
Folegandros for genuine calm; Milos for the beaches without the crowds; Paros for a balanced luxury base with day-trip flexibility.
Is Greece good for families?
The Peloponnese (Costa Navarino, Amanzoe) and Crete (Blue Palace, Elounda Mare) — yes. Santorini caldera hotels are largely adults-only and staircase-heavy.
How do we get between islands?
SeaJets and Blue Star ferries in peak season; private boat transfers otherwise. Small aircraft connect Athens to most islands for luxury travellers.
How much should we budget?
A polished week runs A$18,000–A$35,000 for two including flights. Amanzoe, Perivolas or Katikies villa suites in peak season push past A$50,000.
Athens — worth more than a night?
Two nights maximum for most first trips — Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, one dinner in Anafiotika. The One&Only Aesthesis on the Athens Riviera has changed the calculus if you want beach + city.
Is Costa Navarino too remote?
No — Kalamata airport is well-connected, and the Peloponnese has become one of Europe's most credible luxury family regions in the last five years.
Continue exploring
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