The 14 best hotels in Greece

Sure, most visitors come to Athens for the history and museums, but away from the likes of the Acropolis, the city’s contemporary cultural scene is booming. If you’re after a slice of contemporary cool Athens, try the Gatsby. As cool as its name suggests, this five-star stay near Athens University and the bustle of Syntagma Square, provides modern, Deco-inspired decor throughout, a bar that's open midday to midnight daily, and a 'dare me' button in every room.

Santorini, jewel of the Cyclades and queen of envy-making Insta pics, is one of Greece's fanciest islands. If you’re after high-end bars and restaurants and infinity pools with views that stretch from sky to sea, you’ve come to the right place. The Grace is a small (only 14 rooms), minimalist boutique hotel on the side of a cliff. It has a hella impressive pool view that looks out over the Aegean – though most of the chalk-white rooms have their own private plunge pools. There are daily sunrise and sunset yoga classes – documented by a professional photographer, so celeb sportswear at the ready – in-house wine tastings, and private yacht hire.

Mykonos is the other big hitter in the Cyclades when it comes to posh, whitewashed sugarcube villages and accommodation that you need to book months – sometimes years – in advance. The Kivotos really pushes the boat out when it comes to luxury – literally, it has its own yacht – with two pools and a private beach. You’re ten minutes by cab from Mykonos town in case you fancy leaving for a spot of partying.

Away from the rowdy resort of Faliraki and the civilised but touristy Rhodes Town, the island of Rhodes is beautiful, low key and wonderfully relaxing. And if it’s relaxation you’re after, you’ll happily find it at the family-run Lindos Blue Sky, a complex consisting of fully equipped, self-catering studios and two-bed apartments that are clean but basic. Onsite you'll find the Lindos Ice Bar and Restaurant, which serves up traditional Greek cuisine with a modern twist, a pool and lush gardens. There are also three swimming coves in the area, plus a hilltop Acropolis.

Most all-inclusive resorts encourage you to stay on-site, but micro-chain Ikos – which has four hotels dotted around Greece and one in Spain – does things differently. They offer a host of complimentary activities (tennis, yoga, canoeing, kids karaoke…) to keep you and your family busy, boat excursions, waterskiing and windsurfing and more at an extra cost, plus, if you stay five nights or more, free airport transfers. And with eight spectacular restaurants, five pools, easy access to Kefalos beach and even an ancient basilica on-site, you could easily spend your entire holiday without leaving the resort.

Hydra is one chilled out island. Cars, bikes and new construction are (largely) banned and, in place of cabs, you’ll find mules pottering about, laden with suitcases en route to one of the hotels above the port. Wealthy Greeks and international celebs (including, most famously, the late Leonard Cohen) bought property here, but there’s still much to entice first-timers. For a taste of the good life, try the Cotommatae, a homely, not-too-pricey boutique hotel just up from the port. You’ll find a stunning Greek breakfast, resplendent views, and all the charm of an old antique-packed house that’s traditional without being fusty.

Zakynthos or ‘Zante’ is a mixed bag. The north offers a quieter, more laidback quality of island life, but the south is where the big resorts reside – and therefore the regular flights to and from the UK. If you don't mind a bit of bustle, then stick around the south and, in particular, Windmill Bay. Located just outside the town of Argassi (a ten-minute walk), this affordable, self-catering hotel has loads to offer, especially for families. For starters, it's beachside, but it also has a pool, plus a kids' pool, a snack bar and games room.

Such a popular destination is Rhodes, we thought we'd stick a second option in here. Especially as that option features the ultimate luxury of Casa Cook in Kolymbia. First of all, it's adults only, so if you're travelling with the full fam, keep scrolling. But if the idea of a child-free hotel floats your boat, then consider a room at this five-star stay. Explore Tsambika Beach, nearby natural springs or the old town. Or stay and be pampered at the hotel, where you can book deluxe rooms that open onto the pool, or a suite with its own private pool. There's also an a la carte restaurant, a well-stocked fitness centre and the views are breathtaking.

If you want the option of exploring the bars and restaurants of Skiathos Town but need somewhere that offers some r'n'r, this modern, stone-built hotel with room views out over the Aegean might be just the ticket. It’s got two pools (one for babies), a sauna, a gym, and even a billiards room – all a pleasant 25-minute bus ride from town.

Corfu has become a bit of a punchline in chats about package holidays, but stunning pockets of solitude still exist when you know where to look. Much of the north remains traditional and laidback. Take the family-friendly Hotel Penelope at Boukari Beach, for example: a simple, 16-room bolthole with one of Corfu’s best tavernas attached. All rooms have balconies looking out over the Aegean, and there are free bikes for guests booking directly, which is perfect for exploring the deserted bays up and down the coast.

If, as the location for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, you imagine Kefalonia like some sort of mythical Hellenic idyll – all pot-bellied donkeys, cobalt seas and olive groves – you’d be right. But things, of course, have also moved with the times. The F Zeen Retreat – to give it it’s full name – wouldn’t be out of place in Ibiza. Think al fresco yoga decks and a gym overlooking the sea, plus a spa and infinity pools surrounded by daybeds with billowing white linens. The food offerings are sparse but local tavernas plentiful. And, romantics rejoice: it’s adults-only.

If you’re travelling with family, Crete is a good call and, if you’ve the moolah, the White Palace is a particularly good call for your (well-behaved) brood. Tennis courts, an outdoor cinema and gym, and a watersports centre on the beach, as well as 17 pools (some private), provide the entertainment. There are even excursions to the resort’s farm and petting zoo, as well as the nearby Kingdom of Poseidon water park. For some grown-up fun, drop the little ’uns in the kids club and head to the nearby town of Rethymnon, where you’ll find bars aplenty.

You’ll find plenty to love about the Elivi, an impressive entry to the luxury Greek resort market. There’s its position – a sprawling estate tucked into the sandy sweep of Koukounaries Bay and surrounded by lush forest. There’s the swimming, which takes place in the private pools on suntrap terraces that come as standard issue with many rooms, in the delightful central pools and in the tranquil sea with its occasional shoals of darting fish. Then there’s the sheer stylishness of the place: simple but luxurious décor, vaulting views from the open-air restaurant terrace, plus an elegant bar that will entice you to order just one more cocktail so you can watch the sun go down and the stars come up each night. Designed for holidaymakers who cherish space and privacy.

Snuggled into a picturesque Cretan nook, Daios Cove is the rarest of family-friendly resorts: a place that both adults and children will genuinely love. For the grown-ups, there are six restaurants all serving spectacular dishes and an all-inclusive option that runs the gamut from local wines to Veuve Clicquot. For the kids, there are games rooms, a central infinity pool (plus two more indoors) and the Aegean Sea to play in. There’s also a fantastic kids club with nature walks and football clubs. The resort is spread over five levels, connected by an in-house funicular railway, and you are never far from a quiet corner in which to curl up in the sun with a page-turner and a cold beer. Heaven.