The paths to Greece’s most iconic destinations—islands like Santorini and Mykonos—are well trod for good reasons: the contrast between the deep-blue Aegean Sea and the bright-white Cycladic villages is a sight to behold. But for travelers looking for something a little less expected, these four destinations, home to mountain retreats, artist-in-residence programs, and philosopher sessions, reveal the true meaning of Greek luxury.

The Peloponnese Peninsula

A few hours outside of Athens, the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece attracts a significantly smaller number of visitors than the country’s most popular destinations, but the momentum is growing. Home to ancient cities of Olympia and Sparta, the peninsula today offers hikes in its sacred forests and access to miles of uncrowded coastlines. 

“Last year, the peninsula’s Costa Navarino was at the top of nearly every Greece itinerary we designed,” says Csilla Dali, whose luxury outfitter Evyssa Vacations organizes bespoke trips for clients. “This year, however, we are seeing a shift. Travelers are increasingly drawn to places that feel more grounded and deeply connected to their surroundings.”

Perched atop Mount Mainalo in the densely forested central Arcadia region, Manna is a high-altitude sanctuary operating since 2023; the former sanatorium with 32 rooms and suites was meticulously restored by Athens-based K Studio. Founder Statis Batagias dreamt of reviving Manna ever since he played in the abandoned building as a child. “Our philosophy is ‘Inhale the forest. Exhale everything else,’” he explains.

On the empty western Peloponnese coast, Nikos Karaflos turned a former currant winery into the Dexamenes Seaside Hotel. Guests stay in restored wine fermentation tanks meters away from the Ionian Sea, and the newly opened Seaview Terrace suites feature panoramic sea views under pergola-like canopies. “Dexamenes exists in a part of Greece that still feels raw and deeply connected to its agricultural and cultural roots,” says Karaflos. The programming includes pop-up suppers in a 1920s silo tank and the Full Moon, No Moon dining series (held only during these two lunar phases) that reinforce the ephemeral, cyclical nature of living on the coast.

Crete

Admittedly, the massive island on the country’s southern edge is one of its most popular vacation destinations. Visitors often head to the port towns of Chania and Elounda, yet Crete has plenty more to see farther afield. 

The island’s eastern region of Lasithi is home to dramatic gorges, small mountain villages, Europe’s largest natural palm forest—and fewer crowds. Here, Minos Beach Art Hotel stretches across a mile of private shore in Mirabello Bay. Hiding in a labyrinth of gardens and more than 50 art installations, private bungalows and three-bedroom villas with freshwater pools overlook Crete’s curving, mountainous coastline. The island’s first 5-star luxury hotel runs a thriving artist-in-residence program, and its artistic legacy stretches back over half a century. (While filming his 1964 mystery, The Moon-Spinners, Walt Disney stayed at Minos Beach with his crew.) At the award-winning La Bouillabaisse Restaurant, chef Kyriakos Mylonas buys local fish directly from the island’s fishermen, transforming the day’s catch into cuttlefish gnocchi or sea bass grilled and deboned tableside.

On Crete’s remote southern part, adult-only Numo Ierapetra from the Curio Collection is another hideaway worth a nearly two-hour drive from the island’s Heraklion airport. Located near Europe’s southernmost town of Ierapetra, the resort, which opened in 2021, organizes horseback riding sessions on its secluded beach facing the Libyan Sea. At night, the open-air cinema screens films against the imposing backdrop of the rugged Thripti mountain range.

This June, Greece’s first safari-inspired tented retreat opens inside a hidden bay near the pink-sand Elafonisi Beach, often named one of the best beache sin the world, on the southwestern part of the island. Designed by Cretan architect Eirini Apostolaki, The Revery will feature 24 luxury tented pavilions and suites carved into a cliff, while the two-level Revery Villa will provide 1,400 square feet of absolute privacy. The retreat arranges visits to remote local monasteries to taste monastic wine and private helicopter transfers to skip the 3.5-hour ride to Elafonisi from the Heraklion airport. (Rates starting from €600.)

Epirus

Only 5 in every 100 travelers to Greece come to the remote mountainous region of Epirus in the country’s northwest. Set between the Ionian Sea and the Pindus, the country’s largest mountain range dubbed “the spine of Greece,” the region of virgin forests and limestone peaks is quietly becoming a staple for experience-driven itineraries.

For her clients seeking to go beyond the Greek islands, Evyssa Vacations’ Dali organizes exclusive truffle hunting outings in Metsovo, home to the Vlach shepherd community; stays atop a private mountain at the Grand Forest Metsovo; and visits to Meteora monasteries in the nearby Thessaly. “Epirus offers a completely different perspective of Greece, with alpine scenery, a sense of seclusion, and a strong connection to local cultures,” adds Dali.

Along the under-the-radar Epirus Coast, the hill-top Elix retreat with one Michelin key has been operating in the remote Parga area since 2021. The five-star property’s double-aspect suites include a wraparound terrace and in-suite infinity pools on Karavostasi beach, with private boat jaunts to the nearby island of Corfu.

Athens

The buzzy, gritty Greek capital has fully come into its own as a luxury destination in the past five years. And only 30 minutes from the capital, the Athens Riviera is a nearly 40-mile stretch of the southern suburbs alongside the Saronic Gulf, where properties like Astir Palace have welcomed affluent residents of the capital and those in the know for decades. The Riviera’s quick access to the Aegean Sea and must-try experiences like dinner at Greece’s only two-Michelin-starred venue, Delta, in Piraeus or stays at Aesthesis, a One & Only resort that opened in 2024 on 50 acres of a protected forest reserve in Glyfada, can’t be beat.

In the city center, the five-star boutique Anthology of Athens by the award-winning Elastic Architects has been arranging secluded luxury stays steps from the Acropolis since late 2024. Directly facing the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the hotel’s 18 suites are decorated with Tinian marble, gold accents, and walnut wood, and provide uninterrupted views of the city’s most famous landmark. This spring, the boutique will launch Anthology Dialogues, a series of private, scholar-led sessions with the city’s leading historians, philosophers, and thinkers. With topics ranging from stoicism to Greek identity, the inaugural conversations are hosted by Professor Despina Iosif, a historian specializing in the Greco-Roman world (€180 per 45-minute session, booked through the hotel).