Greece

While the islands often dominate the international imagination, mainland Greece is increasingly drawing those in search of space and relative value. Athens sits at the heart of it all – a capital where antiquity and modernity coexist with ease. The Acropolis rises above the city as it has for centuries; below, neighbourhoods such as Kolonaki and Anaktora unfold through elegant streets lined with galleries, cafés and independent boutiques.

The leafy northern suburbs appeal to families for their international schools and embassies, while the ambitious Hellinikon project is reshaping the city’s southern edge, strengthening its connection to the glittering coastline of the Saronic Gulf.

Facing Italy across the Ionian Sea, this western archipelago carries a character distinct from the Aegean. Centuries of Venetian rule have left a legacy of pastel-hued harbour towns, elegant arcaded squares and neoclassical architecture – a softer aesthetic than the stark white geometry of the Cyclades.

Corfu is the best known of the islands, its UNESCO-listed old town unfolding through narrow lanes, grand townhouses and shaded courtyards. Beyond the historic centre, rolling hills thick with olive groves give way to villas and country houses overlooking sheltered bays and the Ionian’s famously calm waters.

Further south, Kefalonia and Zakynthos reveal a more dramatic landscape of limestone cliffs, secluded coves and long sandy beaches. Here, the atmosphere is quieter and more expansive, with hillside villages and harbourside towns that retain a strong sense of local life.

If one image defines the Greek islands internationally, it is the Cyclades. Mykonos pulses with cosmopolitan energy: designer boutiques, Michelin-starred restaurants and private beachfront villas have long made it a favourite among an international clientele. Santorini elevates this experience with cliffside estates in Oia and Fira, where sunset panoramas and volcanic beaches create an unmatched backdrop for both permanent residence and seasonal letting.

Lesser-known enclaves such as Naxos, Paros and Milos strike a quieter balance between village life, agriculture and tourism. Whitewashed settlements cluster around fishing harbours, while inland landscapes reveal windmills, orchards and small Byzantine churches that speak to centuries of habitation.

Located between Turkey and mainland Greece, the Dodecanese forms a constellation of islands that enjoy one of the sunniest climates in the southeastern Aegean. Their strategic position has long made them a crossroads of civilisation, leaving a cultural imprint that spans Roman temples, Byzantine monasteries, Ottoman architecture and Italianate town planning.

Today, they present a diverse mix of heritage and modernity: In Rhodes, medieval fortifications sit alongside luxury marinas and fine dining; Kos appeals to wellness-seekers, with its lush landscape, cycle routes, natural hot springs and sandy beaches. The harbour of Symi is lined with neoclassical mansions rising amphitheatrically from the water, while volcanic Nisyros offers a more elemental landscape. Further north, Patmos continues to draw an artistic crowd.

Greece’s largest island is a world unto itself – a tapestry of UNESCO-listed Minoan palaces, glittering beaches and a year-round sense of life and activity. Heraklion, the island’s capital, is both historic and contemporary, where heritage architecture sets a vibrant dining and market scene.

Chania charms with its Venetian harbour, cobbled streets and waterfront restaurants; from here, the road winds through the rugged expanse of the Topolia Gorge towards Elafonisi’s distinctive pink sands. Along the south coast, a more bohemian spirit prevails in Matala and Agia Galini, where hillside villas look out across the Libyan Sea.