The best beach hotels in Greece for a coastal retreat

This spot on Crete’s north-eastern coast – an hour’s drive on the winding coastal road east from Heraklion airport – is a natural amphitheatre overlooking a private sandy beach. Elegantly splayed across the descending levels of the cove, the stone and taupe-painted buildings blend cleverly into the rockface to create a natural-looking space which is actually rather modern and high-tech. The villas are front-row, but all rooms and suites have panoramic views of Vathi Bay sparkling below, and décor is minimalist with caramel-coloured curtains, pops of blue here and there, and cheery artwork on the walls. The labyrinth of tunnels and corridors on each of the five levels are linked by stairs and a funicular, which zips guests between the lobby, the spa, the restaurants and the show-stopping outdoor pool.

On the west coast of Kéa, in a wild landscape of sandy coves and pomegranate trees, One&Only has opened its second Greek property with 63 villas designed by acclaimed architect John Heah. They are all light-filled and elegant, with doors that open out onto decks with their own private infinity pool, sun loungers and a table at which you can enjoy morning coffee. The spa here is a waterfront sanctuary specialising in holistic wellbeing – treatments feature products from Subtle Energies, though there are also Bastien Gonzalez manicures and rituals that incorporate Kéan botanicals. If you want to eat with your feet in the sand, head down to the Bond Beach Club for a superb selection of Asian and Mediterranean dishes, from tuna tartare tacos to sea bass with ginger jalapeño sauce.

Great service is a key element at this five-star seaside hotel surrounded by grass-spiked sand dunes near one of Paros’ best beaches. It’s a discreet little seaside haven with cubic white buildings finished with sea-blue shutters, and impeccable service. Rooms have been thoughtfully designed and are dressed in a cool and briny colour palette: soft petrol blue and driftwood yellow, with turquoise, berry-red and lava-black cushions. You can expect Nuxe toiletries, plenty of plug sockets and good-sized balconies, too. There’s a large main pool near the bar, with panoramic sea views, and down by the sea a long jetty (just right for sunbathing and diving) makes up for the lack of direct beach access.

You don’t get much more private than that this rambling resort, which has an entire peninsula to itself a mere 40-minute drive from the Acropolis. Entry, via a private barrier, sets the exclusive tone: winding paths lead past low clusters of white rendered buildings (some with living roofs) surrounded by mature gardens and winding tracks down to (often private) beaches. The main charm of this resort in fact are the beaches: a cluster of (mostly sandy) coves on the west side are more popular. Meanwhile, the pebble beaches on the east side are much quieter and the water is crystal clear.

This wellness retreat on the tiny, star-studded island of Antiparos blends into the Cycladic landscape. Despite its low-key vibe, everything is perfectly calibrated to help you rest and refresh – from the soulful spa to the rough-luxe interiors. The 17 villas and suites are stone-built, single-storey and camouflaged by beautifully landscaped gardens. Balinese fans, Ottoman ikat cushions, weathered wooden four-poster beds and reclaimed marble sinks are combined in eclectic, uncluttered harmony, while outdoor kitchens, private pools and open-air showers lend a tropical vibe. A path framed by oleander and bamboo leads down to the empty sweep of Livadia bay – a north-facing beach popular with windsurfers and escapists.

The entrance to Odisia is located in the tourist spot of Dassia, which is a fairly unremarkable main road with a strip of shops, but it’s what’s on the other side of the building that is remarkable: a stretch of stunning coastline with glittering views of the Ionian sea. Ipsos beach, which is popular for families by day and groups of parties at night, is a five-minute drive in the other direction. The resort itself has been extremely well thought out and was built to work alongside the beaches, coves and peninsula it occupies. As opposed to other properties that look plonked along the shore with several storeys jutting into the skyline, Odisia and its low-slung buildings seem to dissolve into the landscape, giving a genuine feel of space.

This lovely low-key stay fronts a wild stretch of sand-strewn coastline – within easy reach of Chania’s Venetian harbour. It attracts couples and young families with its pretty lap pool, pavilion spa and gourmet restaurant. The concrete exteriors are softened by low, stone-clad walls and an abundance of exotic plants – agapanthus and pampas grass, but also papaya and banana palms – planted along winding paths leading down to the decked infinity pool and a dune-studded beach.

Amanzoe is an ultra-exclusive stay set on a hilltop, amid olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees. It was designed by renowned American architect Ed Tuttle and embraces a 21st-century Acropolis feel, with imposing porte-cochère and soaring colonnades. The region is steeped in mythology, with several important archaeological sites, including the Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus, within easy reach, and there are just 38 freestanding pavilions, each with its own fragrant garden, tiled terrace and private pool. Inside you can expect lashings of pale marble, local stone and wood, with contemporary décor and minimal clutter. There’s a super-chic Beach Club on the coast just below, and the supremely peaceful spa offers a number of excellent wellness retreats led by experts in their field.

The Ikos brand has managed to elevate the European all-inclusive concept to new levels. Gone are the days of the coloured wrist band and the dreary buffet – Ikos Dassia offers an endless supply of premium-brand champagnes, wines and spirits, waiter service (including at the beach or pool), à la carte menus and 24-hour room service, along with a whole host of other extras. The location at Dassia is also very special; snuggled into a crescent of buttery-soft golden sand, it makes it one of the best beach hotels in Greece (perfect for little toes). As part of your stay you'll also have access to a high-end, sustainable Tesla car to take out for a spin – why not use it to explore as many beaches on the island as you can?

Imagine a French Atlantic-style coastline with a silk-sand beach, lapped by limpid turquoise waves and overlooked by a cluster of comfortable marble-clad suites – that’s Ammothines. The property overlooks Plaka, one of the island’s best beaches, which is reached by a narrow dusty track with little traffic. Mikri Vigla’s windsurfer-loved coast is on one side, and the buzzing resort of Agios Prokopios is three miles away on the other. There are 15 medium-sized suites in four categories, located across three buildings on two storeys (the top floors are reached via a steep flight of steps). All have full or partial sea views, with a minimalist décor of cream, beige and ecru.

Lesante Blu is ideal for a honeymoon or a romantic break: it's adults-only, has intelligent design and has a plethora of greenery and a waterfall-fed infinity pool that lends an intense sense of privacy and peace. Throw in spectacular sea views and several good restaurants and you're onto a winner. It's the sort of place where hanging egg chairs are scattered here and there (perfect for enjoying those panoramic vistas) and clipped lawns add to the pristine vibe. The shingle beach may be small, but it's got a charming wooden sundeck on stilts and a jetty stretching far out to sea.

Gaudí meets celebrity glam at this all-suite hotel overlooking a remote sandy cove 30-minutes’ drive from Ios' main town. The façade, seen from afar, is hewn from local stone dug out of the nearby hillsides, melding with the surrounding landscapes. Once you’re in, the resort has more of a hippy/boho vibe, and the suites feature spectacular sunken tubs hewn from marble and in shades veering from pearl white to creamy caramel. The resort looks out onto a sheltered cove fringed by a coarse-yellow sand beach with plenty of comfortable cabanas, and there's also a cavernous spa, a gym and two pools: one mosaic-tiled freshwater pool with views over the hillsides and a shallow plunge pool surrounded by swinging sunbeds.

Domes of Elounda straddles a hillside with panoramic views to Spinalonga and sets a high benchmark on the Cretan hotel scene. Expanding year by year, this is a sprawling, family-friendly property topped by a helicopter pad and linked by winding paths through well-tended gardens. There are several public pools, including one that’s just for adults, a beach shaded by olive trees with plenty of sunbeds, an al fresco gym and a small spa with an indoor pool, a sauna and a steam room (free for guests, but you need to book). There are 158 rooms, villas and suites, and playful décor includes china cockatoos, gold washbasins and pops of colour in artwork and throws. Staff, especially in the resort’s restaurants, deliver impeccable service; they’ll help families with toddlers, organise luggage delivery and so on – and always with a smile.