Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens

This Four Seasons property sits on the Athenian Riviera at Vouliagmeni, surrounded by pine trees and built on a peninsula with a private beach at the water's edge. The hotel spreads across two buildings, and rooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows, modern furnishings, and air conditioning; some include private pools.

Seven restaurants and bars operate on the property, enough variety that the choice changes from one meal to the next without leaving the grounds. The spa holds a covered swimming pool, a hammam, and a vitality pool, alongside a programme of treatments and massages. Yoga classes run on site.

The private beach is where much of daily life settles — you can swim directly from it and take out watersports equipment without going further. The pine trees across the grounds keep the air cooler than the open city, and the shoreline is within walking distance of the main buildings.

Vouliagmeni is roughly thirty kilometres south of central Athens, accessible by road along the coastal route.