Boutique hotels in Greece

Greece has turned simplicity into an art. Its best small hotels are whitewashed Cycladic suites with plunge pools, restored sea captains' houses, Venetian mansions and stone tower houses, usually run by families who know every beach and taverna on their island. Many have only a handful of rooms, and the view is almost always the main event.

The islands

The Cyclades lead our ranking. Santorini and Mykonos are the glamorous names, while Paros, Naxos, Milos, Sifnos, Folegandros and Tinos offer quieter villages, excellent food and beaches without the crowds. In the Ionian Sea, Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos are greener, with Venetian towns and turquoise coves. Crete's Chania and Rhodes have atmospheric old towns behind medieval walls, and Hydra is a car-free island of stone mansions within easy reach of Athens.

The mainland

Athens pairs ancient monuments with a lively food and art scene, and Thessaloniki is the country's most relaxed city for eating out. Nafplio is a graceful Venetian port, the monasteries of Meteora balance on rock pillars, the Pelion's mountain villages hang above the sea, and the Mani is a rugged peninsula of tower houses.

When to go

Late May, June and September are ideal for the islands: the sea is warm and the crowds thinner than in July and August. Many island hotels close from November to April, while Athens, Thessaloniki, Nafplio and Meteora are rewarding all year.