Athens is a must for first-time visitors to Greece, but the often-overlooked mainland has much more to offer. Cities like Thessaloniki and Patras are lively urban hubs, while quieter towns and villages dot the inland regions and coastal areas. While the islands often grab the headlines, the mainland is brimming with impressively preserved archeological sites, ski regions, and the same crystalline waters that draw so many to the Aegean archipelagos—along with often more affordable hotel options.
Below are some of the very best hotels in the MICHELIN selection, all set on the Greek mainland. Each of these hotels earned a Key in the inaugural 2025 announcement of Greek hotel honors by our Inspectors.
Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
KouroutaIt's located on the unspoiled Koroutas Beach, to the east of Athens on the Ionian Sea and almost perfectly adjacent to the island of Zakynthos (which you can reach by ferry after a short drive to the port). But what's truly special about this seaside haven is the bold, industrial-chic design. Previously a winery, the hotel operators cleverly converted its century-old concrete wine tanks into minimal, luxurious, timeless hotel rooms.
Aristi Mountain Resort
AristiUNESCO World Heritage Zagori is one of Greece’s most remote and rugged regions—and Aristi Mountain Resort has a front-row seat, right at the edge of a national park. Nestled in the verdant hills of the mainland, near the Albanian border, guests admire snow-capped mountains and deep valleys from outdoor fireplaces and jacuzzis.
It’s a small but mighty resort, home to 18 spacious rooms. Artisi’s surroundings make the perfect playground for adult adventurers, where visitors can hike, horseback ride or, for a little more adrenaline, try out the hang glider.
Amanzoe
KranidiAmanzoe is part of the lavish Aman Group—its sole hotel in Greece. If you’re familiar with Aman, you already know more or less what to expect. If not, know that its resorts are considered modern oases that spare no luxury, expense, or service. Amanzoe, on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese region, is no exception, its design complemented with impeccably manicured gardens, vast terraces, and private pools.
We can’t really call the accommodations at Amanzoe “rooms.” They’re more like freestanding pavilions, gloriously secluded on the top of a hill, surrounded by olive groves overlooking the Aegean.
Euphoria Retreat
MystrasThis isn’t your standard hotel stay. Euphoria wants to give guests a transformative experience, and the foothills of Taygetos Mountain give them an otherworldly scene to start with. This all-encompassing spa and wellness resort has world-class facilities that include sauna, steam bath, fitness areas, and luxe indoor and outdoor pools. Notably, the kitchen goes above and beyond, serving Mediterranean cuisine customized to guests’ own metabolic needs.
On Residence
ThessalonikiOld and new-world glamour combine at this gloriously restored 1920s waterfront mansion. On Residence welcomes guests to the northern city of Thessaloniki, celebrating the fruits of what’s often referred to as the culinary capital of Greece in its elaborate dining room.
High coffered ceilings, curved marble staircases and sophisticated wallpapers add to the hotel’s sophisticated allure. Some rooms overlook the courtyard, while others face the ocean—the latter giving seaside offerings on the French Riviera a run for their money.
Kamares Boutique Hotel
IoanninaIn 1820, a fire ravaged the castle town of Ioannina in northwestern Greece. Only a couple of historic buildings survived, one of them the stone mansion now housing Kamares Boutique Hotel and Spa. Proudly situated beside Ioannina’s historic castle walls, the hotel is a regal composition of antiques, detailed wood-beamed ceilings, stone flooring, and hand-painted wall panels. Kamares is one of the city's most revered hotels, advantageously located near Lake Pamvotida and the historic center’s museums and restaurants.
Book Kamares Boutique Hotel with The MICHELIN Guide →
The Bold Type Hotel
PatrasThe Bold Type Hotel is in the center of Patras—Greece’s third-largest city—considered a cultural, culinary, and scientific hub. It’s home to medieval castles, an archaeological museum, and the ancient Roman Odeon theater, which has been lovingly restored, able to host 2300 patrons. Do not miss an open-air show here if Patra is on the itinerary. If it is, the Bold Type Hotel is the ideal home base, a beautifully preserved neoclassical residence given new life through lively, modern rooms underpinned by Bauhaus and Danish influences.
MarBella Elix
PerdikaMarBella operates three high-end hotels in Greece: one just outside of Athens, another on the island of Corfu, and the third in Perdika, a village on the underrated western Epirus Coast graced with sensational views of the Ionian Sea. From here, you can take a ferry to the island of Paxos; the idyllic backdrop of the recent Netflix series Maestro in Blue.
The resort allows guests to indulge in their own private pool or enjoy the infinity pool’s swim-up access to their room. There are four on-site restaurants to fuel up after a day of swimming, serving everything from casual, classic Greek fare to fine dining.
Stoes Boutique Hotel
IoanninaStoes has perfected the balance between the traditional and the modern , its exposed stone walls and checkerboard floor tipping a cap to the past, while contemporary chandeliers and velvet seating pull guests back to the present day.
Rooms overlook the city and are just a stone’s throw from the Byzantine Castle of Ioannina; join a walking tour to the castle to further acquaint yourself with this wonderfully historic corner of what was once ancient Greece.
Kinsterna Hotel
Agios StefanosIf you’re seeking luxurious seclusion and are willing to travel a little further to find it, consider Kinsterna—a four-hour drive from Athens, near the medieval citadel of Monemvasia, in the Peloponnese region.
It’s a 13th-century Byzantine-era mansion whose tranquillity is largely afforded by its discrete location and thick, original stone walls. Take it easy at the spring-fed swimming pool or get hands-on with one of the hotel’s myriad traditional activities, be it learning to beekeep, harvest olives, make soap, or distill Greek spirits. If you’re craving time on the water, the hotel will happily organize a boat tour.
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Top image: Kinsterna Hotel
