Ostraco Suites

As a travel destination Mykonos is certainly no well-kept secret, its streets and beaches often crowded with throngs of tourists. Novelty isn’t everything, though, and the considerable natural charms of the Greek islands are still there to be experienced, if you know where to look.

And you don’t have to go far to get away from it all. High on a hillside above the city center you’ll find the Ostraco Suites, a stunning complex of 21 whitewashed suites with an astonishing view of the Aegean and the sort of private and insular atmosphere that only a small family-owned hotel can provide. It’s anything but old-fashioned, though — Ostraco has kept pace with the times, switching over to solar heating and adding massage, personal training and yoga instruction on request.

Each suite is individually decorated, stylish, contemporary rather than modern. Here white-on-white isn’t a design conceit but a nod to tradition, and hand-crafted beds and antique flourishes sit comfortably alongside sleek modern pieces and smart tiled bathrooms. Kitchenettes are standard, and the “executive” suites, despite the name, seem built for relaxation, complete with outdoor Jacuzzis.

The fact that there are not one but two wedding chapels on-site should give you some idea of what kind of place Ostraco is. Mykonos’s town and beaches are easily accessible, but a visit is by no means obligatory — for many, the hotel’s poolside bar and organic Greek restaurant are the perfect alternative to the bars and clubs in town.

Please note: Ostraco Suites is open seasonally from May through October.

How to get there:
Mykonos can be easily reached by plane or ferry. Flight time from Athens is approximately 45 minutes.

Ferries from Athens' Pireaus port to Mykonos take approximately 7.5 hours. Ferries from Santorini (Thira) to Mykonos are approximately 2 hours.