Patrick & Joan Leigh Fermor House

Located moments from Constitution Square and within walking distance to the city’s main attractions, the NEW Hotel provides one of Athens’ most modern lodgings with playfully cutting edge design in a place otherwise synonymous for antiquity.

There are 79 rooms and suites, all of which feature their own art installation and surrealist custom furniture, as well as comprehensive soundproofing, fine beds and blackout blinds. The Penthouse Suite is particularly noteworthy for its fine views to the Acropolis.

The rest of the hotel is strewn with bold design features and art, some made with remnants of the original hotel that once occupied the 50s modernist building, with the restaurant perhaps the most striking space. Open from breakfast until midnight, it serves new takes on Mediterranean cuisine, and oven-fresh bread and pastries from the bakery. There’s also a fabulous rooftop lounge, a bar and wellness area with a gym and spa.

Sat atop a hill surrounded by undulating olive groves, Amanzoe is a 21st-century neoclassical temple with incredible panoramic views over Argolis and down to bustling Porto Heli below.

There are 38 pavilions dotted along the hillside, each private and elegantly luxurious, opening onto terraces with private plunge pools and views of the surrounding land or sea. Each pavilion is accessed via a stone-walled courtyard, leading to a living area and king-size bed in a marble alcove. For friends and family groups, there are a collection of spacious four to nine-bedroom villas with their own chef and host.

Colonnades lead to serene garden courtyards, a vast pool and an amphitheatre, as well as the restaurant where you’ll find simple, contemporary Greek and Mediterranean dishes that emphasise locally sourced fresh ingredients delivered daily.

The Amanzoe’s expansive spa combines diet, gymnastics, exercise, massage and sea bathing with modern natural products and treatments. A gym is also available, and studios host yoga and Pilates sessions

Just ten minutes away, and easily accessed by complimentary transfers, the Amanzoe’s private beach club is set beside the azure Agean, with four swimming pools, small spa, casual eatery and overnight cabanas providing all the comforts of the pavilions. Sunbathe on the terrace, swim in the sea or discover the bay by kayak, paddle-board or snorkel. You can also charter a boat from the Aman fleet to sail to nearby islands, such as Spetses aor Hydra, or venture to off-shore diving spots. Porto Heli’s tavernas and countless ancient ruins, from the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus to Byzantine monasteries, are also all within easy reach.

The Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas sits atop the ancient acropolis of Akronafplia with fabulous sea views over the rooftops of Nafplion below.

The hotel has 51 rooms and 33 individually designed villas, many with private heated pools or outdoor Jacuzzis on terraces, looking out to the Bay of Argolis. While exteriors blend into fortified city, the style inside is decidedly modern and airy. If you don’t happen to have your own pool, the Nafplia’s dramatic infinity pool more than makes up it.

Dine on gourmet prepared with fresh local products at Amimoni Restaurant or take the elevator down through the rock to the waterfront Circle Restaurant the sister Amphitryon hotel. You can also choose to dine in private.

The Domus Renier Boutique Hotel has an enviable position on the sweeping waterfront of Chania’s Venetian harbour, the building itself the former home to the Reniers, one of Venice’s leading noble families.

There are just nine rooms and suites, each a unique blend of period features and modern comforts. Most enjoy views of the harbour and Egyptian Lighthouse while a couple have  jacuzzis.

You couldn’t be better placed to explore Chania’s old town, either on foot or on the Renier’s bicycles. You can also take boat cruises out to Crete’s hidden beaches or (between October and March) learn the secrets of Cretan cuisine on cooking lessons and market tours with the restaurant’s wonderful chef.