Fodor's Expert Review Nafplia Palace

If first impressions are everything, spare a moment for the Nafplia Palace, which is bizarrely reached via a dark, graffitied tunnel leading to a trio of battered elevators. Yet these whisk you up from the Old Town to another world entirely, where extensive grounds, spacious villas, and luxurious suites sit perched high above Nafplion on the ruins of the Frankish fortification atop Acronafplia. At first glance, the public spaces tend to be cavernous and austere, but the delightful pine-scented terraces and infinity pools seem to hang in midair, high above the city and bay. Rooms in the old hotel wing, in what was a state-run hotel in the 1970s, have recently undergone much-needed renovations. The real lure are the bungalows and villas, however, equipped with sumptuous bathrooms, sliding glass walls, and chic modern furnishings; some even have private pools and huge terraces.

Even if you're not staying here, it's worth the rickety elevator ride to visit the bar, which sits on a pine-scented terrace high above the town and is a prime spot for a sunset cocktail.