5 Best Hotels in Monemvasia, The Peloponnese

A countryside Ottoman estate has been brought back to life as one of Greece's most distinctive hotels, where courtyards, terraces, domes, vaulted ceilings, arches, stone work, fireplaces, and other architectural elements are put to dazzling effect. An outdoor dining room overhangs a centuries-old cistern and a pair of swimming pools that wind through the garden. The suites and rooms overlook acres of orange groves, vineyards (private tastings are available), and, some 32 km (20 miles) of walking trails. A well-equipped spa enhances the general air of pampering, and special mention goes to the excellent restaurants, Mourie and Sterna, which serve some of the best high-end dining in the area. Away from the property, the hotel has its own private stretch of beach, 1.5  km (1 mile) away, in Livardia for the use of guests, as well as a boutique shop in Gefira worth checking out.

Like many stays in Monemvasia, Byzantino spreads itself liberally across a half-dozen stone buildings in the Old Town. All are different and full of character, typically embellished with stone- and tile work and other distinctive decorations; some are multilevel. Less expensive rooms do not have terraces or sea views, but still retain the charm that pervades this old city. Bathrooms in most units are fitted into medieval recesses and are quite small. Breakfast at the hotel's café, near the main square, costs extra.

Accommodations in this old monastery (kellia means "cells") are fairly simple, but they are extremely appealing and face an airy square above the sea. Many are two floors, with sleeping lofts above a sitting room; most have sea views and pleasant terraces; and some have fireplaces.

A complex of restored buildings at the far edge of the Old Town (reached on a trek over sometimes steep and uneven pavement) provides atmospheric and comfortable lodgings tucked into nooks and crannies under cane-and-wood or vaulted brick ceiling. Each is decorated with good beds and handsome contemporary furnishings, along with a smattering of patchwork rugs, embroidered tapestries, and antiques. Many rooms have terraces and sea views, and some have fireplaces.

The conversion of this 500-year-old building is a thing of beauty. Owner Nektaria has created an elegant stay with just three suites branching off the main reception and bar. Their wood-beamed interiors are all different: some replete in elegant Venetian-style furnishings; others more design-led. Uniting them are views from the balconies, offering glimpses of the old fortifications creeping to the west and the seas beyond. Breakfasts are first-rate and held in Chrisovoulo café-restaurant (on the street below), which is some of the finest dining in town in the evening. The wine list there is especially good.