18 Best Hotels in The Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

This old mansion has been refurbished into a lovely boutique hotel by a descendant of the original owners, a wealthy and well-known Hydriot shipping family, without losing its original charm. You can choose from one of seven stylish rooms or suites with names like Sponges, Pigeon House, or Icons. The Pigeon House suite has a private hot tub, but all have soft and welcoming beds, warm-brown wooden antiques and sections of exposed stone walls showing off the well-crafted original masonry work. The breakfast includes freshly squeezed orange juice, warm cheese pies, and homemade jams—served in the shady Mediterranean garden.

The Hotel Apollo, built in the 1970s and gradually morphed into a resort, has a beautiful hillside location (10-minute walk from Agia Marina) above its very own private beach, which means that every room has views either of pine forest or the sparkling waters of the Argo-Saronic Gulf. Recently renovations have added a spa, minigolf as well as a resurfaced tennis court and a lovely playground for the kids. The rooms themselves are simple, bordering on basic but comfortable enough. Guests can relax on the terrace or by the pool, once again with lovely views, after a visit to the nearby Temple of Aphaia. The staff is friendly and the rooms are spotlessly clean in this still family-run hotel.

Quiet and secluded, this boutique hotel's peaceful quality is heightened by the landscaped mature Mediterranean garden filled with aromatic herbs, wild flowers, and pistachio trees. Wood pergolas, benches, and rattan armchairs, where you can curl up with a book or just spend the day staring out to sea, are inconspicuously placed throughout. Guest rooms have a sleek, minimalist feel; a sense of space and reliance on Asian wood trims and furniture adds to the Zen appeal. Many of them are designed to cater to families (special rates apply). The views from Rastoni are what people visit Greece for, a solitary ancient column of the temple of Apollo standing proudly, white against the backdrop of the sparkling blues of sea and sky. The latest attraction is the oldest: the owners have lovingly preserved the ancient ruins that came to light during construction in the lobby.

Irides is housed in a slightly quirky building, just 100 feet from the seafront, so all guest rooms and studios here get a sea view. Enjoy breakfast on the terrace next to the asymmetric pool overlooking the Saronic Gulf. In the well-kept garden there is an outdoor chess board and nearby is a beach volleyball court that hosts a popular tournament every summer; the owners also host classical music evenings and Greek cooking workshops.

Commissioned in 1796 by Catherine the Great for her lover Count Orloff—who came to Greece with a Russian fleet to try to dislodge the Turks—this archontiko mansion regained its former splendor when it was turned into a small boutique hotel. Antiques in the public (and some private) rooms have been carefully chosen—curvaceous walnut sofas, chairs, dining sets, and highboys; old paintings and lithographs; and gilt mirrors—and are beautifully offset by thick white walls and cornflower-blue window wells. Both the classic double and superior rooms have views of the town or the courtyard shaded by a mulberry tree, where the buffet breakfast is served every morning.

Set with fin-de-siècle cupolas, an imposing mansard roof, and elegant Neoclassical facade, this iconic mansion was acclaimed as the Saronic Gulf's own Hotel Le Negresco in 1914—like that Nice landmark, this hotel was built to attract the cosmopolitan ocean-liner set and Athenian aristocracy. Today, the Poseidonion has been hailed as the most elegant grand hotel in all the Greek islands. While restoration has preserved its aristocratic aura, it also brought everything into the 21st century, replete with minimal mod furniture and an abundance of elegant five-star hotel luxuries. There is a renovated historic wing and a new wing (built close to the original style) next to the main pool, but unfortunately the new wing doesn't live up to the seafacing side in any way. The hotel's restaurant offers a high-style menu of Mediterranean delicacies, while the Library Brasserie offers delicious Athenian cuisine lit up with flashes of local Spetses flavors. In collaboration with Baba Au Rum, one of Athens's finest cocktail bars, Palms bar shakes and stirs cool and colorful potions on the hotel's large terrace overlooking the gulf. Relax by the palm tree-decorated pool or treat yourself at the excellent Idolo Spa with one of the many indulgent therapies complementing the better-known massages and treatments. In the evening, experience the ultimate summer pleasure of watching old or new movies on the silver screen under the stars at the hotel's next-door Titania open-air cinema.

About 9 km (5½ miles) from Aegina Town, at the small port of Souvala, this modern bed-and-breakfast is popular with Athenians seeking relaxing weekends away from the city, and its studios (including one larger suite) can accommodate two to five people each. Every room has been decorated in a unique and colorful style. The overall effect is reminiscent of a modern dollhouse, with pistachio-color cupboards and hand-painted tables in the common kitchen and cast-iron furniture outdoors.

A three-minute walk from Hydra's bustling port, this alluring place is composed of two villas in Hydra stone, with red barrel-tile roofs and garden areas; both have been restored and renovated to a high standard. Streamlined wood furniture and soft neutral colors predominate in the spacious guest rooms, with names like Sappho and Amazon, each with unique decor. Perks include hot tubs, plasma TVs, a wonderful terrace overlooking the street, perfect for relaxation, and Korres beauty products.

An attentively restored 1779 mansion is located in the center of Aegina town. Owners Dimitra and David have managed to re-create the feel of old Aegina with convenient modern appliances, creative artwork, and splashes of bold colors. Driftwood reimagined into wall lights or table lamps adorn bedrooms accented with strong blue or burgundy colors, that make the bed (in quality white linen, of course) stand out. All the rooms open onto a shady split level courtyard. A diacritic attention to design and an eye for art means that The Boatyard is rather special, rather than tacky. The couple also have two beautiful apartments for guests in Marathonos, where the views onto the sea and the distant mountains are stirring.

An 1860 sponge factory was transformed into this charming character hotel (doors made out of old packing crates still bearing the "Piraeus sponge" stamp, etc.), which has a bevy of alluring delights, including guest-room decor accented with framed portraits, old engravings, four-poster ironwork beds, and cozy natural wood lofts, and the hotel restaurant—considered one of the island's best—which is set in the oleander-and-bougainvillea-graced courtyard. Recently spruced-up in 2019, hints of the building's rustic past are visible in the Hydriot gray stonework, exposed-timber ceilings, and wide-plank floors. The bar-restaurant tables spill out poolside, dishing out mouth-watering gourmet Mediterranean fare. Not surprisingly, regulars return year after year.

No, this is not one of the famous chain's hotels but rather a tiny hotel inspired by the magical colors of the four seasons (the Sun Suite is the cream of the crop) sweetly set in an atmospheric, fully renovated 150-year-old stone mansion. The location is a 35-minute walk from the port, or 5 minutes via water taxi or boat, right next to the pebbled Vlichos Beach (also called Plakes Vlichou in Greek). Rooms are uncluttered, with functional, solid furniture and kitchenettes, satellite flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and other amenities. Add to your experience book a short cruise on the hotel's beautiful wooden cutter. Another plus is the hotel's beachfront restaurant, renowned throughout the island for its refined seafood. Ask for the hotel's private speedboat to pick you up from the port upon arrival (and departure).

In an idyllic setting, this boutique hotel with eight relaxing, modern, and beautifully decorated guest suites offers panoramic views of the port and separate living and bedroom areas (as well as a small kitchenette). Serene whitewashed interiors predominate, and the pale hues are enhanced by colorful pillows and striped rugs designed by such well-known contemporary Greek artists as Diamantis Aidinis. The location provides great views from some rooms, but you may need to hire a mule to carry your luggage up the steep slope. The Maisonette provides the most spacious living quarters, accommodating up to four people. Clean beach towels are provided daily; bathroom toiletries are by Apivita, the trendy green Greek line.

Right in the middle of Hydra Town, this small upscale hotel has sparkling interiors with an elegant "old Greece" touch provided by an array of antique Hydriot rugs, mirrors, and lanterns—and some modern artworks by well-known Greek painters (Papanikolaou and Akrithakis to name two) thrown in to liven things up. Guest rooms are spacious and cool, with hardwood floors, classic wood furniture, and wonderful marble bathrooms; downstairs, look for a tiny patio and a comfortable breakfast room (where a buffet breakfast is served until 11 am daily). A spa faciltiy is available.

With cheerful and elegantly renovated exteriors surrounded by myriad flowers, this charming family-run, boutique-style B&B is only a few minutes' walk from the main harbor and offers great value, especially in the off-season. The clean, air conditioned and self-servicing interiors, too, will charm guests with their old-fashioned wooden shutters and beds with wrought-iron frames—just the right accents to set off the cool white, minimalist island-style rooms. Some rooms are more luxurious than others, depending on your budget and their availability. The skilled and friendly hosts make you feel at home with friendly service and an ample breakfast, as well as plenty of tips on what to see and do. And it's open year-round!

Nissia, located halfway between Dapia and Kounoupitsa, is constantly morphing and was once a textile factory, a power plant, an ice factory, and now it's a luxurious resort. What has remained the same is the sea-facing facade, which houses two-story residences scatted about lovely gardens, around a large central swimming pool. These are divided into various categories, from tower residencies and maisonettes to superior and garden studios. Each are uniquely decorated, some with more traditional Greek textiles and colors and others with typical Aegean Island hues and furnishings. Breakfast is good and served on a breezy terrace overlooking the sea.

A complex of renovated early-20th-century-listed building buildings set around a garden courtyard with a 72-foot swimming pool, comprise these lodgings. Set atop the hill above the old harbor, many of the rooms have views of red tiled roofs and colorful bougainvillea-filled gardens of the Old Town below and the sea beyond. The rooms are a tasteful juxtaposition of antique and modern with minimalist hues of whites and grays, complemented with splashes of bright color. Massage therapies and yoga lessons are now part of the resort's offerings. The Orloff Resort now also includes the Old Mansion, a beautifully renovated 1865 residences that houses up to 10 guests.

Enjoy privacy, surrounded by greenery and the beach, at this spot, which dates back to the 1970s. Waiters can bring drinks to your lounge chair on the small private beach, and breakfast can be taken in bed, on your balcony, or in the terrace Maris restaurant. Blue-carpeted rooms have wood-veneer beds covered in plaid spreads, and balconies with either a stunning sea or a town view. The helpful staff can help you arrange excursions to mainland sights, and the hotel provides transportation on arrival and departure.The hotel also offers private villas.

The well-sized and simply decorated white rooms of this quaint little hotel have cool stone floors and king-size beds, and the balconies have either sea views or views of the forested mountain, home to the Temple of Aphaia, rising behind the building. This cozy hotel punches above its weight with the excellent breakfast served on the shaded flagstone terrace at the front of the reception. Divine freshly homemade pies, cakes, and organic condiments are served up with the usual Greek breakfast suspects such as fresh fruit, yogurt, and honey.