The Athens Riviera is where well-heeled Athenians live when they’re not hopping around the Greek islands, and the revived Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens — the brand’s first hotel in Greece — is perhaps the most exclusive enclave on the pine-lined Astir Peninsula.
On a good day (read: no traffic), the seaside spot is just 30 minutes from the center of Athens and the historic neighborhood of Plaka, whose narrow, cobblestone streets sit under the shadow of the Acropolis. Once a hangout for Aristotle Onassis and Frank Sinatra, the 1960s modernist property underwent a major makeover, reopening in 2019.
The sprawling, 303-accommodation property features a mix of rooms, suites, villas and standalone bungalows; three sandy, private beaches; two pools; a 984-foot boardwalk with sun loungers; eight restaurants, lounges and bars; and a holistic spa with Hippocrates-inspired treatments and ancient remedies. From the hotel’s jetty or nearby Astir Marina, you can set sail on a day trip to one of the nearby islands like Poros or Hydra.