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Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Base: Where to Stay in Greece
With over 2000 islands, each offering their own unique experience and with their own reasons for you to visit, choosing where to stay in Greece can be a daunting task. Luckily for you, we’re here to help you find the perfect island or mainland retreat. Imagine golden beaches, crystal clear waters and scorching sun. No, these aren’t just travel cliches you’ve read over and over again, this is the reality of a holiday in Greece.
From calm, beachside villas and quiet resorts to bustling bars and lively cities, there’s no end to the variety of days you can have in Greece. Island to island, resort to resort, take your pick from our list below and you’ll soon find yourself with memories that’ll last a lifetime and a thirst to return on another unforgettable getaway.
Matching the Destination to Your Traveller Persona
The best areas for first-time visitors
Travelling to Greece for the first time? Well, why not start off easy with somewhere just a short direct flight away? Sitting just off Greece mainland’s west coast, you can fly to Corfu in just a few short hours. Beautiful beaches, delicious food, scorching sun and an endless list of incredible places to visit in Corfu tie in perfectly with the island’s easy-to-navigate resorts, such as Paramonas or Sidari, giving you the perfect opportunity to enjoy a hassle-free holiday.
Need another easy option for your first time picking somewhere to stay in Greece? Why not try Crete, a perfect example of a Greek island fit for everyone. The largest of all the Greek islands, take your pick from Chania, Heraklion or any other beautiful resort, and you’ll be treated with incredible sunset spots, stunning stretches of shoreline and plenty of tasty and authentic Greek dishes.
Top regions for families & child-friendly beaches
If you’re wondering where to stay in Greece with your family or with a couple of kids in tow, there aren’t many places better than Rhodes. Make memories that will last a lifetime together whilst enjoying a splash about in your villa’s private pool before heading out and exploring all that resorts such as Dodecanse and Lardos have to offer. The perfect base for a family day out, you can have restaurants, tavernas and activities all within a stone’s throw of your villa’s front door.
Another great island for families figuring out where to stay in Greece is Crete, with its wide variety of activities ranging from culture filled trips to ancient sites, to winding slides and wave pools at thrilling waterparks. Pick from a tour of the ruins of the Palace of Knossos, a viewing of the sealife at CRETAquarium, or any of the other best things to do in Crete for an unforgettable Crete family holiday.
There’s no better way to enjoy a Greek holiday than with your own villa. With private gated pools to keep your young ones safe at all times, kick back, relax and enjoy everything at your own pace on a family villa holiday in Greece.
Romantic escapes for couples & honeymooners
Picture it, you, me, the sea, our private pool, a bottle of wine. Lush. Well, maybe it’s a nicer thought with your significant other. Don’t worry, I understand. It’s me, not you. Either way, Greece is a fantastic option for a romantic retreat with your loved one, especially when it comes to Kefalonia and Lefkas.
With all the charm of Santorini but without the crowded hotels, Kefalonia and Lefkas are ideal locations for an unforgettable villa holiday. Picture sandy beaches, jaw dropping sunsets and a laidback atmosphere in the local restaurants and tavernas that will make you feel as welcomed as a local on your evenings exploring the nearby towns and villages. There’s only one way to make the most of an escape to these islands with a loved one and that’s with your own private villa.
Choose Your Specific Resort Base
Crete: Rethymno vs. Elounda
It’s always a little tricky choosing where to stay in Greece, even once you’ve decided on the island you’re wanting to jet off to. Crete is no exception with many dreamy resorts to choose from spread out across the huge island - choosing the right base sets the tone for your entire holiday. Now, you may be wondering which is better, Rethymno or Elounda? There’s only one way to find out… and that’s by reading the next couple of paragraphs.
Rethymno is an easy answer for families looking for an easy escape. Fly into Chania or Heraklion (Rhethymno is about halfway between the two), hire a car or airport transfers to make your way to the resort, and then once you’re there you’ve got all you need right there. Museums, beaches, adventurous days out, it can all be found in and around Rethymno.
Elounda is equally as impressive, but maybe for a different kind of trip. Infinity pools, boujee cocktails and stunning sunsets, it’s an influencer’s dream come true. A real gem for those looking for a holiday that takes things to another level, you can really do it all around Elounda. If sunbathing by your private pool, sitting at gorgeous beach bars and filling your phone storage with photos is your kind of vibe, Elounda is the place to be.
So, which one is better, Rethymno or Elounda? Well, we’ll let you decide!
Corfu: The Northeast Coast vs. The South
The north or south? No, this isn’t an episode of Game of Thrones, it’s a question on where to stay in Greece, and the answer can be chosen by you. To the north, you’ll find Kassiopi, known for its ‘boutique seclusion’ - or as we like to say, it’s perfect for those who love a bit of ‘JOMO’ - the joy of missing out. It’s calm, it’s quiet, it’s quaint, it’s got everything you need for a relaxing holiday on Corfu’s north coast.
The sunny south is equally as impressive, with bustling resorts, endless activities and a penchant for nightlife that can quickly go from a quiet sunset drink by the sea to boogying away on the dancefloor until the early hours of the morning. If cocktails on the beach are what you’re craving, you can make it a reality every day with an escape to Crete or Rhodes, both providing ample opportunities to relax on their sandy shores.
Can’t be bothered to trek all the way to the beach (even if it’s on your doorstep?) Well, a Greek villa holiday is the solution you’re looking for. Private pool, sunloungers, your own home away from home and a fridge filled with chilled beverages - does it get much better than that?
Rhodes: The Walkable Charm of Lindos & Pefkos
We’ve all been there, you’ve touched down on the sunny shores of your dream holiday destination, the thought of “get me to the beach NOW” is going through your head. You see a sign with your name on it being held at arrivals, you get in the taxi, and so begins the longest drive of your life, winding up and up a hill to the point where the sea looks like a small pond on the horizon. Well, if you’re wondering where to visit in Greece that you won’t have to face that problem, Rhodes is your best bet.
Imagine waking up bleary eyed, feeling a cool sea breeze blowing past the curtains and hearing waves slowly roll onto the beach that lies just a stone’s throw from the front door - that’s what a villa holiday in Rhodes is all about! Shops, restaurants, cafes, tavernas, activities, beaches, watersports, you name it, Rhodes has it all within walking distance with its quaint villages perfect for a car free escape.
Here’s why Corfu wins:
- Lush landscapes
- Shorter travel times
- Boutique charm
It’s the perfect blend, affordable luxury with fairly short flight times, what’s not to love? Enjoy kicking back and relaxing by your private pool whilst staring out onto jaw dropping landscapes, heading out in the evening for a cocktail or two by the sea and then wake up the day after ready to do it all again.
Here’s why Crete wins:
- Exploration
- Long road trips
- Archaeological adventures
The biggest (and possibly the best, but we’ll let you decide) Greek island, Crete, is an easy choice when it comes to exploring a sun soaked paradise. From east to west, there’s so much to explore around this huge landmass that rises out of the Mediterranean Ocean. If you really want to make the most of a Crete holiday, don’t miss out on hiring a car to enjoy road trips that will take you around some of the most scenic coastal roads you can find in all of Greece.
Where to Stay in Greece: Hotel or Villa?
The 7am sunbed dash vs. total privacy
Whether you're an ancient history enthusiast, a thrill-seeker or beach buff, there’s nothing that doesn’t go perfectly with having your own private pool. Make the most of whichever island you choose by taking a private dip during the heat of the midday sunshine and explore the attractions when the temperatures cool slightly - something you simply can’t do with the strict schedules of an all inclusive hotel.
A villa is appealing in countless ways – you can remain isolated from strangers and avoid rushing for sunbeds every morning, while freedom and flexibility means no fixed meal times, dress codes or strict rules.
Heated pools: solving the “early season” worry
We’ve all been there, you’re staring at the ever so inviting water of the pool, you dip your toes in and gah, it’s freezing cold. Well, with heated pools that’s a thing of the past. Fortunately many villas in Greece come with heated pools, usually free during the colder months and at a small extra charge when things heat up.
Less crowds, quieter resorts and a warm pool, if you’re left questioning where to go in Greece, the answer is anywhere so long as you’ve got a villa to call your own.
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- 9 Guests
- 4 Bedrooms
- 3 Bathrooms
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Made your mind up yet? Greece is so wonderfully diverse that no matter where you go, you'll have a unique experience every single time. If you need one piece of advise before booking your next escape to Greece, keep this in mind: choose your base carefully, the location of where you decide to stay is just as important as which resort you choose!
For a full ranking of the islands by beach and food scores, see our Top 10 Greek Islands guide.
Where to Stay in Greece FAQs
There’s really no right answer to the question on where the best place to visit in Greece is, each resort from the mainland to each unique island is packed with reasons to visit. Take your pick on which region speaks to you the most and start your journey exploring Greece with a villa holiday that will keep you coming back for more.