22 Best Hotels in The Northern Aegean Islands, Greece

This storied matriarch of the Chios waterfront is perched on a point of land between the harbor and open sea, and the hotel comes with endless sea and city views, enjoyed from large balconies that open from airy, bright guest rooms finished in shades of Aegean blue and white. The town center is a short walk away, and a small pool is a welcome retreat after a day's excursion to the island sights.

Tucked away in pine trees above Tsamadou Beach, this utterly delightful hotel combines sophistication and informal style and is one of the island's most special retreats, with beautiful gardens and terraces, handsomely furnished guest rooms that open to balconies and lawns, and a sparkling pool, all overlooking the sea below. Adding to the pleasure of a stay here is attentive service, many quiet areas in which to unwind, and relaxed dining on the sea-view terrace. The beach is an easy walk away.

A peaceful large garden set in olive and citrus groves behind the beach surrounds the sparkling self-catering bungalows here, all with lots of outdoor space. The newly renovated rooms (2022) are well appointed, tasteful, comfortable and guests can wander around the sunny garden of pines, palm trees, and colorful flowers, pick organic fruit from the trees, and walk or borrow bicycles for a quick jaunt to the beach, less than a quarter mile away.

A lovingly restored complex set in mazelike village lanes stylishly combines modern luxuries and a mysterious medieval atmosphere with vaulted ceilings and thick stone walls. Offsetting the traditional surroundings are white metal-frame poster beds, midcentury furnishings, and other sophisticated touches to create an ambience that is both transporting and soothing. The owners also have an atmospheric wine bar, Kellari, a couple of doors down.

Guests soon feel like aristocrats from a lost era at this 17th-century Kambos neighborhood estate of Genoese merchants, where the lovely mansion of natural stone is surrounded by gardens fragrant with orange blossoms. Painstakingly restored in local style, the main house and two smaller buildings, with their large, high-ceilinged guest rooms look out to the orchards and are filled with antique furnishings and the scent of jasmine. Common rooms have books and board games, and the wonderful terraces are ideal for reading and relaxing.

A little away from the buzz of Molyvos, this cluster of traditional red-roof buildings offers ample chance to relax, with nice grounds, pleasant beachside rooms opening to verandas, and a couple of swimming pools—hard to find in Molyvos. Greek nights, yoga classes, and cooking lessons are among the many activities geared to keeping guests entertained, though best of all may be lying in a lounger and enjoying views that extend out to sea and up to the castle.

This modern adults-only resort takes its inspiration from traditional Samian villages with earthy colors, vibrant vegetation, and many water features echoing the lush island landscape. The well-proportioned rooms have balconies or terraces while the swim-up suites suit those who like to be right by the water. Laid-back luxury is the key here with textured fabrics, stone walls, and marble bathrooms featuring, while the breezy Beach House serves a buffet breakfast and a mediterranean menu of grilled meats and fish.

In these handsome terra-cotta-roofed bungalows, soothing color palettes and lots of wood accents invite relaxation, while views from the verandas take in the sea, Petra, and Molyvos, and a small beach follows the bay beneath the L-shape pool. A buffet breakfast is served on the terrace overlooking the gardens and the sea, while the on-site taverna serves dishes made with local seasonal ingredients. Guests can hop on the shuttle bus to explore Petra.

The closest thing the south coast has to a resort is this attractive white enclave of airy and comfortable accommodations clustered around gardens and a sparkling pool at the back of seaside Emborios. The tile and wood floored rooms and apartments, some with kitchenettes, are a bit more urbanely stylish than you might expect to find in such a remote place, and sitting areas all open on to breeze-catching balconies. A few shops and tavernas are within walking distance, as is the glorious beach of Mavra Volia, and Pirgi is just up the road.

Recently renovated, Evangelia Studios offers visitors a charming stay in the heart of seaside Sigri---it's a two-minute walk from the beach and a minute from the Natural History Museum, and the accommodations are simple but elegant, reflecting the back-to-basics charm of the village. Meticulously clean, rooms come with kitchenettes, neat bathrooms, and private balconies with sea views. The owners also have a villa with a pool set amid olive trees just outside the village to rent.

White bungalows glistening with terra-cotta roofs stand along winding paths lined with roses and lavender next to a sparkling pool, making it easy to settle into this friendly enclave just steps from Pythagorio Beach. Guest rooms are modern and minimal with the newer deluxe rooms the pick. This a place for simple pleasures; take breakfast on the vine-covered terrace, relax in a lounge chair on the hotel's beach across the road, or enjoy a meal in the home-style taverna.

A tranquil setting on the outskirts of Samos Town comes with a refreshing pool and nice views of Vathi Bay and the mountains beyond. Quiet, peaceful and private, it is only a five-minute walk from the beach. A major renovation in 2021 has given a relaxed and calm atmosphere with a neutral decor and luxurious marble bathrooms. Lunch and dinner service in the covered Elea restaurant veranda is commendable, with fresh tastes of Samos.

A Neoclassical villa built in 1917 is these days a welcoming and character-filled waterside inn with parquet floors and marble staircases that is both quirky and comfortable. Most rooms have wonderful sea views, and the hotel is full of intriguing nooks and crannies. Most of the high-ceilinged guest rooms have balconies, some are equipped with Jacuzzi bathtubs, and all have a scattering of period furnishings. A large breakfast is served under frescoed ceilings.

Some of the island's most atmospheric digs are in an 1880s stone mansion, where high, frescoed ceilings, friezes, and antique furniture set the mood. More utilitarian are the fresh and bright regular rooms and studios in modern annexes separated from the mansion by a beautiful pool, an Oleander draped walkway and a grove of tall pines. Handy for the airport and within well-kept grounds, the hotel is a good option for those who value their privacy. An on-site restaurant is open in July and August.

A former olive press, complete with a landmark chimney, has been renovated to a fine degree—the hotel has a boutique feel, and the chic rooms are large, airy, and best of all, benefit from dramatic sea views with waves crashing against the thick stone exterior wall, below windows that open wide on to Delfinia Beach. There is a handsome pool, and the breakfast area is a nice place to start the day.

Surrounded by big, flowery gardens, these comfortably furnished apartments open to wide verandas and seem a world removed from the beach scene just down the lane. All units have well-equipped kitchens and nicely outfitted bathrooms, and some larger apartments have two baths. If you fancy a change from Kokkari beach, the pretty cove at Tsamadou, with its shallow water, pine trees, and sun loungers, is an easy walk away.

In the center of Mytilini, this old, carefully renovated house a block inland from the harbor is a solid, honest, moderately priced choice with some flair. Surrounded by tavernas, bars, and shops, it is a great base for those passing through, and for those who want to explore the island. Guest rooms all have exposed stonework and some have sea views, with those at the rear being noticeably quieter. 

Fresh, contemporary bungalows lie amid Mediterranean-style gardens meters from a gorgeous pool and a beautiful, secluded beach. The airy, pastel-hue guest quarters, some with their own plunge pools, look out to sparkling sea views and purple-hue Turkish mountains from their balconies. The list of amenities is much longer than you would expect from a relatively small, intimate resort like this: deluxe spa, a tennis court, transport from and to the beach via the hotel's golf buggy, four international restaurants, as well as three bars, one tucked along the hotel's peaceful stretch of shoreline. Service combines Greek hospitality with a high level of professionalism.

On the edge of town by Gagou beach, all the rooms at the Samos Bay Hotel enjoy balcony views over the sea. Ask for one of the fresh and modern refurbished rooms, which make a great base for exploring the island or simply relaxing by the pretty pebbly cove. Sunsets are best taken from the summery restaurant balcony while the breakfast area serves island specialties among the regular offerings. Staff are very friendly and a good source of information about the best the island has to offer.

Most of the rooms and their balconies at this delightful stone-fronted presence on Molyvos harbor overlook the photogenic quay—the lobby even extends into a lively cobblestoned waterfront tavern that's a great place to pass the time. Rooms are simply decorated but charming with painted wood furniture—the one overlooking the village rather than the sea is full of island atmosphere. 

On a headland, this small complex sits amid pine trees with views across to the port and adjacent Lefkathia beach. Apartments are spread out like a tiny village in attractive red-roofed buildings with herb-scented terraces to take advantage of the splendid sunsets. Rooms are large and airy and well-appointed with kitchenettes, fireplaces, and sofabeds in many. The harbor taverns are a short walk down the hill, or drive into Volissos itself for an evening strolling the cobbled stone lanes.

This offbeat retreat surrounded by peaceful gardens that run down to the water is a beloved island institution, a favorite of scores of return visitors. The graceful ambience and the simple yet comfortable quarters, all with terraces, ensure that guests feel as if they've settled into a private paradise. The friendly nature-loving staff serve delicious family-style meals on the seaside verandas and lead insightful and fun excursions that include nature walks along donkey trails that conclude with a meal at a taverna only the locals know.