4 Best Hotels in The Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

Don’t confuse this boutique hideaway with the global chain: eight suites—named for the seasons plus Sun, Moon, Villa, and Thalassa—occupy a light-filled, 150-year-old stone mansion set directly on the pebbled Plakes Vlichou beach. It’s an easy 35-minute coastal stroll, or a five-minute taxi-boat hop, southwest of Hydra Town. Suites are uncluttered and airy, with solid wood furniture, handy kitchenettes, satellite smart-TVs, and zippy Wi-Fi; the Sun Suite is the show-stopper thanks to its vast sea-view terrace. Guests can prebook complimentary port transfers by the hotel’s speedboat and arrange sunset cruises aboard a handsome wooden cutter. The on-site beachfront restaurant is an island favorite for elegantly grilled seafood.

Quiet and secluded, this boutique hotel's peaceful quality is heightened by the landscaped mature Mediterranean garden filled with aromatic herbs, wildflowers, 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.

Mandraki Beach Resort sits on the island’s only sandy bay—a quiet, adults-only outpost with a cinematic sense of seclusion. Housed in a 19th-century naval fort, its 17 suites are all clean lines, stone walls, and understated elegance—some with private pools, others with full sea views. Expect refined service, a polished beach setup, and inventive Mediterranean food with Asian flourishes. No cars, no crowds—just a taxi boat ride away from Hydra Town and a different pace entirely.

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 pamper 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.