This Clifftop Sanctuary Was Just Named the No. 1 Resort in Greece—With Glittering Aegean Sea Views All Around


Home to roughly 6,000 islands, Greece isn’t exactly short on vacation-ready resorts. Factor in beloved mainland destinations like the Athenian Riviera, and you can see why the competition for the country’s best resort hotels is fierce. And yet, this year’s World’s Best Award winners show that a few classics stood the test of time—and for good reason.

Keep reading to see which Greek resort hotels made it to the top of the pack.

How Voting Works

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

While travelers seeking to escape crowds often choose to venture to lesser-known Greek destinations like the Peloponnese or Thessaly, hotel-lovers flock to the Cyclades’ glamorous shores, where two of this year’s reader-favorite resorts are located—including our winner.  Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, located on Mykonos’ Ornos Bay, is home to the island’s only private sandy beach, which helped land it in second place. (Readers will recognize the family-owned hotel from last year’s list, where it came in third.) However, you don’t need to hop on a ferry to soak up seaside ambience and five-star service. The Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens (No. 3) is located on a 75-acre coastal stretch just a half-hour from the Acropolis. Back in the day, this beachfront hideaway played host to the likes of Jackie Onassis and Brigitte Bardot. Now, operating under the Four Seasons flag, it shines anew, with a “wonderful setting, great service, and high-end finishes,” said one reader.

The Winner

Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection: Santorini, Greece

Tryfon Georgopoulos/Auberge Resorts Collection Interior of a Deluxe Room with a private plunge pool at Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection.

Tryfon Georgopoulos/Auberge Resorts Collection

Interior of a Deluxe Room with a private plunge pool at Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection.

This clifftop Santorini sanctuary climbed its way from the No.9 spot on last year’s list all the way to the top. It’s easy to see why—there are just 23 rooms, and many have a plunge pool. The property also has spectacular sunset views (with none of the crowds of Oia and its whitewashed Cycladic architecture promotes that quintessential Greek, indoor/outdoor flow, while showcasing the glittering Aegean Sea at every turn. There are plenty of unexpected extras, too, like the option to select a custom scent for your private suite. “This is one of the most breathtaking settings in the world,” gushed one traveler. Another raved about the “amazing food” from Varoulko Santorini (the first Greek restaurant to get a Michelin star), which is helmed by Lefteris Lazaro. “Simply a dream hotel,” another reader said.

World’s Best Awards 2025

The Full List

1. Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection: Santorini, Greece
Reader Score: 99.00

2. Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos: Greece
Reader Score: 97.18

3. Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens
Reader Score: 94.50

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