Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens is the best luxury resort hotel in Athens. It is on the coast rather than in the center of the city but offers an outstanding base from which to explore both.
Athens’ eclectic and dynamic nature stretches from the city’s center to its sun-kissed coastline and Blue Flag beaches. Amid the surroundings of nature and the deep blue sea, visitors can experience an entirely different pace along the Athenian Riviera.
Why We Love This Hotel
The dramatic Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens is pictured above. It is located on the newly revived Athens Riviera, on the end of a pine-covered peninsula in Vouliagmeni. If you’ve ever had to make the tough decision between staying in Athens or going to an island resort, Four Seasons Astir Palace has it covered in one seaside destination.
Four Seasons offers the best of both worlds: a laid-back seaside escape just 30 minutes from the historical city center. Discover the wonders of ancient civilization at the Acropolis, then return to Four Seasons to unwind and relax.
Location
The 30-hectare (75-acre) sanctuary of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel, located just 30 minutes from the Greek capital’s historic center, is the latest in a string of accolades since the iconic seaside sanctuary reopened in 2019 following a EUR 650 million renovation.
Situated at the tip of a pine-clad peninsula in the former legendary Astir Palace, the hotel is a convenient 30 minutes from the airport, or you can arrive by boat as the hotel has direct access to the water. For a more dramatic transfer, arrive by helicopter directly into the hotel’s own private helipad. For central Athens and the Acropolis, expect a 45-minute drive.
If you can bear to drag yourself away from this paradise on earth to try out the Greek islands, hire a boat, and you can sail directly to the islands from the hotel’s tender.
Style & Character
This modernist 1960s landmark is an iconic destination that has welcomed VIPs, from foreign leaders to film stars. The secluded private sandy beach inside the complex was the beach that Brigitte Bardot famously posed for photographers in her pink bikini in 1969 and is not to be missed. Jackie Onassis and Frank Sinatra also stayed at this iconic hotel.
Expect the usual Four Seasons extravagance with oodles of marble and mind-blowing flower arrangements in the lobby. Astron Lounge and Terrace is the place to go for light fare, afternoon tea, and cocktails. There is an elegant Avra Lounge and Terrace, and enjoy the Hotel’s homage to the Astir Palace’s golden age at Aristotle’s cigar and cognac lounge. Four Seasons also offers chairside food and beverage service at its outdoor pools and beaches.
Service & Facilities
Today’s guests come for lazy days that segue into languid nights by the three private sandy coves and two pools. The three private coves with pristine beaches and crystal clear water strung together by a thousand-foot boardwalk. That’s 300 meters for those of us who work in the metric system.
The hotel also has three pools; a free-form family pool; a sleek infinity pool, and an indoor lap pool.
There are also five tennis courts, myriad watersports from windsurfing to sea kayaking plus a sunset sail every evening, an onsite basketball court, and a golf club just steps away. Extensive trails for jogging and walking, a fully supervised complimentary Kids for All Seasons program housed in its own facility.
Enjoy adrenaline-fuelled water sports across a sparkling bay, on-site gastronomic odysseys at eight restaurants, lounges and bars, and indulgence at the adults-only, Hippocrates-inspired spa.
The Spa at Four Seasons offers a comprehensive menu of treatments and services attuned to modern life. The Fountain House is their hydrotherapy zone inspired by ancient Greek traditions updated in state-of-the-art facilities that include an aroma steam grotto, hammam, vitality pool, and chill showers. Experienced spa-goers will delight in their innovative, results-oriented treatments, while those in serious need of relaxation and pampering will be very well taken care of.
Adventurers are just 45 minutes from both the Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon, while the Hotel’s ocean-edge location enables exploratory boat trips to the hidden coves and sleepy villages of the rugged Saronic and Cyclades islands.
Recent new on-site additions include a professional Tennis Academy in partnership with Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis – which will play host to the inaugural Riviera Masters Open Tennis Tournament October 7-8, 2023 – and the evolution of Avra, the Hotel’s striking sea-view destination bar, rooted in an impassioned commitment to pure pleasure.
Rooms
303 rooms are housed in two distinct buildings, Arion and Nafsika, and a collection of private bungalows. These accommodations range from light-filled rooms and suites to ultra-exclusive garden cottages.
At Arion, with its modernist architecture and retro-chic design, guests will find a laid-back vibe expressed in breezy rooms and suites. Four of the Hotel’s restaurants and lounges are also here, along with the Spa and indoor pool.
At Nafsika, the larger of the two, azure sea views dominate every room and suite, including some with private pools. The atmosphere in this building is more lively, and this is usually where families with children are placed. It is worth noting that the bathrooms here have wonderful mosaic marble floors and are glass-fronted, so you can enjoy the ocean view while you in the bathtub. The social hub Avra Lounge and Terrace is here, along with two other restaurants, the fitness center, and several luxury boutiques.
For guests seeking more space and privacy, and perhaps a little nostalgia, Four Seasons offers The Bungalows, originally built in the early 1960s and now reborn with a fresh look and up-to-date amenities for today’s travelers.
Food & Drink
An International Tour Begins with Contemporary Greek Cuisine. Helmed by Executive Chef Bertrand Valegeas, who brings more than a quarter century’s experience in kitchens all over the world, the Hotel’s culinary offering is as diverse as Greek culture. Perhaps the more noteworthy feature of all the dining venues is the views, which are extravagant and wonderful and can be enjoyed wherever you choose to eat. Perhaps the highlight for me is the Avra bar, where you can enjoy magical sunset drinks and cocktails to match the rose-tinted glow of a Greek sunset beyond.
Conclusion
Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens offers access to the best of Greece; UNESCO heritage sites, seaside serenity and island excursions, all from a single resort-style setting,
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Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts.
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