Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens

The Astir Palace opened in the 1960s at the tip of a pine-covered peninsula at Vouliagmeni, a landmark of the Athens Riviera's golden years, and reopened as a Four Seasons in 2019 after a full modernisation. The estate covers 30 hectares with three private beaches on the Aegean, and the Acropolis and the historic centre are about 30 minutes away. Rooms are divided among three settings: Arion, relaxed and a little retro; Nafsika, with sea views and some private pools; and The Bungalows, which keep the feel of the resort's early years. The terraced build gives rooms broad balconies over the water, and sea-facing cabanas line the shore. Eight restaurants, lounges and bars include Taverna 37 and Mercato, and Pelagos, where chef Luca Piscazzi holds one Michelin star for Mediterranean cooking with Italian and French influence. Diners there draw cards naming seasonal ingredients, such as red prawns and Aegean dentex, and let chance shape the menu. The spa draws on the teachings of Hippocrates and uses Greek ingredients in its rituals.