The longer your stay at Four Seasons Astyle Palace Hotel Athens, the better the quality becomes. Set on a pine-covered peninsula on the Athens Riviera. The resort occupies 75 acres at the tip of the Lemos Peninsula, with the land jutting out into the Saronic Gulf, as if it was placed there specifically for the views.
This is a legendary property. Opened in 1961, Palais Astaire soon became the Mediterranean playground of choice for Aristotle Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, Frank Sinatra and Jacqueline Kennedy. The Four Seasons Hotel opened in 2019 after a $650 million renovation.
It was the first Four Seasons hotel in Greece (the second to come to Mykonos), and its flagship restaurant Pelagos has since won a Michelin star, making the hotel one of the highest culinary specialty hotels on Greek soil.
The best time to visit is between May and June or September – warm enough for a beach vacation, but quiet enough to make the resort feel like it's your own. July and August are sunny, but also busy peak seasons that can dilute the quiet, elegant qualities of a property.
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Room selection
There are three accommodation options – Arion, Nafsika and The Bungalows – each with their own unique features to choose from.
nafsika This is where I coach most families. Each room and suite faces the pool and sea, with standard floor-to-ceiling windows and a furnished terrace. The building is closest to the main beach, poolside restaurants and fitness center (the resort’s social engine). this Navska Seaview Suites It comfortably accommodates two adults and two children, and there are connecting rooms if you want connected but separate sleeping areas.
Arion is the quieter, more contemplative wing – a modernist sensibility, a slightly calmer atmosphere. this Arion Panoramic Two-Bedroom SuiteThe corner configuration features a wrap-around balcony and unobstructed Aegean Sea views, making it the perfect choice for families looking for multi-room space. The building also offers connecting rooms.
bungalow Here's the hotel's most 1960s charm – 61 free-standing retreats tucked among the pine trees near the northern beaches, many with private plunge pools or spacious terraces. The trade-off: They're located further away from the main resort amenities, meaning Nafsika Pools and most dining options are within walking or golf cart rides. If you're traveling with young children or just want to be as close to the action as possible, Nafsika is the more practical option.
The hotel is one of our preferred partner hotels and offers exclusive travel advisor rates (in addition to publishing this magazine, we are a Virtuoso agency). Our customers receive free daily breakfast, resort points, upgrades, early check-in and late check-out subject to availability. Don’t leave vacation money on the table!
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Pool and beach
This is truly one of the most outstanding pool and beach combinations among luxury hotels in Europe.
The resort has three private beaches, each with a slightly different orientation, meaning there's almost always a beach that's naturally shielded from the afternoon wind. Unlike the Pacific Ocean surf conditions found in many Mexican hotels, the Aegean waters here are calm, clear and truly suitable for swimming by children and adults alike.
There are also plenty of pool options here. The Nafsika Main Pool is a gorgeous, well-serviced blue pool that is the heart of the resort. The adults-only infinity pool adjacent to the Arion building is relatively quiet: even if you can only experience it once, it's worth an hour.
The spa has a separate indoor pool facing floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for shoulder seasons or serious swimmers who prefer a private morning. The water sports center on the beach offers kayak, paddleboard and snorkel rentals, and cabanas are available at all main beach areas.
Four Seasons Hotel Athens Location
Choosing a resort on the Athens Riviera instead of a hotel in the city center is a bet that can pay compound interest for a family trip. It is approximately 45 minutes from Athens International Airport (ATH), 45 minutes from the cruise port and only 30 minutes from the Acropolis. Such a nice resort deserves more than just a night before departure mediterranean cruise.
this Temple of Poseidon at Cape SounionVisible from the terrace on a clear night, Pelagos, a 45-minute drive away, is one of the region's most evocative ancient ruins – arrive at sunset and the lights will take care of you.
Our favorite experiences in Athens included a wonderful family-run olive oil tasting and a sidecar tour of the city and a climb up Taxiarches Hill for great views of the city and Acropolis.
resort activities
The selection of activities here is impressive. Tennis courts, a full tennis academy and basketball courts are just the beginning. Yoga, Pilates, core training and spinning classes are available every week, and the 24-hour fitness center with Technogym equipment facing the seafront is one of the best hotel gyms in Europe.
The hotel’s museum-quality art collection—mainly Greek modern works and pieces associated with the Benaki Museum—makes a stroll through the public spaces feel like a slow gallery tour. Open-air cinemas are a solid choice for a family evening.
What really sets Astir Palace apart is its boating programme. Guests can explore the Saronic Gulf Islands aboard the Technohull Rib Boat, stopping at hidden sea caves and having lunch at the port-front fish tavern of Hydra or Spetses before returning in the late afternoon. The adjoining Astir Marina, with 59 superyacht berths and a strip of designer boutiques and waterfront restaurants, adds to the lively social space, which feels fitting given the hotel's jet-set history.
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Four Seasons Astyre Palace Kids Club
Suitable for kids in all seasons is the signature children's program of Four Seasons Hotels and operates year-round at Astyre Palace. The program is free for hotel guests and children under 12 years old are welcome, and children under 4 must be accompanied by a parent during the course. Activities include tennis lessons, cooking classes, arts and crafts, supervised beach time and alfresco movie nights. Teens can enjoy water sports, the hotel's game room (my son loves going there every day) and the many fitness classes.
Four Seasons Astir Palace Spa
The spa at Astir Palace fully adheres to the teachings of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who practiced medicine on the nearby island of Kos. Bring a map. It's huge. I felt like I was on a futuristic movie set, searching for a break room after treatment.
sign josie foot ritual Use herbal compresses and Greek exfoliation techniques from ancient times. A range of mineral-rich body treatments feature local ingredients, with a seasonal ritual menu that changes with the calendar.
spa area – called fountain house — Includes aromatic steam rooms, cold showers, saunas and Turkish baths. For teenagers, we offer select treatments – please check with the spa when booking to confirm current minimum ages as these may change seasonally. Note: For teenagers who want a gorgeous treatment, the on-site hair and beauty salon may be a good option.
meal
Astir Palace has eight restaurants, lounges and bars.
PelagosThe Michelin-starred restaurant in the Arion building is the headline news. Chef Luca Piscazzi’s multi-course menu is one of Greece’s most evocative gastronomic experiences—think cold pasta with caviar and clams, mint ceviche with yellowtail and pistachios, white eggplant with pork belly and oysters—with dishes that reflect both technical skill and a sense of place. A frank note to families: Pelagos does not accept children under 12, so plan accordingly and reserve an adults-only dinner.
For everyday dining, the selection is plentiful and the quality is reliable. Tavern 37 Carefully prepared Greek cuisine is served and can be enjoyed with equal enthusiasm by children and adults. HeliosThe Latin American-style Nafsika Poolside Grill easily handles casual daytime dining. MercatoItalian bistro Pranzo della Domenica's Sunday brunch wins props for creating a slow morning around it. Matsuhisa Athens by Nobu Bringing a global Japanese fusion menu to the terrace above the Saronic Gulf, the setting alone is enough to justify your visit. No matter where you choose to have breakfast, it's a satisfying experience – and the day is already won when it starts on your patio.
If you book your hotel through Luxe Recess, you will receive free VIP benefits such as resort points, welcome gifts, daily breakfast for two per bedroom, and you will be placed in the highest priority category for upgrades. understand these Welfare.
Final Thoughts on the Four Seasons Astyre Palace
More than almost any resort in Europe, the Four Seasons Astir Palace is two things at once: it is both a completely self-contained beach resort that one never needs to leave, and a special base in one of the world's great cultural destinations. The amenities here are some of the most consistent I've experienced at a Four Seasons hotel. The catering program is truly outstanding. Three private beaches have calm, swimmable waters, making this a great place for families of all ages.
As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, I booked the Astyre Palace Hotel as a VIP, ensuring you get free breakfast, accommodation points and priority upgrades before your luggage arrives. I'd really love to help you get there.
