With two coastal Rivieras offering idyllic views, high-value properties and an exceptional lifestyle, Southern Athens and the Peloponnese are re-establishing Greece as a real contender for those looking to invest in upscale real estate. This is further bolstered by ambitious new developments, great investment opportunities and expert-led real-estate trends.
The Peloponnese Riviera is long revered for its scattered beaches, secluded coves and suitability for yachting, and has been recently recognised as a Greek Riviera. This exceptional reputation has only been solidified by the region’s famous visitors, classy villas and successful high-end developments.
The Athenian Riviera, a stretch of high-value land across the south coast
of Athens, is widely seen as a solid investment area. The sale of high-end properties is breaking records, and rumours suggest this particular Riviera may soon overtake the French Riviera as the wealthy investor’s coastline of choice.
Greece’s high-end real-estate market is blossoming due to a period of stable growth; requests for luxury property have increased twofold in the last year alone. To explore this, JamesEdition has spoken with Golden Land Goutos.
Experience Greece
Porto Heli
Also known as the Greek Riviera, this is one of the most exclusive vacation areas in Greece. Many luxury hotels, amazing villas, restaurants, taverns, snack bars, cosy cafés, bars and nightclubs are on offer to those who seek out pleasure and extravagance during their vacations.
Breathtaking nature surrounds the beautiful green bay with a large, newly-built marina facility that is a must-visit spot because of its famous visitors and their yachts. The bay with the lacy seashore of turquoise waters creates a surreal picture that resembles a film setting.
Porto Heli can be the home base for you to explore the surrounding areas — such as taking a small cruise to nearby islands Spetses, Hydra or the pretty island of Spetses, otherwise known as ‘Isola Di Spezzie’ (Island Of Aromas), so-named by the Venetians because of its many aromatic herbs.
The area’s numerous beaches are definitely worth visiting. Few pebbled beaches can be reached by foot from the port of Ermioni, but the most beautiful places to swim are found a short drive away.
Water sports, diving and hiking combined with relaxing excursions to the nearby breathtaking, organized or secluded beaches make the various areas of Porto Heli the ultimate destination.
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Southern Suburbs of Athens
Perhaps one of the glossiest districts in Athens, Glyfada hosts many trendy restaurants, trattorias, hip wine bars, cafés and delis, and has a sizeable shopping area with edgy boutiques and concept stores as well as beauty bars. Glyfada is also home to many clubs where you can enjoy Greek nightlife.
Both non-organized and organized beaches with water-sports facilities, accompanied by seaside cafés and two marinas that host a number of yachts, line the Glyfada seafront, which is easily reached from downtown Athens by tram or bus. Here you can spend a fantastic day on the sea or even sail across the Saronic Gulf to discover small islands nearby.
About 1km further south is the prestigious Asteras Beach Resort, a long, privately-developed stretch of sandy coast divided into leisure hubs with valet parking and all-day offerings, including an adults-only seafront pool and beach bar, and a famous chic café-restaurant. Charming villas, luxurious hotels and the Glyfada Golf Club (the only golf course in Attica and the oldest one in Greece) add to the picture.
Bordering Glyfada, the area of the former Athens airport at Hellinikon is sparsely populated and has gradually evolved into a neighborhood of wealthy residents. With the pioneering development project currently on the way, the area will be transformed into a luxury city. After the recent approval by the Council of State, the joint venture that has undertaken the project includes: Metropolitan Park, luxury hotels, casinos, office space, shopping centers and residences.
The suburb of Voula is another gem of the Athenian Riviera. Over the years, Voula has experienced a luxe transformation and is now ranking among the most cosmopolitan postcodes in the capital with a chic aura, but at the same time has a cozy vibe since it has retained its family neighborhood spirit. It’s one of the best areas to live in the Athenian Riviera, peaceful with a lot of greenery, parks and, of course, the sea.
The two wonderful, organized beaches are ideal place for swimming and water sports, as they have excellent facilities and suitable infrastructure. There are a lot of nice routes for a long, scenic walk or an energetic run alongside the shore all the way to Vouliagmeni.
Enjoy your coffee next to the waves, dine at one of the many restaurants and sophisticated wine and sushi bars found around the main square of Plateia Imias, and continue until late in the evening with a cool cocktail at one of the region’s famous clubs. One of the most beautiful free beaches in Athens,
Kavouri is located in the municipality of Vouliagmeni, just a short distance from the city centre. With its easy ac- cess, rich green landscape, pristine water and idyllic cove, it is a definite must-see destination.
A visit to Kavouri in the lush green surrounds of Vouli- agmeni is a day well-spent at the beach, with great seafood and beautiful sunsets.
Make yourself comfortable among the umbrellas and sunbeds on the beach or hire a small boat with a driver to explore the tiny inlets and islands around the coastline, like Fleves and Hydroussa.
You could even spend the day paddle-boarding or just enjoying the thalassotherapy pool and other facilities the Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso Hotel has to offer. There are also two other beaches here, namely Big Kavouri and Little Kavouri, ideal for everything, from beach sports to beach reads.
With fine sand, pure water and a green environment, these are a calm choice providing a view to the coastal Poseidonos Avenue.
Villas of Sale
Villa Ion
Price: POA
Villa Ion is a stone mansion located in a quiet neighborhood of incredible beauty and with large seafront holiday residences. Enjoy endless sea views and colorful wildflowers carpeting the earth, in one of the last-remaining, unspoiled hideaways of pure nature. The residence provides an immediate path through the garden to a stunning, secluded beach, with crystal-clear waters and a private dock.
Villa Ion has a wonderful orientation since the sun sets right in front of the house and one can enjoy that view from every corner of the house. Its architecture comes from the French countryside and it combines also some beautiful Greek elements. The villa is slightly decorated, not pompous, while it keeps a special classy character.
Floor-to-ceiling windows open to large verandas and outdoor lounge areas, providing breathtaking views of the sea, while the colors of the sky dance playfully from dawn to dusk. Elope to the belvedere tower and enjoy the sunset, through captivating panoramic views of the surrounding coves. Treat yourself to delicious meals with fresh, raw ingredients from the property’s organic garden. Renew yourself in this rural retreat of understated luxury and connect with nature unbroken.
Minimal Villa in the Centre of Glyfada
Price: POA
A luxurious villa of 1,000m2 on a plot area of 500m2, located in a unique area within walking distance to the center of Glyfada.
A minimalist-style residence that was built in 2014, the taste and the construction of the house are exquisite and only high-quality materials have been used.
The ground floor comprises the spacious living/dining area and the kitchen, surrounded by a garden with a large private pool. On the 1st floor there are 3 master bedrooms with dressing rooms and a playroom or a small living room. The 2nd floor includes one huge master bedroom with a fireplace, a small living room and a spacious closet.
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