Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice 2016 Awards: The 14 best hotels in Greece

Condé Nast Traveler has distinguished 14 Greek (and 6 Turkish) hotels in its 2016 Readers' Choice Awards.

More than 300,000 readers of the leading travel magazine took voted for these prestigious awards.

Four of these hotels are also included among the top-50 in the world.

The complete list of the 20 best hotels in Greece and Turkey for 2016 includes:

 1. Canaves Oia Santorini | score 98.14 points (out of 100)

The Greek isles are all about relaxation—just envision those long walks on the sand with salty water washing up around your feet. The 41-room Canaves Oia Santorini embodies that aesthetic in an effortlessly elegant way, with white-on-white linens giving an airy feel. Float away the afternoon in a cliffside infinity pool that overlooks the Aegean, then have a romantic dinner of fresh-caught fish and Greek wines on the intimate panoramic balcony.

2. Chromata Hotel, Santorini | 97.26

From Chromata's cliff-top perch, Santorini's famed blues have never looked so good. Overlooking the island's caldera, this boutique hotel comprises 22 (nearly) all-white rooms that mimic the whitewashed homes hugging the island's coast. Among other amenities, all rooms and suites have free in-room Wi-Fi, air conditioning, satellite television, twice-daily maid service, and 24-hour room service. Swim (endless?) laps in the infinity pool, dine by candlelight as the sun sets one of its famous Santorini sunsets, or tuck into Greek classics at the hotel's CHROMA restaurant. Spinach pie, anyone?

3. Kos Aktis Art Hotel, Kos| 97.22

Socrates would have appreciated the simplicity of this 36-room, 6-suite hotel at the heart of the Dodecanese island of Kos, rich in Greek and Roman landmarks. You are just a few miles off the Turkish coast: the shapely silhouette of Turkish Bodrum looms in the distance. Surfing the web or uploading daily Instagram photos using the unexpectedly strong Wi-Fi connectivity in the hotel’s restaurant bar H20 is encouraged. Watch the bobs of cream-colored ships and powerboats whiz by on the Aegean from air-conditioned rooms which have floor-to-ceiling windows. If you feel like stepping outdoors and soaking in the rich history of the island, the tree of Hippocrates, under whose still leafy branches the legendary father of medicine schooled his pupils, is minutes away. Indulging in a traditional Greek breakfast here, with a focus on local products and recipes including loukoumades (honey puffs) and small, sweet tomatoes, is a must.

4. Kirini Suites & Spa, Santorini| 97.02

Kirini's location in Oia, Santorini's beating heart, is hard to top. A real rhapsody in blue (and white), the recently refurbished hotel's soundproofed rooms and suites sport hardwood floors, fluffy beds, and luxury bath amenities, and of course, sunsets over the famed caldera. Even cooler? Its Anthós Restaurant has been sculpted into the rocks, and there's an indoor (and outdoor) pool for all of your sun-soaking needs.

5. Raffles Istanbul | 96.27

6. Katikies Hotel, Santorini | 95.58

Inspiring deep emotions of enchantment and fascination, Katikies Hotel in Oia Santorini is renowned for its unparallel services, warm atmosphere and sense of romance uniquely combined in an exceptional setting and natural environment, inviting its guests to experience moments of pure luxury.

Awe inspiring views, sublime Santorini sunsets and perfectly manicured pink bougainvilleas provide the magnificent backdrop for this perennially gleaming, glistening white luxury hotel that spills down the cliffs of the magical Caldera.

7. King George (Luxury Collection), Athens | 95.41

The King George II is Greek through and through: Greek owned, rooms done up in local antiques and neoclassical moldings, and with stunning vistas of the Acropolis, the parliament building, and Constitution Square. Classical touches in the 102 rooms and suites—inlaid oak herringbone parquet, oil paintings, silk-damask curtains, and raw-silk bedcovers—coexist effortlessly with contemporary ones, including Bang & Olufsen TVs, Internet access, sophisticated lighting, and a minibar kitted out with goodies from Agreco, the nearby luxury grocer that’s made a swank cult of rusticity. Tudor Hall, the hotel’s restaurant, overlooks the Acropolis and boasts a Greco-French menu by galloping Gallic gourmet Alain Ducasse.

8. Sun Rocks Santorini | 94.79

Upon arriving at Sun Rocks Boutique Hotel, look behind you from where you have entered, and you will realize that carved into the sides of volcanic cliff, all around you, is a Santorini romantic hideaway, quite like no other. Undoubtedly, it is the view that holds center stage at this most eclectically elegant of couple’s hotels in Firostefani. Sumptuous aesthetics abound, reflecting its luxurious, low-key, in-house lifestyle where complete peace and tranquility in a magical setting artfully combine with abodes flourishing in comfort, convenience and seduction. 

Enmeshed around it is the meticulous attention to detail that makes all great hotels bask in magnanimity, that has made this exclusive hotel, a key destination, time and time again, for Santorini weddings and honeymoons, a prominent couples only hotel. 

9. Perivolas, Santorini | 94.76

"A dream place for the soul! You feel whole again after staying at this paradisiacal sanctuary." On a cliff above the island’s famous caldera—a perfect-scoring location—this resort "embodies simplicity, elegance, and tranquillity." Modern, spare rooms converted from 300-year-old caves have clean white walls with splashes of vivid fuchsia, mauve, aqua, and rose in the cushions and bedding. There are no TVs, but there is an "absolutely marvelous infinity pool"—Mediterranean fish and other seafood plus Greek wines are served on a deck overlooking it. Perfect-scoring staff are "friendly, warm, and accommodating, second to none."

10. Hotel Grande Bretagne (Luxury Collection), Athens | 94.35

This 1874 stone building with marble and wood is "in the heart of things" on Constitution Square. Rooms, though "a bit small," set the tone with restored antiques and "very elegant marble baths." Suites come with butler service and Gilchrist & Soames bathroom amenities. Watch the changing of the guard or unwind with a martini at Alexander’s Bar, under an eighteenth-century tapestry of Alexander the Great. Decorated in Art Deco style, GB Corner serves Greek specialties like roasted white grouper with artichoke; its rooftop garden bar offers views of the Acropolis—"it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world to have dinner." "The service was superb, but the high food prices aren’t completely justified."

11. St. Regis Istanbul | 93.54

12. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul, Sultanahmet | 93.13

13. Diamond Deluxe Hotel, Kos | 91.76

Diamond Deluxe Hotel, the new premier 5 star hotel on the Dodecanese island of Kos in Greece, offers a new level of exclusivity to the modern day traveller seeking the highest level of luxury.

Encompassed by the clear blue Aegean Sea, this 5 star boutique luxury hotel can only be described as the ultimate in pure escapism and glamour, placed amongst the highest in Greece.

Welcome to the Diamond Deluxe Hotel on the island of Kos, a glimpse of heaven on earth, where new levels of luxury will take your breath away. A boutique luxury hotel for accommodation in Kos dedicated to reflect the finest qualities of Greek island life.The contemporary fairytale begins in the art inspired lobby, with its mesmerising chandeliers and splashes of white and red set on a backdrop of Amazonian flora. The Diamond Deluxe Hotel of Kos is sure to enchant, dazzle and excite its guests from the moment they enter.

14. Mystique (Luxury Collection), Santorini | 91.61

 Building a hotel into the face of Santorini’s dramatic sea cliffs lends an immediate advantage: The location alone is enough to make it a showstopper. Happily, the 18-room Mystique, under the same ownership as the island’s highly regarded but viewless Vedema Resort, lives up to its stunning site. The free-form rooms, decorated in what might be called cave-art style (driftwood for headboards, a dining table and chairs that appear to be made of egg-shaped boulders), are carved directly into the cliff, and the views—toward the town of Fira—are magnificent. Mystique is accessed by a heart-poundingly steep staircase in one of the most private locations in Oia. Guests can take advantage of the splendid isolation by whiling away their afternoons poolside, then sitting down to a grilled-lobster dinner under the stars at the open-air restaurant.

15. Çırağan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul | 90.05

16. Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul | 88.98

17. Aqua Blu, Kos | 88.97

Aqua Blu, a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World is the ultimate destination for luxury and contemporary design. A unique 5 star boutique hotel with a state of the art spa set on a beautiful waterfront corner on the Northern Lighthouse Peninsula of Kos Harbor. A short, landscaped bicycle and auto road connects to a picturesque harbor and the center of historic Kos Town, with its charming shops, museums and waterfront restaurants. The stunning location, proximity to town and adjoining beach access, combined with exceptional service and ambiance, make Aqua Blu the ultimate boutique hotel.

18. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul, Bosphorus | 88.1

19. Archipelagos Hotel, Mykonos | 83.95

In a prime position facing the sea and Kalo Livadi beach, in the south-east of Mykonos Island, Archipelagos Hotel is a cool, contemporary haven. With an outdoor pool, tailor-made spa treatments, and a restaurant serving authentic Greek cuisine, it is as inviting as the sparkling Aegean.

Recently renovated, Archipelagos Hotel’s new interior is a fresh take on the traditional Cycladic cubic shapes and blue and white colours. The result is a warm and inviting feel throughout. Enjoy wonderful views across Kalo Livadi Bay from the balcony or terrace of your sea-view room or suite.

Sit under the shade of an umbrella by the Archipelagos Hotel pool and take in the sea views. Kalo Livadi Beach is perfect for beach lovers and is a large sandy beach with clear waters, ideal for water sports. Drive inland to the traditional village of Ano Mera, a five-minute drive inland. Visit the Panagia Tourliani monastery church with its superb collection of icons and a bell tower.

20. Grace Santorini | 80.31

Along whitewashed steps zigzagging down the side of the caldera in the village of Imerovigli, this tiny (for now) hotel looks out not only on a serene blue horizon but also, in the near distance, a pinnacle of rock topped by the ruins of an ancient castle. The hotel’s exterior is classic, clinging-to-the-cliffside Aegean, and the rooms minimalist modern, with a touch of art here and there to break up the otherwise all-white decor. The service is as attentive as one would expect with only 20 rooms.

Read more here.

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